‘You Bless the One, You Will Bless the Whole,’ Sister Yee Tells Missionaries

 
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By Kaitlyn Bancroft, Church News

Sister Kristin M. Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, was traveling recently to a priesthood leadership conference when weather and mechanical issues delayed her flight, leaving her stuck in an airport for nine hours.

During that time, she met a woman who had previously been a Church member. Sister Yee got to know the woman — her interests, her family, her heart — and eventually asked if she’d review the messages Sister Yee had prepared for the leadership conference.

As they went over the messages, the woman said, “I feel my heart is about ready to burst. I can feel Him speaking to me. This is what I’ve been pondering. He’s answering.”

Most of Sister Yee’s meetings were subsequently cancelled. But her messages were prepared for that one sister, she said. “You bless the one, you will bless the whole.”

Sister Yee shared her experience during a Tuesday night devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center. Missionaries preparing to preach the gospel all over the world heard Sister Yee speak about gathering people to the gospel one by one and the importance of hearing the Spirit.

Sister Yee shared how her father joined the Church after studying many different theologies. Her mother, though born into the Church, didn’t have much gospel exposure until an “inspired aunt” asked Sister Yee’s mother to come live with her. Sister Yee’s mother was later baptized.

“I stand before you because a young girl felt the Spirit and decided to follow her Father in Heaven and recognized Him and knew she was His daughter,” Sister Yee said. “You are called to give such a message to this earth, that they might know that they are all part of God’s great family. ... No one is exempt.”

Blessing people one by one is the Savior’s way, Sister Yee continued, which is what missionaries do as they gather people to Israel.

She quoted President Russell M. Nelson, who said, “The Lord has commanded that we spread the gospel and share the covenant. That is why we have missionaries. He wishes for every one of His children to have the opportunity to choose the Savior’s gospel and embark upon the covenant path. ... Thus, missionary work is an essential part of the great gathering of Israel” (“The Everlasting Covenant,” “Liahona,” Oct. 2022).

Referring to President Nelson’s 2018 Worldwide Youth Devotional “Hope of Israel,” Sister Yee said any time missionaries do anything that helps anyone on either side of the veil take a step towards making covenants, they’re helping gather Israel.

That step might be as simple as offering service, giving a warm smile or asking someone how they are.

“It’s your opportunity and privilege to seek revelation to know what that step looks like as you teach,” she said.

 
Sister Yee also spoke about the importance of being led by the Spirit, which allows missionaries to see and teach people in the ways they need. Through the Spirit, Jesus Christ can guide missionaries’ words and feelings, Sister Yee said.

“You will be called upon to bear testimony of Jesus Christ in a powerful and personal way,” she said. “If you want to be able to teach by the Spirit, the most powerful thing you can do is to stand and speak by the Spirit.”

She shared her own experiences of graduating high school early and moving to San Francisco to pursue her dream of becoming an artist for Disney. After not attending church for several weeks, she felt something was missing in her life, and used a phone book to find the nearest meetinghouse.

Upon walking into the chapel and hearing the hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” Sister Yee knew she was home, she said. She also knew that Heavenly Father needed to be part of her life in a way He hadn’t been before.

 
Sister Yee transferred to BYU–Idaho and later graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo. She took an internship doing concept art for a game company — which was subsequently bought by Disney, where she then worked for 13 years.

Sister Yee said she had to trust Heavenly Father that her destiny looked different than she imagined it.

“I found my heart in San Francisco. You will find hearts throughout this earth,” she said. “You will introduce the love of God. That’s what I felt. That’s what I remember. And that’s what will stay for eternity.”

Sister Ashleigh Greenhalgh, who will be serving in Hungary, said she loves how Sister Yee reminded the missionaries to trust in the Lord.

“I feel like I have a hard time with that sometimes, so it was an (important) reminder,” she said.

Sister McKayla Langford, who’s also going to Hungary, added that everything Sister Yee said was exactly what she needed in that moment.

“[The Savior] is the one placing [me] in those moments, for other people and for myself,” Sister Langford said.

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