“The adventure of a lifetime” is the label used by Elder Brent Nielson, a General Authority Seventy who is executive director of the Missionary Department. That phrase describes what missionaries across the world, including many from the Laguna Niguel stake, have gone through as they've been sent home temporarily from their missions.

We asked several of our missionaries to describe what they saw on their missions all around the world as the pandemic began. Some were allowed to stay in the countries where they were serving and quarantine for months at a time, others ended their missions a few months early due to health concerns, and many were sent home to California temporarily and then reassigned to missions in North America.

Elder Nielson remarked, “When I see their pictures on the planes, they are today’s ‘army of Helaman’ — they are very impressive. I hope everyone, in the middle of all this, doesn’t miss the historic experience this is for these young men and young women who were the ones who made it through the pandemic.”

Thank you to the missionaries who shared their stories, and to those who have been reassigned and are working hard every day, serving in various places they never expected all across the country.

This video was produced by Aubry Mackin of the Wood Canyon ward. (Thank you Aubry!)