What Mission Does the Lord Have For You?

 

The Joy of Sharing the Gospel

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Brothers and sisters, what mission does the Lord have for you? He knows your capacity to serve, and His Church offers a variety of lengths, assignments, and locations for senior missionaries. If you, like Elder Christensen, wonder whether you are needed, the answer is a decisive yes! The Lord needs your experience, knowledge, and maturity to build His kingdom....

The Lord Needs Your Service

By Elder W. Mark Bassett, Executive Director of the Missionary Department

Whether you served a mission decades ago or have never worn a missionary name tag, the Lord can use your service. You can prepare now to be among His most effective instruments, embracing three suggestions months or even years before you plan to serve:

1. Strengthen your skills. Maintain and improve any language skills you may have had. (Freshen up from your earlier missions or high school language courses). Open your computer and learn how to use it, especially the internet and standard office computer programs and applications. Become familiar with the technology the Church offers. Digital fluency multiplies your ability to serve.

2. Care for your health. Your body is your instrument of service. Schedule that medical checkup, address lingering health concerns, and build sustainable habits. The missionary work ahead needs you at your best.

3. Study leadership. Watch how your local leaders minister, delegate, and build unity. Practice supporting them wholeheartedly. Build up local members and leaders with encouragement, service, and example. Missionaries worldwide are serving as catalysts to help leaders succeed. Every senior missionary supports and strengthens local leadership. We don’t replace it; we sustain and magnify it.

The need for senior missionaries—both couples and singles—is urgent and vast. We could fill multiple stake centers with senior missionaries and still have needs going unmet worldwide.

The Church has thousands of members who could serve, but only a fraction of them are currently serving. The need isn’t just large; it’s now—and it’s waiting for you!

Elder Bassett passed away unexpectedly on May 11, 2026, while this issue was in production.

The Song of Redeeming Love

 The Song of Redeeming Love

“Are we continually grateful for the incomparable Atonement of Jesus Christ? Do we feel its purifying power, right now? That is why Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our salvation, went to Jerusalem [in His final days], to save us all. Do these words in Alma strike a chord: ‘If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?’ [Alma 5:26].”

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Hosanna to the Most High God,” Liahona, May 2023, 109–10.

The Family Proclamation is Doctrine

 

The Family Proclamation—Words from God

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

When presented, the proclamation did not align with the views of many in the world. Not then. Not now. There are those who take issue with the declaration on family, marriage, and gender. Some suggest the Church pull it back, revise, or even set the proclamation aside.

The proclamation on the family is, as President Hinckley stated, doctrine, my dear brothers and sisters. The principles are not out of step but perfectly in step with the ways of the Lord and His covenant path. The teachings of the proclamation were revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ to His Apostles then and now. This is His Church; He has established the truths by which we live.

Give Equal Time to the Lord

 Ronald A. Rasband, "Right Before Our Eyes"

"Whatever is on your to-do list, give equal time, not spare time, to the Lord in personal scripture study, family study of Come Follow Me, prayer, Church callings, ministering, partaking of the sacrament, worshipping in the temple, and pondering the things of God."

Things of my Soul

 

The Things of My Soul

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

May I share with you some of the things of my soul? These things apply to all who seek to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. Ten would be a good, round number. Today I am giving you seven with the hope that you will complete eight, nine, and ten from your own experiences.

First, love God the Father and Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Second, “Love thy neighbour.”

Third, love yourself.

Fourth, keep the commandments.

Fifth, always be worthy to attend the temple.

Sixth, be joyful and cheerful.

Seventh, follow God’s living prophet.

...................................

My others:

8. When you hear the Holy Ghost - obey!

9. Make the temple your focus and go every opportunity you can.

10. Don't judge - have compassion. Give the benefit of the doubt. Forgive and move on. Grudges are no fun. 

 

Words Matter

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Words matter!

They are the bedrock of how we connect; they represent our beliefs, morals, and perspectives. Sometimes we speak words; other times we listen. Words set a tone. They voice our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, for good or bad.

Unfortunately, words can be thoughtless, hasty, and hurtful. Once said, we cannot take them back. They can wound, punish, cut down, and even lead to destructive actions. They can weigh heavily on us.

On the other hand, words can celebrate victory, be hopeful and encouraging. They can prompt us to rethink, reboot, and redirect our course. Words can open our minds to truth.

That is why, first and foremost, the Lord’s words matter....

Believing and heeding the word of God will draw us closer to Him. President Russell M. Nelson has promised, “If you will study His words, your ability to be more like Him will increase.”...

We “hear Him” in the words of scripture, but do we let them just sit on the page, or do we recognize He is speaking to us? Do we change?

We “hear Him” in personal revelation and promptings from the Holy Ghost, in answers to prayer, and in those moments when only Jesus Christ, through the power of His Atonement, can lift our burdens, grant us forgiveness and peace, and embrace us “in the arms of his love.”...

Our words can be supportive or angry, joyful or mean, compassionate or tossed aside. In the heat of the moment, words can sting and sink painfully deep into the soul—and stay there. Our words on the internet, texting, social media, or tweets take on a life of their own. So be careful what you say and how you say it. In our families, especially with husbands, wives, and children, our words can bring us together or drive a wedge between us.

Let me suggest three simple phrases that we can use to take the sting out of difficulties and differences, lift, and reassure each other:

“Thank you.”

“I am sorry.”

And “I love you.”

Do not save these humble phrases for a special event or catastrophe. Use them often and sincerely, for they show regard for others. Talk is growing cheap; do not follow that pattern....

Brothers and sisters, words do matter.

I promise that if we “feast upon the words of Christ” that lead to salvation, our prophet’s words that guide and encourage us, and our own words that speak of who we are and what we hold dear, the powers of heaven will pour down upon us. “The words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” We are Heavenly Father’s children and He is our God, and He expects us to speak with “the tongue of angels” by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Senior Missionaries

 

How Great Will Be Your Joy

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Let me take you back to the year 2015. I was a newly called member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. One of the wonderful responsibilities we carry as Apostles is to assign missionaries to their fields of labor. I had participated as a Seventy in the process,⁶ but now as an Apostle, I felt the full weight of the assignment. I began with prayerfully placing a great number of young elders and sisters, one by one, in missions around the world. Then I turned to the senior couples. There were 10 on the list. Not very many. Surprised, I asked my associate from the Missionary Department, “How many do we need this week to fill the requests?”

He responded, “300.”

That sobering moment has stayed with me: 10 couples to fill 300 requests....

My mother’s response begs the question for our seniors: “What are you doing at this stage of your life?” There are so many ways senior missionaries can do what no one else can. You are a remarkable force for good, seasoned in the Church, and poised to encourage and rescue God’s children.

Some of you might be thinking: “But what about leaving the grandchildren? We would miss family milestones, birthdays, friends, and even our pets.” If I had asked my mother why she and Dad went on a mission, I know she would have said this: “I have grandchildren. I want them to know that your father and I served in the mission field, we wanted to set an example for our posterity, and we were blessed, so blessed.”...

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I ask you to serve as a missionary in the gathering of Israel and perhaps even serve again. We need you—we need you. We are grateful to you seniors for the lives you have led and the examples you have been in your homes, wards, and stakes. I now invite you to take your know-how, coupled with your time-honored testimonies, and go on a mission. I pray that the next time I sit down to assign senior couples, there will be hundreds of you waiting anxiously for your call.

What is My Bucket List?

 

Hosanna to the Most High God

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

We, like the ten virgins, have lamps; but do we have oil? I fear there are some who are just getting by on a thin skiff of oil, too busy with worldly pressures to properly prepare. Oil comes from believing and acting on prophecy and the words of living prophets, President Nelson in particular, his counselors, and the Twelve Apostles. Oil fills our souls when we hear and feel the Holy Ghost and act on that divine guidance. Oil pours into our hearts when our choices show we love the Lord and we love what He loves. Oil comes from repenting and seeking the healing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

If some of you are looking to fill what some call “a bucket list,” this is it: fill your bucket with oil in the form of the living water of Jesus Christ,³⁴ which is a representation of His life and teachings. In contrast, checking off a far-off place or a spectacular event will never leave your soul feeling whole or satisfied; living the doctrine taught by Jesus Christ will. I mentioned examples earlier: embrace prophecy and prophetic teachings, act on promptings of the Holy Ghost, become a true disciple, and seek the healing power of our Lord’s Atonement. That bucket list will take you somewhere you want to go—back to your Father in Heaven.

Work in the Temple

 

Recommended to the Lord

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Putting off our shoes at the door of the temple is letting go of worldly desires or pleasures that distract us from spiritual growth, setting aside those things which sidetrack our precious mortality, rising above contentious behavior, and seeking time to be holy...

Our work in the temple is tied to our eternal reward.

Stand by our promises

Standing by Our Promises and Covenants
BY ELDER RONALD A. RASBAND Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

My question today is, do we stand by our promises and covenants, or are they sometimes half-hearted commitments, casually made and hence easily broken? When we say to someone, “I will pray for you,” do we? When we commit, “I will be there to help,” will we? When we obligate ourselves to pay a debt, do we? When we raise our hands to sustain a fellow member in a new calling, which means to give support, do we?...

When we keep promises to one another, we are more likely to keep promises to the Lord

Fortify Yourselves

Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

What are some ways we can fortify ourselves in troubled times, that we may be “instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work”?¹⁵ Let’s look to the scriptures.

We are obedient....

We trust the Lord....

We stand for the truth...

We make and renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament and by worshipping in the temple....

We should have integrity in all that we do. 

Holy Places

Be Not Troubled

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Prayer can call down the strength and the revelation that we need to center our thoughts on Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice....

Our desire to “always have his Spirit”12 with us will push fear aside for a more eternal view of our mortal lives....

When we stand in holy places—our righteous homes, our dedicated chapels, the consecrated temples—we feel the Spirit of the Lord with us. We find answers to questions that trouble us or the peace to simply set them aside. That is the Spirit in action. ...

There is no room for fear in these holy places of God or in the hearts of His children. Why? Because of love. God loves us—always—and we love Him. Our love of God counters all fears, and His love abounds in holy places. Think about it. 

Let the Holy Spirit Guide

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

We have the sacred responsibility to learn to recognize His influence in our lives and respond.

The Spirit speaks words that we feel. These feelings are gentle, a nudge to act, to do something, to say something, to respond in a certain way. If we are casual or complacent in our worship, drawn off and desensitized by worldly pursuits, we find ourselves diminished in our ability to feel. 

And so must we. We must be confident in our first promptings. Sometimes we rationalize; we wonder if we are feeling a spiritual impression or if it is just our own thoughts. When we begin to second-guess, even third-guess, our feelings—and we all have—we are dismissing the Spirit; we are questioning divine counsel. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if you will listen to the first promptings, you will get it right nine times out of ten.

First promptings are pure inspiration from heaven. When they confirm or testify to us, we need to recognize them for what they are and never let them slip past. So often, it is the Spirit inspiring us to reach out to someone in need, family and friends in particular.

If we let the Lord know in our morning prayers that we are ready, He will call on us to respond. If we respond, He will call on us time and time again and we will find ourselves on what President Monson calls “the Lord’s errand.”

If we pay attention to the promptings that come to us, we will grow in the spirit of revelation and receive more and more Spirit-driven insight and direction.

• SEPTEMBER 2016
• FAITH, FAIRNESS, AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

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Faith, Fairness, and Religious Freedom

By Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From a devotional address, “Religious Freedom and Fairness for All,” delivered at Brigham Young University on September 15, 2015. For the full address, go to speeches.byu.edu.

Protecting conscience is about safeguarding the way someone thinks and feels and safeguarding that person’s right to act on those beliefs. I am talking about someone telling you that the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs you have are not allowed, valued, or acceptable because your views are not popular. A war in heaven was fought for agency, and it is a gross violation of that agency to force you to betray your conscience because your views do not align with the crowd....

First, try to view others through a lens of fairness. To do this requires you to first acknowledge that Heavenly Father loves all of His children equally. He has said, “Love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34). There is no choice, sin, or mistake that you or anyone else can make that will change His love for you or for them. That does not mean He excuses or condones sinful conduct; nor do we—in ourselves or in others. But that does mean we reach out in love to persuade, help, and rescue....

Remember how the Savior handled tough questions and challenging viewpoints. He remained calm, He showed respect, and He taught truth, but He never forced anyone to live the way He taught.

Second, let fairness guide your treatment of others. Jesus Christ looked past people’s ethnicity, rank, and circumstances in order to teach them simple truth....

Do not judge people or treat them unfairly because they sin differently than you, or we, do....

Third, stand up for fairness if you see another’s rights being impeded....

Most important, we need you to engage in dialogue regarding the complexities of this issue and find solutions for how to best extend fairness to everyone, including people of faith. These conversations need to be occurring in our schools, in our homes, and in our relationships with friends and co-workers.