God’s Call to Find All Those Who Can Serve a Mission

By Elder Ifano Rasolondraibe

Africa South Area Seventy

As leaders, teachers and parents, we need to invite all youth who are willing and able to serve and to help all of them prepare to do so.

I never served a mission, but how I would have loved to.

Brother Mamin’ny Aina Rakotoarisoa had been hoping to serve a mission since his early childhood, but during his teen years, his desire lessened as he believed he was not worthy to be called. But when a member friend invited him to join a missionary preparation class, it changed everything.¹ Despite many challenges, and with help from his bishop, he finally made it. Now, recently released from his two-year, full-time mission, he is planning to marry in the temple.

An invitation from the Lord

A year ago, President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Today I reaffirm strongly that the Lord has asked every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission. . . .

“For you young and able sisters. . . . Pray to know if the Lord would have you serve a mission, and the Holy Ghost will respond to your heart and mind.”²

These invitations came to my mind as my scripture study brought me to Jacob chapter 5 in the Book of Mormon: “Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, . . .

“And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and . . . brought other servants”.³

I know that these invitations are from the Lord.

I used to think that missionary service is only for the best ones, those who are willing to serve and who have made themselves ready. But this strong statement from President Nelson changed my mind, and convinced me that I too, need to invite all young men to serve and to help all of them be ready to serve. Indeed, they “have been reserved for this time when the promised gathering of Israel is taking place.”⁴ And I too, need to invite all young women to pray to know if the Lord wants her to serve, and help those who desire to serve get ready.

Find all of them

When Stéphane Rasorotsoa lost his grandfather, who was his last known family member, he was inspired to move to Toamasina to find work. He met the missionaries there, who invited him to attend an English class. He was not very interested in learning English, but something made him accept the invitation. Then, an unexpected phone call from someone he did not know invited him to move to Tolagnaro, and an unexplained desire to find his family prompted him to respond to that invitation. In Tolagnaro, he discovered the same Church as the one where he learned English in Toamasina, was taught by the missionaries, joined the Church, later found his mother in Antananarivo, and was prompted to serve a mission. He is now serving in the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission and is clearly blessed with the gift of tongues.⁵

As leaders and members of the Church, we need to find all these young men and young women in response to the invitation in Doctrine and Covenants 101: “Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take all the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men.”⁶

They are among us, at Church, or less active out of our sight, in their homes. And there are many, just like Stéphane, out of the Church. We all need to love, serve and invite each of them. We, parents, teachers and leaders, need to find additional warriors to join the Lord’s army, just like the army of Helaman of old.⁷

Help them prepare

The 2,000 warriors of Helaman were successful because they were well-prepared. “They were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; . . .

“For they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.”⁸

I invite all parents to make your home a missionary teaching centre so that it can be said of our youth “they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.”⁹

I invite all bishops, ward councils and teachers to support parents and youth in any way appropriate and help remove all barriers for young men and young women to serve a mission.

Promised blessings

The 2,060 soldiers of Helaman were miraculously protected. “There had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God.”¹⁰

While serving as a stake president, I have seen these blessings as I interviewed many returning missionaries to extend a release. They have all changed for the better. And I know they will be blessed for the rest of their lives. Sure, it will not be easy for all of them, like Helaman’s warriors,¹¹ some will experience hardships, all will be somehow wounded, some will even faint “because of the loss of blood; nevertheless . . . there [would be] not one soul of them who [would] perish.”

And they will be a great blessing to the whole Church as they would be the strong future spouses, parents and leaders.

Testimony

I know Jesus Christ lives. This is His Church. And the young men and young women nowadays will truly be the strength of His Church if we but find them and help them, even minister unto them.