NOTES TO BE REFERRED TO DAILY BY MISSIONARIES.

 Each missionary¹ of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is endowed with the Holy Priesthood of God, and is sent forth² as a minister of the restored Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is believed to be morally clean and upright, and should keep himself pure, sweet, and unspotted from the sins of the world. He should avoid and resist the very appearance of evil, and after performing an honorable mission, should return to his home with clean hands and a pure heart. Among the many items of counsel given by the authorities of the Church before his departure for the mission field, he should have the following indelibly stamped upon his mind and heart:

 

1. Keep a brief, daily journal of your life's labors³, especially of all your official acts.

 

2. Do all things with a prayerful heart; pray vocally⁵ morning and evening, oftener when necessary, and pray secretly every day. Make each prayer appropriate to the occasion, as those for the Sacrament and Baptism are.

 

3. Invariably keep the Word of Wisdom, refraining from the use of tea, coffee, tobacco and intoxicating⁶ drinks.

 

4. Guard against familiarity with womankind. There must be no sparking, kissing, or embracing of woman—your kisses should be for home consumption, and be brought home to your loved ones, where they belong. Kissing and hugging aside from this lead to immorality⁷, and a fallen brother not only crucifies himself, but brings misery⁸ and woe⁹ to the kindred of both parties. Immorality is the bane of missionary life. There is little more enticing¹⁰, and nothing more dangerous and deadly.

 

5. Build up and portray¹¹ the excellencies of the Gospel, but do not tear down any man's religious structure. Grant sincerity¹² of mind, as you claim it for yourself. Discover and recognize all things praiseworthy about you.

 

6. Be charitable to unfortunate conditions, and be sympathetic with the afflicted¹³.

 

7. Bless, but do not curse.

 

8. Be genteel, and pattern after best in manly¹⁴ manners. Do not engage in rowdy or undignified sports, but follow in the demeanor¹⁶ of a dignified¹⁵ and manly minister.

 

{9} 9. Be pleasant and cheerful, but do not indulge in nonsense, ridicule¹⁷ and unseemly jesting.

 

10. Defend and justify¹⁸ the right, but contend with no man.

 

11. Be candid¹⁹ and sincere.

 

12. Hold sacred and do not use commonly such names as God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Ghost, Apostle, Prophet, Seer and Revelator. Elder or Brother are the common titles for members of the Melchizedek Priesthood. President and Bishop²⁰ may be used where they belong.

 

13. Write your first name in full, or abbreviate²¹, as "Geo." for George, "Wm." for William. Initials fail to determine the sex, or to specify²² clearly which person is meant.

 

14. Study the Scriptures²³ carefully—the Jewish, Nephite and Latter-day revelations. Store your minds with knowledge of the truth, and the Spirit of the Lord will bring it forth in due season. As the Savior said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify²⁴ your Father which is in Heaven."

 

15. Be cleanly in your person and clothing, spend as little money as possible, leaving the world and your brethren to assist you in the things that are needful, thereby²⁵ proving that they are disciples²⁶ of the Lord.

 

16. Lodge²⁷, feed and pray with the people as much as possible.

 

17. You are sent out to preach the first principles of the Gospel, and to call all men unto repentance²⁸. You are sent to teach, and not to be taught by the world.

 

18. Leave your visiting and sight-seeing until your mission is completed.

 

19. Proper living and serving the Lord and consequent growth and development of strength and stability at home will aid you in the mission field, and, on your return home, you will be better prepared thereby to continue your labors and keep from backsliding.

 

20. Be careful of what money you may have; see that you do not get robbed.

 

21. Do not borrow money of Saints or strangers.

 

22. Do not make promises to write or do other favors when you get home; wait until you get home, and then do all you reasonably can.

 

23. Do not praise the beauties of Zion, or magnify the virtues²⁹ of the Saints. Fortify³⁰ the people for the trials they must meet, as they will be tried in the furnace. Urge the people to stay and maintain the work abroad in the earth, by their {10} works and their means. Thus they will gain strength to be able to stand when they do gather to Zion. If they must apostatize, it is better that they do so in their native land.

 

24. Start right, by avoiding all evil habits; never say in public or in private that you do not know the Gospel is true.

 

25. Get an understanding of the Gospel, and teach it as the spirit directs.

 

26. Get the spirit of your mission and keep it.

 

27. Seek learning by faith as well as by good study. If deficient³¹ in good English, acquire a knowledge thereof so as not to betray ignorance; but do not depend upon fine words or upon the learning of the world.

 

28. Live near the Lord, so that you can approach and appeal to Him on all occasions.

 

29. Let all your talents, affections and power be centered on the work of the ministry³².

 

30. Seek to know the will of the Lord, and to do it. When success attends your labors, give God the glory.

 

31. In going and in returning, and while sojourning, remember that the Church and the Saints will be judged by your actions.

 

32. Your duty to yourself and to your God is to do your very best, and to do it always.

 

33. Be appreciative³³ of favors, and leave your blessing³⁴ with the deserving.

 

34. Do not enter into debates with each other or with anyone else over obscure points and passages; nor should you seek to advance beyond what the Lord has revealed.

 

35. Honor the laws of the country in which you labor⁴.

 

36. Observe strictly³⁵ the rules of the Mission and Conference Presidents.

 

37. Be punctual, that the Spirit of the Lord may not be grieved by the unseemliness of tardy³⁶ attendance.

 

38. Your lives are precious; care well for your health. Excesses are wrong and bring disaster. You should not walk too much, talk too much, fast too much, eat or drink too much, or attempt too much to do without needful things. Wisdom is one of the greater gifts.

 

39. Your ambition to make converts should not lead you to baptize those who are unworthy. Never baptize a married woman without the consent of her husband, or children under age without their parents' consent.

 

FRANCIS M. LYMAN,

 

In behalf of the Council of Twelve Apostles.

1 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

2 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

3 labors   

v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors. 他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜，令人生厌。 来自辞典例句
• Farm labors used to hire themselves out for the summer. 农业劳动者夏季常去当雇工。 来自辞典例句

4 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

5 vocally   

adv. 用声音, 用口头, 藉著声音

参考例句：

• She is not SCREAMER or MOANER - She is VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE. 她并不乱叫或发牢骚，只是用声音表示喜怒。
• The left has been vocally against. 左派力量一直竭力声讨。

6 intoxicating   

a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的

参考例句：

• Power can be intoxicating. 权力能让人得意忘形。
• On summer evenings the flowers gave forth an almost intoxicating scent. 夏日的傍晚，鲜花散发出醉人的芳香。

7 immorality   

n. 不道德, 无道义

参考例句：

• All the churchmen have preached against immorality. 所有牧师都讲道反对不道德的行为。
• Where the European sees immorality and lawlessness, strict law rules in reality. 在欧洲人视为不道德和无规则的地方，事实上都盛行着一种严格的规则。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

8 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

9 woe   

n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌

参考例句：

• Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
• A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸，自认福是福。

10 enticing   

adj.迷人的；诱人的

参考例句：

• The offer was too enticing to refuse. 这提议太有诱惑力，使人难以拒绝。
• Her neck was short but rounded and her arms plump and enticing. 她的脖子短，但浑圆可爱；两臂丰腴，也很动人。

11 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

12 sincerity   

n.真诚，诚意；真实

参考例句：

• His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
• He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。

13 afflicted   

使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
• A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

14 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

15 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

16 demeanor   

n.行为；风度

参考例句：

• She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
• The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。

17 ridicule   

v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄

参考例句：

• You mustn't ridicule unfortunate people.你不该嘲笑不幸的人。
• Silly mistakes and queer clothes often arouse ridicule.荒谬的错误和古怪的服装常会引起人们的讪笑。

18 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

19 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

20 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

21 abbreviate   

v.缩写，使...简略，缩短

参考例句：

• She had lost the power to abbreviate the remaining steps of the way.她丧失了缩短这最后几步路的能力。
• It is seldom acceptable to abbreviate words in formal writing.在正式的书面语中使用缩写语通常是不能接受的。

22 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。

23 scriptures   

经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典

参考例句：

• Here the apostle Peter affirms his belief that the Scriptures are 'inspired'. 使徒彼得在此表达了他相信《圣经》是通过默感写成的。
• You won't find this moral precept in the scriptures. 你在《圣经》中找不到这种道德规范。

24 glorify   

vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化

参考例句：

• Politicians have complained that the media glorify drugs.政治家们抱怨媒体美化毒品。
• We are all committed to serving the Lord and glorifying His name in the best way we know.我们全心全意敬奉上帝，竭尽所能颂扬他的美名。

25 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

26 disciples   

n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一

参考例句：

• Judas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. 犹大是耶稣十二门徒之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• "The names of the first two disciples were --" “最初的两个门徒的名字是——” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

27 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

28 repentance   

n.懊悔

参考例句：

• He shows no repentance for what he has done.他对他的所作所为一点也不懊悔。
• Christ is inviting sinners to repentance.基督正在敦请有罪的人悔悟。

29 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

30 fortify   

v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化

参考例句：

• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
• This treaty forbade the United States to fortify the canal.此条约禁止美国对运河设防。

31 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

32 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

33 appreciative   

adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的

参考例句：

• She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
• We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。

34 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

35 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

36 tardy   

adj.缓慢的，迟缓的

参考例句：

• It's impolite to make a tardy appearance.晚到是不礼貌的。
• The boss is unsatisfied with the tardy tempo.老板不满于这种缓慢的进度。