I am proud to serve with 160 19- to 23-year-old men and women.

You see them everywhere in these beautiful Islands — good-looking, sharply dressed, well-groomed. They wear nametags indicating they are missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you look closely at their names and faces, you see that they come from all over: 16 different nations, including Japan, Canada, New Zealand, mainland China, Australia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa, Taiwan, the Philippines, Germany, Korea, Belgium and Pohnpei. Many speak at least two languages; some are fluent in several.

While I retired to come and serve with them, they have left their pursuit of education for a time, given up dating, TV and movies, and pretty much everything else in which most young people their age are engaged. They have left family and friends for a season to offer service and bring a message of faith, joy and peace to the people of Hawai'i.

In most cases, they have spent much time in their youth preparing for their missions by attending gospel instruction classes, staying in good physical condition and by keeping themselves morally clean and worthy to represent the Lord, Jesus Christ. They have also saved their own money from part-time jobs, birthday gifts and other sources so that they might be able to personally finance at least a part of their mission.

Like my own four sons who served missions, all this they have done of their own free will. No one made them come. They are not here because Mom and Dad insisted or because of some financial reward that awaits when they return home. They are here because they willingly accepted a call to serve, to give up two years of their own lives in the service of their fellow men.

They are a stunning example of youth in its prime. They represent all that is good in their generation.

When their 18 to 24 months of service is completed, I will have my final interview with them and they will return home, wherever that may be in the world, and go about making great contributions. Some will become doctors, dentists, attorneys and other professionals. I will have need of all of these in my old age!

Others will become master craftsmen who will bless the lives of many with their artistic talents.

They will marry and raise up the next generation to be God-fearing, full of integrity and hard-working — just like they are. They will become solid citizens in the countries in which they live. They will become the pillars of society on whom the future of the world rests.

The next time you see a pair of them, walking down the street, knocking on doors in your neighborhood or helping someone in need, give them a smile and a kind word and remember that they are here because of their great love for God and for his children.

What better motive could they have?

Stephen N. Peterson is the Honolulu mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.