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1 Nephi 3:7
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
It was announced at the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference that there are just over 85,000 missionaries currently serving around the world and thousands in the ranks with calls in hand ready to enter the field.  It is an amazing number of missionaries with calls in hand waiting to enter the field and those working though the process with their Bishops and Stake Presidents.  In fact, there are just over 20,000 waiting or working through the process to go. Just a short 30 years ago there was 27,000 fulltime missionaries serving in the field, today we have nearly that waiting to go.
When we think of missionaries we often picture pairs of young Sisters or Elders teaching and laboring far from home. We sometimes forget about the great sacrifice of those senior missionaries serving. Of those now serving approximately 6,800 are senior missionaries. These missionaries provide seasoned experience to missionary service and often raise the bar for the areas they are laboring in. They are a valuable and positive example to younger missionaries and a means of great support to Mission Presidents.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency said this regarding laboring in the Kingdom when we are older, "Retirement is not part of the Lord's plan of Happiness. There is no sabbatical or retirement program from priesthood responsibilities -regardless of age or physical capacity." He added, "There may be those who, after many years of Church service, believe they are entitled to a period of rest while others pull the weight. To put it bluntly, this sort of thinking is unworthy of a disciple of Christ. A great part of our work on this earth is to endure joyfully to the end - every day of our life."
Following the second Saturday session of Conference, I was pondering the sacrifice made by so many senior missionaries leaving children, grandchildren, and often comfortable surroundings to labor far from home. I was also reflecting on the bond that is a natural derivative of close service as my mother-in-law and a Sister she became friends with while serving as senior missionaries in Texas a decade ago, sat at the kitchen table enjoying a soda together. I am grateful for their example to me and more importantly to my children. They have set the bar, it is up to us to jump and clear it.
I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go
It may not be on the mountain height
Or over the stormy sea,
It may not be at the battle’s front
My Lord will have need of me.
But if, by a still, small voice he calls
To paths that I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:
I’ll go where you want me to go.