I didn't decide to go on a mission until after I graduated from college (I was 21 and graduated early). You can always work on financial preparation, spiritual preparation, and social preparation. Financially it helped to save up a few thousand dollars at least. I hear that the total cost of a mission is around $16,000 nowadays. I was lucky because my grandparents and ward helped pay for mine, although I saved up over $2,000 first (this was 16 years ago). Working 2 jobs for 12 hours a day got me used to the social preparation of being around other people instead of family. Spiritual preparation included reading the Bible and Book of Mormon and missionary discussions before going. Once I knew I was going to Puerto Rico I also made an effort to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish. I think instead of official missionary discussions they have it more by topic now. If I had to do it over again, I would have figured out more ways to use visual aids to teach concepts in every lesson - especially visual aids aimed at children and young people, because they are not as skeptical as adults, and even adults can benefit from object lessons. I knew someone who used Calvin & Hobbes cartoon characters in his discussion on the plan of salvation, for example. Later on I took Seminary teacher training, so anything you learn about how to teach by the Spirit and how to encourage people to read and pray is useful. By the way, this website has more objections to religion and our Church and everything in-between than the entire sum of objections I ran into during an entire year and a half in the mission field, but I was mostly working with Christians of different varieties. So if you ever run into anything weird here, I'd be glad to help research it with you.
2006-10-04 11:30:23
·
answer #1
·
answered by Cookie777 6
·
4⤊
0⤋
For me, it was a desire that just slowly grew in me. Then when I was old enough to turn the papers in, I realized I had better decide for sure what I was going to do. So I set aside a day for prayer and fasting, and reading over my patriarchal blessing to make this decision. By the end of the day, my resolve to go was clear.
Things to prepare...hmmmm? There is definitely a large part of the mission experience that there is nothing in the world that can really prepare you for it. But there are the basics, read the scriptures, work on strengthening your testimony, and do your best to keep physically and emotionally healthy, and take a language class or two if you have time (not that you'll serve a mission speaking that language, but just to feel confident with the idea of learning a language).
Also, get a friend that's going to be on a mission at the same time as you to write to. It's really great having that support from someone who is sharing in that experience.
Good luck!
2006-10-04 11:21:38
·
answer #2
·
answered by daisyk 6
·
5⤊
0⤋
I thought Mormons HAD to go on a Mission if they wanted access to the Temple? Don't they have preparation classes for it, because that's what I've heard...
2006-10-04 11:17:13
·
answer #3
·
answered by Dysthymia 6
·
0⤊
2⤋
Hmm not sure
2006-10-04 11:15:58
·
answer #4
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
2⤋