Since moving myself and my family to Hong Kong where I’m opening an Asia office for my online marketing firm, I’ve had countless opportunities to think “If I hadn’t served as a Mormon missionary, I wouldn’t be doing this today.” The skills I learned almost 20 years ago as a missionary have been invaluable to my career as an entrepreneur, and never more so than now as I live and do business in a foreign country. In 1994 I became a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are more commonly known by the nickname “Mormons” or simply “ LDS.” But I was not a missionary in Hong Kong or Asia where I live now. I served in Manaus, Brazil, where I learned Portuguese, rather than Mandarin or Cantonese. Prior to 2013 I had never been to Asia and knew very little about China or its neighbors. Most of my exposure to Asian culture came from growing up in Arcadia, California. There is a significant Asian population there, but despite this I can’t say I learned all that much about Asia from my Asian friends, who were intent on learning English and assimilating into American culture. But going to a foreign country where I didn’t know the language or the culture wasn’t new to me because I had already done it as a 19-year-old in Brazil. Here are some of the lessons I learned as a missionary that are helping me as I open an office in Hong Kong.

A lot can change in four years . . . FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

Prior to the general women's session of the 186th Semiannual General Conference, Sister Neill F. Marriott, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, and Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society general president, helped bring comfort to Church members in Louisiana, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

There are examples of compassion all around us, but some are more obvious than others. And while extenuating circumstances such as war and depravation don’t seem likely places to find charity, one couple in Cedar City, Utah, has found a way to serve and love amidst tragedy and trials. They call it The Happy Factory.

Last year, AdAge ranked the Church's #ASaviorIsBornvideo and campaign as one of the top 10 most viral ads during the holiday season.

After 25 years of research, Royal Skousen, a professor of linguistics at Brigham Young University, has compiled in-depth information about the original and printer's manuscript text of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith restored the LDS Church in the early 1800s and one of his endeavors was to translate the Book of Mormon from engraved metal plates. The Book of Mormon is considered companion scripture to the Bible.

LDS Church to purchase Utah State University, rename it BYU-Logan - Cache Valley Daily

Consider the following names: John the Baptist; 1000+ Anti-Nephi-Lehies; Abinadi; Joseph Smith. What do these have in common? They were martyred because of their commitment to the truth. Can you identify other martyrs from scriptural and church history? (Answers might include Abel (Moses 5:32), Zacharias (the father of John the Baptist—Matthew 23:35), Stephen (Acts 7:56-60), James (the brother of John—Acts 12:2)), Hyrum Smith (D&C 135:1, etc) According to D&C 135:3, why do so many of “the Lord’s anointed” die at the hands of their enemies? (See also D&C 136:5, 6)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than a set of teachings. It’s a community of real people living in real places.

Every week, hundreds of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints begin full-time missions. Everyone who volunteers is blessed. Those who apply themselves to true discipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ and serve faithfully have exceptional life-changing experiences. There are many who serve “good” missions and then there are some who serve “great” missions. Here are 13 suggestions that can change a good Mormon mission into a great mission.