Earlier this year I published Mormon Mission Prep: A Practical Guide to Spiritual and Physical Preparation. The book and eBook have enjoyed great success, and to celebrate, I thought I would give away some copies (of the physical book that is, you can always download the Mormon Mission Prep eBook for free).

Enter By Liking Mormon Mission Prep on Facebook

Simply “Like” the Mormon Mission Prep Facebook page and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of three free copies of the book. If you have already liked the Mormon Mission Prep Facebook page, then you are already entered. If you haven’t Liked Mormon Mission Prep on Facebook yet, here’s how you do it:

Chance to Win Mormon Mission Prep Book is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

I am very excited to announce the publication of a book I have written called Mormon Mission Prep: A Practical Guide to Spiritual and Physical Preparation. The book contains answers to the most common questions I have gotten over the last couple of years of running the Mormon Mission Prep website. Questions like:

• How much will a mission cost?
• When do you start the paperwork?
• What clothing do you bring with you?
• What if you have questions about worthiness?

The Mormon Mission Prep book takes a unique look at missionary preparation by focusing on the practical as well as the spiritual side of preparing to serve the Lord. The book provides details on the application forms and estimated timelines of when to start and how long steps should take. Knowing the mission call process can relieve stress and help prevent unnecessary delays in getting the mission call.

Becoming an effective missionary also means knowing and using the scriptures, maintaining your worthiness, understanding the gospel, and developing a testimony. I address all those issues and more in this book that is full of tips on preparing both spiritually and physically for an LDS mission.

The book makes a great gift for teenagers and young adults who are preparing (or should be preparing) for a mission.

Mormon Mission Prep Book Announcement is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

This week we are holding a contest to give away either a set of 100 missionary cards or a customized priesthood line of authority print. The winner will be able to pick whichever one he or she wants. These items are being provided by Express Digital Images, a company that has been serving the LDS and business community since 1987. The owners are friends of mine and I highly recommend their services.

Readers have one week to enter the contest. There are three ways to enter:

1. Share your mission call on our virtual Missionary Farewell page. This is primarily for missionaries who recently received their call.
2. Submit a Mission Report. Any returned missionary can share his or her experiences and testimony here.
3. If neither of the first two options are applicable to you, you can enter by leaving a comment on this post.

Let me take a minute and tell you a little more about the products we’re giving away.

Missionary Cards

Missionary cards are a convenient way to keep in touch with friends, converts, investigators, members, companions, and other people you will meet on your mission. Missionary cards from Express Digital Images come in two sizes: 2″ x 3.5″ typical business card-sized, and a larger 2 1/2″ x 4″ card. For the traditional-sized card, you can choose between “The field is ready to harvest” wheat field background or a white background for the front of your card. The back of the card can be left blank if you like or you can have a favorite scripture printed on it. For the larger 2 1/2″ x 4″ card, you the same choices for the front of your card, and on the back you can have either the 13 Articles of Faith or your favorite scripture. This is a great gift for newly called missionaries or ones already in the field.

Priesthood Line of Authority Prints

Each Priesthood holder’s line of authority is the way in which he can trace his priesthood authority back to the Lord Jesus Christ. It shows who ordained you, and who ordained that person, and so on until you get back to Joseph Smith, Peter, James and John, and the Savior. Priesthood line of authority prints from Express Digital Images come in dozens of sizes and varieties. Ready-to-frame priesthood line of authority prints are available in an 11″ by 14″ size and larger with seven different backgrounds to choose from. They also come in a size to fit in your scriptures: large, regular, and compact scripture sizes. These also make a great gift for missionaries or any priesthood holder, husband, brother, or father (Father’s day is fast approaching).

P.S. When you order a priesthood line of authority from Express Digital Images, you’ll need to provide the names and ordination dates of everyone in your line of authority. EDI has instructions on their website how to request that information from LDS Church headquarters if you do not have it.

Giveaway: Missionary Cards or Priesthood Line of Authority Print is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

I just finished reading a great mission prep book called Raising Ourselves to the Bar by Brad Wilcox and Russell Wilcox. Here are some of my favorite parts of the book:

• “When Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve was directing the work in Chile, he said on several occasions, ‘The bar is not an obstacle to get over, bur a vision to reach for.’” (p. x)

God: He Loves Me — Satan: He Loves Me Not

• Regarding a mission, says Brother Wilcox, “this is a journey that is hard on the shoes, [but] good for the soul.” (p. 2)
• “Satan, the so-called prince of this world, is reigning with blood and terror…He thinks there is no one to stand in his way. He’d better think again! We are not going to lie down and let him reign unopposed.” (p. 16)
• “It is on those days when I am feeling very mediocre that I have to remember that the word mediocre comes from the Latin, mediocris, which means ‘halfway up the mountain.’ No one stands on top of a mountain without passing through the halfway point.” (p. 18)

God Parted the Red Sea, and He will Help You

• “God didn’t remove the Red Sea, but he provided a way for the children of Israel to go through it. In the same way, God doesn’t remove the requirement of mission service or the difficulty of meeting that challenge. Instead, he helps us through it.” (p. 24)
• “To be successful and effective missionaries, we need to change [TV] channels in our lives and take the focus off our needs, our problems, and our worries (channel one) and put it on the needs of others (channel two).” (p. 28)
• “When a missionary feels his spirit is willing but his flesh is weak, fasting can strengthen the spirit and remind that weak flesh who is in charge.” (p. 36)
• “Recounting missionary experiences invites the Holy Spirit in the conversation. Listening to them can stir a young man’s soul and help instill in him a desire to experience these things himself.” (p. 37)

Study

• “Not only does Seminary provide a welcome daily respite from the worldliness that permeates our schools, but it also plants noble thoughts, an understanding of the scriptures, and a love of the Savior in a young person’s heart.” (p. 57)
• “It is more beneficial and certainly faith promoting to spend our time studying the gospel rather than reading anti-Mormon materials. Secure people don’t worry too much about what others think of them. It is the insecure who are forever concerned about what ‘they’ say. It is food to be informed, but not dominated, driven, or defined by other’s opinions.” (p. 71)

Resources and Attributes

• “When it comes to the world of missionary work, it truly is all about who you know. Effective missionaries know their companions, investigators, and the members of the wards and branches in which they serve.” (p. 94)
• “While missionaries can look good, it is more important that they be good. The Savior cursed the fig tree that looked good but didn’t bear fruit.” (p. 113)
• “It is not enough to just try to empty our minds of evil or ‘dirty’ thoughts. It is a matter of filling them with goodness, light, perspective, and purpose.” (p. 116)
• “They will be amazed at the changes they can make when they stop relying on willpower alone and start relying on God’s power.” (p. 122)

Astonishing Skills

• “This gospel is astonishing. Now get out there and astonish someone!” –Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (p. 147)
• “In preparing our young people to serve missions, we need to communicate high expectations…Many of our youth are willing to respond when challenged to stretch and give their best efforts–especially when those expectations are given with sincere and genuine concern and love.” (p. 159)
• “If we feel as though we have to leave our personalities behind when we check in to the MTC, we’re going to have long missions. In D&C 4 we read that we must serve with all our heart, might mind, and strength. That includes serving with our unique personalities as well.” (p. 161)

Going the Extra Smile

• “People expect missionaries to be happy and outgoing. Missionaries may have knocked on hundreds of doors, but it may be the first meeting for the one opening the next door.” (p. 166)
• “Russell tells the missionaries that unless they smile, people are not even going to be interested in the language, lessons, and scriptures they are working so hard to learn.” (p. 167)
• “What should we do to help our children better prepare?…Turn off the TV a little more. Turn off the Nintendo and computer games. What missionaries need are people skills, and those are not developed or honed in front of a monitor.” (p. 172)

You can buy Raising Ourselves to the Bar for as low as $3.00 plus shipping on Amazon.com.

Raising Ourselves to the Bar is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

It’s been almost two years since I launched Mormon Mission Prep, and I have just finished my second major renovation of the site. Those of you who have visited the site in the past two days will have already noticed this site redesign. The changes to the look and feel only scratch the surface of the elements of the redesign. Let me tell you a little about the improvements to the site:

• Faster page load time: This is one of the major reasons behind the site redesign. The new site loads more than twice as quickly as the old site.
• New Mission Farewell and Mission Report features: These features are designed to increase the amount of community involvement in the site. Whether your coming from or going to your mission, share your good news and your testimony with us.
  • If you or someone you know has their mission call, you can submit a Missionary Farewell here, or view the mission calls submitted at our Missionary Farewells page.
  • Submit a Mission Report of your own, even if you aren’t a recently returned missionary. Also view the Mission Reports that have been submitted.
• New look and feel, but not too new. You’ll still recognize the wheat field to remind us all that “the field is white already to harvest” (D&C 4:4).
• Updated navigation and page structure including breadcrumbs. This should help people get around the site and find what they are looking for faster.
• The Mormon Mission Prep Spanish and Portuguese sites have also been updated. The Mission Call and Mission Report features are not yet up and running on those language sites but soon will be.
  • Preparación Misional Mormóna
  • Preparação Missionária Mormon

I hope you enjoy the new site. Please let me know how you like the new features. Just reach out to me through the contact page.

Reminder of ways to connect with the Mormon Missionary Preparation site

• Subscribe to Mormon Mission Prep RSS feed
• Subscribe to Mormon Mission Prep by Email
• Mormon Mission Prep on Facebook
• Mormon Mission Prep on YouTube

Mormon Mission Prep Feb 2011 Site Redesign is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

And the winner of the book What I Wish I’d Known Before My Mission is…Sarina.

Congratulations Sarina! If you will please go to the contact form and send me your address, I’ll get the book in the mail immediately.

Thanks to everyone for visiting the site and entering the contest. If you didn’t win the book, don’t despair, you can get used copies of What I Wish I’d Known Before My Mission on Amazon.com for as low as one penny, plus shipping.

Winner of John Bytheway, Before My Mission, Book is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

Giveaway alert! Read to the bottom to see how you can enter to win a copy of this book.

What I Wish I’d Known Before My Mission is a great little book by John Bytheway. Not to detract from the other mission prep books I’ve reviewed, but this one, more than any of the others, will likely resonate with young future missionaries.

Bytheway has a great knack for connecting with the youth with his humor and stories. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 discusses life between high school graduation and leaving on the mission. Part 2 covers importance of keeping the mission rules, and what life is like inside the MTC. Part 3 talks about the great blessings that can come to the missionary who makes the Lord his constant companion.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

• “The kind of girl you want to date and marry will not only want you to go on a mission, she will expect you to.” p. 6
• “Read the Book of Mormon again, keeping in mind the idea that you will be teaching it to others….tell [investigators] that you have read the Book of Mormon carefully and that if they read it, they will have spiritual experiences similar to yours.” p. 7
• “Think of what would happen in the Church if every member traded one half-hour of TV a day for a half-hour of scripture study.” p. 9
• “Control your thoughts…you have to vigorously defend your brain as if it were a plot of land. There will always be invaders, and you must try not to let them enter. If they do enter your land, you must chase them off.” p. 11
• “The only way you’ll learn another language is to be humble enough to qualify for the Lord’s help.” p. 22
• “The Lord gets the work done through his people, and his people ‘done’ through the work.” p. 24
• “When you give your life to God, you allow him to bless you in ways you haven’t dreamed of.” p. 24
• “You will feel overwhelmed…Every missionary I’ve ever known has made that comment about the MTC. That overwhelmed feeling is good, though, because it will help you realize how much you need the Lord.” p. 31
• “Jump in with both feet, with a whole-hearted, don’t look back attitude. When it comes to that special someone you left behind, well, friend, it all comes down to good old fashion faith. You’ll just have to exercise it.” p. 32
• “You have two years to do it, and the rest of eternity to think about it…You’ll find that a good night’s rest comes only after a good day’s work.” p. 34
• “As a missionary, you can win hearts too. You can be kind, courteous, happy, and friendly—even if people don’t want to let you in! Leave their porch with a smile, and wish them a good day.” p. 43
• “If you don’t understand some of the mission rules, have the faith to obey even though you don’t know why.” p. 57
• “Never forget this important trio: The Lord, My Companion, and Me.  It is this trio that does missionary work.” p. 65
• “If you start to feel weighed down by the pressures of missionary work, open your eyes and take a good look at your name badge…You carry his name on your lapel, and you want to be sure you also carry it in your heart. He wants people to be taught and baptized even more than you do! He is eager to send his Spirit to testify of the truth of what you are teaching.” p. 73
• “I love President Kimball’s words: ‘You are the Church to these people.’ …[people around us] were forming their opinions about the Church and its message based on what they saw us do!…That’s a great responsibility!” p. 83
• “The world is watching our missionaries. You represent the Lord, his Church, and [14] million others in the world. Represent us well!” p. 84

Giveaway!

For a chance to win the book “What I Wish I’d Known Before My Mission” simply leave a comment on this blog post answering the following question: What do you think is the most important thing to know before leaving on your mission?

Please, just one entry is allowed per person. Comments must be received by Monday, November 15, 2010. The winner will be selected at random and I’ll mail that person a copy of the book free of charge. Good luck!

What I Wish I'd Known Before My Mission is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

And the winner of the book Raising the Bar: Missionaries to Match the Message is…Jim.

Congratulations Jim! I’ll get the book in the mail immediately.

Thanks to everyone for visiting the site and entering the contest. If you didn’t win the book, don’t despair, you can get used copies of Raising the Bar: Missionaries to Match the Message on Amazon.com for as low as one penny, plus shipping.

Winner of Raising the Bar Book is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

Raising the Bar: Missionaries to Match the Message, is a great mission prep book by Ed J. Pinegar. I liked it so much, in fact, that I’m giving it away. Seriously!

Giveaway: Everyone who makes a comment on this blog post will be entered into a drawing for the book. The winner will be selected at random next week, and I’ll send that person the book.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

Open Your Mouth and Preach the Gospel

• “Tell the missionaries to open their mouths right away. Don’t wait until you feel comfortable with the language. Many precious souls may be lost if you wait.” p. x
• Joseph Smith declared, “after all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.” p. 3
• “When we know what Christ has done for us, we will want to open our mouths, and they will be filled with everything we need to say.” p. 119
• The sons of Mosiah “didn’t see these Lamanites as enemies, but as fellow children of God who needed the gospel too. That’s why they were such successful teachers.” p. 127

How to Prepare for Missionary Work

• “One of the most important parts of preparing for your mission is catching the vision of the work—it will motivate you to prepare every needful thing.” p. ix
• “Are we willing to prepare [for our missions]? So many people want to win, but as BYU coach Lavell Edwards has often told his football teams, ‘Maybe they don’t want to prepare to win.” p. 21
• “Ye cannot say when ye are brought to the MTC that I will repent, that I will gain a testimony…Ye cannot say this , for the same spirit which doth posses you prior to the MTC will possess you after. Our true conversion must take place now. The Lord wants us already prepared.” p. 143

Teaching by the Spirit

• “We cannot do anything in the mission field without having the Spirit, and we can’t have the Spirit unless we choose to be obedient.” p. 24
• “Testify. Truth without testimony is hollow.” p. 67
• “Sober-mindedness is one of the most essential traits in order to be a spiritual giant, in order to speak by the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit, to be Ammon-like and Moroni-like missionaries. The language we use is an important key in maintaining sober-mindedness. Words like ‘He’s a cool dude’ are totally inappropriate when talking about spiritual things.” p. 110
• “With the Spirit, and by magnifying your call, you can do miracles for the Lord in the mission field. Without the Spirit you will never succeed regardless of your talent.” p. 137

Worthiness to Serve

• “If the Elders cannot go with clean hands and pure hearts, they had better stay here. Do not go thinking, when you arrive…that then you will purify yourselves.” p. 31
• “We must become missionaries to match the message, disciples of Jesus Christ, not just for a full-time mission, but for life.” p. 35
• “When you are busy obeying, you don’t have time to entertain temptation.” p. 84
• “Always sustain your leaders…Remember, sustain the prophet means you also sustain all the people under him in the priesthood line, and they you will have the blessings of the Lord.” p. 84

Getting Motivated and Understanding

• “Our duty is clear—to invite all mankind to come unto Christ.” We must “be worthy, willing, and eager to serve.” p. 6
• “If we are rooted in Jesus Christ, listening to the living prophets, and adhering to the scriptures, we will have a continual, living well of motivation.” p. 96
• “When we don’t have enough understanding, we don’t trust in God and we fear what others will think or what may happen to us. When we gain enough knowledge, we see clearly, we have power, and then fear will flee from us.” p. 118

Rules for the Book Giveaway

Enter for a chance to win the book “Raising the Bar: Missionaries to Match the Message” by leaving a comment on this blog post saying what you are doing or would do to raise yourself to the bar. Please, just one entry is allowed per person. Comments must be received by Thursday, October 7, 2010. The winner will be selected at random and announced on Friday Oct. 8th.

Raising the Bar: Missionaries to Match the Message is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

Any of you who have visited Mormon Mission Prep since the beginning of the new year will have already noticed this, but over Christmas break I redesigned the Web site.  Actually, I have done far more than simply redesigning the look of the site, I added a Spanish version of the site and I changed the underlying technology the site is built on. I hope you all enjoy the new site design and new features.  Feel free to give many any feedback you have.

Spanish Version of Mormon Mission Prep

From the beginning, I have wanted to do the site in both Spanish and English.  Up until recently, though, I have used my limited time and resources to simply get the site up and running in my native English.   But with recent requests from readers, and the opportunity provided by the technology change, I decided to go ahead and create a Spanish version of Mormon Mission Prep.

Not all blog posts have been translated yet, but I will slowly be working on them.  What I have translated thus far is about 8 of the most recent blog posts, and most of the other pages in the top navigation menu. I’ve also created a Spanish Facebook page and a Spanish YouTube channel for the mission prep videos, though I’ve only translated one of the videos so far. Here’s a run down of the Spanish and English content:

Under the Hood Technology

For those of you interested in the technical details, I moved the site from being run on the Windows-based BlogEngine.net, to the Linux-based WordPress.  BlogEngine was okay during the first year of running the site, but I began to run into more and more limitations with it.  WordPress is a powerful free blog platform that provides me all the resources I need to run the site now and long into the future.

Redesign and Spanish Version of Mormon Mission Prep is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep