PROVO, Utah — This year, for the first time in its history, the Church will conduct more than 500 missions. This weekend, members of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Missionaries Executive Council taught these mission leaders the principles of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, addressed those who will depart in the coming days to serve as mission leaders in 193 of the Church’s 506 missions. In his final message at the 2026 New Missionary Leadership Seminar held Sunday, June 21, at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, President Eyring shared principles for building faith with individuals, couples, families, and missionaries.
“Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ creates the power to make and keep covenants to the end,” President Eyring testified.
He then explained the various effects of faith in a person’s life.
“It is faith in the Lord that leads people to true repentance. It is faith in Jesus Christ that leads people to baptism. It is faith in the Savior that leads us to always remember Him and to have the companionship of the Holy Spirit. And it is faith that motivates us to always pray to the Father that we may not be overcome,” he said.
President Eyring said bearing witness of the Savior, especially through the word, is the greatest opportunity and greatest challenge an individual can face. He said service to others shows the Savior is “our dear friend, our beloved brother, and our constant example.”
The motivation to testify of Jesus Christ and bring others to Him comes from a variety of sources. President Eyring cited the sons of Mosiah as an example.
“They were motivated and sustained by a desire to extend the blessings of the gospel, no matter what the cost of their labor or what hardships they faced,” he said.
Building Faith as a Missionary
President Eyring told the new mission leaders that they were serving with the missionaries in the Lord’s vineyard.
“Your mission builds faith. God has called you and your missionaries to his service. God has chosen you to bless the missionaries called to your mission. God has a plan for their service and yours,” he said.
As a missionary’s faith is built, he or she will be able to work and serve despite difficult circumstances.
“Missionaries will share the gospel in faith, even when they are misunderstood, abused, and vilified,” President Eyring said.
Building Faith Among Families
The call to serve as a mission president usually involves changes for each member of the family. President Eyring encouraged new mission leaders to understand the new situations facing families.
“Your family is your most important responsibility,” he said. “Each family is going to have a different experience.”
President Eyring provided some comfort to the mission leaders by letting them know that God would bless and help their families because of their faithful missionary service.
“Because of your call, blessings will be prepared for your family. Your family will know that the Lord is watching and will be blessed through your faith.”
After all, having the opportunity to be with your family forever is one of the greatest blessings of Heavenly Father’s plan, President Eyring said.
“You and I both know that the most valuable blessing from God above all other blessings is eternal life: living forever as a family in the perfect love of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”
Build trust with new acquaintances
Mission leaders do more than just encourage missionaries to meet with individuals and share their testimonies. Leaders themselves need to share their testimonies with those they meet in their service.
“Out of love for the Lord and a sense of mission, you will build the faith of others by becoming a missionary,” he said. “When you do, you will feel the love and gratitude of the Lord. You will feel that the Lord has acted in your presence just as He promised,” President Eyring promised.
President Eyring encouraged the audience to remember the source of all faith in all situations in which it is built.
“We don’t give that blessing to the missionaries or the people we teach. It comes from God,” he said. “We have pledged to do all we can to help others acquire faith in the Lord, practice it, and qualify for His glorious blessings.”
