Elder Russell M. Nelson: Learn, live and teach the doctrine of Christ
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Related stories from the 2011 Seminar for New Mission Presidents:
President Monson: 'Precious commodity entrusted to your care'
President Henry B. Eyring: Holy Spirit will help missionaries succeed
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Presidents help missionaries reach their potential
President Boyd K. Packer: A voice felt, rather than heard
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Mission president, trainer important to new missionaries
Elder David A. Bednar: Becoming a 'Preach My Gospel' missionary
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Faith in Christ is an 'upward cycle'
Elder Richard G. Hinckley: Recent changes intended to encourage senior couples to serve missions
PROVO, UTAH
In a fatherly tone, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve counseled 127 new mission presidents and their wives on June 24, the second day of instruction at the 2011 Seminar for New Mission.
Speaking of his deep interest in missionary work, he noted: "Two of our daughters and their husbands are here in this seminar. One couple will go to Tennessee, and the other couple will go to Germany. In addition a third daughter and her husband are here. They will move to Tokyo, Japan, where he will serve in the Area Presidency of the Asia North Area."
Four of his grandchildren are serving missions, in Sweden, Germany, Italy and Russia.
If he and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, are included, that totals a round dozen of Nelson family members rendering full time service to the Lord.
"I wish I could adopt all of you as my children," he told the mission presidents and partners. "I feel that kind of love and gratitude for you."
Thus, he spoke as though they were his sons and daughters as he expressed hopes for them.
"My first hope pertains to your health," he said, enjoining them to observe proper nutrition along with regular and appropriate exercise, to observe precautions including immunizations and personal hygiene and to set an example for their missionaries
Good spiritual health is maintained with faith, Christ-like love and obedience to God, he said.
"Remember that your reaction to stress will be eased as you are fully yoked to the Lord, who said, 'My yoke is easy, and my burden is light,' " Elder Nelson said.
When the Prophet Joseph Smith was at Liberty Jail, the Lord eased his stress by developing within him an perspective, he observed.
"Help your missionaries deal with stress by yoking them to the Lord and helping them to see their challenges just as He would see them."
He counseled the couples to learn, live and teach the doctrine of Christ. "His doctrine has many facets, from which we derive many principles."
He said the missionary guide Preach My Gospel has brought focus and unity to missionary work.
"You need not create any other teaching aid for your missionaries," he said. "Used together with the scriptures, Preach My Gospel is sufficient."
He expressed the hope that the couples can harness the missionary power of members of the Church.
"Now we are developing resources to assist both the members and missionaries in sharing the gospel as a team. New media efforts are being expanded through our missionary Internet site, mormon.org. "
To illustrate that Church members are coming forward with persuasive life stories, he showed two video clips from mormon.org, one of Deborah Gardner, a busy wife and mother who was positively impacted by a visit to an orphanage in Bulgaria, and the other of Tessa Winger, a wife and mother who twice has valiantly coped with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Elder Nelson said he hopes the departing leaders will focus on the essential ordinances of salvation, linked with the invitation to come unto Christ.
He spoke of missionary exit interviews, saying they should include teaching about the eternal nature of the family.
"Teach them to maintain contact with you," he said. "You want to know when they graduate, when they marry, and when their children and grandchildren come. Solidify your enduring relationship at that time."
Elder Nelson said: "My final hope is that you may become one with the Father and the Son. As you expand your comprehension of the missionary purpose statement and help your missionaries to understand it, you will be attuned with the very powers of heaven."
He added, "We are to be one with each other — as companions, with your missionaries, with your local leaders and members wherever you serve."
