A BYU prospective missionary fireside advised young adults as they prepare to serve full-time missions in the Wilkinson Student Center on March 5.
Bishop Richard C. Edgley, emeritus member of the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said a mission creates some of the sweetest memories an individual will obtain. People who choose to serve a mission will have a lasting impression on the rest of their lives.
“Your life will be changed forever and probably just as importantly, maybe even more important, you will witness the lives of others change forever,” Edgley said.
Edgley challenged the large crowd of preparing missionaries to commit to serving honorably, obeying, working hard, keeping covenants, telling their parents they love them and being good examples. If they commit to these things, Edgley promised wonderful things would happen.
Pointing his finger in the air for emphasis, Edgley stared down the front two rows and gave them three points to remember. First, to remember who they are and their personal worth. Second, the Book of Mormon and their testimonies will be the greatest tools for conversion. Last, the value of a single soul is great.
Rebekah Glew, a BYU sophomore preparing to serve a mission, said she enjoyed Edgley’s emphasis on the impact when just one person is brought to the LDS Church.
“I really like how he talked about finding the individual and remembering that it is about the individual,” Glew said. “Focusing on the one person and how it can impact generations to come is proof of the blessing it can be and the power teaching just one person has.”
Edgley focused much of his talk on the importance of individuals. He gave many objectives missionaries should be striving to complete.
“When you go on a mission, you will teach doctrine and history, but your objective is to have that one person have their own personal revelation,” Edgley said.
Many faculty members and stake presidency members attended the fireside to be able to take the messages shared and better prepare the young people in their classes and stakes for missions.
“We’ll be taking the enthusiasm of missionary work to our youngsters and the difference it makes in spreading the gospel,” said Gordon Lindsay, member of the Provo YSA 6th stake presidency.
