Dear Sisters,
I wonder if you can comprehend the good that you do for those you serve, both inside and outside of the church.
Recently, I stood on a street corner just across from the conference center in downtown Salt Lake. At the crosswalk, and to my right was a street preacher with a camera in one hand and a New Testament in the other. In front of me were two sister missionaries. I was about 10 feet behind the sisters when the street preacher approached them.
For the next couple of minutes, this street preacher did everything in his power to convince these sisters that they believed in the “wrong Jesus.”
I wanted to jump into the conversation and trade scriptures with this brother. I wanted to use his own Bible to confound his words. I felt protective of them and wanted to help these sisters respond in kind.
But I found out quickly, that these sisters didn’t need my help at all. They listened patiently and responded respectfully. There was no guile in their tone. Kind words and a calm demeanor was all that they offered. And when they got the green light to cross the street, they gave this man the most genuine Christlike smile and told him to have an amazing day. It was in their actions that they revealed “the correct Jesus” to that man and anyone else who was standing by.
What I witnessed in those sisters impacted my life. It impacted my approach to what could be a contentious situation and provided a Christ-like example for me to follow.
In other places at temple square, I’ll see the sisters trying their best to chat with visitors and make new friends. As is often the case, people turn and walk the other way, leaving the sisters dejected. I know it must be tough out there. I know that some days you walk back to your apartment and wonder if you’re even making a difference.
But the truth is that many of the seeds you plant through your efforts will not bring fruit until long after you’ve returned home. You’re planting the seeds of a tree that can take years to provide shade and comfort to a weary traveler. But you can find peace and gain strength in knowing that what you’re doing is changing the world one person at a time, even if you don’t see that right now. Often times, it’s the person you least suspect who has been impacted by your example.
Take for instance this young girl walking around temple square. She is not your typical “investigator” or “friend.” She’s not someone you’re looking to place in your teaching pool. You’re not looking to challenge her to be baptized. But your very presence and kindness has changed her life forever. You found her when she was young… and you found her when she was older… and every interaction you had with her mattered. It mattered as much as any other key metric you are measuring at the end of the day.
This little girl in the middle of this picture, from a young age even until now hasn’t been able to make a decision about anything. Over the course of her life, she’s had many opportunities that could take her just about anywhere she would like to go. But if you asked her what she wants to do with her life, she wont be able to give you an answer. There is only one thing that she KNOWS she wants to do. And it is this:
She wanted to be like you. She wants to be a missionary. She wants to radiate to others, the same light and kindness you gave to her. It is the only thing in her life that she has been unequivocal about. She wanted to serve a mission. Like you did.
The years have gone by, and that little girl has become a big girl. Sisters have come and gone from the mission field. But your example lives on. It will always live on. And it will live on in my daughter as she fulfills a lifelong dream of putting on that name badge and representing the Savior the way you have.
The sister missionaries of the Church are transforming the world through their service. Long before large numbers of sisters began serving missions, President Kimball once said that “much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers.”
My grandma was one of the greatest examples in my life. She served as an early sister missionary for the Church in New York City. I’ll never forget her sitting in her rocking chair in her final years, pleading with me to serve a mission. She knew what her mission meant to her. No one could take that experience from her and it sustained her through the frustrations, disappointments, and despair that would find her later in life.
For my grandma, this noble sister missionary… I was her last convert. She wore the badge on her blouse as a 21 year old, but she wore the badge in her heart until she was 90.
You just don’t know when and where and how you’re going to impact someone’s life. You don’t know when your sacrifice, your words, your kindness, your testimony, and your example is going to take hold of someone’s heart and change them forever.
So to all of the sister missionaries of the world, wherever you are… I hope that you don’t feel discouraged. I hope that you will have faith in the long term impact you’ll have on generations of God’s children. Many will hold you in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, and in some coming day, you will be able to know that your sacrifice brought forth the blessings of heaven.
It is amazing that this message came in today. I wondered why I had stopped receiving messages from you, and then that thought dropped into the “not on the radar anymore” pile in my life. Thank you for continuing to reach out to us, and sharing this.
Thank you Lei Lani!
It’s so good to hear from you again Greg! Having just finished serving a mission with my husband, I can testify that while ALL missionaries are wonderful, there is something truly special about the young sister missionaries. They radiate love, and those they come in contact with can feel that love – it’s the love of Jesus.
You are so right!
Thank you for sending your light out today. Your words were just what I needed to see with my spiritual eyes. So glad you are still out there shining bright. Congratulations to your daughter and blessings as she begins her new journey.
Thank you Melanie!
Thank you SO much Greg, for this message. Sister missionaries have been a big part of my life, from Sister Naomi Carlston who taught my grandfather the Gospel in Georgia in 1944, to my darling daughter Julianna who served in Australia, to her daughter Laura who is now serving in Idaho. Go Sisters!
For sister missionaries (and anyone/everyone) who would like to share “reasons for faith” about why Latter-day Saints not only worship “the right Jesus” but teach His true Gospel, download a FREE pdf of my book that grew out of my own missionary experiences over 30 years (and share this link with others).
It’s called “A Case for Latter-day Christianity”
It’s good to have you back! I have missed your enlightening comments and essays. All you have said here equally applies to our young elders, service missionaries, senior missionaries and us who live our day-to-day lives.
Thank you Myrna!
Thank you for your words and testimony.. I don’t have a daughter or granddaughter that can be missionaries, but in the 1940’s (before I was born in 1953) my parents and three brothers lived in Pasadena, California. My dad was a member (but not mom) but one day two wonderful young sister missionaries knocked on their door.. my mother listened, learned, received a testimony and was baptized.. it was the SISTERS that touched her heart.. they eventually moved to Salt Lake City and had my brothers sealed to them. In the 50’s my sister and I were born, under the covenant..SISTERS do, indeed, have very tender and happy hearts…
Wow! What an incredible story! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Is she going to Denmark – The land of my ancestors!!
Yes that’s right!
My son is going to be leaving on a mission at the end of September and this message really hit me with such force, tears were streaming down my face. When the young people of our world choose to serve the Lord miracles happen, and I’m so grateful for all the missionaries that have served. My parents were converts and now my son will have the same opportunity to share this glorious message with others. It truly is life changing. Good luck to your daughter in all her endeavors, she will be amazing! My son Joshua sang with her in the MCO choir.
What a kind and wonderful message! Thank you for sharing this and best of luck to your son! MCO is great!
Oh, how I have missed your beautiful messages! I was so excited to see your name in my email once again after so long. Keep up the good work. You are doing missionary work in a big way!
Thank you Jared!