How to Prepare to Serve a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Missionary work is a large component of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Not only does the Church rely on missionaries to teach other non-members about their religion, they depend on them as well as other church members to help strengthen though who may be less active. According to Mormon.org, an informational site hosted by the Church, here are more than 50,000 volunteer missionaries throughout the world. Male members may begin serving church members from 19 years of age, while female members may begin at 21 years of age. Missions are voluntarily (without pay) and are generally served for 18 months for women and two years for men. Here are some steps to follow if you would like to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• A strong testimony of the church
• A current temple recommend

1. Spiritually prepare for your mission to make sure you are ready for one by attending a Missionary Preparation Course provided by the church, and by reading your scriptures and praying to make sure this is the right decision for yourself.
2. Once you know you are ready to serve a mission, make an appointment to meet with your Bishop for a personal interview. He will also provide you with the missionary recommendation forms, which includes all of the necessary paperwork to go on a mission.
3. Make appointments to see your doctor and dentist for the needed physical and exam needed to accompany your missionary paperwork. You will also need to attach a photo of yourself with the forms.
4. Meet with your bishop for a final interview before you turn in your application to ensure you are worthy to serve a mission. Prior to this meeting, if there are any unresolved issues in your life, you should address them with proper church authorities as soon as possible so that they can be resolved prior to your mission.
5. Once your bishop agrees that you are worthy and ready to serve a mission, you will submit your papers and the waiting game begins to see where you will be called to serve!
6. Once you get your call, make an appointment with the temple to receive your endowments if you haven't already.
7. If you are going overseas, you will need a passport and possibly more vaccines, so it may not end here.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit www.lds.org for more information on missions. You can search the gospel library under missionary work for articles on the topic.
• Talk to someone who has served a mission to share their experiences so you know what to expect.
• There of course may be other smaller steps or recommendations made by your bishop or stake president before you can serve a mission, but these are a few basic ones you can expect in the process.