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!

WAITING for your Mission Call - a guide for future LDS Missionaries (Mission Calls part 2 of 2)

This post is part 2 of 2 (the previous post was "How Mission Calls Happen & How to Get Started" and you can read that here if you missed it!)

Today we are talking about WAITING for an LDS mission call to arrive...

Waiting isn't ever fun...but waiting for your mission call is a whole different level. This is more than waiting for Christmas. This is more than the anticipation of the latest episode of your favorite show. This is more than waiting for Shamrock Shakes to come back. This is a big deal - and the bigger the deal, the harder the wait. You're waiting to find out where you will be living for the next 18 months-2 years. You might be in the next state over, or you could be in a foreign country that is very different from your home. There are currently 407 different missions and you could be assigned to any one of them. You're waiting to find out which language you will learn/speak for the next 18 months-2 years (will you be assigned to speak English or one of the other 50+ languages that LDS missionaries speak?). You're waiting to find out where the Lord has assigned you to labor. No matter where you are assigned to serve, you will be given that assignment by the Lord through his Apostles and the Prophet/President of the Church. You're waiting to finally, finally know where you will serve the full-time mission that you have been planning and preparing for a long time - for months, for years, for your whole life (or maybe even longer!). It's not like waiting to get your phone bill in the mail - you're waiting for a letter that will change your entire life.

HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET YOUR MISSION CALL? 

You may have heard stories of prospective missionaries getting their mission call 1 week after they submitted their "papers" (application), or you may have heard stories of prospective missionaries who waited months for their call to arrive. I haven't been able to verify that anyone received their call within 1 week, but I guess that it is technically possible - however, not very likely because mission applications need to be reviewed and screened for any issues before the the missionary is assigned, then the actual assigning is done only on certain days, and then there is the time involved in getting the call envelope together & sent out to you (which unless you live in SLC, should take several days). Overall, you'd have to be very lucky and happen to apply during a slow time and have everything work out just perfectly to get your call within a week.

Personally, I waited about 5 weeks for my call to arrive. However, things are a little different now than they were in my mission days, because everything was done on paper and through the mail at that time, so that slowed the process down a lot. Now most things are done electronically, so the (overall) process of mission applications/assignments can be done more quickly, though you will still receive a physical envelope in the mail with your mission assignment. Today, the standard time-frame between when your application is submitted (complete) and when you receive your mission call letter in the mail is between 2-4 weeks. But just because you don't have your mission call in 4 weeks, doesn't mean there is a problem. Many of the young adults that I know who have submitted their papers in the past year have received their call within 2 weeks, but there have been a few who have waited a month or even longer. There are a lot of factors involved, so there is no guarantee that you will receive your letter within a certain time frame. So even if your friend (who submitted their papers the same day as you) already got their mission call to Zimbabwe two weeks ago, you may still be waiting a while for your letter.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE....IS SOMETHING WRONG?

If it's been more than a few days or even a week since you submitted your mission "papers" (application), you might be starting to get a little anxious. You know that the process is going to take a little while, but you keep checking the mailbox - just in case! Each mail day that goes by, you get a little more inpatient, because each day that goes by is one day closer to getting your mission call. And with each passing day, it is more likely to be there in the mailbox.

But what if it's been a couple of weeks (or 3 weeks, or a month)...and you've had nothing but junk mail and bills in your mailbox? I'll bet you're starting to wonder if there is a problem. You might start to have doubts creep into your head. Maybe my application was rejected? Maybe they don't want me? Maybe I'm not supposed to serve a mission? Don't worry, if there is a problem (like an error in your application or more information is needed), the missionary office will let you know. You can also check the progress of your application on the website - (check with your Bishop or Branch President to find out how to do this).

A good friend of mine has been preparing to serve a mission for a while. Over the past year, she has worked several jobs at a time and has worked very hard to get everything ready so that she can serve. Several months ago, so she met with the Bishop and Stake President and the mission paperwork was sent in. She actually ended up submitting her mission papers multiple times. Each time that her papers were sent in, about a week would go by and then she would get a call from the Bishop or Stake President. They would tell her that they'd been notified that there was an error in her application (such as the Bishop signed something on the line she should have signed and vice-versa) or that the missionary office had questions about some aspect of her application and needed more information. Each time, the information was given or the mistake was immediately corrected and the mission paperwork was quickly re-submitted. Imagine my friend's level of anxiousness each time that she had to have her mission papers re-submitted, knowing that each time there was an issue to resolve, she was being delayed in receiving her mission assignment. After the most recent time that her mission paperwork was submitted, she anxiously waited as a week went by...and then two weeks... This time, she heard nothing from her Bishop, Stake President, or the missionary office. So she felt hopeful that there would be no further problems with her application and hoped that her mission call would arrive in the mail any day.

I was able to talk to her about this whole situation during a visit a few weeks ago. I was impressed with how she spoke of how waiting longer than expected to leave for her mission (or even receive her mission call!). She said that she felt like she is now more prepared (mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially) than she had been a year ago or even a few months ago when she had originally submitted her papers. She spoke of how she would rather wait to serve where the Lord needs her, even if it means waiting longer than she had planned. I was so impressed with her maturity and patience.

Then another week passed. And another 2 weeks passed...still, no mission call.

On Sunday, I heard that she had still not received her mission call (I believe it had been about 5 1/2 weeks since her most recent application submission, which I think makes it almost 3 months since her original submission!). Imagine the doubt and worry that my friend must have felt! I don't know what was going through her mind, but a lot of people would be thinking, "Am I even supposed to serve a mission? Maybe they don't want me! Maybe it's not meant to be?!"

Later that night, my daughter and I cut some flowers from our yard and dropped by our future-missionary friend's house. We told her that we were proud of her and that she shouldn't give up - every day that passes is just one day closer to getting her call, no matter how long it takes! And like she had said, its better to wait to go to the place where you are needed. I told her that I'd just found an old journal from before my mission and had read the entries where I'd submitted my mission papers, when I was waiting for my mission call, and when I received my mission call. At the time, it seemed like the process was taking FOR-EVER, but now looking back after all these years, it sort of seemed like it all happened in the blink of an eye.

The very next night, she called me. After a very long wait, she had finally received her long-awaited mission call! HOORAY! I've asked my friend to share some insights and tips about how she survived waiting for her mission call (MUCH longer than she was expecting to wait!) and we will be featuring that information in an upcoming blog post.

In the meantime, just trust in the Lord's timing. If he has a certain place that he wants you to be at a certain time, that is the most important thing, even though it can be really hard to wait.

Here are some tips for friends and family members of anyone who is patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for their mission call...

TIPS FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF FUTURE MISSIONARIES: AVOID ASKING ABOUT THE MISSION CALL- I know this might seem weird, but try to avoid asking "did it come yet?" whenever you see them. This is the pre-mission equivalent of asking a full-time missionary if they've "had any baptisms yet?" or the same sort of thing of asking a single person "when are you going to get married?" Of course you are curious and don't intend for your question to be hurtful, but they have probably been asked that question a dozen times or more every day (by every person they know) and for some people, it can make it harder to have it brought up all the time.

That doesn't mean you don't want to know about their mission and congratulate them when the time comes. If you simply want to know if they have received their mission call, try this - instead of directly asking about their mission call, ask "How are things going?" or "What's new in your life these days?"... if their mission call has arrived, trust me - they will absolutely take the opportunity to tell you. If it hasn't, they can make conversation while being secretly happy that you didn't ask them about their mission call (like everyone else does).

GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT- Tell your friend or relative that you are proud of them, that you support them, and that you are happy to help them if they need a distraction (maybe go get some frozen yogurt or go to the beach together?). It's hard to wait for that big white envelope in the mail. Help them make the wait a little easier.

HOW Mission Calls HAPPEN & HOW to GET STARTED - A guide to your mission call - for future LDS missionaries (Mission Calls part 1 of 2)

Today we have PART 1 (of 2) of our posts about mission calls- 

This is "How Mission Calls Happen" and our next post (PART 2) will be the second half of this topic - "Waiting for your Mission Call" (See the bottom of this post to link to PART 2!)

Full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are volunteers who submit an application to serve, then are given an assignment of where and when they will serve their mission. Find out more about the process of receiving a mission call here...

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I QUALIFY TO SERVE A MISSION? 

If you are planning to serve a full-time mission (or even just thinking about it), meet with your Bishop (or branch president) to talk about your future plans. He will discuss with you the areas of preparation that are important, such as gospel knowledge and testimony, personal worthiness, work and self-reliance, physical and emotional health, and financial preparations. Do not misunderstand - you don't have to be perfect or know everything to qualify as a missionary (if that were the case, no person would ever qualify to serve, except Jesus Christ!) Your Bishop can help you determine if you currently qualify to serve and let you know what you might still need to do to prepare. If there are areas that you need to work on prior to submitting your application (which is very common), he can help guide and give you counsel on what needs to be done. If you have anything that is worrying you in regards to personal worthiness (such commandments or standards that have not been kept), talk to your Bishop (or branch president) about this ASAP so that he can help you resolve those issues. Sometimes the repentance process for more serious things can take time, so it's best not to put it off because delaying could also delay your mission recommendation. If you have a desire to serve, you can make it happen. There are many alternative ways to serve a mission today, even if a traditional type of mission isn't possible. Seek the counsel of your Bishop or branch president for help. 

HOW & WHEN TO START THE PROCESS:

You can submit your mission "papers" application up to 120 days before your availability date. What is your availability date? That is the date that you are stating that you will be available to start serving your mission. This doesn't mean it is the day you will actually be assigned to enter the MTC, you are just saying this is your available start date - so you are telling them that from this particular day on, you will be available to start. 

"Recommendation papers for full-time service may be submitted to Church headquarters by a prospective missionary’s stake president 120 days prior to his or her availability date. Availability date is the earliest date at which the prospective missionary is available to begin his or her mission. The earliest date young men may enter the MTC is after graduating from high school or its equivalent and reaching 18 years of age. The earliest date women may enter the MTC is after their 19th birthday. Other influences on one's availability date may include completing a university semester, finishing an employment commitment, or stabilizing a medical condition. Speak with your priesthood leaders well before the 120 day submission window to start the recommendation process and to confirm your availability date" (Missionary Preparation page of lds.org)

If you haven't turned 18 (guys) or 19 (ladies) yet, your availability date can be any date after your 18th/19th birthday IF you have already graduated from high school (or equivalent). So for example, if you are a guy who turns 18 on May 28th, but you don't graduate from high school until June 1st, you can't put your availability date as May 28th. You could put your availability date as any day after June 1st, such as June 2nd. But it doesn't need to be that day if there are other concerns or issues involved (such as needing to work to save up more money, waiting until after your sister's wedding, or getting a health condition under control). 

Don't get too hung up on your "availability date" as being the same thing as your actual MTC date, because it probably won't be. We have a friend who recently received her mission call and will be reporting to the MTC in July (she had stated her availability date as May 31st). This is very common. My daughter plans to be available to serve the day after her 19th birthday. Her birthday is on a Saturday, so she knows she won't be entering the MTC on a Sunday. She could be assigned to enter the MTC later that upcoming week, or in 2 weeks, or 3 months later. All totally normal. New missionaries enter the MTC on specific days of the week and depending on when you are needed to report to your mission, you may go to the MTC weeks earlier or later than your fellow future missionary friends who are going to different missions, different MTCs, or who are speaking different languages.

Talk to your Bishop/Branch president if you have questions about this - they will be helping you determine your availability date when you start the mission paperwork, so they know all about this and can help with any concerns that you have.

You can start working on your mission application ("papers") months before you actually plan to submit them. This gives you time to get any appointments you need and get any issues resolved. When you are ready to submit your mission "papers" (application), you do this through your Bishop/Branch President. "To begin the process of receiving a mission call, talk to your bishop or branch president. He can then give you access to the online Missionary Recommendation System, which will tell you all of the information you will need to submit to Church headquarters. You will work with your bishop or branch president to complete the forms. Some things may require some time, such as dental work, medical exams, and immunizations, so get started at least a few months before your eligibility date" (Missionary Preparation page of lds.org)

HOW MISSION CALLS ARE ISSUED:

Once your application is submitted (complete and sent in), your part of the process is done, so all you can really do is wait until you receive your assignment!

Jimmy at MormonMissionCall.com says, "In most weeks, the member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will meet and make these call assignments on Friday. But depending on their schedule, that day can vary. Thursdays are the second most common day in which they meet, but it’s not unheard of for them to make the assignments on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

The missionary call assignment meeting is held weekly and is presided over by one of the twelve apostles. While all mission call letters are signed by the prophet and president of the Church, we should remember that each of the Twelve Apostles are also a prophet, seer, and revelator, and the Church president has delegated to them the responsibility to make mission assignments. In the weekly meeting, the apostle reviews new missionary applications and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, assigns each missionary to a specific mission"

Dallin H Oaks, making mission assignments

Dallin H. Oaks recently shared exactly how missionaries are assigned: 

"I recently assigned missionaries, a sacred responsibility for which we always come fasting. I assigned 240, my share of the 1,047 (which includes young missionaries, senior couples, and senior sisters) whose papers were ready for assignment last week. We are assisted in this sacred experience by a member of the Missionary Department staff, who keeps records and manages the computer screens on which we view the essential information on elders and sisters and the needs (including languages) of our more than 400 missions in the world.

"The information is presented on a screen for the apostle, who seeks divine guidance as he assigns each missionary to one of the 405 Church missions across the world. The mission assignment is then approved by the president of the Church, who issues the written mission call letter" (link to an article about this)

Elder Ronald A. Rasband tells a great story about sitting in with Henry B Eyring as he made missionary assignments while he was training as a new General Authority, years ago. It's too long for me to quote here, but you should go read (or watch) it because its awesome (here is the link to that talk)

If you've already submitted your mission papers (or just want to read more about it!) click here to see PART 2 of this post - "How to survive waiting for your mission call" 

2 questions to ask yourself before you decide to serve a mission - a testimony guide for future LDS missionaries

Preparing to serve a full-time mission? (Or just thinking about it?)

Here are 2 questions to ask yourself before you go-

#1- Is the Book of Mormon the word of God? 
#2- Was Joseph Smith called by God to be a Prophet? 

Now, wait just a minute- if you have just quickly read and automatically answered the two questions, then please go back and re-read each question, then carefully consider your answer, based on your personal testimony. 

IS the Book of Mormon the word of God? 
WAS Joseph Smith called by God to be a Prophet? 

If you know it in your heart because the Spirit has confirmed it to you, then you have a testimony of those things. If you aren't really sure about the answer to either one of those questions, don't panic! Today I will explain how to get those confirming answers and why it is so important. It's important for every person, but especially important for your right now if you are considering serving a full-time mission.

First, lets review what testimony is. We hear the word "testimony" often at Church, but there still seems to be somewhat of a confusion about what a testimony is. Last week, I asked my youth Sunday School class to explain the difference between testimony and bearing testimony. They struggled with this question. And based on some of the wacky things I've heard people say in testimony meetings over the past 25 years that I've been a member of the Church, I think it's safe to say that not everyone understands what a testimony is and/or what bearing testimony means. 

Here is a basic refresher on the difference between testimony and bearing testimony: 

WHAT IS A TESTIMONY? 

A testimony is knowledge of gospel principles based on the witness of the Spirit, who testifies of truth. "A testimony is a spiritual witness, given by the Holy Ghost, of the truthfulness of the gospel...The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves us, that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that His gospel has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church" (Come Follow Me, "What Does it Mean to Bear Testimony?")

"For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the term testimony is a warm and familiar word in our religious expressions. It is tender and sweet. It has always a certain sacredness about it. When we talk about testimony, we refer to feelings of our heart and mind rather than an accumulation of logical, sterile facts. It is a gift of the Spirit, a witness from the Holy Ghost that certain concepts are true. A testimony is the sure knowledge or assurance from the Holy Ghost of the truth and divinity of the Lord’s work in these latter days. A testimony is the “abiding, living, [and] moving conviction of the truths revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Dieter F Uchtdorf, "The Power of Personal Testimony")

WHAT IS BEARING TESTIMONY? 

Bearing your testimony generally means telling others about your testimony (such as in Fast & Testimony meetings), but also in other settings.

"When we bear testimony, we declare to others what we know to be true by the power of the Spirit" (Come Follow Me, "What Does it Mean to Bear Testimony?")

"When we bear testimony, we declare the absolute truth of the gospel message. In a time when many perceive truth as relative, a declaration of absolute truth is not very popular, nor does it seem politically correct or opportune...Our firm conviction of gospel truth is an anchor in our lives; it is steady and reliable as the North Star. A testimony is very personal and may be a little different for each of us, because everyone is a unique person. However, a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will always include these clear and simple truths:

• God lives. He is our loving Father in Heaven, and we are His children.
• Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and the Savior of the world.
• Joseph Smith is the prophet of God through whom the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the latter days.
• The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
• (The living Prophet), his counselors, and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are the prophets, seers, and revelators in our day" (Dieter F Uchtdorf, "The Power of Personal Testimony")

MY TESTIMONY STORY:

When I first gained a testimony (as an investigator at age 18), I knew in my heart for the first time that God our Heavenly Father lives and loves me as his daughter. As a former atheist, this was new information and a major shift in thinking for me. It changed my life. I also came to understand the mission and importance of Jesus Christ, living Prophets, and the Book of Mormon. I was so excited to serve a mission and tell everyone about the true principles I had learned.

(Did you notice that I left any mention of Joseph Smith off of my list of things that I had gained a testimony about? It wasn't that I doubted that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. I was just more focused on the other aspects of the gospel that I had learned and was very excited about. It seems weird now, but I didn't think too much about Joseph Smith and the First Vision, or how the Book of Mormon came to us. It just wasn't that important to me at the time)

Two years after I was baptized, I got my mission call. When I got to the MTC, we started teaching the missionary lessons right away. We were put into pairs and would take turns teaching different parts and bearing testimony of what we had taught. I was so excited about the lessons about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ...I was VERY enthusiastic and bore testimony of those truths like there was no tomorrow. Then we got to the lesson about Joseph Smith's First Vision. I wasn't exactly dreading that lesson, but I wasn't excited about it like I was about the previous lessons. I realized that maybe this was because I hadn't really received a testimony about Joseph Smith being called as a Prophet. It's not that I didn't believe it, but remember, believing (or hoping that something is true) isn't the same as having a testimony (see definition of testimony in blue above). 

So, what did I do? I went ahead and taught that lesson about Joseph Smith's First Vision (to the Elder I've been paired up with for the assignment). As I explained the events of the First Vision that day, I suddenly felt a strong conviction in my heart that the things I was saying were true. I had a warm feeling that felt like it was welling up inside me. It was the Holy Ghost, testifying of truth to me. I could then truly testify that I knew that Joseph Smith was called by God to be a Prophet.

YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE A SEPARATE WITNESS OF TESTIMONY FOR EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THE GOSPEL TO GO ON A MISSION

Some people mistakenly believe that they need to have a testimony of every individual aspect of the gospel in order to have a testimony and that they must have an individual confirmation of every single thing in order to serve a mission. During my mission, I learned that if a person has a testimony of ONE of the clear and basic truths of the Restored Gospel (as listed by Dieter F. Uchtdorf above: God is our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Son of God, God restored the Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon is the word of God, & we have living Prophets & Apostles today), the others can easily fall into place. 

Do you need to pray to know that Seminary or Personal Progress are inspired programs? You absolutely could if you wanted to (or felt that you needed to), but if you know that we have living prophets and apostles leading the Church, you will already know that they are inspired programs. Do you need to pray to know that each individual member of the Quorum of the 70 has been called of God? You could, but if you already know that they have been called by the proper priesthood authority under the direction of the General Authorities, then you don't necessarily need to pray about each individual sustaining. Which is why they announce all of the newly called General Authorities and General Officers in General Conference without giving time in between each one for us to pray about each one for an individual confirmation before we raise our arm to sustain. Some things are just implied, because of the true principles related to them. You have a right to pray for confirmation from God if you want to or need to, but you may find that it is not always necessary.

For example, if you have a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will have a testimony of his roles as Creator, Savior, the Son of God, and our Advocate with the Father. You won't necessarily need to pray about and receive a witness of each separate aspect of his mission. They all go together. Of course, that doesn't mean that you will have a perfect knowledge of everything or totally understand how the Atonement works or how a person gets Resurrected. That's ok. Testimony doesn't mean you know everything, testimony means that you have had a witness in your heart through the Holy Ghost that something is true.

IF YOU HAVE A TESTIMONY OF ONE OF THE BASIC TRUTHS, YOU CAN KNOW THAT THE REST ARE TRUE

Prior to entering the MTC, I had a testimony of God the Father and Jesus Christ. I also had a testimony of the Book of Mormon. If I had really thought about it, I might have asked myself - "How did the Book of Mormon come to be?" Of course, I knew that the Book of Mormon was the record of ancient Prophets in the Americas, who recorded the dealings of their people, including the visit of the Jesus Christ after his Resurrection. But how did we get it? It was hidden long ago by Moroni, who was instructed to bury it so that it could be brought forth at a future time. Nobody in the modern world knew anything about this ancient record until some time after Joseph Smith was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (called the "First Vision")...in fact, the ancient record wasn't even mentioned to Joseph until several years after the First Vision, when the very same Moroni visited Joseph Smith and told him about the plates. It was then still a few more years until Joseph Smith was able to obtain the plates to start the translation. After the amazing work of translation, the ancient record was eventually printed and published. The whole thing is really amazing - you should read more about it! But my point is, the Book of Mormon is in my possession right now. I have it. I read it. I read it when I was 18, too. No matter what anyone else says, I know I have a personal testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. We got the Book of Mormon through a string of events that began with Joseph Smith's prayer and the First Vision. Therefore, I know that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet. Can I still pray about it to get a confirmation? Of course! My point is, sometimes all it takes is connecting the dots to realize that we do have a testimony of all of these things if we already have a testimony of one of them.

Another example - If you have a testimony that Russell M. Nelson is a living Prophet, then (if you think it out), you can also have a testimony that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. How? Because Russell M. Nelson is the most recent in an unbroken chain of priesthood authority back to the first Prophet in our dispensation (the "latter-days"), who was Joseph Smith. So if Russell M. Nelson was a Prophet, then Joseph Smith was a Prophet. And if Joseph Smith was a Prophet, then the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It all connects together. 

The same applies to the other basic gospel truths as well. If you know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, then you can know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real (because he spoke with them and testified of them). Then you can also know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today, because it was restored by Joseph Smith and has been directed by living Prophets and Apostles since that day. 

DO I NEED TO HAVE A TESTIMONY IN ORDER TO SERVE A MISSION? 

IF SO, WHAT EXACTLY DO I NEED TO HAVE A TESTIMONY OF?

Some potential missionaries get caught up in worrying that they can't serve a mission unless they have received a crystal-clear confirmation of the Spirit of every single minutia of the gospel and/or that they have to know everything about the gospel in order be able to teach. I can't help but think that the adversary might be behind some of this thinking. And if Satan can convince you that you don't have enough of a testimony or that you don't know enough, he might just be able to talk you out of serving a mission altogether. 

You will learn what to teach at the MTC and you will continue to practice and learn as a missionary in the field. You will have Preach My Gospel as a guide and you will have a trainer and other companions to help you. You don't need to know everything ahead of time. In fact, the most important thing is to have a personal testimony of the basic truths of the gospel. When you are on a mission and you are in someone's home or talking to someone on the street and they say that don't believe in God (or the Book of Mormon, or living Prophets, or whatever) you can testify with sweet boldness that you know in your heart that it is true. They can't argue testimony. They might respond that they don't agree or say that you are wrong, but there is no real argument anymore. It's not like debating which flavor of Doritos is better, there is no opinion about it. You are sharing your personal witness, straight from your heart. And that is pure truth. 

When it comes to testimony, you don't need to know or understand everything. We learn line-upon-line, just like the Savior did. It's ok not to know everything right away. But you will want to have a testimony of those things that Dieter F. Uchtdorf listed (that I mentioned at the beginning of this post): 

• God lives. He is our loving Father in Heaven, and we are His children.
• Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and the Savior of the world.
• Joseph Smith is the prophet of God through whom the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the latter days.
• The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
• (The living Prophet), his counselors, and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are the prophets, seers, and revelators in our day"

Depending on where you serve your mission, you may or may not be dealing with people who already have a belief in God and/or Jesus Christ (although they have been taught varying doctrines about them). The Restoration of the Church and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon are usually some of the first concepts taught, because they are not familiar ideas to most people. It is important to have a testimony of all the things listed above, but you will likely spend the majority of your time testifying about the Book of Mormon, because it is a tool that people can use to find out if the things you are teaching are true (more on this later).

Having a testimony of the basic truths of the gospel is also an important part of missionary preparation because you will also be preparing to receive your temple endowment (which is a required part of your preparation for your mission). To receive your temple endowment, you must have a temple recommend (a regular adult recommend, which is different than the limited-use recommend that is used by youth and newer adult members to enter the temple baptistry to do baptisms for the dead). The temple recommend interview includes questions about whether you have a testimony of certain basic aspects of the gospel, including a testimony of Jesus Christ, the restored gospel, etc. So not only are these important areas to have a testimony of as a missionary in general, but having a testimony of these things are essential to being able to receive the next ordinances that you will need (in the temple) in preparation for your full-time mission. 

If you feel like you might be lacking in testimony in one or more of the areas listed above, it's totally normal and you shouldn't feel defeated... Every single person on the Earth, including the Prophet and Apostles, has had to obtain their own testimony in these areas. Even if they grew up in the Church and had Pioneer ancestors. Everyone has to get a testimony for themselves. Luckily, the process for gaining a testimony in these basic gospel truths is very simple. It isn't always immediate, but it is simple. 

In the Book of Mormon, the ancient prophet Moroni (the same Moroni who later appeared to Joseph Smith and showed him where the plates were hidden) describes how a person can gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon (he uses the words "ye may know the truth", but same thing). 

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:3-5)

So basically, read the Book of Mormon (you don't even need to read the whole thing! Just read part of it! Pick a favorite story, or read the first chapter - anything!) and then pray to ask Heavenly Father if what you have read is true (as in, is it truly the word of God?). Page 1 of the Book of Mormon is as true as page 322. If part of it is true, it all is. If you are sincere and really intend to follow through with the knowledge you get in that answer and have faith, he will tell you through the Holy Ghost. How will you know if you get that answer? That I can't tell you, specifically, because the answer will come in different ways to different people. Some people feel a warm feeling in their heart/chest. Some people begin to have a feeling of strong conviction about the subject. Some people feel peace. Some people feel happiness. Sometimes you get no noticeable change or feeling right away. And thats ok and totally normal, too. Sometimes more effort may be required before you get that answer (read more, pray more, maybe fasting?), but the answer will come. And I can promise you that, because we have been promised that "(God) will manifest the truth of it unto you" (Moroni 10:4).

In April 2018 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson said, 

"Brothers and sisters, how can we become the men and women—the Christlike servants—the Lord needs us to be? How can we find answers to questions that perplex us? If Joseph Smith’s transcendent experience in the Sacred Grove teaches us anything, it is that the heavens are open and that God speaks to His children. The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. Drawn to the promise of James that if we lack wisdom we may ask of God, the boy Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation.

In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will 'grow into the principle of revelation'…

You don’t have to wonder about what is true.You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true”                          (Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives," April, 2018)

And this process is exactly what you will be teaching to people as a missionary - you will be teaching them how to get their own answer in the exact same way. Study & pray. Simple. It's either true, or it isn't. And I know you will receive that answer, just as Moroni promised anciently and President Nelson teachers today, because I received that answer myself.