Mission Call Assignments

To listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rEFysFCGsfvG5ViA9X3Z6?si=I3Vl_cCLSTS72qVmHcGBXQ

To watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/86EgMKJk7Iw

One of the responsibilities of the Quorums of the Twelve Apostles it to assign the missionaries to their missions throughout the world. The opportunity to assign these special mission is a sacred and important responsibility, and the Lord directs their efforts. Elder Thomas S. Monson once said that "divine inspiration attends such sacred assignments" and "the faith and hopes and dreams of many people [are] involved."

While attending a Stake Conference in Paris, France Elder Thomas S. Monson indicated that he would like to hear from one of the missionaries serving in the area. As he looked towards the back of the hall, he saw a tall young elder that he recognized as a family friend. Elder Monson called him forward. As the missionary spoke Elder Monson seemed to see in his mind a picture of Heber J. Grant in a Japanese garden, the same painting that was produced as a cover for a pamphlet about this Church president.

Elder Monson didn't tell anyone about this experience, and he even wondered what it meant. Elder Monson assumed it could have been triggered by his knowledge that President Grant was this young missionaries great-grandfather.

When Elder Monson returned to Salt Lake City, he looked up the missionaries parents to give them a report on their son. He learned that a different son of theirs had just turned in his mission papers. Elder Monson later reviewed that missionary's application, and he knew why. Elder Monson had received a stong impression concerning President Grant. Elder Monson changed the young missionaries assignment to Tokyo, Japan- the city and the land where his great-grandfather, Heber J. Grant had opened the work.

Not only did the missionary serve in the land so significant to the family he was present for the dedication of the Japan Tokyo Temple. Elder Monson knew being there during that special time in the history of Japan would have pleased this young mans great-grandfather immensely.

Elder Rasband Learning to Make Missionary Assignments

Elder Rasband shared his experience being tutored by Elder Henry B. Eyring on how the missionary assignments are given, he said:

"I would like to relate to you an experience which I had with President Henry B. Eyring several years ago when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Eyring was assigning missionaries to their fields of labor, and I was invited to observe.

First, we knelt together in prayer. I remember Elder Eyring using very sincere words, asking the Lord to bless him to know “perfectly” where the missionaries should be assigned. The word “perfectly” said much about the faith that Elder Eyring exhibited that day.

Then as each missionary’s picture appeared on a computer screen, to me it was as if the missionary were in the room with us. Elder Eyring would then greet the missionary with his kind and endearing voice: “Good morning, Elder Reier or Sister Yang. How are you today?”

After assigning a few missionaries, Elder Eyring turned to me as he pondered one particular missionary and said, “So, Brother Rasband, where do you think this missionary should go?” I was startled! I quietly suggested to Elder Eyring that I did not know and that I did not know I could know! He looked at me directly and simply said, “Brother Rasband, pay closer attention and you too can know!” With that, I pulled my chair a little closer to Elder Eyring and the computer screen, and I did pay much closer attention!

A couple of other times as the process moved along, Elder Eyring would turn to me and say, “Well, Brother Rasband, where do you feel this missionary should go?” I would name a particular mission, and Elder Eyring would look at me thoughtfully and say, “No, that’s not it!” He would then continue to assign the missionaries where he had felt prompted.

As we were nearing the completion of that assignment meeting, a picture of a certain missionary appeared on the screen. I had the strongest prompting that the missionary we had before us was to be assigned to Japan. I did not know that Elder Eyring was going to ask me on this one, but amazingly he did. I rather tentatively and humbly said to him, “Japan?” Elder Eyring responded immediately, “Yes, let’s go there.” And up on the computer screen the missions of Japan appeared. I instantly knew that the missionary was to go to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

Elder Eyring did not ask me the exact name of the mission, but he did assign that missionary to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

At the end of the meeting Elder Eyring bore his witness to me of the love of the Savior, which He has for each missionary assigned to go out into the world and preach the restored gospel. He said that it is by the great love of the Savior that His servants know where these wonderful young men and women, senior missionaries, and senior couple missionaries are to serve. I had a further witness that morning that every missionary called in this Church, and assigned or reassigned to a particular mission, is called by revelation from the Lord God Almighty through one of these, His servants.

Mission transfers in Canada

Thomas S. Monson was called to be the President of the Canada Mission, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, from 1959 to 1962. Thomas S. Monson was just 31 years old at the start of his time as president. He experienced many miracles during his time as Mission President. He knew that with the Lords help a great work would be accomplished.

Missionaries in Welland on the Niagara Peninsula began teaching a group of Italian-speaking immigrants. These investigators invited the missionaries in and were willing to listen but they did not understand the discussions as none of the elders spoke Italian. Right around that same time President Monson was contemplating transfers in that area. As he reviewed the missionaries "trying to place them by the will of the Lord with the right companion and in the right place," he stopped at the name of Elder Smith. He pondered why he was drawn to that elders name. A transfer seemed premature. Yet the impression to move Elder Smith over to the Niagara Peninsula came so strongly that he made the move.

The next week, tears came to his eyes as he read in the missionary letters: "Dear President Monson, I know you were inspired in sending Elder Smith to us in Welland. We are teaching ten Italian-speaking families whose English skills are limited. In my heart I had been praying for a companion who could speak Italian. You found the only missionary in the mission who spoke Italian." President Monson had known nothing about Elder Smith's language skills. President Monson recalled "With a name like Smith, you don't think he is going to speak Italian."

Difficulty in Making Assignments

On one occasion Thomas S. Monson designated a mission assignment for a young man, only to return back to it several times. Not feeling certain that this was the correct mission for the young missionary. With efforts to make the correct assignment and still not feeling right, Elder Monson sought help. Elder Monson asked Elder Carlos Asay, a member of the Seventy who was assisting him in the assignment meeting, to read him the whole file. The two men went through all the information from the file and realized that in the initial review they had some how missed the information that the young man had learned Spanish "at his mothers knee." That information changed where they felt inspired to sent this young man. Elder Monson assigned him to a Spanish-speaking mission, and the Spirit confirmed "Yes".

Lord Speaking to Missionaries

Elder Rasband:

I conclude with the Lord’s words to the Whitmer brothers, who had a profound role in the early days of the Restoration. They were witnesses to the gold plates, and their signed testimonies are included at the front of every copy of the Book of Mormon. They were among the first band of missionaries called by a prophet of God in 1829 to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the preface to section 14 of the Doctrine and Covenants, it states, “Three of the Whitmer sons, each having received a testimony as to the genuineness of the work, became deeply concerned over the matter of their individual duty.”

To John and Peter Whitmer Jr. the Lord said this: “For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.”

I suppose many of you young men have asked yourselves that same question. Here is the Lord’s answer: “And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.”

At this time in your life, a mission call from the Lord, my young friends, is the most important work that you can do. Prepare now, live righteously, learn from your family and Church leaders, and come join with us in building the kingdom of God on earth—accept your divine appointment in “so great a cause.” This is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Missionary stories are some of the best stories of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each missionary has had life changing experiences and it is a great blessing that the Lord allows each person to be a part of the gathering of Isreal to strengthen the testimony of the missionaries and share the message with the world.

References:

Thomas S. Monson Biography p 410-411

Thomas S. Monson Biography p. 184-185

"Your Inspired Assignment" June 2015, Ronald Rasband

"The Divine Call of a Missionary" Ronald Rasband April 2010