Mormon Apostle Jeffrey Holland tells Missionaries they will "Ruin Their Lives" if they return early

In a presentation to Mormon missionaries at the "Missionary Training Center" in Provo, Utah, Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland tells the missionaries that they will ruin their lives if they voluntarily return home from their 2 year missionary service. He also calls Mormon missionaries who return home early the most "pitiable" people in all the world.

Full transcript below:

"I hope there's no one within the sound of my voice who wants to go home. That just comes to me. It makes me wonder whether there's someone here who does want to go home. Because that wasn't even remotely in my mind. I don't know who you are, and I don't know how seriously you're entertaining the thought. But don't you ever go home. Don't you dare leave this place. Not for God's sake. Not for the church's sake. Not for President Hinckley's sake. Somehow I think they can probably handle it.

But don't you dare leave here...for your sake. I have lived on and off, in my General Authority life, I have come in contact around the world with missionaries who did not see their mission through. I'm not talking about medical releases or emergencies or tragedies. I'm talking about somebody who just said, "I don't like doing this – it's too hard and I'm going home, and let my mother take care of me."

I have met those people around the world. And if there is a more sorrowful, if there is a more anguished, and in a sense, if you promise not to misunderstand me, if there is, in a sense, a more pitiable group in all the world -- I do not know who it is.

Now, that's strong language. That's really strong language. But I told you before. My mission means everything to me. I would. I would wrestle you to the floor. I would. I'd pull the curtains down. I'd get chains. I don't know, is there something around here that we can tie people with? I don't see anything to tie people with! I'd rip the chords off the television camera to keep you here.

Not for our sake. Not for, you know. You think one little missionary in 58,000, you know, that isn't going to bring the church to its knees.

But it's going to ruin your life if you don't do the best thing you ever had a chance to do. However hard it is. And however hard it may yet be."