Fireside focuses on pre-missionaries

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    By JARED GOOCH

    Elder Jack H. Goaslind of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The LDS Church, will address all prospective missionaries in a fireside Tuesday in the Wilkinson Center Ballroom at 7:30 p.m.

    “This will be of real interest to anyone who is preparing to go on a mission,” said Lawrence Flake, professor of church history and doctrine and coordinator for the Sharing the Gospel program. “It is a powerful experience. We would really like to have everyone come that is interested.”

    “I think it is good preparation for missionaries entering the mission field,” said Brian Craven, a sophomore from Harrison, Mich., majoring in civil engineering. “Coming from the Eastern United States, the opportunities to hear from general authorities like that doesn’t come too often, especially on a specific topic like this.”

    The fireside is sponsored every semester by BYU’s Church History and Doctrine Department. The address focuses on how to prepare for the mission field.

    “We do it each semester,” Flake said. “It’s always a general authority that comes. Last year we had Elder Packer and Elder Holland.”

    The fireside is intended for the 2,000 students who are enrolled in the Sharing the Gospel programs both at BYU and Utah Valley State College. The fireside is also open to anyone who wants to come.

    Those who have attended the address in years past think it is important for a large percentage of BYU’s student body.

    “Here at BYU there are so many returned missionaries that the focus is often what you did on your mission rather than how to prepare for it,” said Cherisse Lyon, a sophomore from Westminster, Colo., majoring in statistics. “I think it is great that they can focus on just prospective missionaries.”

    Elder Goaslind, who will be speaking to the prospective missionaries, was called to the Quorum of the Seventy on Sept. 30, 1978. Prior to that, he served as a bishop, a stake president, a regional representative, a counselor in the General Presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood Mutual Improvement Association, and a mission president for the Arizona, Tempe Mission.

    Elder Goaslind has received numerous awards for his contributions to the Boy Scouts of America. Among these awards is the Silver Beaver, awarded in 1994, and the Silver Buffalo, awarded in 1995.

    Elder Goaslind received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah and later served two years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He is currently serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy.

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