Post # 218 -- Part 3 -- Counsel from members
of the Twelve Apostles -- Missionary Work Will
Continue to Move Forward Despite
COVID-19 Pandemic,
Says Elder Uchtdorf
Contributed By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor
- 15 APRIL 2020
Dear Family and friends
I hope this post finds each one of you healthy and doing well.
Remember as you are going about your daily activities to be
careful and stay safe, this counsel is part three in the series
and it is directed toward our missionaries. As you may know
by now, I believe that we can all learn from the counsel of our
prophet and his counselors in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
In an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19, missionaries are being trained by remote video conference
rather than travel to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 10 missionary training centers.
Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- COVID-19 accelerated thinking about new ways to
- finding people to teach through technology and social
- media.
- Missionaries, remember: "You prepared, you accepted
- the call, and you gave your best. That is what counts."
- Help build and strengthen missionaries' faith and focus
- on what they can influence.
“The work goes on irrespective of whether there is an
epidemic or smooth sailing.” —Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
RELATED LINKS
This is part three in a series of counsel from members of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles during the COVID-19 outbreak. Click on the
As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated across the world, leaders of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned their attention
they teach and serve.
The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—with
information directly from and in close coordination with area
presidencies and local leaders, the missionary department, and an
army of volunteers—counseled and prayed for solutions.
“When we decided about moving missionaries from or to certain
countries in the morning, we had to change it in the afternoon,” said
chairman of the Church’s Missionary Executive Council. “When we
evaluated governmental or other travel restrictions in a meeting, the
situation had already changed when we left the meeting.”
With information and circumstances in constant flux, Church
leaders and “especially the missionary department staff and our
precious volunteers” had to adapt quickly, he said.
The prospect of returning thousands of missionaries to their home
countries caused great heartache, explained Elder Uchtdorf. All
involved learned quickly that is was not enough to ponder only with
their heads, but also with their hearts, and the Lord expanded their
vision of the great opportunities and possibilities for missionary work
to go forward under these stressful circumstances.
“We have to accept there is a lesson in all of this,” said Elder
Uchtdorf.
I have to agree with Elder Uchtdorf here that “We have to
accept there is a lesson in all of this,” we may not know what
that lesson is, but we must believe that there is something to
be learned through all of this uncertainty.
Health and Safety
Facing increasing health risks and nations about to close their
borders, wherever necessary Church leaders began returning
missionaries to their home nations; some 30,000 missionaries
were on the move at one specific time. Others had traveled before
them and more would follow.
It was “almost heartbreaking,” said Elder Uchtdorf, “because you
see that these missionaries wanted to stay and you feel that they
are needed there.”
For months the Church had been tracking the progression of
COVID-19. Leaders realized immediately that the illness would have
“a worldwide effect on missionary work as we knew it,” said Elder
Uchtdorf.
The Church has 67,000 missionaries serving in 399 missions and 10
missionary training centers throughout the world. There are still
missionaries serving, who will continue to serve, outside their home
countries in some locations across the world—including the United
States and Canada.
This is occurring in countries and missions where this is the safest
and best way to serve or where travel restrictions do not allow a return.
But most missionaries who had to return to their country of origin have
now returned. They are either continuing their service in their home
country, have been released or are awaiting reassignment.
Elder Uchtdorf said Church leaders have been examining missionary
practices—where traditional “finding” has been limited by gated
communities, inaccessible apartment buildings, and change of social
communication practices—for many years.
“COVID-19 accelerated our thinking about this tremendously and
opened our eyes for new ways,” including the use of technology, said
Elder Uchtdorf. “The Spirit can work wonderfully as we use new and
unfamiliar ways of communicating with each other.”
Kimber Young teaches Mandarin Chinese via video conferencing at the Provo Missionary
Training Center to training missionaries in their homes on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. In
an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19, missionaries are being trained by remote
video conference rather than travel to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'
10 missionary training centers. Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and his wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, greet a young elder prior
to a February 15, 2020, missionary meeting in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Jason
Swensen, Church News.
Elders Noah Deckard, Nathan Budge, and Jackson Nielsen collect baggage as hundreds
of missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints return from the
Philippines to Salt Lake City International Airport on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Photo by
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News.
Using his hands to outline the shape of a heart, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf displays his love for
the missionaries following a November 5, 2019, devotional at the Provo Missionary Training
Center. Photo by Cheryl Taylor.
Going Forward
Elder Uchtdorf said all missionaries, regardless of their circumstances,
“have the wonderful opportunity of going forward by finding, teaching,
baptizing, and making disciples” with the aid of technology and social
media. “The work goes on irrespective of whether there is an epidemic
or smooth sailing.”
The gospel “is a message of peace and hope; it is a message of
healing and joy. Using technology to share this message with the help
of the Spirit is the opportunity of our time.” The transition from sharing
the gospel by technology, to eye-to-eye personal contact is an
important step in this process and will be much easier when the
pandemic is better under control. But missionary work will continue to
move forward—in spite of the pandemic. “It is the fulfillment of the great
commission given to us by the Savior based on the two great
commandments showing our love for God and His children by
ministering to all.”
Missionary recommendations continue to arrive at headquarters.
Calls continue to be extended and assignments made, said
Elder Uchtdorf.
“We had to learn and find our way because we wanted to keep the
missionaries safe and happy and also keep their families happy,” he
said. “Of course, that is not always easy to do at the same time.”
Similar to experiences of Samuel Smith—Joseph Smith’s brother and
the Church’s first missionary who endured many hardships—this is a
time of great learning for missionaries, their families and those who
oversee missionary work, said Elder Uchtdorf. Samuel Smith “was
frustrated almost from the first day until the last day.” In spite of
wonderful successes (he gave away a copy of the Book of Mormon
that led to the baptism of both Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball),
his mission was one of constant frustration. “Now we recognize him
as one of the hero missionaries.”
Elder Uchtdorf mentioned that even President Gordon B. Hinckley—
when he was a struggling young missionary in England—had to
learn from his father the need to “forget yourself and go to work.”
“This was true then; it is true now,” Elder Uchtdorf said.
Early Releases
The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pray
for and care deeply about the Church’s full-time missionaries, said
Elder Uchtdorf. Decisions that impact this group are made only after
senior leaders have sought out and received inspiration and guidance.
Speaking to the missionaries whose missions were cut short, Elder
Uchtdorf emphasized two key points in missionary service—the
decision to serve a mission and the acceptance of the missionary
call extended by the prophet of God.
“Many of our missionaries have prepared themselves from childhood
on to serve a mission. They decided on their own free will, they wanted
to go. And then they accepted the call from the Prophet of God to
serve as a disciple of Jesus Christ, as a representative of the Savior,
wherever the Lord would assign them for however long.”
Kimber Young teaches Mandarin Chinese via video conferencing at the Provo Missionary
Training Center to training missionaries in their homes on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. In an
attempt to control the spread of COVID-19, missionaries are being trained by remote video
conference rather than travel to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 10
missionary training centers. Photo by Laura Seitz, Deseret News.
There have been other times in history when missionaries have had
unexpected releases—due to health concerns, accidents, war or
other circumstances, Elder Uchtdorf added. “The key points are the
decision to go and the decision to accept.”
Everything that happens after that is often influenced by
circumstances not within the decision of the missionary, he added.
“You prepared, you accepted the call and you gave your best. That
is what counts. That is what makes all the difference. That is what
makes a missionary.”
Addie Rutter uses a laptop at the Provo Missionary Training Center to teach French to training
missionaries at home on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. In an attempt to control the spread of
COVID-19, missionaries are being trained by remote video conference rather than travel to the
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 10 missionary training centers. Photo by
Laura Seitz, Deseret News.
The Lord, he promised, accepts the sacrifices and service of every
missionary who served with all their heart, might, and strength even
if they had to be released earlier than anticipated. “Be the best
missionary you can be now and make the best out of the time in front
of you,” he said. “And remember, you will be a missionary for the rest
of your life.”
Elder Uchtdorf said there are many things missionary parents can
also learn in this process. “Sometimes you have to let your sons or
daughters go and let them find their way … . Give them courage
and trust that they are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father and
will do the right things.”
He continued, “In your phone calls, emails, or letters, strengthen
the faith of your missionaries. Help them to focus on the things they
can influence and not be distracted or discouraged by things they
cannot change. Ask for and listen to their spiritual experiences
during these challenging times. Share your own testimonies of how
your lives are blessed because of their service as missionaries.”
All missionaries need that kind of support, he said. “It will greatly
help the missionary to grow in spirituality and become more mature,
but also help families feel part of this marvelous work and a wonder.”
Mission presidents and their wives are always a wonderful source of
strength and direction to the missionaries but especially during this
special time, said Elder Uchtdorf. “It is amazing how creative mission
leaders are in strengthening and motivating the missionaries even
though they are not able to see them in person so often. It is just
amazing.”
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf greet a missionary in Montevideo, Uruguay,
during February, 2020, trip to South America. Photo courtesy of the South America South Area.
Challenging Times
Elder Uchtdorf said the answer to the challenges ahead is the gospel
of Jesus Christ. Because of that, missionary work for the Church has
a bright future.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ—as do all in the human race—
will continue to face challenging times, said Elder Uchtdorf. They will
be different for every person, in every location, and in every circumstance.
Still, as Latter-day Saints “we are living in a time when we need to learn”
and find new approaches for sharing and proclaiming the gospel in
more creative and productive ways, he added.
Members are connecting “at this moment” through technology.
Missionaries are doing the same. “We have to use our creativity, our
hearts, our minds, our experiences, our great potential of counseling
together.”
The Church and its members will still share God’s truths with His
children, he emphasized. Just as the Apostle Paul traveled by boat,
and missionaries centuries later took planes, missionaries of
tomorrow may connect with others through many different and
often very new means.
“We are continuing to learn how to improve missionary work now
and for the future,” said Elder Uchtdorf. “The Lord has promised to
‘hasten His work’ for the blessing of all of God’s children. I feel that
we are right in the middle of this process while living through this
challenging time. Our precious missionaries are the pioneers of
our day, blazing a trail of sharing the gospel message in new
ways fitting to our circumstances, so that the Church of Jesus
Christ will continue to roll forth until it fills the whole earth.”
Missionaries acknowledge Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf by standing as the apostle prepares
to leave following a Nov. 5, 2019, devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center.
Photo by Cheryl Taylor.
I love the missionaries in our area, they are amazing!!
Just as I am sure they are everywhere else in the
world. I have the privilege of being called to serve
as the coordinator for the missionary calendar. I
try to make sure that they are fed well while they
are here on their mission,
I don't always manage to get them dinner every night
but I sure do try, I would like to think that if my
children had chosen to go on a mission that there would
have been someone out there to feed them. Since my
children made other choices the least i can do is to
help feed the missionaries in our area.
When I had my own home we had 5 sets of missionaries
in our home every Sunday for dinner!! We did this for
many years. I loved feeding them, but I don't have my
own home anymore, so I am very grateful for my
calling.
You are totally blessed whenever you have missionaries
in your home. If you get the chance to invite them over
for dinner or even to prepare a meal and take it to them,.
During this COVID 19 i have asked my ward family to
make meals and take them to the missionaries in their
homes. I promise that you will be blessed for doing so!!!
I pray that you will take the opportunity to listen to
the missionaries whenever the time arises and you will
be open to their message. I have never been sorry for
listening to the missionaries who came to my home all
those many years ago. I have been very blessed since
that time and you can be as well. Just have faith.
If you allow the missionaries to teach you, you will learn
the plan of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
You will not be sorry you let them plant the seed of the
gospel in your heart. Keep praying every morning and
evening, please continue to study your scriptures.
Keep praying, keep studying the Book of Mormon with
me and all of our cyber study buddies out there in
cyberspace. Keep hoping, keep holding family home
evenings with your family members and friends. Hold
onto your faith, nourish it and keep it strong!!! Until
my next post, remember who you are!!
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