Elder Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, focused on three such principles during his June 25 address at the 2014 Seminar for New Mission Presidents.
“First, I would focus earlier in listening and counseling with my missionary leaders. Second, I would focus even more on building a strong mission leadership. Finally, I would emphasize the simple and clear message of the doctrine of Christ and help my missionaries keep their eyes on the living prophets and apostles.”
Mission councils, he declared, can play a pivotal role in missionary work.
“I have learned that mission leaders respond and lead better when they have the opportunity to discover and solve problems in counsel with the mission president and his wife.”
It is vital that missionary leaders are taught to lead, he added. Resist the urge to micromanage the mission and allow the missionary leaders to do their job.