Instrument

• Alma 29: 9…A missionary’s and member’s glory and joy should be to perhaps be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance
• Alma 26: 3…It is a blessing to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about His great work and bring many to the light of God
• Alma 12: 5-6…Satan uses people to exercise his power. They feel his power, but his sole purpose is to encircle them with his chains to everlasting destruction
• Alma 12: 5…Satan can exercise his power through people who are willing to let him
• Alma 17: 16…A missionary’s cause is to perhaps bring people unto repentance, perhaps bring them to know the plan of redemption
• Alma 17: 11…Be good examples for the wicked and you’ll be an instrument in the Lord’s hands unto the salvation of many souls
• Mosiah 23: 10…How to be an instrument in God’s hands
• 2 Nephi 3: 24…With exceeding faith, one can be an instrument in God’s hands to work wonders
• Words of Mormon 1: 7…Work the Lord’s will being an instrument in His hands
• 1 Nephi 7: 12…The Lord can do anything He wants according to our faith
• “In an address to the New Jersey Senate in February 1861, Lincoln compared America with God’s chosen people of the Old Testament. After describing his feelings about the Founders, he said: “I recollect thinking then, boy even though I was, that there must have been something more than common that those men struggled for. I am exceedingly anxious that that thing which they struggled for; that something even more than National Independence; that something that held out a great promise to all the people of the world to all time to come; I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his almost chosen people, for perpetuating the object of that great struggle”” Seven Miracles That Saved America, Page 179
• “On one occasion, after a congressional delegation had encouraged him (Abraham Lincoln) to make certain that America ended slavery so that God could continue to bless America, Lincoln replied: “My faith is greater than yours…I also believe He will compel us to do right in order that he may do these things, no so much because we desire them as that they accord with His plans of dealing with this nation, in the midst of which he means to establish justice…I have felt His hand upon me in great trials and submitted to His guidance, and I trust that as he shall further open the way I will be ready to walk therein, relying on His help and trusting in His goodness and wisdom.”” Seven Miracles That Saved America, Page 180
• “Your Heavenly Father has known you for a very long time. You, as His son or daughter, were chosen by Him to come to earth at this precise time, to be a leader in His great work on earth. 19 You were chosen not for your bodily characteristics but for your spiritual attributes, such as bravery, courage, integrity of heart, a thirst for truth, a hunger for wisdom, and a desire to serve others. You developed some of these attributes premortally. Others you can develop here on earth as you persistently seek them.”  Russell M. Nelson, October 2013 General Conference
• Alma 17: 9…  And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.  10 And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted. 11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls. 12 And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God
• Alma 19:16 -31 …16  And it came to pass that they did call on the name of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the earth, save it were one of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father— 17  Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people. 18  And they began to assemble themselves together unto the house of the king. And there came a multitude, and to their astonishment, they beheld the king, and the queen, and their servants prostrate upon the earth, and they all lay there as though they were dead; and they also saw Ammon, and behold, he was a Nephite. 19 And now the people began to murmur among themselves; some saying that it was a great evil that had come upon them, or upon the king and his house, because he had suffered that the Nephite should remain in the land. 20 But others rebuked them, saying: The king hath brought this evil upon his house, because he slew his servants who had had their flocks scattered at the waters of Sebus. 21  And they were also rebuked by those men who had stood at the waters of Sebus and scattered the flocks which belonged to the king, for they were angry with Ammon because of the number which he had slain of their brethren at the waters of Sebus, while defending the flocks of the king. 22 Now, one of them, whose brother had been slain with the sword of Ammon, being exceedingly angry with Ammon, drew his sword and went forth that he might let it fall upon Ammon, to slay him; and as he lifted the sword to smite him, behold, he fell dead. 23 Now we see that Ammon could not be slain, for the Lord had said unto Mosiah, his father: I will spare him, and it shall be unto him according to thy faith—therefore, Mosiah trusted him unto the Lord. 24  And it came to pass that when the multitude beheld that the man had fallen dead, who lifted the sword to slay Ammon, fear came upon them all, and they durst not put forth their hands to touch him or any of those who had fallen; and they began to marvel again among themselves what could be the cause of this great power, or what all these things could mean. 25 And it came to pass that there were many among them who said that Ammon was the Great Spirit, and others said he was sent by the Great Spirit; 26 But others rebuked them all, saying that he was a monster, who had been sent from the Nephites to torment them. 27 And there were some who said that Ammon was sent by the Great Spirit to afflict them because of their iniquities; and that it was the Great Spirit that had always attended the Nephites, who had ever delivered them out of their hands; and they said that it was this Great Spirit who had destroyed so many of their brethren, the Lamanites. 28  And thus the contention began to be exceedingly sharp among them. And while they were thus contending, the woman servant who had caused the multitude to be gathered together came, and when she saw the contention which was among the multitude she was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears. 29 And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people! 30 And when she had said this, she clasped her hands, being filled with joy, speaking many words which were not understood; and when she had done this, she took the king, Lamoni, by the hand, and behold he arose and stood upon his feet. 31 And he, immediately, seeing the contention among his people, went forth and began to rebuke them, and to teach them the words which he had heard from the mouth of Ammon; and as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord.
• January 14th, 1995 – Saturday.  Quito Ecuador – Jeffrey R. Holland Conference… “He said the missionaries and the General Authorities are the only ones that can preach the gospel 24 hours a day, and be a witness of Jesus Christ. I realized how powerful we can be, and the importance of our calling to bring Souls to Christ.  By way of his words, I know he has seen Jesus Christ.  I know Jesus Christ lives and directs this work.  It’s wonderful to think of the love that Jesus and God has for us.  Without missionaries, God’s work could not continue.  He needs us to be instruments.”  – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
• February 9, 1996 – Friday – Quito Ecuador… “Today Elder Herrera and I walked all over.  At times I wonder if we’re following the Spirit because we walk all over but nothing.  There is always a reason for everything.  We taught some good 1st Charlas, and we gave Pepe Salas the 2nd.  We have his date for the 18th.  We know that he’ll be ready.  We put Miguelon Pena for the 25th.  We didn’t make it to the cita with Angel Montero.  I felt really bad.  There was no way.  At these times I wonder if it was our fault for not following the Spirit or if the Lord wanted it this way.  I feel that this is the Lord’s work, and he impedes us at times to complete what we’ve planned.  I know that we sure aren’t going to impede or hinder the Lord’s work.  A worthy missionary never will. He’ll just be used when the Lord wants.  And when he wants, the missionary should have the Spirit strong enough to follow His promptings.  If not, the missionary won’t be an effective instrument.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal