You’re on your way! The day has come to enter the Missionary Training Center. Young elders and sisters enter on Wednesdays, but seniors, whether couples or singles, enter on Mondays. You were set apart to be a missionary about a week ago, and now you’re ready to really begin your missionary experience. When you arrive at the MTC, you’ll see many other tearful families saying goodbye. This is a time of sorrow and also a time of joy as you go off to serve the Lord. Perhaps your children have come with you, bringing along your grandchildren. This can be … Continue reading →

The time has come for you to pack up and leave home. Perhaps it’s still a week or two out from your departure. But sooner or later, you will get the phone call from your bishop, asking you to speak in sacrament meeting before you go. In years past, whole sacrament meetings were devoted to the young man or woman who was leaving. The program was made up entirely of members of their family, their mothers often told funny stories about their childhoods, and the missionary’s favorite musical numbers were performed. Afterwards, the ward would converge on the missionary’s house … Continue reading →

You’d think that with all the preparation you’ve done to get to this point, once the call arrives, you’re done. Ah, but you’ve just begun. In your mission call packet, you will find forms for your doctors to sign. You will need to take these in to your health care providers, who will attest to your overall health. You’ll send them in to the Church, along with your Visa application if going out of the country. If you are going international, you will need to go into the post office and have your passport picture taken. It’s best to get … Continue reading →