Pre-Mission-Call Checklist (Everything I'm Doing While I'm WAITING for my Mission Call)

Hello! It's Kendall (future-missionary)!

Last month I met with my Bishop and started working on my "mission papers" (online mission application). I still haven't submitted my "papers" yet, but I'm part-way done and I'm getting closer. Sometimes there are things you need to work on that take longer than planned (for some people, it's worthiness issues that need to be resolved over time. Others might be waiting until they have saved a certain amount of money. Others might need to get health issues under control before they submit their papers. Some people just have to wait until a certain date to make sure they are old enough - there is a limit to how early you can submit your papers. Basically, there are a lot of things that need to line up just right before the paperwork can be submitted). I don't turn 19 until the end of the year, and I hope to be able to submit my mission papers in the next few months and be out in the field at the end of the year or early 2019.

Meanwhile, there is a lot of waiting. But there are a lot of things that need to be done (like the usual stuff- dentist appointments, etc). There are also a lot of other things that many people don't think about doing until after they receive their mission call (like picking out the scripture for your mission plaque or setting up a mission blog). I made a list of everything I could think of that needs to be done before I leave for the MTC that CAN be done before I have my mission call. Obviously, I can't start packing or buy mission-specific clothes yet, but there are still a lot of things that I can do without knowing where I will serve. To avoid getting depressed about things that I can't do yet because I don't have my papers in yet, this list is ONLY for things that can be done before my call arrives.

Many of these things I've listed could wait until after I (finally) get my mission call, but I feel like any detail I can take care of now will make things less-stressful for me later AND doing some of these things now makes me feel like I'm not just sitting around doing nothing.

I made a list of everything that I could think of that CAN be done between now and when I get my mission call. Your list may be different (depending on your preferences and what you have or haven't already done)...I didn't put "get a passport" or "get wisdom teeth removed" on my list because I already did those things earlier this year. My mom has a blog post about 15 things you can do while you're waiting to submit your mission papers and a lot of my ideas came from that post ("Starting your Mission Papers? 15 Things to do While You're Waiting for Your Call" which you can read HERE) - so you should check that out, because there are more ideas on there that I didn't put on my list (only because I already did them).

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Here is my list (I hope this helps you come up with your own list!):

__Temple Prep Class (last class for me was this past Sunday. I had to miss it because I had a council
     meeting, but I got the ok from my home ward Bishop, so we're good!)
__Dental Appointment (I have a cavity that needs to be filled, appointment coming up)
__Have dentist fill out dental paperwork
__Renew my limited-use temple recommend (mine just expired)
__Meet the BMI/weight requirements for a missionary (more info HERE)
__Make small family photo album to show investigators/members
__Make small personal family/friend photo album for myself
__Print my pedigree chart
__Practice sewing repairs (fix a hem, sew on a button, patch a hole, etc)
__Set up a missionary blog
__Meet with Bishop (monthly)
__Make a list of my usernames/passwords/PIN#s
__Make exercise plans for mission
__Take a mission photo (for mission application)
__Take missionary photos (for farewell invites, blog, social media, etc)
__Take family group photos
__Pick out the scripture for my mission plaque
__Study Preach My Gospel
__Memorize the headings in Preach My Gospel (more about this HERE)
__Memorize Doctrine & Covenants Section 4, The Missionary Purpose, My Missionary Commission, The Standard of Truth, and the First Vision (free printables & more about this HERE)
__Make a list of my favorite things (treats, etc) to leave for my parents (in case they want to send care packages)
__Laminate pamphlets (A missionary serving in our Stake had a set of handouts that were laminated for his own use during lessons, etc. I want to have a set!)
__Make & laminate a Plan of Salvation visual aid*
__Schedule final doctor appointment to get medical paperwork done
__Read the standard works (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price)
__Put together a useful sewing kit (only things I would need)
__Put together a useful first aid kit
__Make a list of what mission clothes/supplies I already have
__Make a list of what mission clothes/supplies I know I still need (so far)



*You MAY want to wait to make a plan of salvation visual aid. Some missions are stricter than others about creating your own visual aids and/or what they look like. And you might not be in an English-speaking area, so if you make a set with English words on it, that won't be much help. 

STARTING your Mission Papers? 15 things to do WHILE YOU'RE WAITING

If you're starting your mission papers, you're probably really excited and can't wait to get your mission call. The process of mission application paperwork can take a while, though, can't it? You need a bunch of appointments and you have a lot of paperwork to fill out. You may have to wait a while until everything is done. Or even if everything is filled out, you may still have to wait until you're close enough to your eligibility date in order to actually "submit your papers." A lot of the pre-mission process is waiting and being patient. Don't waste the time you have- it helps to be productive and get things done! You can't control everything, and there are a lot of things you can't do YET (like pack) but there are some things that you can do while you are waiting. Here is a list of 15 things that you can do while you are waiting to submit your mission papers (or waiting for your mission call!)

1. PLAN & BUDGET FOR MISSION PURCHASES: 

Start thinking about what items (like clothes or scriptures) you will likely need to purchase for your mission and plan how you will pay for them (can you get a part-time job? Babysit or mow lawns? Ask for some items like luggage or shoes for Christmas or your birthday?). You can plan out the basic things you will need (which is mostly clothing) ahead of time, though you will likely need to purchase some mission-specific items later on. Here are some of our posts about how to plan ahead for what clothes you will need and how to budget and/or spread out those purchases if you are on a tight budget: "Why you should buy some of your mission clothes before your call arrives" and "Planning & Budget for your Mission Clothes Purchases - A Guide for Future LDS Sister Missionaries"  (that last one is specifically geared toward the ladies, but the same principles apply to guys)

Some missions require the purchase of specific items (like a bike, a phone, or other electronics) or clothes (like a winter coat or snow boots) that you just won't know about for sure until you get your mission call. In the meantime, a lot of the items you will need to have are pretty much the same no matter where you will serve, so you can start purchasing some things ahead of time if you want to. See our blog posts for ideas..."10 Items You can Actually Buy BEFORE you Get your Mission Call" and "5 MORE Items to Buy - Even if you Don't Know Where you Will be Serving"

2. MAYBE GET A PASSPORT?: 

You may go to a foreign country or you may serve in the United States. You won’t know until you get your mission call. However, you might want to consider applying for your US Passport now. I talk about this in our blog post "3 Reasons to Apply for your Passport BEFORE You Receive your Mission Call." True, depending on where you are called, you might not need it for your mission, but it’s one less thing you will have to worry about later if you do go to a foreign country, Besides, even if you don’t serve in a foreign mission, a passport is a good thing to have. A US Passport is a valid form of government ID that can be useful for travel (even if you don't go out of the country)

3. TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE SMALL THINGS - 

Once you actually receive your mission call, you'll probably be in a flurry of preparations (telling everyone, buying things, saying goodbye, etc). You'll probably have to do a million little things (like assemble your photo album or make your pedigree chart) that you could actually do NOW, while you're waiting to submit your papers (or waiting to get your call). Buy a little photo album and print some photos to go in it. You can always add more photos later. Make your pedigree chart (see my post about this here) that you will be using to teach about family history. Get an address book and start filling out the info you want to take with you. Get a sewing-kit and make sure that you have what you might need (and take out anything you'd never use). Make your own stationary (that says "Sister ________" or "Elder _________"). Set up a blog. Make a list of your passwords/Pin numbers for your accounts. You know, all of those details that you aren't going to have much time for later on. I talk about some of these things in our blog post: "5 Things you can Make NOW for your LDS Mission" 

4. TEMPLE PREP CLASS - 

Talk to your Bishop about upcoming temple-prep classes. Unless you have already received your endowment, you will probably need to wait to get your mission call before you get your regular (adult) full-use temple recommend and receive your endowment, but you can take the temple-prep class before you have your mission call. However, how far in advance you take the temple prep class is up to your Bishop, so check with him. 

5. MISSION PREP CLASS - 

If your ward or stake offers Mission Prep classes, those are recommended (and might even be required by your Bishop/Stake President, so check on that!)

6. MEET WITH YOUR DOCTOR RE: HEALTH ISSUES - 

Meet with your doctor to discuss any health problems or anything else that could pose a problem when it’s time to actually submit your medical papers. Things like obesity (being overweight) or underweight can affect your mission eligibility (see our post about missionary health requirements here). Other health issues like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, menstrual concerns, anxiety or depression, acne, or ingrown-toenails CAN prevent you being eligible for a mission IF they are uncontrolled (for example, if you have diabetes that is not being controlled by medication and/or diet that would be a big problem. If you have diabetes that is well-controlled, that is totally different). They don’t want you to be in a potentially dangerous health situation or limited in the work you can do as a missionary, so anything that can be fixed or controlled needs to be taken care of - ahead of time. If you have any health concerns that are not currently “under control,” then make a plan with your doctor to get them under control. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to serve a mission, it means that you want to be pro-active and get things fixed that need to be fixed. 

Pretending that you don’t have a health problem so that you can “get away with” going on a mission is not a good idea. It's not good for your health and it will be hard to have the Spirit with you as a missionary if you are being dishonest. Health problems (including mental/emotional concerns like anxiety or depression) tend to get worse under the extreme stress of missionary life.  Do whatever you need to go get things under control, with the advice of your doctor. Certain kinds of issues take a significant amount of time to resolve (or get under control) with medication or treatment. You also may have to wait for referrals to specialists (that can take months), so its best to get this started ASAP so there isn't a delay (or more of a delay) in receiving your mission call*

You can meet with your doctor at any time (sooner is better), but the medical paperwork for a mission requires that you are examined within 6 months of submitting the paperwork. That means that if you plan to submit your mission application on October 1st, you could meet with your doctor to complete the medical portion of the paperwork anytime in the 6 months leading up to October 1st. However, if you have health concerns that will need to be resolved or monitored, you will want to wait until you have everything under control before you have your doctor actually fill out the paperwork for your mission application.*

For example, we have a friend who knew she needed to lose some weight to meet the BMI requirement. She intended to do so, but had her doctor fill out the medical paperwork several months before the goal was achieved. The doctor was not aware of the BMI requirement (it is not specified on the medical paperwork), so in the absence of any health issues, he completed the paperwork and gave his approval for her to serve. It wasn't until months later (about 2 weeks after her papers had actually been submitted) that my friend discovered that there was a problem. Although she had gotten her weight to an acceptable level in the months since her doctor filled out the paperwork, all the missionary department saw was the weight listed (by her doctor) at the time of the appointment. She was contacted and informed that she would need to get her weight within the required range before her application could go any farther. Though she had already taken care of the weight requirement, the missionary department did not know that. They only had the information that was on her medical paperwork. The correction was quickly made, but instead of receiving a mission call that week as she had hoped, my friend had to wait longer to get her mission application approved.

My daughter has a weight-loss goal that she will need to achieve before she submits her mission paperwork in a few months (so that she will meet the BMI requirement). She has been working hard. Anxious to get her paperwork going (even though she isn’t quite 19 yet), she wanted to make an appointment with her doctor to do her medical paperwork. She is on track to lose the required amount, but I pointed out that (as with the example of my friend that I mentioned) the weight written on the form at the time of her appointment will be the weight that is seen by the missionary department when they review her application. No matter how much weight she loses between now and then, the number the missionary department will see is the number on her medical form that is filled out by her doctor. For that reason, she is meeting regularly with her doctor to monitor her progress, but is waiting to have her mission medical paperwork completed until the goal (and the BMI requirement) is actually met. 

*There may be some cases in which your doctor may indicate that treatment is in progress and will be completed on a certain date (prior to the mission availability date) and depending on what the issue is, that might be fine. For example, if you are on a course of prescription acne medication that will be completed before your mission availability date, that is different than an issue that has not been controlled or will require additional medical appointments or treatment while you are serving. Some treatments and certain types of health issues might required additional paperwork or verification. With weight loss, all I can say is that it's easy to SAY (or even really believe) that you will lose 20 lbs in 3 months, but actually doing it is another thing, so I would recommend getting weight issues under control with the help of your doctor before you do the medical paperwork.  

7. IMMUNIZATIONS-

Keep immunizations up to date (some immunizations require a series with a specific timeframe, so best to keep up). You will probably need additional immunizations for your mission, but keeping up with regular immunizations is helpful so that you don't get behind. 

8. GET DENTAL ISSUES UNDER CONTROL- 

Have regular dental check-ups/cleanings and dental work as needed (you don't want to wait until the last minute and find out that you need a bunch of work done (which could delay your mission papers). If you haven't had a recent dental check-up/cleaning, you may want to schedule it now. You will need your a dentist to sign-off that you don't have any dental issues that could be a problem on a mission, but if you haven't been seen recently (like on your regular cleaning schedule), they will likely want you to come in for an exam. If you wait to schedule an appointment until you need mission papers signed, you might wait weeks or months to get in). If you have had a recent dental exam and there wasn't any problem, the dentist may (or may not) feel comfortable signing the form for you. So allow plenty of time and schedule an appointment now if you need one. 

If you still have your wisdom teeth, check into getting them pulled ASAP (sometimes you have to wait a while until they are formed, so ask your dentist at your next checkup). Having your wisdom teeth pulled is necessary for most people, check with your dentist to see if you are a candidate. We have a blog post on this subject WISDOM TEETH HERE 

9. WORK ON YOUR NUTRITION - Consider how you can improve your eating habits to be more healthy. Just because you are a certain weight (overweight, underweight, or average weight) does not mean that you are necessarily healthy or unhealthy…but in most cases, people can do something to  improve their diet. Remember that the Word of Wisdom (the Lord’s Law of Health) is not just a list of “don’ts” - there are things there that we are specifically told TO eat. Check it out Doctrine & Covenants 89. In addition to the things specifically listed in the Word of Wisdom, any Sunday School lesson or General Conference talk about the Word of Wisdom will also tell you that you need to use your common sense about what you eat (how much to sleep, how much to exercise, etc) and that you should listen to sound medical advice. Basically, even though the Word of Wisdom doesn’t SAY you shouldn’t eat an exclusive diet of Twinkies and Diet Coke, doesn’t mean that it’s healthy to do so. If you are ignorant about nutrition, you might not know any better, but if you know better but do it anyhow, that’s not great. You are smart. Use your brain. Also, panicking and trying to find a quick-fix to weight issues is not a good idea either. Avoid fad diets and quick-fixes.

10. FOOD/DRINK ADDICTION? - An element of the Word of Wisdom is avoiding addiction. Many (but not all) addictions are food/drink/drug based. Of course I probably don’t need to tell you that it’s bad to be addicted to cocaine, but you may have a less-severe (but still significant) problem with being addicted to something like soda (whether caffeinated or not) or to fast food or energy drinks. It would be best to overcome any food/drink addiction before your mission, because you don’t want to be relying on an addiction to keep going as a missionary. You might not have access to the item you want (do they have a McDonalds in Mongolia?), but even if you do, should you keep it up if you know you are addicted? Any kind of addiction limits our agency. If you have to have a cola on a regular basis or you get anxious, or you need some fast food to keep motivated in the afternoon, that is a form of addiction. I’m just pointing out some common food addictions - there are others. Just ask yourself - is there a food or drink that if you had to be without it for the next 24 hours, you would be very upset? It’s not about “liking” the food/drink - it’s about physically craving the food/drink and needing it to feel like you can function. If you feel like you might have an issue with being addicted to pop or junk food or whatever,  but you aren’t sure, try going without it for 2 days and see how you do. If you find yourself getting anxious, constantly thinking about that food/drink, or unable to wait the whole 2 days, you might consider your dependance on that food/drink and make a plan (perhaps with your medical doctor?) to give it up. It might seem silly, but it would be better to handle a problem like this now instead of during the high-stress environment of a mission. 

11. START EXERCISING - Work on your physical fitness. Develop an exercise plan. It is recommended that you start a habit of exercising regularly for 1-2 years prior to your mission (1 hour of daily exercise is recommended). If you haven’t been doing that already, start now. Even if you think you don’t need to exercise to control your weight, that is not the only reason for exercising. You will need the physical stamina and endurance as a missionary. Of course, consult your medical doctor to make sure that exercise is appropriate for you. 

12. START TALKING TO PEOPLE YOU DON’T KNOW - 

Start talking to people. It doesn't have to be about the gospel. Just practice making simple conversation with people you don't really know (cashier at the grocery store, new person at church, etc). This might seem silly, but it will help you during your mission (when you are expected to talk to EVERYONE, all the time). The sooner you get comfortable with it, the better.

13. START STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES - EVERY DAY - 

Read the whole Book of Mormon from cover to cover (especially if you haven't ever read the entire thing before). Then read the other “standards works” (The Old Testament, The New Testament, The Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price). Then read the Book of Mormon again. 

14. BREAK BAD HABITS- 

Do you bite your nails? Say "like" with every sentence? Pick your nose? Eat with your mouth open? Try to overcome those bad habits now so that you won't have to deal with them as a missionary. You will have enough to deal with already. 

15. STAY WORTHY- 

Make sure you are keeping your baptism covenants and living worthily to qualify for a temple recommend. If you have any unresolved issues, please do yourself a favor and talk to your Bishop now. You will live a higher standard after you receive your endowment and after you are set-apart as a missionary. Don’t let it go on that long. Take care of it now. Better late than never, but EVEN BETTER SOONER! 

5 Christmas GIFT IDEAS for FUTURE Latter-day Saint Missionaries

If you are a soon-to-be missionary (whether you are planning to start your mission papers soon, have already started your mission paperwork, or if you've already received your mission call), you may be a little stressed about all of the things you need to buy for your mission. You might even be more than a little stressed... We have several posts about the things that you can purchase while you are waiting for your mission call and how to budget ahead so that you can make those purchases over time..."Why you should buy all MOST of your Mission Clothes BEFORE your Call Arrives", "10 Items to Buy Now (before your LDS Mission Call Arrives)" and "5 More Things You Can Buy Now (Even if you Don't Know Where You Will be Serving)",

If your MTC-report date (if you already have your mission call) OR "availability date" (the date you state that you are available to start your mission) is not long after Christmas, you might have an opportunity to request Christmas gifts that coincide with with things that you will need to purchase for your mission. 

My soon-to-be-missionary daughter Kendall turns 19 right after Christmas this year, so we know that she will still be here for Christmas day, but she hasn't received her mission call yet. While we aren't exactly sure when she will be leaving (or even where she will be going) yet, we do know that her availability date is right after Christmas, so she will likely be leaving within a few months after Christmas. So when I'm thinking about Christmas gifts for her (ya, I plan WAY ahead for Christmas), I know that something like a 12-month subscription to Spotify won't be a very good gift because she will be leave long before that subscription is even halfway used up. 

Last year (when she was turning 18) she asked that we (her parents) get her things for her mission for Christmas and her birthday. That was a whole year before she would even be eligible to serve, so that might be more planning ahead than some people want to do, but we are planners. 

One of the things we got for her for Christmas last year was a luggage set. We figured that even if something came up and she wasn't able to serve a mission after all, luggage is still a practical and useful gift for any adult. We got her a few other things for her mission last year as well, like a messenger bag, a lanyard for the MTC (from her little sister), an alarm clock, and quick-dry bath towels. I talk about some of those things in our posts "10 Items to Buy Now (before your LDS Mission Call Arrives)" and "5 More Things You Can Buy Now (Even if you Don't Know Where You Will be Serving)", so check those out for more information. All of these things are pretty generic for all missionaries. They are not specific to a certain mission or climate, so they will be appropriate whether you serve in Iceland or Ohio or Brazil...everyone needs luggage, everyone needs an alarm clock, and everyone needs towels. Obviously there are some purchases that you will want to wait on until you know where you are going to serve (no sense in buying snow boots if you're assigned to serve in Hawaii). 

Our daughter has requested that we get her things for her mission for Christmas and her birthday this year as well. While we are now a lot closer to her availability date, we still don't know when shme's leaving or where she is going. So aside from some general basics, we are waiting to buy some clothing items until we know more about the climate where she will be. We are hopig that her mission call will arrive in time to make some fun mission-specific purchases for Christmas! Either way, there are still plenty of things that need to be purchased that will work for any mission.

No matter where you are in the mission-prep process, you probably have some things (or a lot of things!) that you still need to buy for your mission, as well. As your friends and relatives are aware that you are getting closer to your mission, they might already be asking if there is anything you need AND/OR they might be asking what you want for Christmas. People want to help, but they have no idea what you might want or need or already have. 

The trouble is, you might not want to just tell your Aunt Alice that you need a skirt or pajamas because you will have no idea what she is going to choose for you. While I'm sure you will appreciate the gesture no matter what, the item she selects for you might not be appropriate, it might not match with your other clothing, it might not fit, or you just might not like it. And then not only do you still not have the thing you actually need, you then you have to choose whether to take it anyhow or pack away at home. Even though I'm sure you would be polite, your Aunt Alice wants to help you, not waste her money... While it might seem easy to ask for clothes, if there is a possibility that you won't be able to use what she has purchased, it won't be helping anyone. 

I recommend that you come up with a few general non-clothing items that you can tell people you need, in case someone asks you what you need (no matter what time of year you are leaving) or if someone asks what you want for Christmas if you will be leaving within the next few weeks/months after the holidays. Have in mind several items in a range of prices - something a little pricier like luggage, and some less expensive items like mesh laundry bags.

Here are a few ideas for things that it would be easy for a relative or friend to purchase for a soon-to-be missionary:

   

Some of these things are more expensive than others, so of course use tact and consideration when requesting anything from your family or friends. Some or all of these things may be beyond the budget that someone has in mind, but you can always come up with additional smaller items that people could get for you if these items I've listed are too high-priced for the circumstances. (Post-it notes, highlighters, a lanyard, socks, mesh laundry bags, etc).

Depending on how your family does things, you might be asked to make a wish-list for Christmas and that makes things really easy. If not, you might have a private conversation with your parent(s) and/or grandparents about what would be practical. Just simply explain that purchasing items for your mission will be helping you cut down on your expenses and will be very appreciated. Buying video games and concert tickets is more fun than buying dress socks and practical shoes, but as long as you are reasonable and respectful, most people will understand the reason for your request.

If your relatives are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or are not supportive of your decision to serve a mission in general, I recommend using the Spirit to decide how to approach this situation. You might choose not to request anything specific and thats perfectly fine. My parents (not members of the Church) have already been asking me what type of things Kendall needs for her mission because they #1- want to help and #2- don't want to get her anything she won't be able to use before she goes or will have to leave behind. She would love to have a giant unicorn bouncy-house for Christmas, but I don't think it will fit in her luggage :)

Best of luck to you! 

3 BIG FAT LIES that might discourage you from serving a full-time mission (and how to overcome them)

I've noticed something that many future missionaries have in common - they seem to start having struggles at some point in the mission-prep process. Things start to seem overwhelming. Maybe it's when you first start considering serving a mission, but it could be when you start making your preparations (like attending mission prep classes, start working to save up for your mission, or when you begin meeting with your Bishop to start your mission papers). Sometimes future missionaries don't have much of a struggle until later in the process - like, maybe after they have submitted their mission papers or after they have received their mission call.

What kind of struggles am I talking about? Well, sometimes it might seem like everything is going wrong. Maybe a new health concern pops up, you have trouble finding a job, or your family/friends aren't being supportive of your choice to serve a full-time mission. It could be any of those things (or a thousand other things) that could start to make you feel like maybe serving a mission isn't "meant to be" for you. Maybe your car breaks down on the way to your interview with the Stake President. Maybe you have 8 cavities that need to be filled before your dentist will sign your mission papers. Maybe you get laid off at work and don't know how you are going to save up money. All of those things can (and do) happen to future missionaries...

A family friend who recently received her mission call told me that even though she had a great desire to serve, she had really started to struggle with whether or not she should even serve a mission because there were multiple delays in her mission application and receiving her mission call. I talk about this more in my "Waiting for a Mission Call' blog post, but to sum up, she told me that she wondered many times whether all of the problems she was having were a sign that she shouldn't serve or "maybe they just don't want me?" This broke my heart, because (like many of us tend to do), she started to assume that the problem wasn't clerical error, a series of simple mistakes, or just a natural part of her mission preparation, but a reflection on her personal worth or ability to serve.

Although it's been a very long time since I submitted my own mission papers, I clearly remember that it felt like almost everything went wrong in that process from start to finish and I frequently wondered if I would ever be able to get my mission call. My daughter Kendall will be turning 19 in a few months and I can tell you that she has had every thing go "wrong" and she has been completely discouraged and overwhelmed more times than I can count.

Recently when she was struggling with feelings of inadequacy and despair (mostly in wondering how she was going to be physically and financially prepared in time to put in her mission papers at her planned time), she told me that she keeps thinking things like, "You're never going to make it so you should just give up" and "This is too hard, it's impossible, you will never be good enough." I said, "Kendall, do you think that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would say things like that to you? Would they discourage you and put you down like that?" "No," she replied. "Well then," I asked, "who would try to discourage you and put you down? Who would try to keep you from serving a mission? Who would stand to gain from you NOT going on a mission?"

She thought about it for a few seconds, and replied, "Satan?" Yes, Satan, or the "Father of Lies" as he is also known... I've thought about this many times over the years, and whenever I'm down on myself or I feel like I'm not good enough, I try to remind myself of this fact...

"Our Savior, Jesus Christ, always builds us up and never tears us down." In this quote from the talk "The Atonement and Faith" (April 2008), Dallin H. Oaks uses the words "always" and "never," which are actually very strong words. Christ always builds us up and never tears us down. He isn't a bully who tries to make us feel bad about ourselves. He is the hero who tries to lift us up. He doesn't try to  make us feel unworthy, He tries to help us become worthy. He doesn't try to make us feel like we aren't good enough, He loves us as we are and helps us to become better.

I've also noticed that there is often a trial or test, a struggle of some sort, before we move on to the next phase of our life. Would a mission be as meaningful if we didn't have to work, study, prepare ourselves, and save money to go? If we do those things, a mission is often more personally meaningful because we have worked hard to overcome obstacles. I had a friend whose parents bought her a new car when she was 16 and it was trashed within a few months because she was careless with it. I have another friend who worked hard to buy his own first vehicle (used) and it was immaculately cared for. Often the hard work and sacrifice that we put into something helps us appreciate it more than we might have if it were handed to us without lifting a finger. Jeffrey R. Holland said, "I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience" (Missionary Work and the Atonement" (March 2001). I've often wondered if the pre-mission struggles that many people experience are a purposeful part of the preparation process. 

So if you are doubting yourself and whether you should serve a mission, think about the negative and where it might be coming from. If you feel worthless or that you can never make it, who is telling you those things that make you feel inadeqaute? (Because according to Dallin H Oaks, Jesus Christ doesn't ever tear us down, so it's not Jesus Christ!). And if you're experiencing struggles and trials as you try to prepare, it's pretty hard to see that as a positive thing, but try to think of it as a refining fire that will help make you a better missionary.

Today I'm going to talk about 3 common misconceptions (or outright lies) that might keep you from serving a full-time mission. Here are some of the most common LIES (and I will call them BIG FAT LIES because they are pretty huge) that future missionaries sometimes let themselves believe when they are preparing to serve:

LIE #1- You've made too many mistakes to be "worthy" to serve a mission
First off, if you have even the slightest concern about something you have done in your past (or something that you are currently struggling with), you need to meet with your Bishop right away. I mean that in the most positive way possible. Meeting with the Bishop is probably the last thing you want to do. You may feel like you'd rather walk on hot coals or sit on a cactus than have to talk to your Bishop about (whatever it is). It might be the LAST thing that you want to do, but it should be the FIRST thing that you do. Like, call/text to make the appointment RIGHT NOW! I say that because you will feel SO much better afterward. Your Bishop is waiting to help you, but he can't help you unless you speak up. This is better done sooner than later, because (depending on the severity of the issue) there are sometimes steps that need to be taken in order to overcome the sin. And this can sometimes take time, so you don't want to wait until you are trying to submit your mission papers to bring up issues you're having with keeping the commandments. Better late than never, but better to do  SOONER. You will feel better afterward. And your Bishop won't think less of you. He will probably think more of you for having the guts to talk to him. I know of several youth who have shared with me that they finally got up the nerve to talk to their Bishop about issues with law of chastity, and afterward they have all said, "I wish I would have done that sooner!" (PS- You don't have to talk to Bishop about every little thing you've ever done wrong in your whole life, like that time you threw a rock at a car when you were 5). So, how do you know if an issue is something that you should talk to your Bishop about? In my experience, if it is something that you feel like you can't fully overcome just through personal repentance/prayer and/or you can't stop feeling guilty or worrying about it, you probably need to talk to the Bishop for additional help. For many youth this involves more serious issues like keeping the Word of Wisdom or pornography and other law of chastity concerns. If you still aren't sure, you can always ask him if (whatever your concern is) is something you need to talk to him about). Missionaries are not perfect. Some have made more mistakes than others in their past, but they have overcome those mistakes through the repentance process and so can you. It's not too late, and your Bishop can (and wants to!) help you.

LIE #2- You don't know enough about the gospel to serve a mission
You guys know that I'm a convert and I served a mission not very long after my baptism. New converts serve missions all the time. People who were inactive during high school serve missions. It doesn't matter if you never set foot in church until 6 months ago, or if you slept through 4 years of seminary... what is most important is a personal testimony and a desire to serve. See my post "2 Things to Consider before you Decide to Serve a Full-time Mission" which talks about the importance of personal testimony. If I had to choose a missionary to teach my friends and neighbors, I'd rather have someone who barely knows anything about the scriptures but has a strong personal testimony of the gospel than someone who has all 4 standard works memorized and doesn't have a testimony at all. Think about it! Missionaries are not called because they know every little thing about the gospel so they can teach everything, they are called to teach people the basics - MOST IMPORTANTLY, how to get the answers for themselves. That is essential if a convert is going to stay active after the missionary is transferred or goes home. It doesn't matter how much you know if your investigator has to rely on you for all the answers. Someday you will leave and they will be on their own. Knowing everything isn't important. Knowing how to get the answers is important. If you have desires to serve God, you can do it. Don't let the lie that you don't know enough to serve keep you back.

LIE #3- It's too hard to prepare, so you should just give up on your plans to serve a mission
Ah yes, another classic lie - it's just too hard! I'll never lose those last 10 pounds that I need to qualify. I'll never save enough money. I'll never know enough. I'll never overcome my problem with ______. There is that word NEVER again! It's a lie. You CAN do it. You CAN make it. It might be really hard and you might need to reach out for help, but you can do it. If you want to serve a mission and everything seems to be going wrong, don't take that as a cue to give up - take that as a cue to turn to the Lord, turn to the scriptures, turn to your Heavenly Father in prayer, turn to your priesthood leaders, turn to your support system (family or friends who are supportive of your desire to serve). Life is hard, whether you decide to serve a mission or not, so if serving a mission is something that you want to do, then GO FOR IT and don't give in to lies that tell you that you can't! 

Memorizing the TOPIC HEADINGS of Preach My Gospel - a Guide for Future LDS Missionaries

Hello, it's Kendall (future missionary)! My friend Maya is currently serving a mission in Peru, so I recently asked her for tips to help prepare for a mission. One of the things that she suggested was something I hadn't thought about before - she said that she recommends familiarizing yourself with Preach My Gospel, but also memorizing the headings for the topics in the missionary lessons that you will be teaching...

Here is what Maya says, "Preach my Gospel will be your very best friend!! YOUR VERY VERY VERY best friend! My tip would be to familiarize yourself with it as much as possible before leaving for the mission. I would focus on memorizing Lessons 1-4 (The Restoration, Plan of Salvation, The gospel of Jesus Christ, and The commandments). Don't necessarily memorize the paragraphs but memorize the main topics! I wish I had been more diligent with that before leaving for the misson! It will help a ton. But also try to at least read all of preach my gospel before leaving. It will help a ton when it comes to teaching, studying, EVERYTHING!"

You don't have to have the lessons memorized, but having the topics that are contained in each lesson memorized (in order) will really be helpful. This will help you remember what is coming up in the lesson you are teaching and where certain topics are covered if you are not going in order. Start with the memorizing the topics from the first lesson ("Lesson 1- The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ"), which is the one that you will teach a LOT more than the others.

The topics (headings) for Lesson 1 are:

• God is our Loving Heavenly Father 
• The Gospel Blesses Families 
• Heavenly Father Reveals His Gospel in Every Dispensation 
• The Savior's Earthy Ministry 
• The Great Apostasy 
• The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith 
• The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ 
• Pray to Know the Truth through the Holy Ghost

Certain memorization methods work better for some people than they do for others. I've always had success in memorizing using songs (like memorizing the Articles of Faith primary-style - learning the words as they are set to a familiar song).

Here is a really great video of a group of young women singing a song (not really a song, it's a list of the main topics from the whole 1st missionary lesson,"Lesson 1: The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," in chronological order and set to the tune of the hymn "Praise to the Man"). I don't know who originally put this together, but I happened to see this on Youtube and I'm personally going to use it to help me memorize the topics for Lesson 1:


Click HERE to link to the youtube video of the song



BONUS-
This isn't really something to memorize, but is fun to watch- A rap about the gospel!
https://youtu.be/a0ohZX4j3xc

LDS Missionary Care Package Ideas for every month of the year, plus birthdays and hump day!

This was originally posted on my other missionary blog "Missionary Momming with the Overzealous Missionary Mom" (which is a blog with ideas for moms & other relatives or friends of full-time LDS missionaries). Even though this blog is primarily about preparing for an LDS mission, I thought I'd share this information here as well, since it's a missionary-related topic and some of you might be interested in missionary care package ideas! If you'd like to see my other blog, you can find it here

This blog post features a collection of care package ideas for every month of the year (plus a few bonus ideas for birthdays and "hump day"). We have at least one idea for every month (plus birthdays and "hump day"), with links to the original source if you want more information. But first, lets talk about some of the practical matters re: sending care packages...

TIMING-
You'll want to take into consideration that it's going to take a while for your package to get to your missionary (especially if they are in a different country), so you will want to look into delivery estimate times and try to plan ahead. For example, if you are in the United States and your missionary is also in the United States, you can send a package through USPS using "Priority Mail" and it should arrive in 2 to 3 business days (there are other -cheaper- shipping methods, but they do take much longer). If you have a specific day that you need the package to arrive by (such as a birthday or Christmas), then I would plan ahead to have the package arrive at least several days early. It's better to be on the safe side, since there can be delays (especially around Christmas).

If you are shipping to a foreign country, it will take much longer for a package to arrive. The USPS website's "Postage Price Calculator" can give you an idea of the cost for a package and an estimate for how long it will take a package/letter to arrive (enter your zip code and the destination country). Again, this is an estimate, because the delivery time can vary a lot, especially in remote areas. So shipping early is key.

RESTRICTIONS-
If you are shipping to a foreign country, I recommend finding a message board or facebook group where parents with LDS missionaries in the same country as your missionary share tips because you will be able to find ideas and information about shipping to that particular country. When you ship anything to a foreign country, there can be a lot of restrictions about what can be sent (both because of policy and because of practicality). For example, a particular country might not allow certain types of food to be sent. Another county might allow food, but it isn't a good idea to send certain types of foods (like chocolate that can melt).

If you try to ship restricted or illegal items (like fireworks), they would be confiscated and could potentially cause problems for yourself and/or for your missionary, so be sure to get the facts about what is allowed and not allowed. The USPS has information about shipping to foreign countries, and they also have all of the customs forms that you will need to send packages overseas. The last time I sent a package to an overseas missionary was several years ago, but unless it has changed recently, you actually have to go to the post office to mail foreign packages (you can't usually just click & ship from home).

OTHER IMPORTANT SHIPPING ISSUES-
Other common issues related to sending packages to foreign countries include theft and additional costs to your missionary. Theft is a significant problem in some countries where customs agents will open and inspect your package, confiscate restricted items, and may decide to keep things that they want for themselves. Even if your missionary is serving in the United States and the package won't go through customs, packages can be stolen from doorsteps. So if you try to send anything of value such as money, a camera, or even shoes, they might never make it to your missionary. I've heard that in some countries, if you need to send shoes to your missionary, it's best to sent the shoes in seperate packages on different days (because one shoe is not very appealing to a theif). Of course, there is always the chance that one of the packages could be lost forever and you missionary might be walking around with only one shoe! :)

Please be aware that customs agents can and will open packages and inspect everything inside. So if you have wrapped items (like a twelve-days-of-Christmas gifts kind of thing), they may open all of the gifts to see what they are.

COSTS-
It costs a lot of money to send a package anywhere, even within the same country. The farther away, the higher the cost. Also, a heavier package costs more (an exception to this is if you are able to do a flat-rate box through USPS, which allows you to pay the same price no matter how heavy the box is, but there are restrictions and you must use a specific box (that you can get for free from USPS).  So you definitely need to factor the cost of shipping plus the cost of the items inside to determine the actual total cost of sending a care package to your missionary.

What many people don't realize is that additional costs to the missionaries can happen when they are required to pay customs fees when picking up a package in their country. Depending on the contents of the package, they may be required to pay high fees (basically custom taxes), and that money comes out of the missionary's support fund (food allowance). Imagine if they had to pay $100 to pick up a package that cost you $50 to send them? That would be devastating to their budget.

For all of these reasons, you will definately want to learn everything you can about what is allowed (or will result in fees) and what you shouldn't send to your missionaries particular country.

Alright, now that I've totally stressed you out, lets get on to the care package ideas! You may need to adapt to your situation and you definately don't need to send a package every single month (especially if your missioary is in a foreign counrty where the cost is much higher).

Here is at least one idea for each month of the year, followed by a few extra ideas:

JANUARY- "NEW YEAR, NEW START" CARE PACKAGE

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This is a cute idea for a low-cost care package containing practical items like toothpaste, mints, etc.

FEBRUARY- "VALENTINES DAY CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Check dollar stores for inexpensive holiday-related items and decorations

MARCH- "ST PATRICK'S DAY CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Green-themed care package for St Patricks Day - basically, just anything that is green (note- I'd be careful about putting soap like the IRish Spring shown in a box with food. Even though it is wrapped, it is strong smelling and -trust me - all of the food items like gum and mints will taste like soap. I know this because this has happened in my 72-hour kit. If you really want to include the soap, I would double-wrap the whole package of soap it in thick zip-lock bags like freezer bags).

APRIL- ''EASTER CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Several ideas for Easter. You could include any Easter-ish items, but its nice to have a gospel theme if you can, as in the 2nd Easter care package shown above. 

MAY- "MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This is a May-themed care package with the popular May 4th "MAY the Fourth be with you" Star Wars theme. Here, they include snacks with the labels changed to make them Star Wars related.

JUNE- "BOX OF SUNSHINE CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This sunshine-themed care package would be good for anytime in the summer, but it could also be sent in the winter as a sort of cheer-up. PS- Some countries have the opposite seasons than in the United States, so if your missionary is serving in Australia, for example, it might be winter there when it is summer here.

JULY- "4TH OF JULY CARE PACKAGE"

LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

I'm pretty sure that fireworks are illegal to send anywhere, even within the United States, so this care package is fireowrk themed, but shouldnt contain any actual fireworks - it's just firework themed. Fun items like pop-rocks candy would be a good idea. Be sure to check whether it is appropriate to send nation-related items like American flags, etc., before you send, in case they might be prohibited.

AUGUST- "BEAT THE HEAT CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

"Cool" or "ice" themed items

SEPTEMBER- "FALL CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

Fall themed items like nuts and other snacks with fall-themed flavors

OCTOBER- "HALLOWEEN CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

NOVEMBER- "THANKSGIVING CARE PACKAGE"

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

This is a really cute idea for a thanksgiving dinner in a box. Is your missionary in the United States and probably going to eat Thanksgiving dinner with a family in their area? Don't worry - they will still want this food! You can't have too much Thanksgiving!

DECEMBER "CHRISTMAS CARE PACKAGE"

Here are 3 different ideas for things to send to your missionary for Christmas. A common theme for a lot of Christmas care packages are things that can be enjoyed over time - either small gift or envelopes that are opened over time (days or weeks). Don't feel like you need to send regular Christmas presents (like you would normally give them back home). In fact, it's better not to. They don't have room for extra items in their luggage, so unless they specifically tell you that they need new shoes or a new dress, I would recommend sticking to small practical & consumable stuff like post-it notes, chapstick, socks, ties, snacks, makeup, etc.

Here is a garland with envelopes that are opened like an advent calendar:

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Here is a paper Christmas tree and "ornaments" featuring photos of family and friends back home. This is a great idea because it can be put up weeks before Christmas and kept up on display for a while after Christmas, so it has a lasting impact (while also being low cost). The missionary can eventually throw away the paper tree, but keep the photos with him in the next transfer.

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

Stocking filled with inexpensive gifts like candy, etc (for most people, a stocking would be in additional to the main gifts, but for a missionary this is a very appropriate gift by itself)

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

Please try to remember your missionary's companion when sending a care package, but ESPECIALLY at Christmas. It doesn't need to be something major, anything small will be appreciated. Some missionaries don't get much mail or any packages from home. Some missionaries don't get any sort of support from home, so it can be really meaningful to get something from someone who cares - even if they don't know you.

HUMP DAY CARE PACKAGE:

"Hump Day" is the halfway mark for Missionaries - for Elders that is the 1-year mark (halfway through their 2 year mission) and for Sisters that is their 9-year mark (halfway through their 18 month mission). It's just kind of a fun thing to recognize that they are halfway through. Here are some fun "hump day" care package ideas:

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGES: 

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE 

LINK TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IDEA HERE

HAVE FUN PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR CARE PACKAGES! YOUR MISSIONARY WILL LOVE THEM!