Elder Soares and Elder Nash Address Missionaries at the Philippines MTC

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with and taught more than 340 missionaries at the Philippines Missionary Training Center on May 20, 2026, during a ministering visit to the country.

The missionaries in attendance included full-time missionaries in training, senior missionary couples and young service missionaries who are serving or preparing to serve in the Philippines and in other countries around the world.

Teaching by the Spirit

In his message, Elder Soares compared the need for spiritual guidance to a smartphone’s dependence on a network connection.

“Just as a smartphone cannot function to its full capacity without being connected to a network, we as missionaries cannot truly fulfill our missionary purpose without the constant influence of the Holy Ghost, both during our missionary service and throughout our lives,” he said.

Quoting Doctrine and Covenants 11:21, Elder Soares encouraged missionaries to seek the companionship of the Spirit through studying the Lord’s word and let it sink deeply in our hearts, accompanied by fervent prayer.  “Seek not to declare my word, but first to obtain my word,” he said.

Elder Soares also encouraged missionaries to help those they teach recognize spiritual impressions during lessons.

“The Spirit speaks in a quiet but marvelous way, feelings of peace, warmth, and a deep sense of lightness,” he said. “Sometimes we need to pause in a lesson and gently ask, ‘What are you feeling right now?’ or ‘Was this message meaningful to you?’”

He reminded missionaries that conversion comes through Jesus Christ and the influence of the Holy Ghost. “It is through the power of the Holy Ghost that our teachings are carried unto the hearts of God’s children,” Elder Soares said.

“The Lord is the one who does that work through His Spirit. Our role as missionaries is to love the people, help them to recognize that the feelings they are experiencing are divine,” he added.

Elder Soares is in the Philippines for a two-week ministering visit that includes meetings with Church leaders and members in several areas. The previous week, he held a devotional in Cebu City, where he ministered to more than 600 young single adults. He will also hold a similar devotional in Quezon City.

Also present at the devotional at the MTC were Elder Soares’ wife, Sister Rosana Soares; Sister Shelley Nash, wife of Elder Marcus B. Nash; members of the Philippines Area Presidency: Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr. and his wife, Sister Marie Revillo; Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong and his wife, Sister Carol Lu Wong; and Elder William K. Jackson and his wife, Sister Ann Jackson; as well as Philippines Missionary Training Center President Manuel B. Agustin and his wife, Sister Bernadette Agustin.

Helping Others Come unto Christ

Elder Nash focused his remarks on helping others come unto Jesus Christ through the restored gospel. Drawing from scripture and the experience of a former missionary, Elder Nash spoke about helping others come unto Jesus Christ through His Atonement.

“Everyone you teach, when they experience this, it will keep their life forever,” Elder Nash said. “That is why you are going to try to help them come unto Christ.”

“Joy, peace, forgiveness, these are good things people are hungry for,” Elder Nash said.

He also shared personal experiences illustrating how the Spirit can guide missionaries as they teach and testify of Jesus Christ.

Missionaries Share Reflections on the Devotional

Several missionaries who attended the devotional shared reflections on the messages shared by Elder Soares and Elder Nash.

Sister Peñaflor, from Pasig City, who will serve in the Dumaguete Philippines Mission, said the devotional reminded her of the importance of allowing the Holy Ghost to guide missionary work. She said her decision to serve was also influenced by her father, who is not yet a member of the Church but has always supported her.

“If we really strive to let the Holy Ghost work with us, we will feel more of the love and care of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ,” she said.

Sister Agra, from Utah, who will serve in the Iloilo Philippines Mission, said her testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement inspired her decision to serve a mission.

“Even though I grew up in the Church, I didn't gain a testimony until I really knew Joseph Smith, until I really knew about Jesus Christ and really understood the Atonement,” she said.

She also shared that the devotional reinforced the importance of learning to recognize the Spirit throughout her missionary service.

“Learning how to receive the Spirit not only for myself but for the people I am serving and letting it guide every action of my life will help me become a successful missionary,” she said.

Sister Ratulevu, from Fiji, who will serve in the Cabanatuan Philippines Mission, said Elder Nash’s message about trusting in the Lord resonated with her as she prepares to leave home and serve.

“Despite all the struggles and difficulties we are going to face, we should trust in the Lord,” she said.

Elder Camo, from Batangas, who will serve in the Quezon City North Mission, said he felt strengthened by the counsel shared during the devotional.

“I truly felt he is an Apostle of the Lord,” he said. “Even though there were so many of us there, I felt like Elder Soares was looking right at me, and I know that everything he said will help me.”

He said the invitation to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost continually was one of the messages he would carry throughout his mission.

Sister Mioten, from Marikina City, who will temporarily serve in the Tuguegarao Philippines Mission before serving in the Idaho Pocatello Mission, said the devotional reinforced to her the importance of teaching by the Spirit.

“I know that the Holy Ghost is the one who touches people's hearts so they can come to know the truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ more deeply,” she said.

Elder Manasen, from New Zealand, who will serve in the Urdaneta Philippines Mission, said one of Elder Nash’s demonstrations during the devotional deeply moved him.