Missionary

Since President Thomas S. Monson’s announcement of the change in missionary ages for young elders and sisters at the October 6 2012 morning general conference session, missionary applications have poured in by the thousands—in fact, have doubled. Many bishops and stake presidents started receiving inquiries about interviews almost as soon as the announcement was made. Only a few weeks after the announcement, Church spokesman Michael Purdy stated that “the number has increased to approximately 4,000 per week,”[1] whereas the number of applications previously had been about 700 per week. From various reports, the excitement has not waned.

At the press conference held the same day, Elders Russell M. Nelson and Jeffrey R. Holland spoke in more detail about this change in missionary service. Elder Holland said, “Two years ago President Monson made an appeal for more missionaries. Since that time we have seen a rather spectacular increase across the board. We’re up 6 percent for our young elders, 12 percent for sisters and 18 percent for couples. . . . God is hastening his work and he needs more—and more willing and worthy-missionaries to spread the light and truth and the hope and salvation of gospel truth to a darkened world.”[2]

The first of this “wave” of new missionaries began departing to their assigned fields of labor in January 2013. As so many more are following, the training time at the MTC for new missionaries has been reduced by a third.

I don’t know how this increased enthusiasm for missionary service has affected seniors in the Church. I hope that the number of applications of seasoned Church members is following the same incline, jumping even higher than the commendable 18 percent noted by Elder Holland.

When our mission president, Thomas B. Morgan, of the New York, New York North Mission, welcomed us in August, he told us that he referred to “senior missionaries” as “couple missionaries.” We became younger missionaries as he spoke!

I was a poster child—I mean senior—for all the reasons to delay submitting our mission application. My husband was ready to go, but I had all those excuses: I didn’t want to leave my grandchildren, I wasn’t old enough, I was thoroughly enjoying my friends and our many get-togethers, I had my home and flower garden to tend to. Patiently, my husband Larry suggested we at least make dental and medical appointments and begin the series of shots—just in case.

One night last May I awoke with the strong feeling it was time to give up my excuses and go. Within a short time, we knew that we would be called to the New York, New York North Mission with an assignment in Public Affairs. We attended training at the end of June and entered the MTC July 23^rd. Getting ready, leaving our home, making arrangements, and bidding adieu to family and friends in a rather short time was quite a flurry.

We have loved everything about our mission– the five inspiring days in the MTC, the people with whom we serve, the neighborhood and city we live in, our particular weekday assignment, serving on Sundays in the Harlem 2^nd Ward, mingling with the young elders and sister missionaries. We are witness to the Lord guiding His work. We also see how the gospel blesses the lives of individuals and families.

Elder Kim and Sister LaRene Tovey are currently temple missionaries in the Manhattan, New York Temple. They both feel it a great privilege to serve in the temple five days a week and “have loved every minute of it.” Elder Tovey said, “It is wonderful to see the growth in new converts as they come to the temple with family cards to do baptisms and catch hold of the gospel. Their lives change as they perform these baptisms.”

An unexpected blessing came to Elder Tovey as a back problem he had endured for years was resolved when an orthopedic surgeon, who was a member of the Church and referred by another missionary, performed surgery on him. The Toveys plan to serve another mission later.

When Elder Ray and Sister Danita Caldwell saw the mission opportunity to serve at Camp Alpine on lds.org. Ray’s first reaction was, “That’s not a mission!”  The Caldwells have served at this Oregon camp since September 2012. Danita commented, we’ve come to realize that there are many different ways for senior couples to serve missions.  Ours suits us, our interests, and capabilities. We have felt the Lord’s influence as we have worked around camp and shared experiences with guests.

“Camp Alpine is primarily for Young Women camps in the summer, but it is also used for Scouts, families, and ward and stake activities.  Our primary job is to maintain the camp in such a way that the people who come here may be able to feel close to the Lord as they are out in nature.  Although many of our daily tasks may seem mundane, such as clearing trails, cutting wood, repairing bridges, and painting, we see them as ways to fulfill our calling as we strive to make this a spot where the Spirit can touch lives.”

Elder Rick and Sister Lynda Smith are Member and Leadership Support Missionaries in the Guatemala Guatemala City North Mission. Although Rick earlier served a Spanish-speaking mission, Lynda did not know Spanish when the call came. She has worked very hard to become fluent and loves the people she serves. She said, “I can’t imagine retirement without having meaningful service to fill up our days!  We may not be doing anything grand, but it is important to those we serve and to ourselves.”

Now on their fourth mission, Elder Howard and Sister Laura Passey were called to the Family History Center in Manhattan. Previously they have served as Member and Leadership Support missionaries in Buffalo, New York; and CES missionaries in Auckland, New Zealand, and again in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Sister Passey said that throughout their marriage they talked about serving a mission together. When their youngest son had a year left on his mission, they submitted their application and completed their mission at the same time he finished his.

Although it is not easy for any senior to be separated from their families and what is familiar at home, the blessings are greater than the sacrifice. Laura Passey, likely articulates what many senior missionaries feel: “Every time we have served, we have had a confirmation that this is the way our family could receive the greatest blessings at this time.”