Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis, a General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2022 general conference. He spoke of the importance of and blessings from full-time missionary service. The following is a summary of what he said.
Notable quotes from Elder Aidukaitis
“Serving a full-time mission may seem difficult to us. Perhaps it requires that we give up important things for a moment. The Lord certainly knows this, and He will always be by our side.”
“My mission completely shaped my life. I learned it is worth the effort to trust in God, to trust in His wisdom and mercy and in His promises.”
“When we serve as full-time missionaries, we will be challenged at times, but the Lord Himself is our great exemplar and guide in such circumstances.”
Summary of Elder Aidukaitis’ talk
The Lord’s invitation to “Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come” (Doctrine and Covenants 31:3) can serve as inspiration to all Latter-day Saints, not just in the mission of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil but particularly in full-time missionary service.
“Serving a full-time mission may seem difficult to us. Perhaps it requires that we give up important things for a moment. The Lord certainly knows this, and He will always be by our side.”
Rich blessings afforded those who serve Him, and missions help preparation for adult life, possible marriage and parenthood, Church service, and professional and community life.
“My mission completely shaped my life. I learned it is worth the effort to trust in God, to trust in His wisdom and mercy and in His promises. After all, He is our Father, and without any doubt, He wants the best for us.”
While facing challenges at times in full-time service, the Lord can help and guide. “He understands what a difficult mission is. With His help, we can do hard things. He will be by our side, and He will bless us greatly as we humbly serve Him.”
About Elder Aidukaitis
- Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008.
- He served as president of the Brazil Area from August 2017 to August 2020 and now serves at Church headquarters as a member of the North America Southeast Area presidency.
- He was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Aug. 30, 1959. He married Luisa Englert in 1986. They are the parents of five children.
Elder Aidukaitis in the news
- Elder Aidukaitis explored how the plan of salvation is a divine example of goal setting and organization in a BYU–Pathway Worldwide devotional on March 2, 2021.
- Sharing a personal experience as a young father in Brazil, Elder Aidukaitis recalled during a Church News podcast in February 2021 a “tough period” in his life when feelings of worry and anxiety became unmanageable. He pointed to the Church’s Life Help resources that are available.
