Threefold Mission of the Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a three-part mission, or purpose, called the threefold mission of the Church.

Threefold Mission of the Church:

1. Proclaim the Gospel
2. Perfect the Saints
3. Redeem the Dead

Every belief, teaching, and doctrine fits under one or more of these missions, which encompasses God's purpose: "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."¹

1. Proclaim the Gospel
The purpose of this mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. That is why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has over 50,000 full time missionaries constantly serving throughout the world. Learn more about LDS missions and what missionaries teach.

2. Perfect the Saints
The focus of this mission is to strengthen members of the Church throughout the world. This is done through living a Christ-centered life which involves regular:

• obedience to God's commandments
• church attendance
• temple attendance
• church service
• prayer
• scripture study
• family home evening
• and other gospel principles and ordinances²

3. Redeem the Dead
This mission of the Church is to perform the necessary ordinances for those who have already died. This is done through Family History (a.k.a. genealogy). Once the proper information is compiled the ordinances are performed in holy temples³ and is done by the living, in behalf of the dead. We believe that the gospel is preached to those who have died while they are in the Spirit World. Once they learn the gospel of Jesus Christ they are then able to accept or reject the work that is performed for them here on earth.

President Ezra Taft Benson, president of the Church, taught the important duty we have as members of Christ's Church to fulfill the threefold mission of the Church. He said:

"We have a sacred responsibility to fulfill the threefold mission of the Church—first, to teach the gospel to the world; second, to strengthen the membership of the Church wherever they may be; third, to move forward the work of salvation for the dead."⁴

The gospel of Jesus Christ is beautiful. It is truly amazing how God loves each and every one of His children that no matter who we are, where or when we've lived, we will have the opportunity to hear His truth, accept Christ's saving ordinances, and live with Him again.

Use this visual aid of the Threefold Mission of the Church when teaching this concept.

Notes:
1. Moses 1:39.
2. See the Fourth Article of Faith.
3. See Baptisms for the Dead and What Gospel Ordinances Do Mormons Perform?.
4. "A Sacred Responsibility," Ensign, May 1986, 77.