Church advances as missionaries perform labor

During his June 29 talk at the 2009 New Mission Presidents Seminar, President Boyd K. Packer marveled at the growth of the church he has witnessed since he served as a mission president more than four decades ago.

\"When we were called on our mission, there were 30-some missions,\" said President Packer, who serves as president of the Quorum of the Twelve.

\"There were seven mission presidents that went out at that time. We had what was called our seminar over in the Relief Society Building. Most of the instruction centered on how to keep records. And yet we went into a mission and into a world greatly different from what we have now. That will be your lot.\"

At the time of President and Sister Packer's mission, the church was just reaching the 2-million-member mark. Now the church is moving toward 14 million. There has been a great proliferation of wards and stakes across the globe.