The Primary song goes, “I hope they call me on a mission when I have a grown a foot or two.” Now you’ve grown—a lot!— and are wrapping up high school, eager to start your papers and start your journey. 

 

Here are some words of advice about preparing for a mission from the apostles and other Church leaders, along with a few missionaries currently out in the field, “embark[ing] in the service of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2):

 

Love One Another

“[F]ill your heart with love for others. This is the second great commandment. Try to truly see everyone around you as a child of God. Minister to them—regardless of whether their names appear on your ministering sister or brother list. Laugh with them. Rejoice with them. Weep with them. Respect them. Heal, lift, and strengthen them. Strive to emulate the love of Christ and have compassion for others—even to those who are unkind to you, who mock you and wish to cause you harm. Love them and treat them as fellow children of Heavenly Father.”

—President Uchtdorf, Missionary Work: Sharing What it is in Your Heart, April 2019

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Seek Ye Out of the Best Books

“I invite all members, regardless of your current calling or level of activity in the Church, to obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel. It is a guidebook for missionary work—which means it is a guidebook for all of us. Read it, study it, and then apply what you learn to help you understand how to bring souls to Christ through invitation and follow-up.”

—President Ballard, “Following Up” April 2014

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Did you Think to Pray?

“I asked [my son, Kyle,] if he had been praying about a mission. He told me that he had been putting a lot of thought into it and had had some feelings about going. That wasn’t good enough. I had heard that before, so I told him he had to find out what the Lord wanted him to do… He had been feeling something, and I think the Spirit had already touched his life. He did go on a mission and is now married to a great young lady… It is not a big thing. It is the small whisper. ‘Miraculous’ is anything coming from the Lord, for He is the giver of all good gifts.”

—Gary E. Arnoldson, “The M&Ms of Missionary Minded Members” 

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Be Your Own First Convert

“We all need to seek to have our hearts and very natures changed so that we no longer have a desire to follow the ways of the world but to please God. True conversion is a process that takes place over a period of time and involves a willingness to exercise faith. It comes when we search the scriptures instead of the Internet. It comes when we are obedient to the commandments of God. Conversion comes when we serve those around us. It comes from earnest prayer, regular temple attendance, and faithful fulfillment of our God-given responsibilities. It takes consistency and daily effort.”

—Bonnie L Oscarson “Do I Believe?” April 2016

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You can Conquer Anything

“Heber C. Kimball was 36 years old. He had been a member of the Church for five years and an Apostle for two years. He had a wife and small children, and he was the first missionary called to serve outside of North America. A financial panic had swept over the country and the Church in 1837….  Heber recorded his reaction: ‘O, Lord, I am a man of stammering tongue, and altogether unfit for such a work; how can I go to preach in that land.’ Almost everyone who attempts missionary work feels inadequate in some way. The idea of such a mission was almost more than Heber could bear, but his faith and obedience prevailed. He stated: ‘However, all these considerations did not deter me from the path of duty; the moment I understood the will of my Heavenly Father, I felt a determination to go at all hazards, believing that He would support me by His almighty power, and endow me with every qualification that I needed; . . . I felt that the cause of truth, the Gospel of Christ, outweighed every other consideration.’”

—Quentin L Cook, “Be a Missionary all Your Life”

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