He Spoke I Went

While participating in a team-building activity with a couple missionaries on their preparation day, I had the privilege of conversing with an amazing missionary—someone who embodies quiet courage and unwavering faith. He grew up in a small town of just 1,700 people and departed on his mission from the very home where he was born. No spotlight, no applause—just a simple “yes” to God’s call to spread the good news of the gospel, to serve Him with all his heart, might, mind, and strength.

This incredible missionary was assigned to serve in the South Africa Pretoria Mission—a world away from the familiar streets of his hometown in southern Utah. Imagine the faith it takes to leave everything you’ve ever known, headed to a foreign country, not for comfort or adventure, but with one deep desire: to help bring one soul unto Jesus Christ.

His story reminds me of the parable of the starfish, in which a boy walks along a beach covered in thousands of stranded starfish, tossing them back into the sea one by one. A passerby, observing the boy’s efforts, remarks, “There are hundreds of stranded starfish—you can’t possibly make a difference.” After a moment of reflection, the boy replies as he throws another back into the ocean, “It made a difference to that one.”

That’s what missions are really about. Not numbers. Not applause. Just an expression of the pure love of Christ. One person making a difference in the life of another. One person sharing their love of the Savior by helping His work move forward.

Jesus taught, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Every effort to save even one soul brings eternal joy to heaven.

As the Lord revealed, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; for, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–11).

God does not measure the size of your hometown or the distance you travel. He looks at the size of your heart and your willingness to go and do. And when one person says “yes”—even from the smallest town—it can echo into eternity.

So if you’re wondering whether your “yes” matters, remember: it always does. Especially to the one who is struggling to find their way home to a loving Heavenly Father. I know for me and my family, it has made all the difference in the world over the past decade.

I know that Jesus is the Christ. He lives, and through Him we will be reunited with our loved ones throughout the eternities. This wisdom and knowledge, gained over time, has provided the sure foundation my family needs to endure the trials and tribulations of life. It gives us an unshakable understanding of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going.

It is my prayer that you will feel an abundance of the Saviors love for you and your family during the upcoming week.