LDS MISSION PREP BUCKET LIST - free printable! - 25 things to do before you leave for your LDS Mission

Whether you are thinking about serving a full-time mission several years from now or you already have your mission call in hand, this Mission Prep "Bucket List" is filled with 25 SIMPLE WAYS that you can prepare to serve a full-time mission! 

Many of these things can be started while you are a youth, but you can continue (or start) any of them as a young adult as well. 

Feel free to print out this Mission Prep Bucket List on your printer (or have it printed as a 4x6 photo) - this free printable is totally free for anyone to use and share with friends (please link back to me if you post this anywhere and please do not reproduce this with the intention to sell it). We created this list as a free printable for anyone who wants some simple ideas for preparing for their LDS Mission, so we want to keep it free! 

Some of these things can be done in one day, but most of them will take a while. You may need to continue doing many of these right up until you actually leave for your mission. You can check off items as you complete them or have done well in establishing permanent habits!

For specific ideas on how to do these things, here are some tips:

• EXERCISE: See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here

• SPEND MORE TIME AWAY FROM HOME: A former missionary companion of mine (my first companion/trainer) recommended this idea for preparing for a mission one the other day and it's a great idea. If you're used to staying around the house most of the time, you might have a harder time adjusting (emotionally) to being away from family/friends and being out in public pretty much all the time. Do volunteer work, get a part-time (or full-time) job, go to Mutual (for youth) or YSA activities (for adults), do team sports or dance, get involved in extracurriculars at school, do community theatre, take Parks & Recreation classes, go to college for a term, etc. If you are a youth, going to Scout Camp, Girls Camp, Youth Conference, EFY, etc are also ways to get used to being away from home. 

• DATE: This might seem like a strange suggestion...If you are going to be serving a full-time mission, it's best (in my opinion and experience) to avoid getting into a committed relationship. I've seen this become a problem for a lot of people (including my own husband). It's possible to be a totally focused and obedient missionary when you have a girlfriend or boyfriend back home, but it does make it more difficult for most people. And you don't want to worry about getting a "Dear John" letter (like my husband did!). Then why date at all? The purpose of dating as a youth isn't supposed to be romantic, though many youth are interested in romances. Follow the dating standards in For The Strength Of Youth (which is geared toward youth, but is applicable even if you are a single adult who isn't ready to get married because you will be serving a mission soon). FTSOY suggests casual dating in groups with a variety of people with the purpose of making friends, learning about and getting to know new people, and having wholesome fun. When you are ready to get married (say, after your mission if you decide to serve one), then dating should be more focused on finding a future companion for marriage. If you approach dating with those expectations and attitudes, you will be able to have fun making new friends without being distracted from your goals.  

• LEARN TO COOK: Learn to cook some basics. Don't worry about learning to cook a  bunch of fancy stuff, because you either won't have time, won't have the money, or won't be able to get the ingredients! See our blog post "2 Really Important Things to Start Doing NOW if you want to Survive EATING as an LDS Missionary" for tips about cooking here and our blog post "Missionary Recipe - Twice-Baked Potatoes" here

• IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: See the "emotional health" section of the missionary page on lds.org here

• LEARN TO CLEAN: During your mission, you will be expected to clean your own apartment (you will probably have routine apartment checks conducted by the mission leaders) and you will even have cleaning service assignments when you're at the MTC...(our district was assigned bathrooms. I cleaned a LOT of toilets). I know it might sound silly, but you don't want to look like you've never cleaned anything in your life because you have no idea how to wash dishes or clean a toilet. And of course you will need to know how to do your own laundry (starting at the MTC), so figure that stuff out WAY ahead of time. Ask a relative for help, or find some tutorials on youtube or Pinterest. TIP #1- Some cleaning chemicals can't be mixed because they can create toxic chemical reactions, so know what kind of cleaners to use for different things, read the labels, and don't mix stuff together. TIP #2- Be careful with bleach because if it gets on anything (your clothes, towels, shower curtain, carpet, and even some surfaces like colored porcelain) it can permanently change the color. Guess how I know that! :) Only use bleach or cleaners with bleach in them if you know what you are doing.

• FULFILL CHURCH CALLINGS: Learn to keep your commitments and fulfill your assignments by following through on your responsibilities, such as church callings (including Ministering - formerly known as Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching)

• GET USED TO WALKING: Can you walk 6 miles or more a day? See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here

• ATTEND COLLEGE: If you are able (financially) and the time-frame works out, you might be able to take some college classes (or even attend college full time) for a while before your mission. Some future missionaries attend for only one term, others might even be able to complete a degree or certificate before they leave for their mission. This is a good way to meet different kinds of people and improve your skills and education. Discuss time-frame with your Bishop and your parents.  

• GET USED TO BIKING: Can you bike 12 or more miles a day? If you don't have a bike, you could use an exercise bike to train! See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here

• ATTEND THE TEMPLE: If you have a temple in your area, you can visit the grounds and/or visitors center. You may also be able to do baptisms for the dead. If you are endowed, you can do endowment sessions and maybe even be a temple worker. Consult with your Bishop about what is appropriate for you. If you don't have a temple nearby, don't worry - the most important thing for anyone (whether they can actually get to the temple or not) is to strive to be WORTHY to hold a current temple recommend. Everyone's situation is individual, so speak with your Bishop about qualifying for a limited-use temple recommend (for baptisms for the dead) or how you can prepare for a regular adult temple recommend. 

• DEVELOP SKIN CARE & HAIR CARE ROUTINES: You don't want to take a bunch of extra stuff you don't need on your mission (you don't have much room in your luggage), so start now to find a skincare and haircare routine that is simple, stream-lined, and works for you. I brought a lot of stuff with me (lotions, face cleaners, masks, etc) that I never used an ended up tossing out to make room for other things. Just bring what you need and what you know works. Figure it out now.

• ESTABLISH A HABIT OF SCRIPTURE STUDY: Missionaries study the gospel for hours every day. It's important. You can read Preach My Gospel and other things, but most importantly, get to know the scriptures. As a missionary, you are going to be testifying of the truthfulness of the scriptures. Know what they say! Start by reading the Book of Mormon...every. single. day.

• ATTEND MISSION PREP CLASS: Talk to your Bishop about Mission Prep classes in your area. In our Stake, any interested youth ages 16 & up are invited to attend the stake-wide Mission Prep class, along with young single adults who are planning to serve a mission. It might be different in your area, so check with your Bishop. 

• LEARN TO MEND CLOTHES: See our post "What you need (and don't need) in a Missionary Sewing Kit" here for information about missionary-related sewing & repairs

• ESTABLISH HABIT OF PRAYER: Get in the habit of praying when you wake up and before you go to sleep, whenever you eat, when you study, when you need help, etc. Try to practice praying as if you are speaking to a real person (because you ARE!) so that you don't get in a rut of just repeating the same thing every time.

• ATTEND SEMINARY: If you are a youth, attend seminary. I've heard that for some countries, attending seminary for a certain number of years can help you get permission for a Visa, because seminary is considered ministry training. 

• ATTEND INSTITUTE: If you are a young single adult, try to attend Institute classes! It's similar to seminary, but usually only once a week.

• WORK: Even if you don't need to save for your mission funds, please consider getting a part-time or full-time job so that you can get some of this important life experience before your mission. It is recommended that a missionary work to pay for at least part of their mission. It helps you to feel more "invested" in your mission. Have you ever saved up to buy something and then took really good care of it because you know how hard you worked? Have you ever seen a friend trash a bike, car, or other expensive item that they were given as a gift because they don't really understand it's cost? Besides giving you a sense of investment in your mission, having a job will help you learn about following directions, working hard, being responsible, and if your job involves customer service, you have to learn to be polite even when people are rude (and that can be a really helpful skill to have as a missionary). 

• GET USED TO TALKING TO PEOPLE: You don't have to walk up to strangers and strike up a conversation on the street, but use natural opportunities that you have in your everyday life to be a little more outgoing. If the cashier at the grocery store asks you how you are doing, don't just say "fine" - start a conversation with her! Ask how she is doing. or comment on the weather or something! When you meet your aunt's neighbor, show interest by asking her questions or paying her a compliment. The more you get used to talking to people you don't know, the better, because you will be doing this all day, every day as a missionary.

• ATTEND GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS: This is an adult Sunday School class usually attended by new members, returning members, ward-missionaries, full-time missionaries, etc. Sometimes young adults who are preparing to go on a mission attend this class also. Youth should attend their regular youth Sunday School class until they are out of the youth programs. If you are a young single adult, check with your Bishop or Branch President to see if this is appropriate for you.

• LEARN TO GET STAINS OUT OF CLOTHES: See our blog post "5 Things you can MAKE NOW for your LDS Mission - even if your call hasn't arrived yet" here for information on stain removal

• MAKE MEMORIES: Do some fun things and don't forget to take photos so you can look back on your fun times - get together with family or friends and hike, go to a concert, go to the beach, etc.

• IMPROVE PHYSICAL HEALTH: See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here

• ATTEND TEMPLE-PREP CLASS: Talk to your Bishop or Branch President about the timing of this (Kendall's Branch President said that they will talk about scheduling a Temple Prep class once she has submitted her mission papers)

Have fun!