Celeste Ward, Ryan Ward, Jim Ward?
Ryan Ward, a 2015 graduate of McCallie High School, completed a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ryan served in the California Rancho Cucamonga mission, one of more than 400 missions of the LDS Church. Ryan is now attending Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, studying Mechanical Engineering.
“I am very grateful that I was able to serve among the people in South California, in a Spanish speaking mission,” Ryan said. “I came to love those I served. I came to know that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. He is our Savior, our Lord, and our Redeemer. He is the only Begotten Son of the true and living God. He invites everyone to come unto Him. If we follow after Him, He will bless us.”
As Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated: ‘The Savior is the source of true peace. Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior’s Atonement and his grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.”
While on his mission, Ryan, like all other missionaries, devoted full-time service to The Lord. He did not watch tv, listen to the radio, go to movies, or date during his mission. He was permitted to call home at Christmas, and one other time a year, usually Mother’s Day.
As expected of all Mormon missionaries, Ryan prepared so that he could be worthy to serve. He followed the direction of the prophets, including teachings found in For the Strength of Youth, a booklet “published under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles…[which] features standards from the writings and teaching of Church leaders and from scripture” (https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng).
Also, like all Mormon missionaries, Ryan was called and assigned “by revelation through the Lord’s servants, the prophets” (lds.org). Missionary service for young men begins at age 18.
“I am thankful that I was ‘born of goodly parents’ and that I am part of an extended family, too, that does their best to do as Jesus would do,” Ryan said. “I know that Jesus Christ will come again to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is ‘the way, the truth and the life.’ Only through Him can we be saved.”
Ryan Ward is the son of Jim and Celeste Ward. He has four siblings – Madison, Zachary, Kevin and Lance. His grandparents are Philander and Gloria Smartt, and Therald and Susan Ward.