Beloved Missionaries and Children,
This may be long, but it is something I felt I needed to do and I hope you will take the time to read and discuss this letter. Please feel my love for you as you read this letter. I write to my children and their spouses and to our missionaries and their spouses, for you complete each other and together become whole.
Today I was asked to speak in our ward Sacrament Meeting on Elder Ballard’s recent conference talk that he gave in the Priesthood session called, “The Greatest Generation of Young Adults.” In his talk, he referenced the talk that impacted each of our lives during our mission, “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries.” I felt that I was asked to speak on this talk because of what we witnessed on our mission firsthand seeing how the bar was raised and how those of you on the mission and those of you preparing to serve responded to this call to rise up and become the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the church. It brought back a flood of tender memories.
You remember the call from Elder Ballard in 2002, ““What we need now is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the Church. We need worthy, qualified, spiritually energized missionaries who, like Helaman’s 2,000 stripling warriors, are “exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity” and who are “true at all times in whatsoever thing they [are] entrusted” (Alma 53:20).”
A few other quotes from this landmark talk that changed the church:
“Brethren, today we are fighting a battle that in many ways is more perilous, more fraught with danger than the battle between the Nephites and the Lamanites. Our enemy is cunning and resourceful. We fight against Lucifer, the father of all lies, the enemy of all that is good and right and holy.”
“These are “perilous times.” We battle literally for the souls of men. The enemy is unforgiving and relentless. He is taking eternal prisoners at an alarming rate. And he shows no sign of letting up.
While we are profoundly grateful for the many members of the Church who are doing great things in the battle for truth and right, I must honestly tell you it still is not enough. We need much more help. And so, as the people of Ammon looked to their sons for reinforcement in the war against the Lamanites, we look to you, my young brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood. We need you!”
“Many of you are already on this track, and we commend you for your worthiness and determination. For those of you who are not, let tonight be the beginning of your preparation process. If you find yourself wanting in worthiness, resolve to make the appropriate changes—beginning right now. If you think you need to talk to your father and your bishop about any sins you may have committed, don’t wait; do it now. They will help you to repent and change so you can take your place as a member of the greatest generation of missionaries.”
These are a few quotes from this great talk that you may want to read again. Just because you were a missionary or preparing to be a missionary at this time was not a guarantee, It was a call that required a choice, effort, diligence, humility and seeking the spirit each day.
We witnessed a mighty change in our missionaries, mission and the church. How was the bar raised? It was through the individual efforts of each missionary or pre-missionary and through the collective efforts of families, wards, stakes, missions and the entire church. We watched you go to the Lord asking as it says in Ether 12 to show you your weaknesses and the things you individually needed to change. We saw you seek and follow the spirit through daily patterns of prayer, scripture study and acting on every prompting. We watched you rely on the mercy and grace of the power of the atonement to work changes in you and we watched you become the greatest generation of missionaries. We watched our mission focus go from; Obedience and each of us obeying with exactness, to each of you making sacrifices, what could you personally give up in order to be better, and then to consecration as you strove to give your all to the Lord and let Him make of you the missionary you were born to become. The world says “Be all that you can be,” God Says, “Give me your all and let me make you all that you can be.” That is consecration, giving him not only your mission, but your life.
This was an extraordinary task but you are extraordinary ordinary people saved to come to earth at this time.
We watched as Parents, Bishops, Stake Presidents, Mission Presidents, and the entire church was infused with renewed hope and energy from your efforts to become what an Apostle of the Lord called you to become. They went to work themselves with renewed energy in this battle for the souls of men. You gave me greater hope and great joy!!! I still marvel at your goodness and greatness.
I find it interesting that 10 years after this talk, the missionary age was lowered. I believe that shows the bar was raised and I commend you for your participation in this historical time in the church.
Now 13 years later, Elder Ballard again speaks to your generation and gives a new call. “ If I may paraphrase what I said to missionaries 13 years ago, what we need now is the greatest generation of young adults in the history of the Church. We need your whole heart and soul. We need vibrant, thinking, passionate young adults who know how to listen and respond to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit as you make your way through the daily trials and temptations of being a young, contemporary Latter-day Saint.”
I believe this new talk is not just a sequel to a best seller talk given 13 years before because it did so well the first time. I believe that Elder Ballard has a vision of the future and what kind of disciples it will require. I was reading in Preach My Gospel yesterday and read Alma 7. I think I have to add this chapter to my list of favorite chapters. It seems that Alma was much like Elder Ballard today.
Alma had given up the judgment seat to go out and preach the gospel. He had just spent time in Zarahemla where he had labored hard to bring the church back on course. Now in chapter 7 he is preaching to the people of Gideon. I would like to share a few verses that speak to my heart. Because like Alma, This is my hope for each of you:
….and the Lord in much mercy hath granted that I should come unto you.
3 And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla.
4 But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness.
5 And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow.
6 But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come….
18 For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had much desire that ye were not in the state of dilemma like your brethren, even so I have found that my desires have been gratified.
19 For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight.
Alma felt great joy that the people of Gideon were walking in the Lord’s way. However, he still felt to speak to them of the vision he had of the future and cry repentance and teach them how to rise up and be better and prepare for the coming of the Savior.
Alma’s vision or the WHY:
7 For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.
8 Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word.
Alma’s CRY to repent
9 But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth….
15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.
Alma teaching how
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
I can almost hear Elder Ballard’s voice in Alma’s words. I think like Alma, Elder Ballard has a vision of the days ahead. He may not have all the details nor did Alma, but the spirit has told him to cry unto your generation to rise up and become the “Greatest Generation of Young Adults” in the history of the church.
“In many ways the world today is more challenging than it was 13 years ago. Our young men and young women have many more distractions to sidetrack them in their preparations for both a mission and a future happy life. Technology has expanded, and almost everyone has access to handheld devices that can capture the attention of the human family of God for both great good and unconscionable ill.”
Elder Ballard’s teaching how
“please ponder in your heart your answers to these questions:
1. Do you search the scriptures regularly?
2. Do you kneel in prayer to talk with your Heavenly Father each morning and each night?
3. Do you fast and donate a fast offering each month—even if you are a poor, struggling student who can’t afford to donate much?
4. Do you think deeply about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice for you when you are asked to prepare, bless, pass, or partake of the sacrament?
5. Do you attend your meetings and strive to keep the Sabbath day holy?
6. Are you honest at home, school, church, and work?
7. Are you mentally and spiritually clean? Do you avoid viewing pornography or looking at websites, magazines, movies, or apps, including Tinder and Snapchat photos, that would embarrass you if your parents, Church leaders, or the Savior Himself saw you?
8. Are you careful with your time—avoiding inappropriate technology and social media, including video games, which can dull your spiritual sensitivity?
9. Is there anything in your life you need to change and fix, beginning tonight?
Elder Ballard’s CRY to repent:
“ I hope you answered each one of these questions honestly and thoughtfully. If you find yourself lacking in any of these simple principles, then I urge you to courageously repent and bring your life back in line with gospel standards of righteous discipleship.”
Notice Elder Ballard did not say he hoped you answered these questions perfectly. Rather honestly and thoughtfully, letting the spirit guide you to know what changes you need to make to rise up again and take your place as part of the greatest generation.
He goes on to say, “Please use the skills you learned on your mission to bless the lives of people around you every day. Do not shift your focus from serving others to focusing exclusively on school, work, or social activities. Instead, balance your life with spiritual experiences that remind and prepare you for continued, daily ministering to others.”
Elders and Sisters I like Alma have great hope that each of you are using the patterns learned in the mission that bring the spirit into your life of prayer, scripture study individually and with your young families, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY!!!, that you are teaching your little one the importance of partaking in the sacrament each week. I know as you do these things the spirit will guide you through the daily tasks of temporal life. Somehow through the daily struggle of life we become refined and who the Lord needs us to become as we walk hand in hand with God. This comes through seeking Him each day and following His guidance.
Elder Ballard’s WHY or the vision?
Be strong, brethren. Keep the commandments of God. The Lord Jesus Christ promises that all things we desire to do in righteousness will be ours. Church leaders are counting on you. We need every one of you young adults to prepare to marry, to serve, and to lead in the days ahead,”
I quote a return missionary from our ward, “IF it is true, SINCE it is true, we are willing to do things we would not normally do, EVERY DAY!!!”
I do not know what the days ahead will hold, but I do know that you were saved for this time. You were part of the Greatest Generation of Missionaries and now you have been called to be part of the Greatest Generation of Young Adults. I do believe the battle for the souls of men is intensifying. I marvel as I consider the power of not just 2000 stripling warriors, but of an entire generation rising up. I marvel to consider the type of homes, families and marriages you are creating and I marvel at the why. We feel a hastening and we long for the return of our Savior. You were saved for a time such as this and with the Lord’s help, you can answer this call from an apostle of God. You will become the greatest generation and you will lift me and my generation with you as we too strive to do these same things. It is thrilling imagine the impact on your children raised in your powerful homes.
We can become greater disciples of Christ, which will require greater spouses, greater parents, greater grandparents, greater Young Men and Young Women leaders, greater teachers, greater leaders. We can each do our part individually each day and collectively we will become and be prepared for the “days ahead.”
I love each of you!!! I believe in each of you!!!!
Sheri Marie Bennett
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