Provo, Utah: At a meeting in April 1834 in Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet Joseph Smith prophesied: “This church will fill North America and South America. It will fill the world.”
Almost two centuries later, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are seeing this happen. The number of missionaries serving, the number of people choosing to be baptized, and the number of temples being built are all increasing.
“Don’t we all have a sense of wonder and awe in our hearts?” asked Elder Ronald A. Rasband during a devotional on January 27 at the Provo Missionary Training Center. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, who spoke. Beyond the approximately 900 missionaries in attendance, their remarks were broadcast to MTCs around the world.
“We should be thankful to our Heavenly Father that we have a front row seat to the fulfillment of ancient and modern prophecies,” he said.
Elder Rasband, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and newly appointed chairman of the Missionary Executive Council, testified that progress in accelerating the Lord’s work comes from the Lord.
“It builds faith and trust in God when you understand that He is currently doing “wonderful and wondrous works” (Isaiah 29:14) throughout the world, and that you are all going to be a part of that work.”
debunk the false narrative
To illustrate that the Lord is hastening His work, Elder Rasband refuted six false narratives from people who “cannot see or recognize what is happening.”
Myth #1: Emerging generations have less faith in Jesus Christ than previous generations.
Contrary to that narrative, Elder Rasband said, there are more missionaries serving Jesus Christ today than in years past.
“Your generation is not less religious. No, you believe in Jesus Christ just as much as previous generations.”
False narrative 2: The church is in decline as interest in organized religion decreases.
According to Elder Rasband, the past 12 months have seen the highest number of convert baptisms of any 12-month period in this dispensation. “This is a great time to serve.”
“Elders and sisters, the future is bright, and you are at the center of it.”
Myth #3: Baptisms are increasing in some parts of the world, but not in others.
The number of children of God being baptized is “growing in every region of the world,” Elder Rasband said. He added that the region with the highest growth rate in baptisms in 2025 was Europe.
No matter where a missionary is called, he encouraged, “you can have faith that the Lord is hastening His work in your area.” “His miracles fill the whole earth.”
False narrative #4: New converts are not retained.
“New members have been as active or more involved since their baptism than in previous years,” Elder Rasband said.
Hundreds of thousands of people are baptized and act in faith to follow the Savior by attending sacrament meeting, serving as temple agents, and ultimately making temple covenants.
Myth #5: More missionaries are returning home earlier than ever.
An “overwhelming majority” of missionaries have completed their service to the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes teaching missionaries who transfer to a service missionary assignment to complete their mission due to their physical or mental health.
Elder Rasband also expressed his gratitude to the missionaries for their mission. “Remember, the call from our prophet is to serve our elders for two years and our sisters for 18 months. Thank you for being willing to heed the call of our prophet.”
False Narrative #6: Missionaries are not good enough and will never be good enough.
To the training missionaries who feel they are not feeling well enough right now, Elder Rasband assured them that they are in good company. Many leaders throughout the history of the church have felt inadequate for such important work.
“With all the energy of my soul, I share this truth. You, each of you, can do this,” he said. “I testify that the Lord has a work to do for each of you. If you trust in Him, He will make you more alive than you could have ever imagined.”
“This amazing, amazing speed.”
Elder Rasband left an apostolic promise to MTC missionaries. “If you devote yourself wholeheartedly to the purpose of ministry, the Lord will engage you in accelerating this great and wondrous work.”
He urged them to consider themselves blessed to be able to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in times like these.
“I feel we have only scratched the surface of what the Lord has in store for us as He prepares the world for His Second Coming,” Elder Rasband said. “So fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight, because I firmly believe the best is yet to come.”
“Essentials of Missionary Activities”
Sister Rasband shared with the missionaries the following words she learned as a missionary leader: “The more you learn and know our Savior Jesus Christ, the more you will love Him. And the more you love Him, the more you will want to serve Him.”
She read Doctrine and Covenants 68:5-6 and said it gave her great peace. It reads in part, “Be of good cheer and do not be afraid, for I, the Lord, am with you.”
As the missionaries testify about Jesus, Sister Rasband said, Jesus has promised to be with them. “That’s the bottom line of missionary work.”
what the missionaries said
Sister Savannah Carruth from Ritzville, Washington, who was assigned to the Indianapolis Indiana Mission, was able to gain a greater perspective on the scale and speed of the Lord’s work.
“Evangelism is going on and it’s unfolding before our eyes, and it’s so great to see it and be a part of it,” she said.
Sister Katie Leatherman of Sacramento, California, assigned to the New Mexico Farmington Mission, was encouraged by Elder Rasband’s reassurance that new missionaries were well-equipped.
“He was definitely talking to me right then and there,” she said. “I can do it, and I know that as I fulfill my missionary purpose, my mind and heart will turn to Jesus Christ.”
