September 2, 2025 5:49pm MDT
PROVO, Utah – After the microphone came out in dedication at the Provo Missionary Training Center on Tuesday, August 19, many missionaries said they received special witnesses from the Holy Spirit and the strengthening of their testimony.
The prayer with Elder Neil L. Andersen of the 12 Apostles, a quorum, was interrupted by technical difficulties when the microphone and sound system were unexpectedly cut off.
This came when Elder Andersen was talking about the increased faith. A moment ago, he said: “When you’re doing something important, things get in your way.”
Once the sound system went down, Elder Andersen instructed the MTC Choir to sing the opening song again. After the first poem from the choir, he stood up and instructed everyone to stand up and participate in the song.
Sister Rebekah Bennett is preparing to serve Nagoya Mission. “After singing again as a choir, it became clear why it happened.
Despite 2,000 missionaries filling the gym, all missionaries focused on Elder Andersen’s words when the apostles continued without the help of technology.
And their hearts were opened to accept his message.
“He spoke about Jesus Christ,” Sister Bennett said. “And through his testimony, my testimony has grown too.”
Sister Bennett said she never felt that strong in her life the Spirit of God. And she wasn’t alone.
The other missionaries sitting behind the gym were miraculously able to hear Elder Andersen’s testimony.
Elder Nathan Guy, preparing to serve on the Fiji Suva mission, said, “Even without the microphone, the spirit conveyed a message to my heart.”
Elder William Carlson was called to the South Korea Seoul South Mission and said that despite his distance from Elder Andersen, he could feel God’s love through him.
“I felt like every single person in this room. God told them he was caring enough to let them experience telling them directly that he loved them and cared about them,” he said. “And I could say that it’s something I’m talking about through God.”
Sister Rachel Richards, who was called to a Bulgaria/Greece mission, said the experience taught her that when things get difficult, or when things get in the way of her missionary efforts, she can continue to testify that Jesus Christ is alive.
“I am grateful to be in the room that day and to be grateful for the feeling that the spirit testifies that we can do difficult things, even if we can’t do, if we rely on God,” she said.
Christ fills the gap
Sister Cathy Andersen, wife of Elder Andersen, testified at the beginning of her prayer. She said that Elder Andersen was making a sacred calling as the angel of the Lord.
“One of the great blessings that our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, have given us is the blessing of putting our disciples here on earth to teach us, guide us, and guide us,” she said.
Elder Andersen used the video with two grandchildren, Claire Hadlock, who recently returned from a mission in northern Tokyo, Japan, and Jason Ebert, who returned from the Milan Mission, Italy.
In one video, Claire Hadlock shared how her time at MTC helped her to raise her faith in Jesus Christ. She said the time she spent reading the Bible, especially helping her to feel the spirit and get to know Jesus Christ better.
“You don’t need to know everything,” she said. “All you know is that Jesus Christ is your Savior and you love him enough to start your mission and be there, then he will help you fill the remaining gaps when you choose him every day.”
Keep a reservoir of spiritual experience
Elder Andersen told the missionaries that it is important to remember the spiritual experiences they have and store them in a reservoir, so they can pull from the reservoir during difficult times.
He also said, “If you allow it, the mission is full of miracles.”
In one of the videos, Jason Ebert shared how he saw miracles in his own mission by setting goals with the Lord and acting in faith to achieve those goals. “He sets you up to see a miracle,” he said.
Elder Andersen encouraged missionaries to place the Bible deep inside their hearts, and that the Book of Mormon would build their faith very naturally.
“The Book of Mormon is at the heart of raising your faith in Jesus Christ and His divine tone sin. Don’t ignore it,” he said.
