PROVO, Utah — In March 1835, Wilford W. Woodruff was a missionary traveling on foot from Missouri to Tennessee. The road was difficult, passing through murky swamps infested with snakes, frogs and alligators. The future Church President and his companion walked 40 miles a day through knee-deep mud and water, encountering bears and swollen creeks along the way; and they sometimes went days without food or lodging.
One day, after 10 miles of slogging, Elder Woodruff developed a pain in his knee. As he sat on a log, his companion decided to go home to Kirtland, abandoning both his mission and Elder Woodruff.
Alone in the alligator swamp, Elder Woodruff knelt in the mud to pray. Later he wrote in his journal: “The Lord healed me, and I went on my way rejoicing.”
Recounting the story at a Christmas Day devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, Dec. 25, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said Elder Woodruff rejoiced because he had faith in Jesus Christ and knew he would share the gospel with the world.
“That, dear elders and sisters, was and is a great cause to rejoice,” said Elder Rasband.
Speaking to missionaries in the Church’s 11 missionary training centers worldwide in the devotional broadcast from the Provo MTC, Elder Rasband was joined by his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband.
She said that at Christmastime, individuals honor the babe born in the manger.
“Our Lord and Savior is our older brother,” Sister Rasband said. “He gave the greatest gift, not just His blood, but enduring all, He gave His life for us. ... Surely we can rejoice and praise and honor Him in return for His priceless gift, through this Christmas, through our missions and throughout our lives.”
‘Words matter’
During his remarks, Elder Rasband encouraged the missionaries to think of Elder Woodruff’s example “every time you get discouraged; every time it seems people are not listening, which will be often; every time you question your own ability to share the gospel or your companion’s, for that matter. … Go ‘on your way rejoicing’ with firm resolve in your heart to be about the Lord’s business, facing your alligators in whatever form they may take.”
In addition to rejoicing, Elder Rasband counseled, missionaries can remember that “words matter,” as he taught during April 2024 general conference. Do not be casual about the Lord’s words, prophetic counsel or scripture, he said, and “let your words be a testament to who you are: a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Elder Rasband also said that words in sacred hymns like “Joy to the World” and “Away in a Manger” can buoy missionaries up; and he shared the story of John Menzies Macfarlane, an early Church convert from Scotland who received revelation to write the hymn “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains.”
Elder Rasband read some of the hymn’s lyrics, including the line, “Glory to God in the highest.”
“That is why you are here, at the MTCs around the world, today,” Elder Rasband told the missionaries. “To go forth and teach the stirring words ‘Glory to God in the highest.’ Each of you has a glorious assignment to bear your testimony of our Savior and Redeemer. By so doing, you will gather those to the Church, like Brother Macfarlane, who will contribute in their own way to the Restoration of the gospel.”
‘Remember’ and ‘peace’
Another word Elder Rasband emphasized was “remember,” particularly in regard to remembering the words of God.
He shared the prophet Helaman’s counsel to “remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:12) and noted how Helaman’s sons Nephi and Lehi “did remember [their father’s] words” (Helaman 5:14).
Later, when Nephi and Lehi were cast into prison during their missionary work, they received divine protection, witnessed a pillar of fire encircling the Lamanites and heard God’s voice saying, “Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world” (Helaman 5:47).
That word — “peace” — is one that Elder Rasband wants missionaries to remember. Before choosing to serve a mission, each of them was probably in school or working, getting a sense of direction for their lives, he said.
But then the Spirit of the Lord came to them and said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19).
“I want you to feel ‘the peace of God, which passeth all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7) about your assignment to serve a mission,” Elder Rasband said, adding, “I bear testimony to you today: You are going exactly where the Lord wishes for you to serve, every one of you. I promise you that. Never worry about it again a day of your life.”
Elder Rasband left the missionaries with his apostolic blessing that their service will be full of joy, that their strength will be sustained and that they’ll be filled with God’s love.
“May these words describe your service: your humility, your diligence, your spirit-driven joy and peace,” he said.
Missionaries react
Following the devotional, multiple missionaries expressed appreciation for Elder Rasband’s message, sharing ideas for how they will implement “rejoicing” in their missionary work and their lives.
Elder Jonathan Collins from Kentucky, who will serve in the Arizona Mesa Mission, said “rejoicing” for him looks like pushing forward with God’s work. “There’s so much to come.”
His companion, Elder Jonathan Kopp, from Las Vegas, Nevada, said he wants to spread more joy to others.
“I think spreading that joy to others is really powerful, and I think that’s a service to God as well,” said Elder Kopp, who will serve in the Utah Spanish Fork Mission.
Sister Destiny Howard from Sandy, Utah, who will serve in the Baltic Mission, said she learned that the Savior is with her wherever she goes. This is especially comforting to her as she contemplates entering the mission field.
“I don’t have to be scared to go and serve people and [to] go out and preach this good word, because it brings us so much joy,” she said.
Sister Howard’s two companions will also serve in the Baltic Mission — Sister Madelyn Smith from Pocatello, Idaho, and Sister Kaitlyn Andersen from American Fork, Utah. Sister Smith said it’s important to remember that the gospel is a gospel of joy, and “we have the privilege to share that joy with others.”
Sister Andersen said Elder Rasband’s counsel is helping her feel less afraid of sharing what she believes and knows.
“It’s such a joyful thing to be doing,” she said, adding that Elder Rasband’s message “makes me more excited to serve.”
