When the resurrected Savior had come to the end of His personal ministry in America, He spoke to His disciples, each in turn, and asked the charitable question: “What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?” (3 Nephi 28:1). Most wanted to join Him in the eternal courts immediately (see 3 Nephi 28:2) following their earthly ministries. It is instructive that three of the disciples chose to tarry in order to “bring the souls of men unto me” (3 Nephi 28:9), as the Savior characterized it. All twelve disciples displayed exemplary devotion in wanting to join in the harvest for the souls of God’s children on earth, and yet the Savior called the three “more blessed” (3 Nephi 28:7), for they would not leave the spiritual battleground on earth “even until all things shall be fulfilled” (3 Nephi 28:7).
The same kind of choice is placed before each of us as servants of the Lord. He said to all, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (3 Nephi 14:7; compare Matthew 7:7). As a member of a branch presidency at the Missionary Training Center some years ago, my admiration and respect were constantly kindled and rekindled for the young missionaries who had made the choice to “bring the souls of men unto [Christ].” Not a few of these wonderful young people had unhesitatingly relinquished valuable scholarships and promising professional opportunities to take up their volunteer service for the Church. The fifty thousand–plus “army of the Lord” throughout the world is a miraculous and unprecedented demonstration of modern-day choices made in favor of building the kingdom.
Looking at the situation in my own current ward, I am constantly amazed at the devotion and valor of senior couples who make the same choice to labor for the souls of the honest-at-heart around the world. Represented in just our small circle of members are senior emissaries who served or who are serving in Germany, the Ivory Coast, Canada, China, Armenia, Paraguay, and many cities throughout America. Some have served several missions. Those with health challenges or special family responsibilities labor where they stand. Our group is but a reflection of the pattern throughout the Church. What the Savior said of the three disciples who chose to tarry applies, in turn, to all of His faithful servants who thrust in their sickle with full purpose: “And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one” (3 Nephi 28:10). (Richard J. Allen)