Anyone leaving on an LDS mission soon?....Im going to the MTC on April 11, 2007!?

Question

Yep ive been called to the Los Angeles mission, so if theres any future or ex-missionaries out there i would love to hear from you and get tips about preparation, what things to expect, and all that good stuff!

Answer 1

Congrats on the call! I served several years ago in Switzerland and now my younger brother is in South Dakota.

Here's my advice that is maybe a little more 'practical' than it is 'spiritual'. You need both in order to succeed.

First, get to know your Bible. I'm guessing you've read the whole Book of Mormon and D&C a couple times, but if you're like most new LDS missionaries, you've probably never read the entire Bible. That's ok; but do it now.

Understand the context and meaning behind every verse you quote, and be prepared to explain what Jesus was referring to and why He said what He said.

One common criticism about LDS missionaries is that they know the BoM like the back of their hand (most have read it cover-to-cover at least 3 times) but that they don't know the first place to look when supporting doctrine from the Bible. I read the Bible cover to cover over the first 4 1/2 months of my mission and it made the biggest difference out of anything I could've done on my mission. People will attack your beliefs quoting verses from the NT, and you need to be able to understand them and testify to the real meaning and truth of the scriptures.

Also, remember to check your sources before telling someone "that's not true" when they pull up some seemingly odd and obscure belief about the LDS Church. They may sometimes be wrong, but sometimes, there are old beliefs and practices that aren't much talked about today because they only applied to the time. If you check up on it each time you hear something new instead of automatically dismissing it, you'll be prepared the next time someone asks the same question.

Anyway, always be respectful and avoid arguments at all costs. It's not the Lord's way. Pray constantly and keep a level head and a humble attitude.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Well, I went to Puerto Rico, and I would say the climate is probably similar to Los Angeles. I would say, take the time to listen after praying on a constant basis because Los Angeles has had a huge growth in gangs and crime, and you will want to stay safe. If you haven't watched "God's Army" - the first and the second one, that might help as they are set in Los Angeles. One thing we did in Puerto Rico for a while to stay more focused on the missionary work was to keep just one day for reading mail from home. That was hard at first because you could get letters any day of the week but not read them right away. I think that only lasted a few weeks. The more you are obedient to the rules, the more inspiration you get about where to go and how to solve problems. Resist the tendency to "collect" stuff, or send it home immediately. The more you can save before you go, the better, in case of emergencies. Read the books they tell you to - like "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" and "Jesus the Christ" and the Bible. You can always start practicing answering questions about the Church before you go. Also, just to let you know, no matter what people bring up, there is always an answer if you know where to look.

Answer 3

Yes, I went to Portugal (I've been home for 3 years now - wow!)

Let me give you some secular advice (because I know you'll get your fill of spiritual advice).

- when your in the MTC make friends with Bro. Justice (he's in charge of the cafeteria lines - nice friend to have).

- Also when your in the MTC learn some of the other language greetings - LA is very multicultural and multilingual.

- Drink lots of water! LA is hot, dry climate, lots of missionaries get dehydrated (or worse kidney stones -ouch!).

- Take it seriouosly, but let yourself have fun too - sometimes some good jokes was the only thing that got me through days and days of rejection.

Good luck, and congrats on your decision to go :)

Answer 4

Congratulations! Good luck. I'm sure you will be awesome. Did you read the article in this months Ensign about preparing for a mission? It's really good.
I converted at 19, but didn't go on a mission. I kind of wish I had, but I'll go on one as a Senior or something like that.
Congratulations again.
Oh, and there are plenty of RM's here. Hopefully they will answer.

Answer 5

Do you really believe your god or your church needs you to go do missions? Why is your god so weak he can't do them himself?

I expect you'll ignore the question, but it is serious.

Answer 6

well goody for you. Dont get shot

Answer 7

Lsd used to be illegal; what happened?