372 missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended a meeting in Sydney on Tuesday 26th of May. It was presided over by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Elder Cook and his wife Mary Cook, along with four other Church leaders, shook hands with each missionary and welcomed each warmly prior to the meeting.
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Elder Cook spoke about missionary work. “I am thankful for the sacrifices you are making to be emissaries of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “When you help build the Church, you are doing exactly what you should be doing.”
Sister Cook told the missionaries, “These meetings are very special. The way you act, the way you smile and emanate such joy, people will see that. Be obedient and pure and you will carry His spirit with you. I am very grateful for your service and for your sacrifice.”
Elder Kevin W. Pearson, president of the Pacific Area for the Church, also spoke at the conference.
“Be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” he said. “Serve him with all your might, mind and heart. As you do this, the Holy Ghost will change you, day by day and hour by hour.”
Elder Johnny Leota, an Area Seventy for the Church, talked to the missionaries about their daily schedule. “You wake at 6:30 a.m. to exercise, pray, have personal study and then companionship study, before you go out to teach. You are home at night by 9:00 or 9:30 if you are teaching, to say prayers, plan together the next day and write in your journal.”
“That is not just a pattern for your mission, but for the rest of your life. Consecrate everything you have to the Lord. It will serve you well.”
Elder Cook invited the missionaries to ask questions during the meeting and he, Elder Pearson and Elder Leota answered them.
Elder Cook closed the meeting by telling those in attendance, “The doctrine of Christ is the doctrine of the Church. He healed the sick, took care of the poor and reached out to everyone.”
“Build your faith in Him. You will come to see how important your mission is. You’re not only blessing yourselves, you’re blessing everyone you love now and everyone in your future. Your future spouse, your future children and grandchildren. Those you teach now will also be blessed by your service.”
Watch a video about missionaries and why they serve.