Spiritual Preparedness for Missionaries: What we can do as mothers.
Sending a child on a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one the most unique and stretching spiritual experiences a mother can have. From the moment you hear your child say they want to serve, to getting that call letter, to the day you hug them at the airport, your heart is full of varied and mixed emotions.
One question often stays in our mother hearts:
How do I help my missionary prepare spiritually, before they leave on their mission?
I hope this blog post helps you, the mom getting ready to send your missionary. These ideas are just guidelines to help you think about spiritual preparation as something less abstract and overwhelming, taking actionable steps in your home can help equip your missionary with a good base on how to more fully prepare spiritually as they embark on their missionary service.
Whether your missionary is months away from departing or leaving soon, these spiritual practices can greatly strengthen their foundation in Christ.
Why Spiritual Preparedness Matters
A mission is not just a service assignment; but can truly be a spiritual journey. Missionaries represent Jesus Christ in every interaction, teaching His doctrine, testifying of His Resurrection, and inviting others to come unto Him.
This sometimes calls for more than memorizing scriptures or teaching lessons. They require a Christlike heart. Being spiritually prepared is allowing the Holy Ghost to guide and testify.
Having prepared can help your missionary:
· Stand strong in trials and uncertainties
· Recognize personal revelation
· Come to love those they teach with sincere compassion
· Endure homesickness and rigorous schedules
· Obtain increased faith and testimony
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: “No matter how ordinary your circumstances may seem, the Lord has chosen you and trusts you with His work.” This applies to our children as they serve and to us as mothers as we prepare them while they are still at home.
Spiritual routines at home
These steps can help us prepare our missionary spiritually while still at home.
1. Daily Scripture Study
This is the heart of spiritual preparation.
Encourage your missionary to read scriptures daily — not just for quantity, but to become familiar with personal revelation.
Good Reading Plans while at home include:
Sharing our own experiences with daily personal scripture study can help our missionary build a lifelong habit that they will carry in their mission and afterwards.
2. Prayer: Intimate Communication with Heavenly Father
Missionaries pray multiple times per day, some prayers will be short but others may require more personalized communication. Allowing prayer to be a constant and natural part of your daily life at home will increase their ability to offer heartfelt prayers.
Ideas to encourage deeper prayer at home:
· Opportunities to practice prayer at home where they feel loved and supported
· Praying for specific missionary experiences
· Prayers of gratitude
· Prayers specifically for others and their needs
3. Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy
As a missionary, the relationship with the Sabbath that our child has known will change on the mission field. They will be attending church, sometimes several sacrament meetings, participating in meetings and continued missionary work, as well as personal worship. Preparing now by honoring the Sabbath strengthens their understanding of spiritual rest, revelation, and focus on Christ.
Ideas to encourage Sabbath devotion while they are still at home:
· Fasting
· Finding ways to serve
· Spending time with family
4. Understanding the Gospel
A missionary doesn’t just teach the gospel… they live the gospel. Preparation includes understanding core doctrines and ideally not just memorizing but knowing them with conviction.
This is something that will vary with each missionary. Gospel understanding does not fully come before they leave home. One of the beautiful things to watch as a mother is when you can see your child grow in knowledge and understanding of the Gospel. We as moms can help provide an environment of learning as they prepare by having consistent Come, Follow Me study.
As you walk this path of preparation with your future missionary, remember this, you are already doing something holy! Being an example of faith, having gospel study and family prayer and encouraging spiritual habits are powerful acts of love. You are the mother your missionary needs!
Your efforts can include some of the tools and links shared here, as these are wonderful places to start.
Spiritual preparation can be more effective when it is organized, intentional, and consistent. If you’re looking for a more complete, step-by-step guide that brings all this together in one place, as well as much of the temporal preparation needed, I invite you to take a look at the Missionary Mom Checklist. It helps connect spiritual preparation with practical planning, so nothing important is missed and nothing feels so overwhelming.
Your efforts are a wonderful step towards a strong spiritual foundation for your missionary. Trust your personal revelation on what your family needs, and most of all, trust that the Lord is involved in your child’s journey. He knows your missionary. He knows you. And He will magnify every sincere effort you make, even the ones that feel small or unseen.
I hope that you feel peace in the quiet moments, strength on the hard days, and joy as you watch your child grow into who the Lord is helping them become.
You are not walking this road alone!
Scarlet