What if I Didn't Have Very Many Baptisms on my Mission?

As a young missionary, it was really easy to measure my success based on the number of baptisms I was directly a part of in my area. This was sometimes discouraging to think about. In fact, it became one of those “we don’t talk about that” subjects, comparable to the weight or age of an adult. Talking with many missionaries, it’s NOT uncommon for them to feel disappointed, discouraged, or sad as they finish their missions–like they didn’t quite measure up as a successful missionary. This is simply not true.

I’ve also heard missionaries pretty passionately take comfort in the statement that “God doesn’t care about the numbers.” Now at this point, you may agree or disagree one way or the other. This is even a point of conflict sometimes between mission leaders and their missionaries. The point I hope to make in this blog post is that the numbers are important; they can be an effective measure of our efforts. However, God doesn’t measure the success of your mission by how many people you baptized. In fact, I will explain how claiming baptisms as “yours” isn’t necessarily true.

To reason with a real example, consider with me the following story:

I know of a family that lived in Gilbert Arizona. They had met with many sets of missionaries. With time (and through various companionships), the family began to overcome doubts, set backs, and even addictions; their faith began to grow, but they weren’t quite ready to accept the covenant of baptism. The family had met many members. These interactions led to a few strong relationships.

Along came a companionship, each about half way through their respective missions. With the help of the spirit, the hearts of this family were softened and they were finally ready for baptism and confirmation as these Elder’s served in this area.

Now imagine that these Elders came home and claimed the glory of these baptisms as their own. Also, Imagine the many companionships who had come before them, feeling defeated that they hadn’t baptized anyone in this area. These are both erroneous thought processes. In reality, each missionary, each member, and each time they felt the Holy Ghost all played an essential role in their conversion. Each experience they had with the spirit led them a little bit closer to the covenant of baptism. In truth, this is often how missionary work happens today: slowly, and gradually.

A missionary I served with would often say, “Many hands make light work.” Many hands are involved in each baptism. Whether those hands be on this side of the veil or the other. So, when I say I didn’t have very many baptisms on my mission, it doesn’t necessarily mean many weren’t brought to the waters of baptism, it simply means I wasn’t the direct cause of any. This is God’s work, and each baptism is his. The spirit helped me to realize these truths part way through my service in Arizona. I find this to have been a healthy mindset for me to follow, and it has helped me to overcome both discouragement and pride.

If you are curious to explore more about what makes a successful missionary, I invite you to read and apply the section “A Successful Missionary” in chapter one of Preach My Gospel.

- Zander Coombs