PROVO, Utah – Just moments after expressing his deep and emotional gratitude for the impact of his mission and its mission presidents, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited four other Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to do so reflect on their own impact as mission presidents.
But before Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, and Elder Ulisses Soares could respond, surprise attendees took the stage at the 2023 New Mission Leaders’ Seminar—emphasizing a powerful message without words.
Kurt Christensen was a missionary under Elder Andersen in France; Ryan Werlick was a missionary under Elder Rasband in New York; Shimpei Yamashita was a missionary under Elder Stevenson in Japan; and Ty Bennett was a missionary under Elder Soares in Portugal.
Kurt Christensen (left) served as a missionary under Elder Neil L. Andersen in France; Ryan Werlick was a missionary under Elder Ronald A. Rasband in New York; Shimpei Yamashita was a missionary under Elder Gary E. Stevenson in Japan; and Ty Bennett was a missionary under Elder Ulisses Soares in Portugal. The men attended a special session of the 2023 New Mission Leaders Seminar in Provo, Utah, on June 22, 2023.
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The men hugged their former mission presidents—and, with underlying feelings, demonstrated the impact a mission president has on the lives of his missionaries.
When Elder Holland addressed this topic for seminary, he quoted 3 Nephi 18:24, “Hold up your light, that it may shine on the world.”
Elder Holland spoke months after temporarily retiring from his full-time Church duties due to health reasons. “May I thank everyone who has prayed and continues to pray for the general authorities of the church,” he said. “I am evidence of the effectiveness of these prayers. And thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
With great emotion he urged Latter-day Saints to “believe in prayer.”
“Believe that this is truly God’s work and that He will lead, guide and bless you,” he said. “Call down the blessings you need. Heaven is ready and waiting to send them. I am an example of that today.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will attend the 2023 New Missionary Leaders’ Seminar on June 22, 2023 at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.
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Elder Holland said he asked to speak about the influence of Church leaders because “this is one of the most important messages” that local mission leaders will bring.
“And once again, I humbly offer myself as a visual aid,” said Elder Holland. “I have walked through this church and visited hundreds of missions and thousands of missionaries—I have been doing this for 33 years—I explained to them that no young man has been more affected by a mission than I have been. My entire life, on the mission and in the 60 years since, has been transformed, refined, and renewed like no other. …
“That rebirth and dedication ultimately came from my Heavenly Father, but His mortal agent was this man, my mission president, Elder Marion D. Hanks. He opened the scriptures. He opened my heart. He believed in me and led me to the Lord Jesus Christ. He committed me to be faithful to him for the rest of my life. To this day I have faithfully tried to do so.”
Kurt Christensen served as a missionary under Elder Neil L. Andersen in France, left; Ryan Werlick was a missionary under Elder Ronald A. Rasband in New York; Shimpei Yamashita was a missionary under Elder Gary E. Stevenson in Japan; and Ty Bennett was a missionary under Elder Ulisses Soares in Portugal. The men attended a special session of the 2023 New Mission Leaders Seminar in Provo, Utah, on June 22, 2023.
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“All Heroic”
During their ministry, mission leaders are “everything” to their missionaries, Elder Holland said. “Presidents, you are teachers, priests, confessors and judges. You are advisor, motivator, advisor and king. You are father, shepherd, theologian and friend. You are a historian, a safe haven, and a living disciple of Christ. In short, you are all heroic and ideal in their eyes, and they will speak your name with reverence and respect, even reverence and holiness, throughout your life.”
This was absolutely the case for the missionaries of Elder Andersen, Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Soares.
“I can only explain my relationship with the President and Sister [Kathy] Anderson as deep spiritual feelings,” Christensen said. Except for his own father, “no other man had had a better or greater positive influence on my destiny and my life than President Andersen.”
Elder Stevenson gave his former missionaries “a clear vision of what kind of father and priesthood holder they should be,” Yamashita said. “His powerful testimony was really inspirational to us” and “closed our hearts.”
After converting to the gospel at age 14, Werlick served as an assistant to then-President Rasband. Eventually he married the Rasbands’ daughter. “I didn’t know the gospel. I learned it as a missionary…” he said. “And life has changed for me.”
Bennett looked at Elder Soares and said, “I remember the moment I met you and the love I saw in your eyes. It changed me.” That influence remains, he said, “as a teacher, a mentor, a father figure, a spiritual leader, as someone I want to be proud of.”
From left: Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, and Elder Ulisses Soares, all members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, participate in the 2023 New Missionary Leaders’ Seminar—missionary training Center in Provo, Utah on June 22, 2023.
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“Always teach”
Elder Holland also asked the leaders what they had learned during their time as mission presidents.
Elder Andersen spoke about the importance of bearing your testimony of the Savior. “In the secular world in which our missionaries are growing up, the big question is, ‘Is Jesus the Christ?’”
There is nothing, he said, that can more profoundly strengthen the spirit of missionaries or help them “than to center what is taught on Jesus Christ.”
Elder Rasband quoted advice he once received from Elder Holland, noting that Church leaders are always teaching—”and sometimes words are used.”
Missionaries constantly monitor their mission leaders; They’re watching you with your wife, they’re watching you with your kids. You always teach.”
Elder Stevenson said that as the new mission leader, his zone conferences are full of good business practices. He quickly realized that “we lacked the teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.”
He said sharing the gospel is “one of the ways mission presidents hold their keys.”
Elder Soares added, “You are an example of what you teach.”
He often spent time teaching and evangelizing with his missionaries “to help them understand principles by example.”
Elder Ulisses Soares will participate in a special session of the 2023 New Mission Leaders Seminar on June 22, 2023 at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.
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