W. Christopher Waddell - The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Shirlyn and I are at the end time of our 23 month mission as a couple. Ours was certainly different from the missions of the younger elders and sisters, but it was no less important in the Lord’s plan for us and for those who were influenced by out time here. We have effectively had our exit interviews with the two men most responsible for us, we are grateful for their assertions that our time has been of great value. Like the story in this talk about the less-active returned missionary meeting a serving missionary of the very family in Spain whose father the less-active returned missionary had baptized. That father was the only baptism that the less-active had baptized during his mission to Spain. 

The Lord sends missionaries by inspiration and directs their steps. We do not know the end results. We often think of the sixteen families who were baptized into the Church in the formative years after the Restoration. Who were the missionaries in those years whose long-ago missions started the snowball of missionaries who have served from those families until now? How did they fell about those baptisms?

Missionary work is always difficult and filled with challenges as President Monson taught. “Missionary work is difficult. It taxes one’s energies, it strains one’s capacity, it demands one’s best effort. … No other labor requires longer hours or greater devotion or such sacrifice and fervent prayer” We now look forward to some results of our mission as promised to all:

❑ The gift of faith.

❑ The gift of testimony.

❑ The gift of understanding the role of the Spirit.

❑ The gift of daily gospel study.

❑ The gift of having served our Savior.

❑ Gifts carefully packaged in worn scriptures, tattered copies of Preach My Gospel, missionary journals, and grateful hearts.

We understand the requirements of continuing to seek and use those gifts after our sacrifice. 

While the balance of Elder Waddell’s instruction involved preparation to serve, we are grateful for having had this wonderful experience and now look forward to a time to share in unknown ways, those gifts that have been given to us.