Preparing the World for the Second Coming - Neil L. Andersen

  If you are one of our Grandchildren, please don't lose your CTR ring. His four-year-old grandchild did and you can read in the first paragraph what happened! This discourse and challenge says something to all of us. In the family of Nephi and Marjorie Allen, my parents, I can list thirty-one returned missionaries, several of which have served more than one mission. In my wife's family, another dozen have served missions. Those missionaries have served in many different areas of the world. This is the work of preparation throughout the world for the Second Coming of Jesus. Right now our family is preparing many young family members to receive calls to serve. As they get closer to the age of service, some will have to make a sacrifice of some other goal or potentiality in order to serve. Sidney Going made that choice to serve as you can read in Elder Andersen's talk. In his case, the sacrifice did not take away the eventual fulfillment of his other dream.
  The potential for family members to serve as Senior Missionaries or in some other mission type calling is very great. I will say that the blessings are wonderful for this type of service. Recently, we have watched an inactive returned missionary begin to attend Church again in a humble and sincere way. I met him early on in the mission and we have had intermittent contact throughout with him and his family. He alluded to our part in his decision to return. 
  Another family we have known here for some time now invited us to join them with her family and parents in a Family Home Evening which we conducted. The wife who is a stalwart in the Branch here set up this little event and it was very well received by her non-member parents. Her husband is a returned missionary but at some point was offended and has not been to Church for many years. Things seem to be changing for the better and we will see.
  We will say that serving as a couple is very different from a mission as a youthful missionary. You choose your companion and there will not be any transfers! You will have many opportunities to influence people in their knowledge of the Savior and the Restored Church. You will feel the Spirit often.  There are many needs in the Church for Senior Couples to serve. For your information, go to http://lds.org/csm/pdfs/MissOpp.pdf for detailed information. 
  Now, to you young Grandchildren, don't lose your CTR rings. Choose the Right so that you will be prepared and worthy to serve. The world needs you and you need the blessings of service.