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About Jason
Expertise
I can answer (or help find answers) about the purpose of LDS missions and missionaries, daily activities, etc. I spent 2 years in the Dominican Republic as a full-time proselyting LDS missionary and spent part of that time helping to run the mission. Please state your experience or current knowledge of the LDS faith so that I can better answer your question.

Experience
I spent 2 years in the Dominican Republic as a full-time proselyting LDS missionary and spent part of that time helping to run the mission. I have many family members and friends that served LDS missions in many different places.

Organizations
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Education/Credentials
BS - Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University MBA - Currently enrolled, University of Utah

You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Religious Careers > Missionary Work > Mission Prep Questions.

Missionary Work - Mission Prep Questions.

Expert: Jason - 10/28/2009

Question
Hey Jason,

       About a month ago I was called to serve in the Nevada Las Vegas West Mission. it's pretty much western Vegas and all of western Nevada. Also My parents are helping me pay for my mission.

       I head to the Provo MTC on January 6th, I've been thinking about how much extra money I'll need to have quick access to(ATM, Debit Card, etc.) while on my mission. I've thought somewhere around $1,000 would be good for 2 years. I've nearly got all of it saved up and I was thinking about having my last day at work be somewhere around Nov 20th. It's a part time job 3-4 days a week. unfortunately all my friends have moved off to college so I can't hang out with them, I decided to wait until I get back from my Mission to start attending college, So work is eating up most of my extra time, I'm not really enjoying it, it's monotonous and pretty boring. I feel like I'm just waiting around to go.

  My questions are:


   1. Do you personally think that a thousand dollars is a good
      amount for quick access funds for the next 2 years?

   2. What are some good spending habits I can practice on my
      Mission?

   3. When would you recommend I put in My two week notice?

   4. If I don't work during December What would you recommend
      I do during the month?

   5. What can I do to help alleviate the feeling that I'm just
      sitting around waiting to go?

   6. Finally I've been trying to figure out when I should go
      through the temple and receive my Endowments, I've had
      a friend who went through 2 months before his mission and
      another who went 2 weeks before. I'd like to be able to go
      with the young men in my ward and perform the Baptisms for
      dead before I head to the MTC.

     Thanks for you're help with this.

   -Eric

Answer
Eric,

Congrats on your call. I finished high school in Southern Utah, not far from your mission. It is a beautiful area and there are some great members of the church there as well as many that need to hear the message.

Here are my two cents:

1. That sounds like more than enough to me.   See number 2.

2. During your mission you will live on "support money" that you take from a mission bank account in your name each month. It is the same amount for each missionary in the mission. As this money represents sacrifice by you and your family, you should consider it sacred and use it to best support your mission efforts. Your mission will have guidelines for this. An important thing to remember is that many missionaries do not have any additional funds besides the support money. I would advise not using any other money except possibly for sending packages home and for souvenirs. If the support money is not enough for you to perform your duties as a missionary, the mission needs to know and make appropriate changes for everyone.

The mission is a great time for you to learn to use financial means less-selfishly than most of us do. You can even ask yourself if any given purchase will help you spread the gospel (i.e. food? yes. basic clothing? yes. toys or designer anything? probably not.) Great experience for post-mission and family life as well. One other semi-related piece of advice: don't get caught up in missionary fashion, slang, etc. trends. You'll understand what that means later. Don't try to be a cool missionary.

3. I remember working on a Friday, spending Monday packing up, then driving to the MTC the next morning. Working keeps you busy and less anxious.

4. Work in December if at all possible. Get used to long hours and hard work. Find another job if you need to. Many businesses hire seasonal workers for December. Idleness is the enemy as always. If you haven't worked really hard before, find some way that you can. A construction or landscaping job that makes you sweat may be better than a cushy desk job. Missionary work is hard work. Learn to love it.

5. It is great that you are anxious to go. I was the last in my group of friends to turn 19. It seemed like forever before my call came and I could go. I was glad to be able to get a year of college in, but it did seem like a long wait.

See if you can replace feelings of bored waiting with feelings of anxious preparation. You can't be over-prepared. If you have all of the scriptures memorized, know "Preach my Gospel" by heart, are in the best physical, mental, and spiritual shape possible, you may have to wait around. Otherwise, you have much to do. You can ask your bishop and/or parents for suggestions. Learn to treat your time as "Nacho time" as in "That's not yo' time!" Use "spare time" to serve others.

Between now and January 6th, there are well over 400 hours that you could work (not to mention overtime). You could easily pay for 1/4 of your mission or more by working hard during that time. I can't tell you how helpful and motivating it is to be able to say that you helped pay for your own mission. If your parents already have the money set aside for your mission, trade them for some college money you will need when you get back. I've met enough missionaries to know that the ones that worked and sacrificed to be able to serve, serve better. The two best qualities in successful missionaries: a love of hard work and a genuine love for others.

6. I would go a soon as you can. I believe the rule is as soon as you have your call. You will need to go many times to get a feeling for the sacredness and importance of those ordinances. I would recommend attending at least once a week until your mission. Make sure you do all of the various ordinances.

That's probably more advice than you were looking for, but things I feel strongly about.

I wish you the very best in your service. It is such a wonderful time.

Jason

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