I get a lot of questions about mission papers, and the process for applying to go on a mission. So I thought I would use today’s post to explain and illustrate the process. These steps are based on the officially publicized information from the Church in the March 2007 New Era article titled Your Call to Serve.
The picture above is a good illustration of the step by step process for doing the paper work and getting the mission call. Below is more detail on each step:
Before the Paper Work
- Prepare spiritually: Study the gospel, read the scriptures, pray and build a testimony of the Savior, His Atonement and His restored Church including Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon (so be sure to read it!).
- Prepare temporally: Save money, stay physically fit and remove any obstacles such as unpaid debts, legal issues, weight and health problems.
The Application Process
- Meet with the Bishop: At least four months before you’re able to leave on a mission, set an appointment with your bishop for a personal interview. He will give you the information you need to log on to the online missionary recommendation system or the paper work if the online system is not available in your area.
- Doctor and Dentist Visits: Make appointments with your doctor and dentist for evaluations. In the paper work the bishop will give you will be medical forms that they will need to fill out.
- Missionary Candidate Information: There are several sections of personal information to complete. You’ll fill out background information about yourself, including your desire and ability to learn a language, your schooling, and how your mission will be financed.
- Get a Good Photo: Make sure that in this photo you are dressed and groomed according to missionary standards (i.e. conservative hair and clothing styles, etc. see the MTC’s posted Missionary Dress and Grooming Guidelines).
- Meet with the Bishop Again: Set another appointment with your bishop after all of the forms are completed, and he will review the application. He will conduct a thorough interview to determine your worthiness, ability to serve, and your testimony of the Savior and the restored gospel.
- Meet with the Stake President: After your interview with the bishop, he will tell you how to set up and appointment with the stake president. Your bishop and stake president will complete some additional parts including their own written recommendations for your missionary service. This will be the final step before the application is sent to Church headquarters.
Receiving the Mission Call
- Assigned to a Mission by Prophecy: Your mission application is received by the Church and you are assigned to a specific mission by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who has been authorized by the President of the Church. The mission assignment comes after prayer and revelation.
- Mission Call Letter: After the mission call is made, a packet is mailed to you. It will contain information on your assigned mission, the date to report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC), a list of specific items you should bring with you, and other helpful information.
Though there are a lot of mechanical steps to go through in the process of filling out your mission papers, it’s important not to lose site of the spiritual: the spiritual preparation by the missionary and the spirit of revelation in the issuing of the mission call. Here is what President Henry B. Eyring said about the inspiration of each mission call:
“I have had [many] experiences feeling of the Holy Ghost…But I’ve never felt what I have felt as I have…participated in the assigning of missionaries…Because of technology, it is possible for us to have your picture and the information about you displayed. And then quickly, on that same screen, all the missions of the Church with all of their needs are displayed. Within minutes, and sometimes less than a minute, the impression comes so powerfully that it would be, if it were a single instance, something that you would never forget. Can you imagine sitting there for hours at a time, having that happen time after time without interruption? I testify to you that it is real…[The Lord] somehow not only knows you but loves you enough to ensure that your call is where He needs you to go to teach the children of our Heavenly Father.” (Pres. Henry B. Eyring, “Called of God,” address delivered at the Missionary Training Center, Aug. 26, 1997).
P.S. If you are looking for the actual forms to download, I’m sorry but the Church just does not make them available that way. You can try doing a Google search for Checklist for Full-Time Missionary Recommendation, and sometimes you’ll find people have posted them.
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for sharing the President Eyring Quote!
Do you know the duration of this process, when the papers are sent in? My stake President forwarded them on June 16th. Do you know about when i should be expecting my call?
Thanks
It is generally 2 to 3 weeks from the time Salt Lake receives your papers until you receive your mission call. My understanding is that once a week they take all the new papers received and there is a meeting where they assign missionaries to their mission. Of course, there are things that can delay this process such as if the paper work wasn’t filled out completely or properly. I’d give it another week, and if you still haven’t gotten your call, talk to your stake president. He can then call Church Headquarters and get a status update on your mission call. I hope this helps. Let me know when your call arrives. Congratulations and may the Lord bless you.
glad i found this site i was just browsing google then i found this(preparing for a bishop interview) and wanted to see what the process was like,sounds easy now if my bishop will just give me the “log in” info i need we are good as gold,its the hardest thing to get a job right now well where i live ive applied almost everywhere just no one is calling,just need to pray and have faith,already 2/6 of my friend shave gotten calls one came back from the MTC 4 weeks in after tearing his ACL basically,another is going to tacoma,im next wow im kinda nervous
For a girl to go on a mission how soon can they put in their papers before their 21st birthday?
I’m currently on that last step, “talk to the Stake President”. Pretty darn excited about it!
Great!!! I’m guessing you on mission now
Congratulations Korey! Let me know when your call comes in.
I am going to start my missionary papers in January, these will be a bit prolonged for me considering I need to graduate in July before I go. I’m determining to do the medical stuff first before everything else, and that will take a while. I’m glad I found this site, having these steps laid out makes it a bit more manageable.
I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great information I was looking for this information for my mission.
This message from Pres. Henry B. Eyring is sooo inspiring. I was so afraid before leaving our home for mission because i do always think that it will take too long. But then bacause of prayers and fasting, good advices from the members, this site and other things that inspires me. I am now on the process!!!
I know He has a great plan for me, as quoted from Pres. Eyring’s message…
“[The Lord] somehow not only knows you but loves you enough to ensure that your call is where He needs you to go to teach the children of our Heavenly Father.”
It’s worth it to have this site on my list!
I’m 20 years of age ! Nd Im dying to serve my Lord, well i want to get a job ASAP so that i can pay for my own mission but my family does not want me to get a job but attend school, its kinda sad but my choice is to obey them or they’ll disown me.. Wats th deadline for girls to serve a mission plissss???? Im planning to go after i get my BA and thats wehn i turn 23 or 24
I don’t think there is a deadline for women to serve a mission. Age 23 or 24 is very common for women. Good luck, and God bless.
Hey I am super excited to serve the lord and become a sister missionary
I had a meeting with my stake president about two weeks ago, and come to find he still hasn’t submitted my paper work. I am get slightly worried because I want to leave asap. My question to you is does it really take that long for him to fill out his paper work or is he just really busy? Sorry so long, just can’t wait to serve the lord. My heavenly father.
Kayla, Congratulations! I’m glad to hear you will be serving a mission soon.
I’m sorry to hear about the delays. You’ll have to talk to your stake president to find out why. Many times, the stake clerk or stake executive secretary have to do a couple of things with the application before it can be submitted. And as you indicated, these stake leaders can be very busy sometimes. Regardless, do reach out and talk to your stake president or other stake leaders, and let them know that you are anxious to have the papers submitted as soon as possible.
God bless.
I see, I sppouse that would have to be the case.
I am almost done with everything, YAY! but i’m trying to figure out how long it is between your availability date and actually leaving. I know its different for everyone but any sort of general idea would be helpful. Thanks!
They try to get your departure date as close to your availability date as possible. But entering the MTC a few weeks, even a couple of months, after your availability date is common.
as a girl you can turn in your papers 90 days before your 21st birthday you can actually have your 21st b-day at the mtc…
i just turned 24 last monday and i am about to go to my bishop next week… i really need to go see the doctor this week for some medical things and I guess i need to lose some weight but i’m gonna work on that when my medical thing is over (something going on in my ankle) i know i won’t be able to turn my papers in before march (including time to save money) so I also want to get my medical things on order before starting to fill in my papers i know i need to remove my wisdom teeth and do some other things before i can talk to my bishop about serving… but i am so excited already… i really know this is happening and it will be the best 18 months of my life where ever the lord needs me to be…:D
I have done all these steps I am so excited to be able to serve my lord been preparing to serve for over a year and half now and I have defiantly seen the blessings in my life through preparation
i will passed may mission form maybe this September 2011. i want to go on the mission,im so exited^^,
I am 19 working on my paperwork. To earn money for my mission I got a full time job. at what point during the process should I quit my job?
Dexter, You should be able to keep your job until just before you enter the MTC. You’ll want to let your employer know that you are leaving on a mission and tell them when you enter the MTC and make plans for your last day of work to be a few days before that.
10-12 days before my call should be here in the mail!!! My papers went into salt lake a week ago! Longest week of my life coming up…
Hi guys so good to hear everyones progress this forum is so Informative im prepping atm jsut a quick question how long do we need our needles done once every 3mths or can we get it all done b4 4mths ? my doctor told me once then next 3mths and next 6mths lol . im so Confused other than that im starting my papers In Jan on my bday
so excited the Mission Will defs be the best 18mths of my LIFE !!! Cant wait to Serve the Lord A mission is the Lords University and i cant wait to be one of his Students =)
i am so!!!!!!….grate full for may mission papers for i am so happy that day……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..later.day.sain…is pure heat and great zion for all eternitis…+_+
im getting my physical examination by a NMD Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine . but the evaluation form says must be done by MD medical doctor or physician asisstant PA nurse practitioner or a NP . can the my NMD doctor fill it out . thanks
My reading of the mission paperwork instructions is that an NMD (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine) would not be acceptable. Here is the quote from the missionary application: “The Physician’s Health Evaluation of Missionary Candidate form must be signed by a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO). If the examination is done by a physician assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP), the supervising physician must verify the findings and review and countersign the form. An examination by any other practitioner is not acceptable.”
Good luck. God bless.
thanks jim i need my hep A shot and it requires to wait 6 months for the next one can go on my mission even if i only have the first shot
Hi, my son has all his papers ready, just needs to see Bishop and stake president. We live in UK. He is planing on leaving after his exams, hopfully July or August.
Now there is a problem because he has not had Hep A or B injections and it takes 3 injections the last one being 6 months after the first. So I guess same comment as above… Could he have the last one while on mission field ? Thanks.
My son is worried because he missed than part on the forms and does not want to delay his departure.
I believe he can have the Hepatitis shots in the mission field, but I’ll see if I can find some more sure information. As I recall, getting Hepatitis A/B shots in the MTC is pretty common.
Hey Jimmy!
I was wondering if you found out for sure if we can get out Hep A booster in the mission field. I’m in a similar situation! I need my second Hep A shot in six months but six months from now I should be on my mission in the Philippines!
Thanks!
I’ve been waiting 5 weeks for my call… :/
Hang in there brotha…I know that the Lord is very aware of your situation and I know He has a plan for you…just be patient.
is it true that the MTC is already filled up for the summer? If you didn’t get your application in by now (early May) you are not going to be able to depart until after August. Some college courses are rigid with prerequisites and year long courses. Leaving in Sepember after school starts and coming home then will effectively mean some might sacrifice 3 years of college not just 2 years.
Mike, You could very well be right. There is usually a rush of missionaries that floods the MTC during the summer. The Church usually gives missionaries 2 to 4 months from the time the call arrives until they enter the MTC. Four months from now is September, so I’d believe it if the MTC is basically filled until then.
As for the timing of college, I know it can be tricky and it is certainly a big sacrifice to miss school. But sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven.
I’m so excited! I am ALMOST THERE! Can you belive it? the moment everybody has been talking about, the mooment that I have grown up hearing about ALL THE TIME in primary, deacon’s teacher’s preists and elder’s quorum! All I have to do is get my wisdom teeth pulled out, physical, then talk to stake presidency and I’m good ot go. All my friends have left and now it’s my time to join them in the field; in this exciting event! (Considering I JUST turned 19!) Let the good times roll! haha
What does it mean when your online application says “Recommendation has been submitted”. Is this saying it has been sent to the Stake President or to Salt Lake? I’m a little confused.
Usually to the Bishop, who then authorizes the content, sends it through to the Stake President, who sends it to Salt Lake. When you’ve filled everything out online, and pressed submit without anything missing, it’s out of your hands and for the Bishop to then check over, meet with you, add his own part, and pass on from there.
I am so happy to be able to go on a mission at 19 now
I have dental issues to take care of and then my paperwork will be done. I look forward to serving the Lord. I know that even though I’m pretty shy I will become an instrument in the Lord’s hands.
I’ve had my forms in for over four weeks now, and I’ve been told other people have been able to check online when their calls had been issued & were on their way back because Salt Lake posts the date online somewhere when the call has been sent back to the would-be missionary. Can anyone advise me on how I can check up on that?
Hi my stake president told me that I have been assigned to a mission so I am just waiting for the pack to reach me in the post to find out were I am going I live inn the UK I am wondering wether my letter comes from there Europe area office our SLC. Thanks
Unfortunately, I do not know for sure whether you mission call packet will come from Salt Lake or from the Europe office. I assume it will come from Salt Lake. Once it arrives, will you let me know. Thanks. Congratulations. And God bless you on your mission.
My mission papers were sent from Germany and I have been called to the New Zealand Wellington Mission to report to the New Zealand MTC on April 25 thanks for your help it only took 3 weeks to get my call
Oh congrats man!! that is the mission i want to go to!! best oh luck to you.
Okay so i turned in my call last week and it went to salt lake last friday, now my bishop is keeping me posted what stage its at… it just passed the health check yesterday and it says waiting for assignment!! how much longer tell you think it will be her?! the anticipation is killing me!!
Jimmy,
I turned in my papers two weeks ago and my aassignment still hasn’t been made. In Junior High I had some learning disabilities and was on medication for a time. Because I was honest, I included this information. My Stake President said that my application has been sent to a ‘committee’. Can you tell me about this panel and what they will be looking at and what the process is? Will they have the opportunity to look at my patriarchle blessing or my character essays on my BYU apps so they know my heart? All I’ve ever wanted to do is serve a mission and I feel like my honesty may have jeopardized or narrowed my opportunities. I know that either way, you absolutely can’t lie to the First Presidency….I never would.
The committee you are referring to is a group of highly skilled medical professionals who will review your application. They will take a look at all the medical documentation you have submitted and then they will make recommendations to the general authorities about limitations, if any, on how and where you might serve. I’m not sure how long this deliberation takes, but it could easily delay your call by a week or two. Trust in the Lord. Pray for those involved in making the mission call, including the committee of doctors. I know that you will be sent to the right place where the Lord would have you. Have faith to go where He wants you to go and know that the call from the prophet comes from God.
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