Every Knee Shall Bow, by J. Kirk Richards

3

Missionary Conduct

3.0

Introduction

This section describes missionary standards of behavior and Christlike qualities. You are expected to practice and develop these standards and qualities as you become a more dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. As the prophet Moroni counseled, “Remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also” (Moroni 7:5).

3.1

Christlike Behavior

Pray and work to develop Christlike traits, or attributes, as described in the scriptures and in the teachings of living prophets. These attributes include gratitude, kindness, love, humility, patience, empathy, and obedience. With the Lord’s help and your own sincere and diligent efforts, you can develop Christlike attributes (see Mosiah 3:19).

Be kind, positive, and uplifting. Be thoughtful of each person’s situation. You are a guest in the locations where you serve and should treat people and places with respect and appreciation.

While serving in the community, always respect the customs, religious beliefs, and practices of others at all times. Avoid offending others. Remember, what you say and what you do during your service assignments may be heard, observed, and recorded. Wherever you serve, you are a representative of Jesus Christ and His restored Church.

3.2

Temple Worthiness

Missionaries need to be temple worthy throughout their missions.

The Lord Jesus Christ invites you to “prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:74). Part of this preparation includes keeping your temple covenants if you have received your temple endowment.

3.2.1

Temple Covenants (If Endowed)

Keeping temple covenants of obedience, sacrifice, and consecration will empower you and help you become more like the Savior.

Even if there is not a temple in your service missionary area, stay temple worthy. Ask your bishop and stake president for a temple recommend interview before your current recommend expires.

Wearing the temple garment is the sacred privilege of those who have made the covenants of the endowment. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in considering your personal commitment to wear the garment.

3.2.2

Temple Worship

If a temple is nearby, you are encouraged to attend the temple as a patron throughout your mission. This attendance may also be one of your assigned service opportunities.

Temple attendance should not interfere with your other missionary assignments. When you are serving in the temple, fulfill your assignment with dignity, respect, and reverence. When you attend the temple, remember the following:

• If you are called by the temple presidency to serve as an ordinance worker, you will serve in the temple as they direct.

• Do not bring cameras, cell phones, or reading materials (including patriarchal blessings) to use inside the temple.

• Do not congregate as missionaries or kneel in prayer in the celestial room.

• By taking family names to the temple, you can help gather Israel on the other side of the veil and enhance your temple experience.

3.3

The Law of Chastity

An important part of being temple worthy is to obey the law of chastity. Do all you can to protect yourself from sexual temptation that could lead to breaking your sacred covenants. Doing things that break the law of chastity may even result in criminal charges in some areas.

Avoid any thought or action that would separate you from the Spirit. This includes but is not limited to adultery; fornication; same-sex activity; oral sex; arousing sexual feelings; inappropriate touching; sending or receiving messages, images, or videos that are immoral or sexual in nature; masturbation; and viewing or using pornography. For more information, see For the Strength of Youth (booklet, 2011), “Repentance,” 28–29.

If you are struggling to keep these standards, ask the Lord for help and talk with your stake president immediately.

3.3.1

Avoiding Pornography

There are many forms of pornography. Planning ahead and making righteous choices can help you avoid pornography. If you see it, look away, turn the device off, or leave the situation.

Use the following suggestions to help you avoid pornography:

• Avoid websites, materials, and locations where you are likely to hear, read, or see suggestive materials or pornography.

• Learn to recognize times when you are most tempted to use technology inappropriately, such as when you are tired or bored.

• Have a plan for what you will do instead at those times. Your service mission leaders can help. You can also find information at ChurchofJesusChrist.org/addressing-pornography.

Anyone seeking to avoid or overcome pornography can find help and healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If you are struggling, talk with your stake president, who should provide loving counsel and support.

3.4

Honesty

We are commanded to be honest. Temple worthiness includes being honest in all your dealings with others. Being honest includes:

• Telling the truth, especially to your service mission leaders and stake president regarding your conduct, testimony, work habits, and emotional and physical health.

• Giving accurate reports of your service and how you have spent your time throughout the week.

• Being trustworthy and never giving a false report or false information about any person or your service assignment.

• Respecting others by not borrowing, taking, or using someone’s personal items (such as clothing, books, electronic devices, and jewelry) without permission.

3.5

Interacting with Others

The Savior taught, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Choose to follow the Savior’s example and act in ways that are polite, safe, and appropriate for the situation.

3.5.1

General Standards for Interacting with Family and Friends

Be a strength and a good example to your family and friends. Share inspirational stories from your mission experiences.

Family members may need to assist you with physical needs, with transportation, or in other ways for you to serve successfully. There will be some adjustments to family life during your missionary service. You and your family will need to make some sacrifices to ensure you have the most meaningful and productive mission experience possible.

3.5.2

General Standards for Interacting with Adults

Build trust and meaningful relationships with those you serve. Be professional and kind. Observe the following standards:

• Avoid situations that could become physically or spiritually dangerous or that could be misunderstood.

• Do not flirt or inappropriately associate with anyone.

• Keep your language dignified. Avoid using slang. Use appropriate titles when addressing others. For example, use the title of “Elder” or “Sister” when referring to other service missionaries and service mission leaders to show respect for their callings.

3.5.3

General Standards for Interacting with Children and Vulnerable Adults

For your safety as well as the safety of children and vulnerable adults, strictly observe the following standards for working with these groups:

• Never be alone with children or vulnerable adults under any circumstance.

• Do not babysit them, dress them, administer medications to them, or care for their personal hygiene.

• Serve them only with another responsible adult present. Follow safety protocols for the Church or the charity you are serving.

• If you will be working with them in a charitable organization, you may first need to complete a background check.

Vulnerable adults are people with a mental or physical impairment that substantially affects their ability to understand situations and to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Vulnerable adult also applies to refugees who may not understand language or cultural differences.

3.5.4

General Standards for Interacting with Teaching Missionaries

As a member of the Church, you may accompany teaching missionaries on teaching visits. You should not present yourself as a teaching missionary. Do not wear your service missionary name badge on teaching visits. You should not join teaching missionaries for district and zone conferences unless the mission president invites you.

3.5.5

Dating

You may not date as a missionary. You are encouraged to participate in YSA wards and activities, but you should not attend dances. You must be careful in attending any activity that may look like dating.

3.5.6

Wearing the Missionary Badge

It is an honor and a privilege to wear the missionary badge. Always wear it while you are traveling to or from your missionary assignment, at your missionary assignment, and at Church meetings.

Missionary assignments include missionary meetings and conferences, time serving your family, and Church and charitable assignments done from home. If you have any questions about when to wear your missionary name badge, please ask your service mission leaders.

3.5.7

Living at Home

In your call letter, you were assigned to labor as a service missionary in your local community, giving Christlike service while living at home.

3.5.8

Employment and Schooling

Employment and schooling—either full time or part time—are not part of a service mission. You should devote your time, talents, energy, and financial resources to your mission. This is part of the law of consecration.

You may be enrolled in institute and PathwayConnect if desired.

3.5.9

Safety Guidelines for Activities

Safety guidelines for activities apply to young single adults, which means they apply to you as a service missionary. There are restrictions on overnight activities, temple visits outside your assigned temple district, and long-distance travel. These activities require your service mission leaders to plan in advance and seek approval from designated priesthood leaders. Your parents or guardians may need to complete a Permission and Medical Release Form for you to participate.

3.6

Recreation and Entertainment

Choose activities that are uplifting and help you relax. In consultation with health care professionals, exercise and be active to keep your body and mind fit for service. Avoid recreational activities that could cause injury or extreme fatigue.

3.6.1

Games, Movies, and Television

Activities during hours you are not at a service assignment, such as appropriate video games, movies, and television shows, are acceptable with the approval of your stake president and service mission leaders.

Such activities should not interfere with your personal preparation, study, or service time. Avoid anything that detracts from the Spirit. Please use good judgment in wearing your name badge during these kinds of activities.

3.6.2

Ward and Institute Attendance

During your service as a missionary, your membership records should remain in your home ward. Where authorized, you may attend the young single adult ward in your area.

You are encouraged to participate in institute classes and activities. You may also participate in young single adult activities sponsored by your ward or stake such as home evening activities, temple trips, devotionals, games, and picnics, but excluding dances.

3.6.3

Cultural and Recreational Activities

Remember, you are a missionary. Your activities should always be wholesome, uplifting, and aligned with the standards of this handbook.

Always be safe and use good judgment when participating in recreational activities. During your mission you should not participate in activities that involve increased risk.

You may hold or participate in social gatherings with other service missionaries when you are not at your service assignments. However, these activities should follow service missionary standards and should never be held overnight.

You may participate in family vacations with advance notice to your service mission leaders and your operations supervisors. Develop a plan with your service mission leaders to enhance your mission experience while on vacation.

3.6.4

Music

Listen to music that is consistent with your sacred calling. Music should invite the Spirit, help you focus on the work, and direct your thoughts and feelings to the Savior.

Do not listen to music that encourages immorality, glorifies violence, uses offensive language, or dulls your spiritual sensitivity through its beat, instrumentation, volume, lyrics, or intensity.

3.6.5

Electronic and Computer Equipment

All use of electronic devices and media, including cell phones and computers, should be in harmony with gospel principles. The use of electronics should not detract in any way from the spirit and calling of your mission.

Avoid anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic. Don’t use your cell phone during service assignment hours.

3.6.6

Media

Social media can be an effective way to share how you are following the Savior as a missionary. Posts about nonmissionary activities should still reflect the dignity of your mission call.

Choose wisely when using media. Whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Select only media that uplifts you.

Guard your safety and the safety of others by being careful about what personal information and images you share through technology. Do not use the title “Elder” or “Sister” in your account name. Do not communicate anything over the internet or through texting that would be inappropriate to share in person. Do not share political views. Obey the laws that govern the sharing of music, movies, and other copyrighted items. Do not imply that your posts are official Church communications.

Spending too much time using the internet, a mobile device, or other media can keep you from fulfilling your service mission schedule and assignments.

If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to watch or listen to, talk to your parents, bishop, stake president, or service mission leaders. The Holy Ghost will give you strength to make correct choices.

3.7

Policy Exceptions

Any exception to the standards explained in these missionary standards is not a decision for your stake president, bishop, parents, or service mission leaders to make alone. If you feel an exception should be considered, talk to your stake president and service mission leaders to discuss the circumstances. Service mission leaders can then speak with the Service Mission Office to consider the request.

3.8

Communication with Service Mission Leaders, Priesthood Leaders, and Service Location Supervisors

Serving as a missionary includes a responsibility to be accountable to the Lord and your leaders. You do this by providing regular missionary reports. These reports may consist of:

• Your missionary assignments and schedule

• Your physical and emotional well-being

• Your spiritual experiences and development

• Your recent successes and challenges

You should notify your service location supervisor and your service mission leaders any time you may not be able to attend to your service assignment. This communication should take place well in advance if possible.

During your mission, use your assigned missionary email account instead of any personal accounts.