A little over a year ago a mother wrote of her twenty-year old daughter: “She’s leaving on a mission to China for three weeks.” This mother continued to write about how much she was going to miss her sweet daughter. It was obvious the act of letting her precious child go was terribly difficult.
Several years before that I watched as my then nineteen-year old big brother kissed every one of us goodbye. He and a group of young men and women left their own family members at that point. I remember afterward our family arrived home and we all started walking in through the door. My mom turned to me and said, “My heart hurts.” She had let her son go not just for three weeks, but for two years.
It was not done unwillingly. We were all very pleased with my brother’s decision to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or the Mormon Church, as it is more commonly known). My mother’s broken heart was simply the result of handing her child over to the unknown. We all knew he was in the Lord’s care, but it was still scary knowing he’d be on the other side of the world (he went to Japan).
Being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a great and sacred privilege, and often results in many sacrifices on the part of the missionary and his family. The mission is funded entirely by the individual, though help can be sought by fellow ward members (individual congregations are called a ward). In my own ward a particular family has one son on a mission right now, with twin boys preparing to go out soon. This would put a strain on just about anyone’s financial status, so several members of the ward privately contribute to help.
Other sacrifices on the part of the missionary can feel just as burdensome. Keep in mind the typical Latter-day Saint missionary is a young man of nineteen. It’s possible he’s putting aside college, maybe even giving up a scholarship, selling a prized car to help fund the mission, or leaving a treasured girlfriend behind knowing full well she probably won’t be available when he gets back.
These sacrifices are known to the Lord, and the offerings are accepted by Him. Those who willingly give up the worldly things in their lives to pursue the opportunity to serve the Lord will be blessed many times over if they remain worthy. This is always the part where faith must take over.
“Faith, to be saving faith, must center in Christ and move one to obey Him, to follow His example. In accepting a call to serve, ” (David B. Haight, “A Spiritual Adventure,” New Era, Jun 2000).
Not all of our missionaries are young men. Young women at the age of 21, if they are not yet married and do not have any immediate prospects, are also encouraged to pray about going on a mission. Young ladies have such a remarkable spirit about them. They are future mothers, teachers, nurturers, and wives. They can do so much good in inspiring the lives of people they meet. The average length of a mission for a woman is eighteen-months.
I myself had every intention of following in my brother’s footsteps and going on my own mission. As I began preparing myself a certain friend decided we should get married instead (I decided not to argue with him). It hasn’t stopped my hope of one day going on a mission.
Older couples are also encouraged to go on missions, if their family life is stable and their financial aspects will allow. Though they typically don’t go from door to door to preach the gospel, older couples do many things to help further along the missionary effort.
I wish I could explain in a few short words why it is the young, single adults in our Church give up so much of their time, but I think the Lord does it so much better. In the Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of revelations given to Joseph Smith) we can read what it means to Him to have someone brought back to His fold:
“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (D&C 18:15-16)
We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints send out missionaries because we know the joy this restored gospel has brought into our own lives. We glory in its truth and want the rest of the world to know it as well. Just look at the faces of these young men and women, listen to their sweet, simple testimonies, and feel of the spirit of the Holy Ghost.
“Now, my dear young friends, missionary work is not easy. In fact, it is often quite difficult, but the Lord is the greatest paymaster in the world. Dedicated missionary service is one of life’s most fulfilling experiences. This is in large measure because of the divine agency which flows so richly from the Lord to His humble and obedient servants to bless the lives of others. I know this because I have seen it manifested in the lives of thousands and have felt it in my own life” (David B. Haight, “A Spiritual Adventure,” New Era, Jun 2000).
I wish to bear you my own testimony, and act in part as a missionary called to be here on this wonderful site at this time, that I know this Church is the Lord’s restored gospel here on earth. I would encourage you to read the Book of Mormon, to find out for yourselves if it is true. If even one small that I have said has touched your heart, listen to it. Ask of God if it is His Holy Spirit speaking to you.
If you would like to have the missionaries come to your home, but you don’t know how, please go to www.Mormon.org and you can request them.
