By Christian Fehlberg
*Sunday morning session
Following a personal welcome to the pair of newest apostles, Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke of the missionary program and the church?s need for more senior missionary couples.
?When we think of missionaries, we generally picture in our minds young men with shirts and ties and young women dressed modestly,? Elder Nelson said. ?But along with them are marvelous senior missionaries who have answered the pleadings of prophets and apostles for more missionary couples.?
Elder Nelson expressed gratitude to the church?s senior missionary couples and admiration for their selfless service.
?They are young in spirit, wise and willing to work,? Elder Nelson said. ?They even tolerate remarks from their fun-filled children who might change President Spencer W. Kimball?s plea, ?Lengthen your stride?, to ?Hasten your shuffle?.?
Elder Nelson illustrated the joy and blessings that come from missionary service as couples by referring to the words and experiences of a few senior missionary couples serving in different parts of the world.
One of the couples Elder Nelson spoke of was Elder Lloyd and Sister Catherine Poelman. Parents of nine children and grandparents of 20 grandchildren, the Poelmans now serve in a remote part of Chile, working in a small branch, Elder Nelson said.
?They make frequent visits among less-active members and with families recently converted to the church,? Elder Nelson said. ?These visits provide the opportunity for the Poelmans to read with those families and bear testimony of temple blessings.?
Elder and Sister Poelman recently wrote, ?Baptism is only the first step in conversion. When the initial excitement subsides and the new converts continue facing the need to work long hours just to put bread on the table, they need others to help them share the joy of the gospel. That is our specialty.??
Other senior missionary couples, like Elder Kenneth and Sister Barbara Willits, render missionary service in the sacred temples of the church, Elder Nelson said. He said the Willits, who have three children, 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, now serve in the Accra, Ghana Temple.
?Courageous and caring couples like Elder and Sister Willits enable and enrich the work done in many of our temples across the earth,? Elder Nelson said.
Elder Nelson spoke of other senior missionary couples and the blessings they have received from their faithful service. Though it is never convenient for a senior missionary to leave, Elder Nelson said, the day will come when those who served will rejoice that they didn?t ?seek the shadows? when they received the call to serve.
?Many humble Latter-day Saints fear that they are not qualified for missionary labors,? Elder Nelson said. ?Of all qualifications to serve, a desire to serve may be the most important.?
Speaking to those who would like to serve but are not able to do so, Elder Nelson said the opportunities for senior missionary service is varied and vast, and that those with such limitations who serve in other ways will not be denied blessings from the Lord.
Elder Nelson said all people may preach the gospel by precept and example.
?All of us can emulate the Lord?s example, regardless of age, status or location,? he said.