The need remains for missionary couples
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The need for senior missionaries continues in the Church and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve encouraged those eligible to make themselves available.
He said, during the Saturday afternoon session, "If you are or will soon be the age of a senior missionary, I come to you this afternoon to witness of blessings that can change your life forever. Your Heavenly Father needs you. His work, under the direction of our Savior Jesus Christ, needs what you are uniquely prepared to give. Every missionary experience requires faith, sacrifice, and service and these are always followed by an outpouring of blessings."
Elder Hales continued, "As we discuss these blessings, you will naturally consider what I have called the four 'F's:' fear, family concerns, finding the right mission opportunity, and financial challenges. May I yet add another, more important and powerful 'F' — Faith. Only through our faith can we heed God's counsel to: 'Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve' (see Alma 30:8) — 'to serve the Lord God who made you' (see Moses 6:33). And only through a trial of our faith can we receive the miraculous blessings we seek for ourselves and our families: 'For if there be no faith among the children of men,' we are told, 'God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith' " (Ether 12:12).
While sharing examples of some senior missionaries who had shown the faith to serve, Elder Hales said, "Certainly, family concerns are real and should not be considered lightly. But we cannot meet our family challenges without the blessings of the Lord; and when we sacrifice to serve as full-time missionary couples, those blessings will flow."
Sometimes senior couples have a desire to serve, but not the means, he continued. For those, he said there is the possibility of full-time missionary service within their stake or area.
"If you cannot serve because of serious extenuating circumstances," he said, "would you consider making a financial contribution to help those who can? The reasonable sacrifice of your means will not only bless other missionaries and those they serve, it will bless you and your family as well."
He challenged bishops and branch presidents to recommend one or more additional senior couples for service over the next six months beyond those already serving, noting that their best resource may be senior couples who have already served missions.
He also asked that prospective missionary couples go to their bishop rather than waiting for him to call. He said, "Where missionary service is concerned, the Lord expects us to express our desires. As we do, we can trust the same Spirit that prompts us to seek a mission call will inspire a prophet to call us to the right assignment."
Elder Hales said, "My brothers and sisters, if you have felt stirrings to engage in this work, however quiet those feelings may be, do not procrastinate the day of your service. Now is the time to prepare, now is the time to be called, now is the time to sacrifice, now is the time to share your gifts and talents, and now is the time to receive God's blessings for you and your family."
Concluding, Elder Hales said, "As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is our greatest privilege to return His love through sacrifice and service, and claim His holy promise: 'And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name's sake, shall find it again, even life eternal' " (Doctrine and Covenants 98:13).
