Shall Not Return Unto Me Void

In his most recent general conference talk, Elder Rasband spoke about missionary service and encouraged senior missionaries in particular to serve. He gave an interesting application for a passage from Isaiah: “Isaiah gave us a poetic description of what it means to serve in the mission ‘field.’ Scripture tells us ‘the field is the world.’ This great ancient prophet wrote, ‘For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.’ The mountains, hills, fields, and trees can be likened to mission presidents, bishops, district leaders, members, and those who seek the truth but ‘they know not where to find it.’ They will testify that the senior missionaries change the very landscape with their testimony of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” I think what he is saying is that many will rejoice in the service of senior missionaries and their joy will be likened to the mountains and hills singing and the trees clapping their hands. This kind of joy was highlighted by Elder Rasband in the story he told of his parents who were senior missionaries who taught a girl named Rebecca and her family the gospel. Rebecca related to Elder Rasband: “Both your parents were wonderful in explaining any questions we had. I can still see their faces as if there was light surrounding them. We always hugged your mother when she left, and she always made a point of helping my mother feel comfortable and respected. Your father always had a sparkle in his eyes as he was teaching us about Jesus Christ.” On my mission I worked close with two different missionary couples and they were indeed wonderful in their service and the love that they shared with missionaries, members, and investigators. I will always remember with great fondness the service of Elder and Sister Hill and Elder and Sister Jolley in southern France two decades ago.

                The message of Isaiah in two verses before what Elder Rasband quoted is also very powerful. The prophet wrote, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-12). I love this idea that the word of the Lord will not return void but accomplish the work He intends: it will soften the hearts of the children of men and lead many to become His covenant people. The role of missionaries is not to convert people but to offer them the word of the Lord so that it can change them. In his story of his parents Elder Rasband related how they “asked Rebecca and her family to read the Book of Mormon. Rebecca did so in five days. She wanted to be baptized immediately.” That was the power of the word working in her heart. The Lord said in our day: “For behold, verily I say unto you, this is the most expedient in me, that my word should go forth unto the children of men, for the purpose of subduing the hearts of the children of men for your good” (Doctrine and Covenants 96:5). As missionaries we take the word of the Lord to the people of the world, and it will change hearts and do the work of the Lord.  We look forward to the Millennial day when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” and we prepare for that day when all people shall know the Lord by delivering His word given through ancient and modern prophets to all who will receive it (2 Nephi 30:15). And any who choose to follow Elder Rasband’s invitation to missionary service will likewise find that their labors have not returned void but will indeed accomplish a great work.