Missionary Service: The Story of Sid Going

Missionary Service: The Story of Sid Going-The following is a great story from a talk given by Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles titled Preparing The World For The Second Coming. His talk focuses on missionary service and the required sacrifices that come with it but how the blessings far outweigh them.

    "Missionary service requires sacrifice. There will always be something you leave behind when you respond to the prophet’s call to serve. Those who follow the game of rugby know that the New Zealand All Blacks, a name given because of the color of their uniform, is the most celebrated rugby team ever.  To be selected for the All Blacks in New Zealand would be comparable to playing for a football Super Bowl team or a World Cup soccer team.

In 1961, at age 18 and holding the Aaronic Priesthood, Sidney Going was becoming a star in New Zealand rugby. Because of his remarkable abilities, many thought he would be chosen the very next year for the national All Blacks rugby team.

At age 19, in this critical moment of his ascending rugby career, Sid declared that he would forgo rugby to serve a mission. Some called him crazy. Others called him foolish. They protested that his opportunity in rugby might never come again.

     For Sid it was not what he was leaving behind—it was the opportunity and responsibility ahead. He had a priesthood duty to offer two years of his life to declare the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Nothing—not even a chance to play on the national team, with all the acclaim it would bring—would deter him from that duty.      

He was called by a prophet of God to serve in the Western Canadian Mission. Forty-eight years ago this month, 19-year-old Elder Sidney Going left New Zealand to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

   Sid told me of an experience he had on his mission. It was evening, and he and his companion were just about to return to their apartment. They decided to visit one more family. The father let them in. Elder Going and his companion testified of the Savior. The family accepted a Book of Mormon. The father read all night. In the next week and a half he read the entire Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. A few weeks later the family was baptized. 

A mission instead of a place on the New Zealand All Blacks team? Sid responded, “The blessing of [bringing others] into the gospel far outweighs anything [you] will ever sacrifice.” 

You’re probably wondering what happened to Sid Going following his mission. Most important: an eternal marriage to his sweetheart, Colleen; five noble children; and a generation of grandchildren. He has lived his life trusting in his Father in Heaven, keeping the commandments, and serving others.

And rugby? After his mission Sid Going became one of the greatest halfbacks in All Blacks history, playing for 11 seasons and serving for many years as captain of the team. How good was Sid Going? He was so good that training and game schedules were changed because he would not play on Sunday.  Sid was so good the Queen of England acknowledged his contribution to rugby.  He was so good a book was written about him titled Super Sid.

What if those honors had not come to Sid after his mission? One of the great miracles of missionary service in this Church is that Sid Going and thousands just like him have not asked, “What will I get from my mission?” but rather, “What can I give?”"

        I know that I have sacrificed and given my time to the Lord to represent Him at this time in my life. I also know that the blessings He has given me and my family have far outweighed the sacrifice. A mission is a calling from God, but like all things with God, He gives us blessings for following Him which in turn makes a mission no longer a sacrifice but a Joy! I love my mission and the things that I am learning while being here. I love the people I've met and the things I've been able to accomplish. What a great blessing it is to represent my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Final 4: Enduring To The End

It's down to the Final 4 in the NCAA March Madness Tournament and this weekend that will be narrowed down even more as we find out who will be playing in the National Championship game. For these four teams they have shed blood, sweat, and tear while battling and playing their hardest to get to this point. If your team makes it this far its a feat in of itself when you look at the fact that they have had to win four games against some of the best teams in college ball. And now they are just one game away from having the chance to play in the Championship game and two games away from potentially winning it all. Its a chance in a life time. This is their time to shine. But for many making it this far isn't enough! They have a desire for more! Its not enough to just be called good, they want to be Great!, they want to be Champions! So as they step onto the hardwood today they will have to give their all to Endure To The End.
    Endure to the end, its something we hear a lot about in our church. Why is this? Maybe its because we have the same desire as those teams who make the final four. We have a desire to be Great, not just good. Just as the teams competing want to be Champions for time and all eternity, we also have a desire to return to our Heavenly Father to live with him for time and all eternity. For us this would make us Champions. But this reward isn't cheap or free. Its comes with a price. A price, just like the basketball teams, of sacrifice.
      We as children of our Father in Heaven, with the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, have to dedicate our lives to taking our Saviors name upon us and following him at all times, and in all things, and in all places. This sacrifice of blood, sweat, and tears of our Savior, and us, push us to do more. There is hopefully a constant drive in us all to do better, to follow God more closely, to pray more earnestly, to study more diligently, and follow our God's command more fully. This is all part of Enduring to the End. It is my prayer that as we do these things, as we put all our time, talents, and efforts into following the Gospel of Jesus Christ that ultimately We Will Be Champions. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.