Caring for the Needy in Our Families

2

Service Missionary Organization and Activities

2.0

Introduction

The Lord has said, “Ye shall organize yourselves and appoint every man [and woman] his [or her] stewardship” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:11). This section of the missionary standards describes the service mission organization. It also explains how you can best serve others with the pure love of Christ as you participate in service mission assignments and activities (see Moroni 7:44–47).

The term missionary leaders refers to missionaries with leadership assignments, such as district leaders and sister leaders. The term service mission leaders refers to the leaders who have the day-to-day responsibility for you and other missionaries in your assigned area (see 2.1.1).

In this handbook the terms stake president, bishop, stake, and ward also apply to district presidents, branch presidents, districts, and branches, respectively.

2.1

Service Mission Leadership

Your most important responsibility, regardless of any leadership assignment, is to be a faithful and dedicated missionary. You will be blessed as you follow the counsel from your leaders and as you develop loving relationships with them.

2.1.1

Service Mission Leaders

The Lord blesses His missionaries by calling a service mission couple to lead them. Your service mission leaders serve together as co-leaders under the direction of local priesthood leaders. They are called of God and set apart to lead the service missionaries in your assigned area. Together they love you, serve you, and help you fulfill your purpose as a missionary. Working closely with your stake president, they help identify service opportunities for you. They help develop your customized missionary schedule and your assignments. They also:

• Meet with and interview you regularly.

• Assess and support your progress.

• Support and encourage you.

• Listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and give counsel.

• Use inspiration and revelation to help you succeed as a missionary.

In summary, they have the day-to-day responsibility for working with you so that you can have a life-changing mission experience.

When you have an interview with service mission leaders, you may invite your parents or an on-site support missionary to be present for the interview. Your decision to invite someone to join you will not diminish your service mission leaders’ love, concern, or admiration for you.

2.1.2

Stake President

Because you are a member of a stake, your stake president has priesthood responsibility for you. Working closely with service mission leaders, he sets the spiritual and behavioral expectations of your mission and approves a custom missionary experience for your service.

Your stake president is responsible for worthiness interviews. He ensures you are following the service mission standards. Counseling with the service mission leaders, he reviews your schedule and assignments. At the end of your mission, he will release you and thank you for your missionary service.

In some cases distance makes it difficult for the stake president to meet with you regularly. If so, he may assign a stake specialist or other priesthood leader to work closely with the service mission leaders to support you and to help ensure that you have a life-changing missionary experience.

2.1.3

Service Mission Leadership Organization

Your service mission leaders use inspiration and revelation to organize the work. They may assign missionaries to be leaders in the service missionary area (such as district leaders or sister leaders). You may also be asked to lead or provide training in your operation or community assignments.

2.1.4

Responsibilities of Missionary Leaders

Missionary leaders, like all missionaries, follow the counsel of Jesus Christ to “serve [God] with all [their] heart, might, mind and strength” and to “remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2, 6). Leadership assignments do not indicate special recognition or advancement, nor do they reflect the worth of a missionary.

Missionary leaders have the responsibility to:

• Set an example of missionary standards for behavior (see chapter 3).

• As directed by service mission leaders, help train other missionaries.

• Love and befriend other missionaries.

• Help other missionaries recognize the value of their efforts.

• Listen to other missionaries’ concerns and share needs with service mission leaders.

• Account for their leadership duties to the service mission leaders.

• Under the direction of service mission leaders, help organize and conduct conferences, meetings, and activities.

Like all missionaries, elders and sisters with leadership assignments should practice Christlike leadership. If the conduct of any missionary, including missionary leaders, seems inconsistent with the commandments and missionary standards, discuss the issue with your service mission leaders only and not with other missionaries, parents, or friends.

2.1.5

Personal Responsibilities

“Magnify [your] office unto the Lord” (Jacob 1:19), become spiritually self-reliant, and “act for [yourself]” (2 Nephi 2:16) by trusting the Lord and following the Spirit.

When you have questions or concerns:

• Apply the teaching to “study it out in your mind; then … ask me if it be right” (Doctrine and Covenants 9:8).

• Seek guidance through personal revelation, prayer, study of the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon), the teachings of living prophets, and the service missionary standards.

Talk with your bishop or stake president about worthiness issues. Talk with your service mission leaders about immediate safety concerns, such as assault, abuse, or other issues.

There may be times during your mission when you find it difficult to focus on your service assignment due to current challenges, personal or family matters, or even past experiences. Do not hesitate to share your concerns with your service mission leaders.

Remember the Savior’s invitation: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36–37).

2.2

Serving Together

From time to time, you may be assigned with other service missionaries to the same location. As missionaries serving together, you should:

• Become united in the work and serve as the Savior would.

• Support each other’s spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.

• Be mindful of each other’s safety while serving together.

• Be accountable to each other in keeping service missionary standards.

2.2.1

Companions

Service mission leaders may assign companionships to improve structured gospel study and social interaction during your mission experience. Companions may be assigned across service missionary areas, at service locations, or for special service activities.

Always remember the following as you interact with other service missionaries:

• Love, respect, and strengthen other missionaries.

• Be humble and recognize the strengths in each other.

• Treat each other as you would like to be treated.

• Avoid criticism and contention, and recognize the good in other missionaries.

• Avoid speaking negatively about each other to other service missionaries, Church members, or family and friends.

If you notice any inappropriate situations or behavior, discuss it with your service mission leaders.

2.3

Meetings, Conferences, and Councils

As missionaries, you counsel together as you give and receive training and as you plan and coordinate your service. Meetings, conferences, and councils should invite the Spirit of the Lord and should be a time for inspiration and revelation (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:32). Gathering as missionaries will also provide you the opportunity to support each other and rejoice together (see Doctrine and Covenants 43:8; 50:22).

Meetings that missionary leaders organize, under the direction of service mission leaders, include:

• Regular district meetings

• Weekly or monthly meetings

• Conferences

• Leadership councils

2.4

Assignments and Schedule

Be faithful and diligent in following your missionary assignments and schedule.

2.4.1

Customized Assignments

You are called as a missionary by the Lord. You are assigned to serve in a customized mission experience uniquely chosen for your talents, skills, and gifts. During the course of your mission, you may serve in multiple assignments, including in approved charitable organizations, Church operations, temples, and stake-assigned service opportunities.

You may serve in more than one place during the week. At each location, you will report to a supervisor who will provide the training, tools, and support you need to fulfill your responsibilities. Arrive at your assignment on time and prepared to serve well. Be reliable and dependable. Follow directions from your supervisors carefully and completely. Do your best to contribute to the work in meaningful ways. Be a positive and uplifting influence on those with whom you serve and interact. Work safely, and always try to improve.

2.4.2

Assignment Transfers

Working closely together, your stake president and service mission leaders may adjust your service assignments during the course of your mission.

2.4.3

Daily Schedule

Working closely together, your service mission leaders, with input from you, will create a daily missionary schedule. Your stake president will approve the schedule. This schedule may include tasks and activities that fall under the following areas of development:

• Spiritual

• Social

• Physical

• Intellectual

Be consistent and reliable in following your daily missionary schedule. This will bring you greater growth, joy, and spiritual blessings during your missionary service.

Your daily schedule may include:

• Setting and reviewing your service missionary goals.

• Preparing for and completing your assignments each day.

• Studying the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon), teachings of the living prophets and apostles, Adjusting to Service Missionary Life, relevant sections of Preach My Gospel, and other approved resources. (See 2.4.5.)

2.4.4

Sample Daily Schedule

Together with your leaders and parents or guardians, make a general written schedule. Include your time at assignments and the times when you exercise your agency to determine how you will serve, improve, and grow (called “agency hours”). Review and follow your plan each day.

The daily schedule for your mission may look something like the following example.

Morning:
[start time]	Rise and pray.
[start time]	Exercise for 30 minutes. (Consult with your health care professional about what is best for your physical health and circumstances.)
[start time]	Shower, eat breakfast, and finish preparations for the day.
[start time]	Take part in devotional or gospel study.
[start time]	Report to your assignment on time. (Attend a prayer meeting or devotional before your service if one is scheduled.)
Afternoon:
[start time]	Eat lunch.
[start time]	Serve until your assignment time is completed.
Evening:
[start time]	Eat dinner.
[start time]	Follow your personal activities plan from your daily schedule. This should include an hour of personal gospel study. It may also include temple attendance, institute classes, YSA activities, and family chores.
[start time]	Record your feelings and special experiences in your journal.
[start time]	Prepare for bed. Pray and go to bed.

Even when you are not serving at your assigned location, you are still a missionary. Your conduct, thoughts, and actions should reflect your missionary status.

2.4.5

Study Sessions with Other Service Missionaries

Where possible, study with another service missionary. Someone may be assigned to you by your service mission leaders. This partner study can be done in person or virtually.

Focus on the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon), the teachings of living prophets, Adjusting to Service Missionary Life, relevant sections of Preach My Gospel, and the service mission standards. These approved resources can strengthen your knowledge and testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and help you prepare to meet the needs of those you serve.

2.5

Events, Activities, and Preparation outside of Service Assignments

Your missionary schedule may include a time during the week to attend to your personal needs and preparation, such as chores at home, medical appointments, family time, and recreation. This might be a full day or part of a day. “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even … a house of order” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:8).

Please remember the Lord’s timely warnings: “do not run faster or labor more than you have strength” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:4), and “retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:124). Taking breaks to rest and prepare yourself will help sustain your ability to serve others.

2.6

Sabbath-Day Activities

Plan activities on the Sabbath that help you fulfill your missionary purpose to help others come unto Christ by serving them as the Savior would. Remember the Lord’s teachings about the Sabbath day in Doctrine and Covenants 59:13–19.

Working with your service mission leaders, your local priesthood leaders may give you a ward or stake calling that does not interfere with your mission schedule or assignments. You may also serve as a ministering brother or sister.

2.7

Service in the Community

One way to learn to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is by serving as He did. Your service mission leaders will help identify opportunities for you to serve others in the community, “that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).

You should serve with a sincere desire to help others, without any expected outcomes. Remember, you have not been called to teach the gospel with your words. Through your example of Christlike service, you demonstrate your love for God. Do not proselyte while you are serving in charitable organizations.

Certain assignments require additional training or supervision. Unless the charitable organization in which you are serving has submitted a specific training plan to your service mission leaders, you should not engage in any of the following restricted activities:

• Interacting with children or vulnerable adults

• Operating machines, equipment, or vehicles

• Handling any cash or valuables

• Providing a professional opinion