The First Twelve Weeks of a Mission

What you Should Know about the First Twelve Weeks of a Mission - 

One of the fairly recent additions to missionary work across the world is the program entitled "The First 12 Weeks for New Missionaries and their Trainers".  It came about after the age limit was lowered to 18 years old for men of the Church and 19 years old for the women.

As the MTC's (Missionary Training Centers) across the world were reaching their capacity for receiving new missionaries, the time a new missionary spent in training in these facilities was decreased tremendously.  In most instances, new missionaries learning a foreign language now spend no more than 6 weeks in the MTC.  Those not learning a new language usually have a 10 day length of stay.

These circumstances lend great importance to the first 12 weeks a missionary spends in their assigned mission with a new trainer.  It's important that those first 12 weeks be the most productive and beneficial that they possibly can.

I personally have a great testimony of this program.  While is was developed for training new missionaries, this is a program that benefits each missionary in the field continuously.

Live by the Whisperings of the Spirit . . .

One of the greatest roles of a trainer for a new missionary is to help their new companion seek for and heed the promptings of the Spirit.  This begins in the MTC training and is carried forward right into the mission field.  

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Behold, I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ

“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind” (D&C 64:33–34)

Our focus for the last three months has been on how can we be better disciples of Jesus Christ.  

More than ever before, our Heavenly Father needs missionaries and members with willing hearts and minds, with a desire to stand for right, share a testimony of the Savior through example, thoughts, deeds, and actions.  

Missionaries come to the mission field with many varied backgrounds and talents.  Indeed some are very well educated, some are great teachers and speakers, some have no fear of testifying boldly, some are extremely diligent and obedient with exactness.

The goal of every missionary should be the ability to follow through with their commitment of what they said they would do!

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Are you Ready for a Mission (Part II)

Previously . . .

In our previous post . . .
We shared ideas and thoughts for advanced mission prep.  I've been trying to get this update prepared through all our interviews and mission traveling this month, so thank you for being patient.

Are you Ready for a Mission?

Part I of Advanced Mission Prep - 

A while back a popular LDS Magazine shared an article by Jeremy Goff entitled  -
"7 Ways to Come Pre-Trained for your Mission".

If you haven't had an opportunity to read and study the linked article, please do so.
I also suggest you read our post, Part I , so you understand that these remarks are continuing on from the foundation laid in the previous two articles.

Hastening the Work of Salvation - 

As our Heavenly Father hastens His work of salvation, it is up to us as members of His Church to keep pace.  I am inspired by the words of Elder David A. Bednar from instruction given at the Seminar for New Mission Presidents in 2014 - 

"The hastening of the Lord’s work requires His followers continuously to learn, to change, and “to press forward with faith in the Savior . . . Elder Bednar suggested that members ask themselves if they as individuals and as a Church will choose to keep pace with the Lord’s hastening. “Or will we insist on doing things the way they have always been done, or the ways we are accustomed to or comfortable with?”

When it comes to missionary work missionaries must now enter the mission field better prepared to serve!  We no longer have the long stays once possible at the MTC's (Mission Training Centers) and CCM's (Centro de Capacitacion Misional).  Stays are brief, focusing for many on learning necessary language skills and a brief introduction to the missionary lifestyle and Preach my Gospel. 

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Are you Ready for a Mission?

Part I of Advanced Mission Prep - 

Part II coming soon
with photos of mission life, zone conferences and transfers . . .

A while back a popular LDS Magazine shared an article by Jeremy Goff entitled  -
"7 Ways to Come Pre-Trained for your Mission".



It is an excellent article! 

It is absolutely true that there are many things young men and young women of the Church can and should do so that they will enter the mission field more prepared and effective upon their arrival.  The Lord is hastening His work of Salvation, there can be no doubt.  We are seeing both the challenges and the blessings of increased emphasis coming to pass all around us daily. We see an outpouring of the Spirit and blessings upon those missionaries who have the desire and come prepared to serve.

Not very long ago young men and young women of the Church had an opportunity to spend a lengthy time in the MTC's (Mission Training Centers) of the Church located throughout the world. Amongst many things, a particular purpose was to educate and train them to be more effective missionaries, to help them comprehend gospel principles they did not yet understand, to help them increase the strength of their testimonies.  Young people do not have such a luxury at this time.  They need to come prepared. Although to loved ones, two years or 18 months seems like a long time . . . and it is . . . the time passes rapidly.  You will want to make use of everyday!

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