For full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, divine companionship should be considered on at least two levels, explained Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
First is the actual pairing of two elders or two sisters. “Every missionary companionship ought to be a brotherhood or sisterhood that is truly divine — sweet, sensitive, kind and unforgettable, bathed in the Spirit of the Lord,” he said, adding that any disunity or division offends the Spirit and cripples the work.
The second level is that every missionary companionship should have the Holy Ghost as the third companion, taught Elder Holland in a worldwide missionary devotional.
He called three “a sacred number in the mathematics of the gospel” — such as the Godhead, the First Presidency, the three degrees of glory and the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon. “Three is a wonderful number in witnessing of God’s work,” he said, adding that every companionship, in its quest to be effective and divine, should expand to include the Holy Ghost as the third member.
Using a series of graphics, Elder Holland underscored a progression of groups of three in missionary work — first the Godhead, then the Holy Ghost as “the Great Teacher of Truth” and a missionary companionship, and finally the Holy Ghost, the missionary companionship and the friend or family learning of the gospel.
“Just as I should never do anything to offend or hurt my mortal companion, so should I never do anything to offend or hurt my divine companion, the Holy Ghost,” Elder Holland said. “I want Him with me all the time. I should never say anything or do anything or go anywhere or be anything that would alienate me from either of these companions.” (Read here the full article from the Church Newsroom)
The message by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland parallels some of the church teaching about marriage. In a marriage, Elder Bednar taught
The Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point in a covenant marriage relationship. Please notice how the Savior is positioned at the apex of this triangle, with a woman at the base of one corner and a man at the base of the other corner. Now consider what happens in the relationship between the man and the woman as they individually and steadily “come unto Christ” and strive to be “perfected in Him” (Moro. 10:32). Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and the woman come closer together.
As a husband and wife are each drawn to the Lord (see 3 Ne. 27:14), as they learn to serve and cherish one another, as they share life experiences and grow together and become one, and as they are blessed through the uniting of their distinctive natures, they begin to realize the fulfillment that our Heavenly Father desires for His children. Ultimate happiness, which is the very object of the Father’s plan, is received through the making and honoring of eternal marriage covenants. (Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan
In both relationships, the missionary companionship and marriage, including the Holy Ghost as a third companion highly increases the chances of being successful.
