Getting Ready

How do you prepare to become the best missionary you can be? Here’s some advice from those who know best—current missionaries—and from other New Era readers:

Pray daily. Ask Heavenly Father to help you prepare.
The Lord needs worthy missionaries—live the commandments every day.
Get into seminary and institute.
Read the scriptures daily, especially the Book of Mormon. Follow Moroni’s promise in Moroni 10:3–5 [Moro. 10:3–5].
Learn responsibility by magnifying any calling or assignment that comes your way (see D&C 88:80). Home teaching, for example, is an excellent way to learn to build relationships of trust with others.
Go to the temple as often as you can.
Spend as much time as possible with your family—you’ll miss them while you’re away. Participate in family prayer, home evenings, and other family activities.
During family home evening, practice teaching the scriptures to your family.
Attend church each Sunday to increase your spirituality.
Receive your patriarchal blessing.
Practice being friendly with and getting to know people.
A mission is rigorous, so stay in good physical shape.
Start saving now. Set aside mission funds from your allowance and employment.
Work with full-time missionaries and ward mission leaders. Go team teaching with full-time missionaries, watching the elders teach the discussions. Read the review pamphlets that correspond with each discussion.
Practice teaching the discussions to a friend—a nonmember friend if possible.
Share your testimony every chance you get.
Invite nonmember friends to church and to activities.
Attend a missionary preparation class.
Memorize the Articles of Faith.