A Living Sacrifice

Yesterday evening I had the privilege of attending the evening session of general conference. A friend from my mission had tickets in the seats reserved for families of the general authorities, and so he invited me and two other former missionaries from our mission. It was amazing to sit so close and to observe the leaders of the up close. After the session Elder Kearon walked right in front of us and stood a few inches from me for a bit while he followed his wife, presumably going to meet up with some family or friends. I also watched Elder Holland fall asleep during the session, an indication of his great fatigue and challenging health condition. It was a reminder to me that they are in many aspects of life normal men and women with families and challenges like the rest of us. It reminds me of another time many years ago when I boarded a plane and saw Elder Holland already seated and already asleep. It was a symbol to me of his great fatigue and incredible sacrifice he and the other leaders of the Church make to give their time to the Lord. I remember Truman G. Madsen once related that Elder Holland was asked by someone, “Would you give your life for Jesus!” Elder Holland’s response was, “I thought that’s what I was already doing.” Indeed, it is amazing to think of how much the apostles devote their time to serve the Lord and His Church. They do not get released from their full-time calling until they pass away and can say with Alma: “Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost” (Alma 36:24).

               The apostle Paul urged the saints of his day with these words: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). The apostles certainly are a living sacrifice of time and talent so serve the Lord, and the youth of the church have the opportunity to also given full-time service to the Lord for 18 months or two years. Attending that conference session with friends from my mission reminded me of my opportunity to serve as a missionary in France two decades ago. I am so grateful for that experience even though it was filled with challenges. I remember the first week there that every night I was absolutely exhausted from our efforts to fill every day with activities to serve the Lord. Though I got a little more used to it as time went on, the mission in some ways felt like a non-stop sprint to do everything we could to bring people to the Savior. Though to the world it would seem a great sacrifice to serve a mission, for me it was an incredible privilege that brought blessings into my life that I still benefit from today. I learned more than anything how to love every individual no matter how different they seem. Elder Holland has often spoken about the effect of his mission on his life in these words, “And I certainly, certainly loved my missionary service. I have gone around this Church telling everybody who would listen that my mission meant everything to me—everything—that I was the most affected young man in the entire Church who’s ever been on a mission.” I am so grateful for the opportunity the Lord gives us to serve in His kingdom and for the incredible example of sacrifice modern day apostles give us.