Missionary Messages

"Missionary work isn't easy. You're away from family, learning to get along with a companion, knocking on doors that never open, or giving lessons that don't go how you hoped. There are moments you feel worn down and wonder if you've got anything left to give. 

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:10: 'For when I am weak, then am I strong.' That's real. It's in those moments that Christ steps in. He knows exactly how we feel - frustration, loneliness, exhaustion - because He carried it all.

I think about football. There are practices where my body is shot, and the reps don't look clean. But when I lean on my teammates and coaches, I find a way to push through. It's not me being strong - it's me being lifted. Missions work the same way. Another example is on my mission, there were weeks with no progress. It felt like failure. But looking back, those were the weeks I learned to pray harder, study deeper, and trust Christ more. That 'weakness' was training me.

So when you feel like you're running on empty, remember - weakness isn't the end. It's the exact place where His strength shows up. That's when you'll see the miracles. I just want you all to know we love you, we're pulling for you, and we're praying for you every day. Keep pushing, keep trusting, and keep letting Christ make you strong. You're never out there alone."

"Missionary work can be very challenging at times. You could be dealing with a difficult companion, a loss of motivation to do the work, or even having a hard time finding someone to teach. A lot of times as a missionary, when we couldn't find anyone to teach, or someone wouldn't make their date to be baptized, it would get me down. A scripture that I really stuck to was Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I would start to think to myself: "Did we not ask enough? Do I have enough faith? What else should I be doing?" I remember beating myself up for what I thought were failures. But after being away from my mission for two years now, I finally understand. Those times weren't failures, and those weren't defeats. I needed those times more than ever. Being here at BYU, my opportunity to play has been very slim, but I go to practice and give it my all every day. I make sure to do everything right, like doing to film, getting good grades, and getting stronger and faster in the weight room. Now, is all this work I've been doing in vain? The answer is no!

Many of us want to see the end when we are still in the beginning. We want the victory without the price. Knowing our Savior, it's not all about the blessings. In the scriptures, we see the Lord invite us to "follow me" and to "abide in me." So my advice to you, or anyone else going through the thick of it, is to keep following Him. He knows what's best. He knows you best. You can't have faith without times of doubt, happiness without feelings of loneliness and rewards without work. Keep going! Don't stop trying to find, teach, and baptize. Jesus Christ is with you. If you're not on your mission, He is with you too, if you are willing to follow Him. Ether 12:12, "For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." Get to work. Your miracle is coming."

"My name is Raider Damuni and I am a safety here at BYU. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to hopefully bring some light and inspiration to you as you serve the Lord. Growing up, I was blessed to be raised and guided by gospel principles that have enriched my life in ways I never could have imagine. As I got older, my passion for sports became a priority, but it never outweighed my loyalty to the gospel of Jesus Christ or my desire to serve a full-time mission. I knew that keeping the commandments and serving a mission would not only bless me personally but would also bring miracles and blessings to my family from our Father in Heaven. Serving in the California Oakland/San Francisco mission (Tongan speaking) was the greatest experience of my life, one I would not trade for anything. My mission taught me to fully accept the Lord's will in everything I do, and it showed me the truth of the Savior's words in Matthew 16:25: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." As I learned to lose myself in the work, there were times when the mission was hard. These challenges because opportunities for me to seek the Lord, and in those moments, my testimony grew the most. When we face trials and seek Him, we build a personal relationship with Him that brings lasting strength and peace. This principle is true not only on a mission but in everyday life. When the Lord gives us trials, He invites us to draw closer to Him, and through that, He blesses us in ways we may not immediately see.

Another scripture that has continually guided me is Alma 29:9: "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." Missionary work is truly the most important work on earth, and giving your heart to this calling will shape every part of your life - even beyond your mission. I can promise that dedicating yourself fully to this work will bring blessings and miracles that carry over into all you do. The discipline, faith, and reliance on the Lord that you develop as a missionary will strengthen you in ways that go far beyond physical ability; it will give you the spiritual resilience and perspective to succeed in everything you pursue. Serving a full-time mission has blessed me profoundly, helping me realize that as we put Him and His work first - even in hard times - our lives and the lives of our families are enriched beyond measure. I know that by losing ourselves in this sacred work, we truly find a life richer and more purposeful than we could ever imagine."

"My name is Will Ferrin. I served in the Canada, Vancouver Mission from 2019-2021. It is one of the best things I've ever done, and I got to do it in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The experience I had as a missionary has been such a blessing. By putting my life on hold to serve my Savior, I came to know several precious truths that have become a foundation in my life.

1. God knows and loves each of his children perfectly. As a missionary I learned to recognize the hand of the Lord in my life. I met so many people and had so many experiences that could have come in no other way. The more mindful I am about recognizing the Lord, the more I see His hand and influence.
2.  Faith brings power. Actively trying to grow faith brings real power. By acting on small amounts of faith I have felt a greater connection to my Savior and felt so much joy. The best way to grow faith is to act on what you have, and you will see miracles happen.
3.  The Atonement is infinite. Study the Atonement of Jesus Christ regularly and ponder on the meaning it has to you individually. Everything we do in the church and everything that you do as a missionary goes back to the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth, suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross, and was resurrected after 3 days. I have felt the influence of these events, and I have seen its effect on many others.

I am so grateful for the things I learned and people I met in Canada, and I continue to see blessings in my life from the years I spent as a missionary. There is nothing more impactful or fulfilling that I could have done with that time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

"Malo lelei! My name is Sonny Makasini, and I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony with the Lord's anointed servants. I pray that you find those who are ready to receive the gospel and that you may continue to be a light to everyone you come in contact with. I served during COVID in the Tonga, Nuku'alofa, and Oakland/San Francisco, California Mission, Tongan-speaking. My mission changed my life forever, and I am forever grateful for the people there who showed me what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I would like to share a few thoughts that helped me throughout my mission. The first thing I learned on my mission was that God loves all of His children, and He wants them to come to Him. No matter how many times we mess up or how far away from Him we stray, He will welcome us back with open arms because He loves us. In 2 Nephi 26:24, it says, "He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation."

The gospel has brought so much peace and joy to me and my family. Growing up, I learned from my parents that if I did what God asked of me, everything would be alright. Things wouldn't always go how I wanted them to, but they always went how God wanted them to. My favorite hymn is hymn number 58 in the Tongan hymnbook, titled "Ka Faingata'a A Hala Feinga." This translates to "If the way is difficult, just try." Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to be perfect; all He asks is that we try, and He will help us accomplish whatever it is He wants us to do. In Isaiah 41:10, it says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." As you strive to build His kingdom and bring others closer to Christ, remember that He is with you and that He will make your efforts enough, as long as you try your best.

I want to bear my testimony that I know our Heavenly Father loves all His children, and He wants the best for us. I know that He has a plan for us, and that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can return to live with Him someday. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and I know that this gospel brings peace and happiness. I pray for your safety and success."

"My name is Ryner Swanson and I am a freshman here at Brigham Young University playing football for the cougars. I guess I am the first one to do a missionary message that hasn't actually been on a mission. Hopefully I can share my testimony and my excitement to spread the gospel to those young men and ladies in a way that touches them and increases their desire to serve a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was recently called to serve in the Kenya Nairobi East mission in Africa! I will be speaking in the English language but it seems that there is a good amount of Swahili being spoken out there so I'm currently trying to learn that right now at an easy pace. Duo Lingo is goated. Something that I look forward to in serving in this place is being in a completely different environment than what I am used to for the next two years. Two years sounds like a lot, but the idea of spending two years in a different part of the world growing closer to my Savior and also helping other people grow closer to Christ, sounds super rewarding and incredible. I have always had a testimony of the church and The Book of Mormon. I think my parents did a great job in raising me and nourishing my testimony. My parents raise missionaries. I can't remember a time when I thought to myself that I didn't want to go on a mission. A mission was something that I have always had a desire to go and do what my parents and church leaders were training me for. I am very grateful for my parents and their perfect example they displayed as I watched them my whole life.

When I got an offer to BYU to play football here, the coaches strongly encouraged a mission. Of course it stinks to say goodbye to someone for two years, but the blessings that come from serving a mission are incredible. I see a lot of kids my age start to grow doubts in their mind and think that missions aren't for them. I remember when I talked with my dad about how hard a mission is going to be and how I am going to be so stressed all the time. He told me that "Satan is getting in my head and putting doubts in my mind." He also told me that "of course the mission is going to be hard, if it was easy, there wouldn't be a big point in going." Satan's named the father of all lies for a reason. After that talk with my dad, I keep all doubts out of my head. Not just about the mission, but everything else. If we focus on ourselves and grow selfish, happiness is hard to reach. But as we lend a hand in helping others and preaching the good word of Christ's church and atonement, we will discover a greater richness in life. Our biggest goal in this mortal existence is to try to be more like Jesus and humble ourselves just as he did. The Savior said in Matthew 20:28, "But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant; Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." I love this scripture so much because it teaches us that even Jesus Christ, the greatest of all, lived his life in the most humble way.

He is the Son of God! It brings me to tears as I write this now as I think of Christ's suffering for his fathers children. Kings are portrayed to have palaces, wealth, trade, and so much more. That's what a normal kind is to us. But Christ isn't just any king. He was born in a stable, he ate with sinners, he served and healed, he suffered for all mankind in the Garden of Gethsemane in which he bled from every pore and fell on his face because of pain, he was betrayed by one of his elect, scourged and nailed to a tree for the whole world to see. But the most impressive thing to me is when he forgave his killers. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Now that's a king. Christ is the ultimate example to us. I invite all young people with a desire to serve the Lord to take the leap of faith and do it with me. We will change lives and help gather Israel for the second coming of the master. If Christ suffered indescribable amounts of pain, even pushed through the olive press for the salvation of your souls, and for your happiness, then surely you can do as he asks and give up one and a half or two years of your life for him. Hurrah for Israel!"

"Aloha! My name is Enoch Nawahine and I am blessed to have this opportunity to impart some of my ideas with you in hopes that it will comfort and guise you throughout your service to the Lord. I served in the Zambia, Lusaka mission where I had the chance to preach the gospel in both English and Chichewa. What a beautiful time in my life it was to have spent two years caring for everyone else besides myself. Despite having been away from my family for a long period of time, the gospel had connected me and bonded me to new relationships with amazing people. Within those relationships, I have learned a very valuable lesson that I know will help you. Thomas S. Monson once said, "There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action." I have seen this firsthand throughout the duration of my mission. How was I , an American, someone of a different skin color who also came from a more fortunate background going to be listened to? We must learn from the greatest teacher to ever walk this earth by demonstrating charity to all we cross paths with. Though you may struggle to learn your mission language at first, charity is a universal language that all of God's children speak. Love your neighbor, love the people you teach, love your companion, and love your Savior by being obedient to mission rules.

Just imagine how different the world would be today if we showed a little bit more love to those around us. My testimony is simple, our Savior lives and breathes just as we do. His church is on the earth today and the blessings that come from it are available to all of God's children. The Book of Mormon is true and is the keystone of our religion. Go forth with courage knowing that these is help from the other side of the veil with you every step of the way. Your Heavenly Father loves you, is mindful of you, and has a plan for each and every one of you. I promise that as you serve with faith and diligence, you will be blessed for eternity. Lastly but most importantly, always remember that it is a privilege to suffer for the Lord. Hurrah for Israel!"

"My name is Logan Lutui and I am humbled for this opportunity to share a few thoughts of what I hope will be beneficial as you go on being apart of the greatest work you could ever be apart of. I served my mission in the New Zealand Auckland Mission where I was able to preach the gospel in my native Tongan language. My mission has taught me so many valuable lessons, but perhaps the one I will always remember is how humility played an important role to the success of my mission.

In King Benjamin's address to his people, he taught that "the natural man is an enemy to God" (Mosiah 3:19). We now know that this is a lifelong commitment we make once we choose to follow Christ. This commitement is that we will do our best to choose the right in any circumstance. And of all the attributes he lists we must have to aid us in this challenge, there is one that I would like to focus on, that being humility. Humility is described in preach my gospel as, the "willingness to submit to the will of the Lord... It is being teachable... [It] is a vital catalyst for spiritual growth." Humility to me is realizing that we can't overcome our hardships or challenges by ourselves but, when we depend more fully on our Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.

I have seen both in my spiritual life as well as my football career of how humility can definitely be a catalyst for spiritual and overall growth. When we are humble we are more willing to learn, we are more open to change, and we are more prepared to become what our Heavenly Father wants us to be. In closing Elders, I second my witness to the counsel of the prophet Ether that when we are humble the Lord will help make those weaknesses in our lives become our strengths (Ether 12:27). As you all continue in this the greatest work on earth may you always seek council from the Lord in scripture study and prayer governed by humility and obedience to the Lord."