PROVO, Utah — No matter where missionaries serve in the world, the gospel message and invitation are the same.
Elder Gerald Korth of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that through the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel, also known as the Doctrine of Christ, all people are invited to access the salvation and saving power of Jesus Christ by exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, and enduring to the end – a message of hope, joy, and joy.
“In a world full of diversity, the unity of the Church is a living miracle. No matter where we go, we preach the same message and invite everyone to make the same covenants,” he said while addressing a devout audience of missionaries and new mission leaders at the 2026 New Missionary Seminar on Saturday, June 20, at the Provo Missionary Training Center. This devotional was broadcast to training centers around the world.
“This is why your service is so important. . . . That invitation is at the heart of everything we do. It defines your missionary purpose. It defines my purpose as an apostle. It defines the mission of the Church itself.”
vision of the tree of life
For Elder Caussé, nothing provides a “more vivid and powerful picture” of the doctrine of Christ than the account of Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 8). When possible, he enjoys studying dreams with missionaries and encouraging them to draw their descriptions.
“The Tree of Life vision provides a clear and compelling picture of the path to Jesus Christ and the blessings of His Atonement,” he said.
Missionaries usually begin by drawing the tree of life and its “sweetest” and “desirable” fruits. They represent God’s love through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Next comes a straight and narrow path with iron bars. This path leads to a tree and symbolizes the way to access the blessings of the Savior’s atonement. The iron rod represents the word of God and helps the traveler to navigate the path despite obstacles and distractions such as the fog of darkness, large and spacious buildings, and rivers of dirty water.
A gate is depicted at the beginning of the path, representing repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Continuing down the path reveals covenants and ordinances that lead to trees and temples.
Elder Caussé said each gospel ordinance has the same sacred purpose: “to help us remain faithful to our covenants with the Savior and our Heavenly Father and to access the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement.”
Why “first” principles and regulations?
Elder Coase said the first principles and ordinances are called “firsts” because they establish the spiritual foundation for mortal experience and are essential steps for discipleship in the life of Christ.
They are also “firsts” because they stand at the center of the teachings and invitations that missionaries share.
“These four principles and ordinances are not separate checkpoints along the way; they form a unified, continuous process,” he said. “They are interwoven, each enhancing and giving meaning to the others; they cannot be fully activated when experienced in isolation.”
Drawing from the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, Elder Caussé provided insight into the blessings of faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and persevering to the end. He encouraged missionaries to prepare new and prospective converts for lifelong discipleship rather than a one-time experience.
Elder Kose said: “It is this lifelong process that enables us to become ‘new creations’ in Christ and endure to the end” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Helping converts understand, feel and experience the power of the Savior’s Atonement before they are baptized can be “one of the greatest safeguards” of lifelong faithfulness, he said.
Be like Lehi
Elder Korth concluded by sharing his testimony of the gospel and Jesus Christ. He encouraged missionaries to be like the prophet Lehi. “Eat the fruit yourself first, and then invite others to the banquet,” he said.
“When you personally accept the doctrine of Christ, you teach it with greater sincerity, love, and conviction, not as someone who understands it, but as a true witness, someone who has felt its power and experienced its blessings in a very personal way. You will become less hesitant and more confident as you grow in your faith and invite your friends to be baptized and confirmed and become lifelong disciples of the Lord.”
In a short message, Sister Valerie Caussé, whose husband was preceded by her eldest grandchild in attendance, spoke of the missionary who converted her parents in France 50 years ago, resulting in four generations of faithful believers.
“I testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ that my parents taught me has brought great joy, hope, and strength to my life,” she said. “We are grateful for the courage and dedication of our young missionaries and for their love, which left behind their country, family and friends for years of service and helped them overcome all the challenges they faced.”
