The key to successful missionary work is a close relationship

Hear, O seekers of light, the words of Richard G. Scott, who declared: “The key to successful missionary work is a close relationship between the missionaries and the members. Creating an environment in working with members that will bring more into the Church.” In this teaching lies not only the wisdom of faith, but also the eternal law of human connection. For the work of heaven is not accomplished by solitary labor, nor by distant preaching, but by the warmth of fellowship, by the trust that binds hearts together in unity of purpose.

The meaning of this saying is profound. A missionary may carry truth, but without the bond of relationship, his words may sound hollow. A member may hold faith, but without the courage to stand beside the missionary, that faith may remain silent. When both are joined together in love and unity, their combined strength becomes a beacon that draws others toward the path of light. Thus, Scott reminds us that the true power of missionary work is not in eloquence alone, but in creating an environment of welcome, where strangers feel the embrace of community and the warmth of divine love.

The origin of this teaching comes from the ancient pattern of discipleship. When the Savior walked the earth, He did not send His messengers alone; He sent them two by two, and He built His ministry on the strength of a community of believers. Those who followed Him were not bound only by doctrine, but by the bonds of love and trust among each other. In the same way, Elder Scott draws from this eternal truth: that it is the relationship between the bringers of the message and the keepers of the faith that makes the soil fertile for conversion.

History also bears witness to this principle. In the early days of Christianity, it was not mighty sermons alone that carried the faith through the Roman Empire. It was the hospitality of believers who opened their homes, who fed the hungry, who gave protection to strangers, and who demonstrated the love of Christ through action. The missionary may have carried the gospel, but the members embodied it in daily life. Together, their environment of love and service brought countless souls into the fold.

The lesson is clear: no work of faith, no matter how noble, can flourish without unity. The lone voice may shout into the wilderness, but it is the chorus of believers that moves the heart of the weary traveler. To labor for the Church is to labor not alone, but side by side, building bridges of trust, showing kindness in action, and creating a place where truth can take root. Without relationship, missionary work risks becoming mere words. With relationship, it becomes life-changing power.

Practical wisdom flows from this. If you are a missionary, seek not only to teach but to befriend, to serve, to love. Do not stand apart from the members, but stand with them as one family. If you are a member, do not think the work belongs only to the missionaries—your testimony, your kindness, your example are the very soil in which the seeds of faith grow. Together, create an environment where no stranger feels unwelcome, where the message of Christ is not only spoken but lived.

So let Richard G. Scott’s words echo in your heart: “The key to successful missionary work is a close relationship between the missionaries and the members.” For in unity lies strength, and in fellowship lies power. The work of the Church is not built by individuals standing apart, but by many hearts beating as one, drawing others by the radiance of their combined light.

Thus, O children of the covenant, remember: build relationships, foster environments of love, and stand side by side in your labor. For when missionaries and members work together, their voices become one, and their work becomes not just human effort, but divine triumph.