“While the pandemic continues to spread its tentacles around the world, the work of the Lord goes on,” Elder Ian S. Ardern said last week, after meeting with missionaries serving in the Australia Brisbane Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Missionaries in Queensland, Australia take part in a virtual meeting with Elder Ian S. Ardern and Sister Paula Ardern. November 2021.
Missionaries in Queensland, Australia take part in a virtual meeting with Elder Ian S. Ardern and Sister Paula Ardern. November 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Elder Ardern continued: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, since its restoration, has always had a missionary force serving around the world. Samuel Smith, the brother of Joseph Smith left on a short mission as soon as he had a copy of the Book of Mormon to teach from and share. The Book of Mormon is another testimony of Christ as the Saviour of the world and as such it helps to change lives and bring many unto Christ. It is little wonder then that we cherish the Book of Mormon and teach of it and from it."
The Brisbane mission leaders are President J. Kevin Ence and Sister Debra Ence who supervise 60 in-field missionaries spread throughout Queensland. Most of the missionaries are from Australia and that adds a positive dimension to the work as they labour with their fellow citizens.
Topics for discussion during the meeting were chosen that best help the missionaries fulfil their missionary purpose to invite all to “Come Unto Christ.”
Elder Ardern noted that nothing will prevent this most important work from moving forward. “We are discovering new and helpful ways to find, teach and minister over Zoom and how we can contact in public. Initially, some have felt the changes a little frustrating but the work of the Lord will not be frustrated,” he said.
“Fortunately, in the Brisbane Mission, the missionaries are proselyting as they did before the pandemic, but helpful lessons were learned during the lockdowns and they now have additional strategies to help them in the work.”
Elder and Sister Ardern, having had children serve missions, know the sacrifice of parents and family and spoke of their gratitude for the help of families in preparing and supporting the missionary effort in the Pacific.
Sister Ardern said, “We learned long ago that the first and most effective MTC [Missionary Training Centre] is the home.”
A few days after the mission tour, President Ence said, “The teaching and training from Elder and Sister Ardern is already having an impact. The first week following the mission tour our finding efforts have more than doubled.”
Sister Ence said, “We were taught that the missionary is the message ─ that really resonated with us.”