“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
Just as in Joshua’s time, we too face critical decisions as parents, particularly regarding preparing our children for full-time missionary service. This choice holds immense significance, influencing not only our children’s lives but also the spread of the Gospel.
To understand the profound importance of this decision, let us reflect on the words of modern prophets. President Howard W. Hunter emphasized, “Past prophets have taught that every able, worthy young man should serve a full-time mission. I underscore this need today” (“Follow the Son of God,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 87).
President Gordon B. Hinckley further stated, “I say what has been said before, that missionary work is essentially a priesthood responsibility, and that our young men must carry the major burden. This is their responsibility and their obligation” (“Some Thoughts on Temples, Retention of Converts, and Missionary Service,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 49).
What would the Lord say to a young man today contemplating a full-time mission? With boundless love, He spoke to Orson Pratt at the young age of nineteen: “My son Orson, hearken and hear and behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you… blessed are you because you have believed; And more blessed are you because you are called of me to preach my gospel—” (Doctrine and Covenants 34:1, 4-5). Can you feel the Lord’s love for every young man who answers the call to serve Him?
As parents, we are entrusted with the sacred responsibility to nurture in our children the worthiness and desire to serve the Lord. Our children, spirits reserved for these latter days, are our stewardship. The Lord has placed them in our care, and we will be accountable for this trust. One of the most significant blessings of this stewardship is preparing our children to serve the Lord wholeheartedly.
I wish to speak directly to parents and youth in the Church. A powerful narrative in the Book of Mormon vividly illustrates the profound influence parents have on their children. This is the account of the two thousand and sixty young warriors who volunteered to defend their nation’s liberty, led by Helaman. “And it came to pass that there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds” (Alma 57:25). Why were they preserved? Because they “were obedient and observant to perform every word of command with exactness” (Alma 57:21). Helaman then reveals the source of this miracle: “And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it” (Alma 57:21). What had their mothers taught them? “…that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them” (Alma 57:26). Parents, do you recognize the immense power you wield in your children’s lives? If you instill in them the knowledge of a just God who desires every capable and worthy young man to serve a mission, your sons will cultivate the unwavering faith necessary to answer the Lord’s call.
Bishops, in your unique stewardship, you bear a significant responsibility to prepare young men for full-time missionary service. Begin early. Help them grasp the essence of Alma’s experiment – the transformative power of planting the seed of faith. Plant the seed of missionary service in their hearts and encourage them to inquire of the Lord if it is a good seed. As you nurture that seed, it will blossom into the miracle of missionary service.
I will forever be grateful for my wife, bishops, and priesthood leaders who taught and prepared our sons to serve missions.
How can we achieve a substantial increase in the number of young men serving full-time missions? Firstly, parents must recognize their crucial role. They must plead with Heavenly Father for guidance in preparing their sons for missionary service. This applies not only to families in America, England, Mongolia, or Brazil, but to every capable and worthy young man throughout the Church. Bishops, you must follow this same inspired pattern.
President Boyd K. Packer wisely taught, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior” (“Little Children,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 17). The doctrine that will transform our young men’s perspective on missionary work is understanding the infinite worth of a single soul. Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice, offering His infinite Atonement, which unlocks the sole path for us to return to our Heavenly Father and dwell with Him. When parents, bishops, and young men themselves comprehend this profound doctrine, our young men will be prepared and eager to serve.
Let me share these compelling words from Elder Joe J. Christensen: “The Lord did not say, ‘Go on a mission if it fits your schedule, or if you feel like it, or if it doesn’t interfere with your scholarship, your romance, or your educational plans.’ Preaching the gospel is a commandment—not merely a suggestion. It is a blessing and a privilege—not a sacrifice. Remember…the Lord and His prophets are counting on you” (“The Savior Counts on You,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 41).
Nothing a young man can do compares in eternal significance to serving a full-time mission. The good they accomplish as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ will resonate throughout eternity.
We are currently witnessing the largest army of missionaries ever assembled in the history of the world. Do not let your sons miss the opportunity to be part of this extraordinary army. These young men, entrusted and proven before they came to earth, are not ordinary; they are choice spirits reserved to come forth at this pivotal time.
Reflecting on the monumental commission the Lord has given us to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world, I implore you, individually and as families, to plead with our Heavenly Father that each and every worthy young man in the Church will desire to serve a mission and live worthily to do so.
I pray that Heavenly Father will bless us with an unwavering commitment to preparing our young men for missionary service, that the youth of the Church today will be like Helaman’s sons, executing every word of the Lord with exactness, and stand as a light upon a hill, declaring to the whole world that, like Joshua of old, they have chosen to serve the Lord.
That this may be so, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
