Along the Way
Along the Way
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
May 4th, 2025
Thank you for joining us last Friday for the virtual zone conference. It was good seeing and being with you.
Sister Quinn and I attended church today in the Browns Valley Ward. Each week, when possible, we try to visit wards across the mission. This gives us the opportunity to meet members of the Church and ward leadership. We hope these visits help to connect members and leaders with our missionary purpose. It is also good to “see you in action” associating with the members and friends in the units where you serve. Today we were able to see Elders Brough, Fay, and Hsu. They were thrilled to have a friend of theirs in church today.
During the Sunday School lesson in the Browns Valley Ward, the instructor shared the account from Church history where Parley P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson, Oliver Cowdery, and Peter Whitmer were called to serve a mission to the American Indians. I am confident these men left on this mission with high expectations and ambitions. Unfortunately, they were not successful converting one American Indian to the Church. However, “along the way” to their mission they stopped in Mentor, Ohio. There they met with Sidney Rigdon, a friend of Parley P. Pratt and a popular local preacher, who had been searching for a new faith that more closely followed the New Testament Church. Sidney Rigdon found in the restored gospel and the Book of Mormon the truths he and his congregation had been searching for. Over the next few weeks, the missionaries baptized nearly 1000 people into the Church. These baptisms would greatly strengthen the young Church. This strength came because the missionaries shared the message of the restored gospel “along the way” to fulfilling their missionary calling. There is a lesson for all of us in this account from Church history.
The New Testament shares many accounts of the Savior serving and blessing others “along the way.” I begin with the woman of Samaria the Savior teaches at the well while He pauses for refreshment (John 4). She comes to recognize that the man she is speaking with is the promised Messiah. She rushes into the city to share her discovery with others. The Savior pauses His journey for two days to teach and heal the people of Samaria.
On another occasion, a woman suffering for 12 years from an “issue of blood” is healed by the Savior as he is “along the way” to perform a healing for the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8). As the Savior passes by the woman, she reaches out touching the hem of His garment. Immediately, she is healed. Sensing that grace that has gone from Him, the Savior pauses in the street to stop, recognize, and confirm the faith and healing of the woman.
One day while passing through the city of Nain, the Savior witnesses a funeral procession for the only son of a widow. Sensing the profound grief and loss at the death of her son, the Savior touches the bier carrying the body of the widow’s son. The Savior commands the deceased son to arise, “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.” Luke 7:15
As in all things pertaining to righteousness, the Savior set the perfect example for us. The Savior was never too busy to stop “along the way” – to set aside His personal agenda, so that He could minister to the individual needs of those He met. The Savior’s mortal ministry lasted only three years to teach, minister, heal, and atone. He never allowed the short time of His ministry to rationalize away His focus on serving the individual. Instead, He took advantage of every opportunity to heal. He did so as well during His visit to the Americas.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, I hope we will take the time and make the effort to speak with, teach, invite, and serve those we encounter daily “along the way” as we fulfill our missionary purpose. I hope we are never so busy or allow our schedule to be so full that we miss or brushoff opportunities to serve others.
Sister Quinn and I love you. We are grateful for the high love and high expectations we witness in your missionary service across CASRM.
Love,
President Quinn
(630) 881-4030
