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Develop testimony- Be worthy
"The Lord needs messengers to match His message," said Elder David B. Haight of the Council of the Twelve in speaking of missionary service.
Addressing the Sunday morning session, he added that the Lord "needs those who are able to wield the mighty and eternal influence that He has placed in their hands."
Elder Haight spoke of the "hundreds of young men and women and couples who, week after week, leave our missionary training centers around the world to embark on the grandest experience of their lives - going forth to serve our Heavenly Father with all their heart, might, mind and strength. That is indeed one of the great miracles of our time.
"The Lord is opening the way and making it possible to expand His work throughout the world, and what a blessing it is for all of us - each in His own way - to take part. During the past five years, the number of missionaries serving out in the world has grown from 36,000 to over 49,700 as of right now. The number of missions has grown from 220 to 294. Nearly one and a half million new members have joined the Church during that same period of time. And our missionaries or representatives are now teaching in over 40 additional countries where we were not serving five years ago."
Elder Haight continued, "There is a spirit moving upon our people to want to live their lives in harmony with truth, that they may someday respond to an opportunity to serve.
"The calling to serve the Lord places a tremendous but ennobling responsibility upon each of us."
Elder Haight quoted President Spencer W. Kimball, who said during a regional representatives seminary in April 1976, "We must prepare our missionaries better, not only with language, but with scriptures and above all with a testimony and a burning fire that puts power in their words."
Elder Haight added: "The First Presidency has recently re-emphasized this important challenge. To serve the Lord as a full-time missionary is a privilege; the primary purpose of full-time missionary service is the building up of the kingdom of God. Young men and young women who respond to the call must be prepared for the most vigorous challenge of their young lives - prepared spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and physically.
"Although our missionaries are strengthened, elevated and magnified by their service, that is not their primary purpose, and neither they nor their families nor their leaders should regard a mission as the solution to unresolved problems.
"Does this mean," he continued, "that those who are not yet ready should be turned away or rejected? Of course not. It means that our young people, their families and their leaders should each accept the personal responsibility for preparing worthy, able and committed volunteers for the Lord's royal army."
