A group of interested members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered for a devotional in the Brisbane suburb of Cleveland on 10 April to learn about ways to serve as senior missionaries.
The devotional was held both face to face and through ZOOM webcast, and focused on the blessings and joy that come through senior missionary service.
Attendees at a special devotional in Brisbane Australia for those considering senior missionary service. 10 April 2022.
Attendees at a special devotional in Brisbane Australia for those considering senior missionary service. 10 April 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The devotional introduction included a pre-recorded video message from Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Pacific Area Presidency, stressing that senior missionaries have a “profound impact on young missionaries” in the field.
He shared a story of his own parents who served a senior mission, and of his mother gathering all of the grandchildren together and telling them, “I love you, but the prophet has called us on a mission, and we are going to answer the call.”
Sister Mata’utia, from Logan, who recently returned from a senior mission in Sydney with her husband, shared how her desire to serve a senior mission started when she was a young woman and first introduced to the gospel, by her future husband.
Although seven of the Mata’utia’s children had already served missions, Brother and Sister Mata’utia felt it was their turn.
Sister Mata’utia did miss her family but found comfort in a quote given by Elder Bednar to senior missionary couples in Australia in 2015: “Your absence is the most powerful testimony you will ever bear to your posterity.”
Sister Kathy Gibson spoke of her time serving as a senior missionary with her late husband, Brother John Gibson, twice in Papua New Guinea, and in the New Zealand Missionary Training Centre.
She shared how their individual strengths and experience complemented each other as they served together, and focused on the needs of those around them. She said that they loved the people they served.
“I was humbled by their love for us,” she said.
Elder Matthew Glen and Sister Rhonda Glen, the Pacific Area Senior Missionary Co-ordinators, hosted the latter part of the devotional with a Q&A session. They reemphasized comments shared by President Garth Pitman, counsellor in the Australia Brisbane Mission, and his wife, Sister Joann Pitman, via ZOOM, encouraging Church members to have faith and take that first step to prepare for a senior mission.
Malcolm and Michelle Parrish, from Eight Mile Plains, attended the devotional. “It was wonderful to hear the experiences of couples who have already served, and the joy, peace and blessing expressed,” Malcolm said.
“We too want to experience the growth, the love and the same joy in our lives,” Michelle added.
Information about senior missionary opportunities in Australia can be obtained from Elder and Sister Glen at SMC-QueenslandAUSGroup@churchofjesuschrist.org.
Watch a short video featuring Elder K. Brett Nattress discussing senior missionary service opportunities.