Ten days from today we will be taking our oldest daughter to the MTC. She will be joining many other sons and daughters in our Heavenly Father's work. This was not a sudden decision, it was many prayers, days, even years in the making. It has been an eventful journey up to this point, and she hasn't even left yet!

When preparing a son or daughter to serve a full-time mission, there are certain practical and spiritual considerations. Both are important and need to be taken into consideration, even if some of the practical considerations may seem a bit mundane.

Practical Considerations

Dental Work:
Dental work is very important and must be completed before submitting mission papers. Make sure the prospective missionary's immunizations are current; you will need a copy of the immunization record as well as a physical.

Clothing, Scriptures & Other Good Books:
Purchases for a mission can be overwhelming. It may be a good idea to budget ahead of time for these items and spread the cost over a period of time.

You can purchase clothes for the mission way ahead of time (providing your missionary does not grow dramatically.)
> See a complete checklist of items your elder or sister could need on a mission.

A brand new pair of scriptures may be in order and could serve a nice going-away gift. You could get your missionary's name embossed on the front and you could also write a dedication inside the front cover. In times of discouragement, rereading a parent's heartfelt words might be just want the missionary ordered.

Other good books are recommended for a mission. These include the following:
• Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage
• A Marvelous Work and a Wonder by LeGrand Richards
• The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage;
• Gospel Principles by Church Distribution
• A Topical Guide to the Scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints published by the Church.

Develop Daily Living Skills:
This is also a good time to brush up on daily living skills: cooking, housework, laundry and ironing are all necessary skills. In fact, it's never too early to start learning the skills of domesticity. Evelyn Cuthbert (Kamas Utah Stake, USA) says her sons learned these "housekeeping" skills along with her daughters as they were growing up. When it was time for their missions, they were already to go.

Spiritual Considerations

Prayer:
One of the most important things a family can do together to prepare future missionaries is to pray as a family. Our prophet has told us the importance of family prayer.

"Parents, safeguard your families," President Gordon B. Hinckley said in the article "Thanks to the Lord for His Blessings" (Ensign, May 1999). "Bring up your children in light and truth as the Lord has commanded. Shower them with love, but do not spoil them. Share your testimony with them. Read the scriptures together. Guide and protect them. You have no greater blessing and no greater responsibility than those whom the Lord has placed in your care. Pray together. There is no substitute for family prayer when all kneel together before the Lord."

Attending Meetings:
Sending a missionary is a family investment and one of the primary resources required is the spirit of the work. Family home evening, attendance of Church meetings, Seminary or Institute attendance and community service are all other activities that help to prepare youth spiritually for the mission field.

A sister missionary from the Gunnison Utah Stake, USA agrees that learning in her youth helped get her ready for a mission.

"Early morning seminary prepared me for the work and dedication I would need as a missionary."

One of the most exceptional opportunities for spiritual preparation is obtaining a patriarchal blessing.

"It helped me to know that I would have the opportunity to teach the gospel if I lived worthily," Andrea Sorensen (Gunnison Utah Stake, USA) said about receiving her blessing.

These are but a few of many things faithful Saints the world over are doing to prepare missionaries. It is a rewarding, exciting time for a family. Be prepared to be tried, sometimes sorely during this "pre-mission" phase. The adversary would prefer for your beautiful sons and daughters not to serve. Don't become discouraged.

Remember the wise words of Matthew:

"Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

(Matthew 5:10)

The experience of preparing a missionary is challenging but very rewarding. If you prepare both temporally and spiritually, the Lord will reward you. It has brought our family closer to each other and to our Father in Heaven than we have ever been.