Elder M. Russell Ballard: We need the greatest generation of missionaries

See more of the The Universe’s coverage of the 185th Annual General Conference.

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve began the priesthood session of general conference by offering advice to current missionaries, returned missionaries and young men preparing for missions.

Elder Ballard said each prospective missionary who submitted mission papers used to be personally interviewed by a general authority. The size of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now makes that arrangement impossible, but the church now uses technology to help assign mission calls.

A member of the Quorum of the Twelve looks at a monitor that displays prospective missionaries’ faces and key information. “When your picture appears, we look into your eyes and review your answers to the missionary recommendation questions,” Elder Ballard said. “For that brief moment, it seems as if you are present and responding to us directly.”

Elder Ballard urged prospective missionaries to meet standards set since the “raising of the bar” for full-time missionary service. “What we need is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the church,” he said. “We need worthy, qualified, spiritually energized missionaries … we need your whole heart and soul.”

He asked young adults to ask themselves 10 questions, one of which included whether they use Tinder or Snapchat inappropriately.

He then addressed raising the bar for returned missionaries. “I remind you returned missionaries that your preparation for life and for a family should be continuous. ‘RM’ doesn’t mean ‘Retired Mormon,'” Elder Ballard said. “As a returned missionary, you should be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of your own free will and bring to pass much righteousness.”

Elder Ballard encouraged returned missionaries to use their skills from the mission to bless the lives of people around them. He advised them to not shift their focus exclusively to school, work and social activities. He urged them to balance their lives with spiritual experiences. “I would hope that all of our young adults, whether or not you served full-time missions, understand the importance of visiting with people who are lonely, sick or discouraged … because of the genuine love you have for Heavenly Father and his children.”

He also encouraged young single adults to attend institute and other activities. He told attendees that if they set phones down more often, they might find their eternal companions. This led Elder Ballard to his next piece of advice. “You single adults need to date and marry,” he said. “Please stop delaying.”

He told the men to use their voices to ask a woman on a date instead of using text messages. “To actually hear a human voice will shock her into saying yes,” he said.

All of Elder Ballard’s advice to prospective, current and returned missionaries is intended “to prepare (them) to marry, to serve and to lead in the days ahead.”