Elder Warnick's talk- Senior Missionary Service

Below is Elder Warnick's talk on Senior Missionary Service, referenced in the last post.

"My dear brethren, President Martin has asked that I address the subject of Senior Missionary Service, hoping to “light a fire” in some of you to inspire you
to serve as senior missionaries. That is a tall order. I am reminded of the man who hitched his horse to a buggy and the horse refused to move. In his frustration, he lit a fire underneath it, and the horse moved just far enough to burn the buggy up. But knowing President Martin to be an inspired leader, I do not question the source of this call to speak to you.

As I have pondered, prayed and fasted about what I might say that would inspire you to serve as senior missionaries, two words have come to my mind: Remembrance and Gratitude

Remembrance

In 1848, my great grandfather, William Woodward, was a 15-year- old boy living in Bushy, Hertfordshire, just outside of London. His stepfather, who was foreman of a section crew, was able to obtain employment for William on the London and North-Western Railway. In 1848, there was talk and ridicule concerning a group of people—the Latter-Day Saints. These peculiar people had rented a small school house in which to hold their meetings, and one Sunday night, William decided to go see for himself what it was all about. William wrote of this first experience with the Mormons, “(I) sat close by the door so (I) could retire if the services did not suit (me). The opening exercises were simple: singing, prayer, and singing. Nothing remarkable in these proceedings but when the preacher commenced his discourses, it was electrifying. (I)had never heard the like before. It was Bible doctrine, and (I) was familiar with the scriptural passages given. (I) did not want to leave the meeting till it ended. Notice was given that a tea party would be held next evening and a public meeting afterwards. (I) attended it and received the first piece of Latter-day Saint literature, a small piece of paper about 3 inches square, and called an 'Invitation'; with references on Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and Laying on of Hands. These two meetings changed (my) course of life.”

William’s stepfather told him that he would put him out of the house if he was baptized a Mormon, and checked his hair each night to see if it was wet. William continued to go to their meetings till June 18 when he gave his name in for baptism, and on June 21 [1848] he was baptized by Martin Cole an engine driver, and a priest in the Church ... William said, “I dried my hair very carefully.”

It was some time after baptism before he heard the name of Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon or of the gathering. As soon as he heard of these things he received them with joy.

Soon after, he was put out of the house, and lived for a time with the missionaries before emigrating to Salt Lake City in 1850. Heber C. Kimball took William into his home and treated him as one of his own children. William returned on a mission to England in 1852 and served there until 1856. On his return from his mission, he stayed behind in Iowa to help outfit and lead the Willie Handcart Company as a captain of 100. Leaving late in the season, they were caught in the early snows on the plains of Wyoming. On hearing of the plight of the handcart saints Brigham Young declared to the saints, “I will tell you all,” said he, “that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains, and attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties, otherwise your faith will be in vain; the preaching you have heard will be in vain to you, and you will sink to hell, unless you attend to the things we tell you” (Deseret News, Oct. 15, 1856, 252).

William wrote, “It was a sorry sight, over 400 people with hand carts, short of bedding, and to sleep on the cold ground. One thought is enough for a lifetime.”

When the relief party arrived, William said that they looked like angels when they saw them coming toward them through the snow. He did not think they were real men. He wrote that they had buried 68 of his people, and went on to say, “Had it not been for the timely aid sent us, it seems we must have all perished . . . Teams and help with food and clothing were sent by the good people of Utah to our rescue, God bless them. The best of all bread was sent to feed our hungry loads of people. What kind boys they were who were sent to our help. President Brigham Young seemed to be inspired and seemed alive to the occasion. God bless his memory.”

Gratitude

I cannot read this account of my great grandfather without weeping. I am so grateful for his humility and willingness to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ when it was taught to him by the missionaries. I will be forever grateful to those missionaries who left the comfort of their homes to declare the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to my great grandfather, and to those who offered their lives in Christ-like similitude to rescue him on the plains of Wyoming. I owe my own life and my membership in the Church to them. When I am privileged to finally meet them, I will thank them and thank them for what they have done for me and my family.

My brethren, each of us has his own story of the sacrifices of others to bring the Gospel to us and our families. We each owe a debt of gratitude to the Savior and to those He has called, who left the comforts of home and family to offer us salvation.

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, “As this work rolls forward, that need (for senior couples) is increasing. Let us, in our richest years of experience, maturity, wisdom, and most of all, our faith, rise to meet that need as only we can.“ (To the Bishops of the Church,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 19, 2004, 27.)

President Gubler, our mission president, has told us that the church is down 2000 couples from previous levels. “The harvest is great, but the laborers are (indeed), few.” I urge each of you to meet with your bishop or branch president and not put off the call to serve the Lord as senior couples. He will help you prepare and qualify to serve as missionaries.

We may think that our talents are so meager that we have little to offer in the Lord’s service, but if He was able to bless five loaves and two fishes and with them feed five thousand, surely, with His blessing, we will be magnified in his service to feed thousands. Some of those thousands will be our own descendants whose lives have been blessed by our service. You may have the sweet privilege of having those you rescue think of you as angels sent from heaven to save them.

President Hinckley said to the bishops, “There is a constant need for more couple missionaries. They perform wonderful service throughout the world. You [leaders] need not wait for the couples to volunteer. The sacrifices associated with serving the Lord full-time will abundantly bless the couples, their families, and the people they serve.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “To the Bishops of the Church,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 19, 2004, 27.)

I testify of the blessings that have come to us as senior missionaries. I testify and promise, as you lay aside the cares of this world and place your all on the altar of sacrifice, the Lord will come out of his hiding place and bless you in rich abundance.

As one of his ordained servants, I bear you my witness that I know Our Father and the Savior live. I know Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, and that through him the Lord restored the only true church on the face of the earth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know Thomas S. Monson is his prophet today.

I pray that we may each have the privilege of bearing that witness as one of his missionaries. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."