Missionary Preparation: Lesson 198

Choosing to Serve a Mission

The Blessings of Missionary Service

Serving a mission for the Lord is a wonderful opportunity. Heavenly Father blesses missionaries as they serve and teach people in their communities and around the world. However, it can be difficult to decide to serve a mission. This lesson can help students feel a desire to serve the Lord as His missionaries.

Student preparation: Invite students to ask someone they know who served a mission what blessings they recognized the Lord gave them because of their service. They could do this in person, over the phone, or by text or email. Ask them to come prepared to share what they learned.

Possible Learning Activities

Serving a full-time mission

Consider beginning class in a way that helps students think about serving the Lord as His full-time missionaries. You might sing “Called to Serve” (Hymns, no. 249) and ask students to share who they know who has served or is serving a mission and where. Or you could ask a few students before class to bring a picture of someone they know serving the Lord on a mission.

• What has the Lord taught about the responsibility of young men and young women to serve as missionaries?

As students answer, be sure they understand the following.

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

The Lord has asked every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission. … For you young and able sisters, a mission is also a powerful, but optional, opportunity. (“Preaching the Gospel of Peace,” Liahona, May 2022, 6)

This includes proselyting and service missions.

You could write the following questions on the board and ask multiple students to share their thoughts on either one:

• What are some reasons someone may want to serve a mission?

• What are some reasons it could be a difficult to choose to serve a mission?

If useful, explain that many others have faced concerns. For example, at the time President M. Russell Ballard (1928–2023) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles decided to serve a mission, his parents were not active in the Church (see “Missionary Service Blessed My Life Forever,” Liahona, May 2022, 8). President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared that he “had no missionary tradition in [his] family” (see “My Mission Influence” [3:31] from time code 2:01 to 2:16 available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Elder Quentin L. Cook’s father was not active in the Church and encouraged his brother to go to medical school over going on a mission (see “Conversion to the Will of God,” Liahona, May 2022, 54).

Take a moment to write in your study journal how you feel about serving a full-time mission and why.

As you study this lesson, seek guidance from the Lord to help you in your decision of whether to serve a full-time mission and how to respond to concerns you may have.

When we obey the Lord

Read Deuteronomy 28:1–6, 9, looking for what the Lord promised through Moses if we do what He asks of us.

Invite students to share what they found. Consider asking students to share examples of different kinds of blessings the Lord promised in these verses. It may be helpful to know that “the fruit of thy body” (Deuteronomy 28:4) refers to posterity.

• Why is it useful to know the many different blessings the Lord promises us if we do what He asks?

• How do you think the Lord’s promises in these verses could apply to our obedience to serve Him as His missionaries?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

Dear young friends, you are each vital to the Lord. He has held you in reserve until now to help gather Israel. Your decision to serve a mission, whether a proselyting or a service mission, will bless you and many others. (“Preaching the Gospel of Peace,” Liahona, May 2022, 6)

Consider writing on the board: The Lord will bless us and many others when we choose to serve a mission.

Understanding some of the blessings God offers can help with our decision to serve a mission.

For this next activity, invite students to imagine they are a full-time missionary. Consider placing students in companionships or trios of Elders and Sisters. Students can share with each other what their name would be on a mission: Elder (last name) or Sister (last name). You can explain that on a full-time mission, missionary companionships study together every morning.

Students could study the content of the handout “Blessings God Gives His Missionaries” for their companionship study.

Read some or all of the scriptures and statements on the handout “Blessings God Gives His Missionaries,” or find additional scriptures or statements. Consider marking or circling blessings that are meaningful to you. Note that the Lord gives these blessings during and after missionary service.

For additional blessings of serving the Lord as a missionary, consider showing a video of President Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve discussing one of the following blessings:

• An increased testimony of the “The Book of Mormon” (2:10)

• “Missions and Eternal Companions” (1:07)

• “Missions and Careers” (1:37)

• “Education” (1:44)

These videos are all available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Students could also add any blessings they have noticed from sharing the gospel now and ponder how they might relate to serving a mission in the future.

When students have finished studying, invite each companionship to do the following:

Prepare something that you could share with someone who is deciding whether to serve the Lord on a mission. Include at least two of the following:

• One or two blessings you learned that God gives as we serve a full-time mission and how you feel about them.

• An example of someone you know who received one of God’s blessings you identified through their missionary service.

• How what you learned affects your desire to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary.

• What you learned about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that could help someone choose to serve a full-time mission.

After students have prepared, invite each companionship to divide their message into two parts. Have them decide which of them will share which part. (For example, one could share a blessing and their feelings about it, then the other could share an example and how focusing on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ may help.) Consider if it would be more effective to have several companionships present in front of the class, or if it would be better if they presented to each other in small groups. If they present in small groups, you might ask afterward what was meaningful to them that they heard from someone else or that they shared themselves.

Your decision

Take a moment to close your eyes and think about Heavenly Father. Remember His love for you. Young women, imagine how He might feel as you seek to know His will about serving a mission. Young men, think about what Heavenly Father would have you do now to prepare to become an effective missionary or address any concerns you may have about serving.

Seek Heavenly Father’s help as you write in your study journal what you learned or what He might want you to remember from this lesson as you contemplate serving the Lord as a full-time missionary.

Consider inviting a few students to share what they learned or felt in this lesson. Add your thoughts and testimony as well.

Additional Resources

What has the Lord taught about the responsibility of young men and young women to serve as missionaries?

President Russell M. Nelson reaffirmed the Lord’s call to serve as missionaries.

Today I reaffirm strongly that the Lord has asked every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission. For Latter-day Saint young men, missionary service is a priesthood responsibility. You young men have been reserved for this time when the promised gathering of Israel is taking place. As you serve missions, you play a pivotal role in this unprecedented event!

For you young and able sisters, a mission is also a powerful, but optional, opportunity. We love sister missionaries and welcome them wholeheartedly. What you contribute to this work is magnificent! Pray to know if the Lord would have you serve a mission, and the Holy Ghost will respond to your heart and mind. (“Preaching the Gospel of Peace,” Liahona, May 2022, 6)

What is a service mission?

Worthy young men and young women who are unable to serve a proselyting mission for physical, mental, emotional, or other reasons may be called to a service mission. Service missionaries might serve the Lord in multiple assignments, including with charitable organizations, through Church operations, and in stake-assigned opportunities. To see an example, consider watching “Service Missions: Elder Quade’s Story” (5:19).

For more information, search details available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org/service-missionary or in the Gospel Library app.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Reasons to serve a mission

After students complete the “Blessings God Gives His Missionaries” handout, you could show one of the following videos. Invite students to look for reasons someone would choose to serve a mission.

“Value of a Full-Time Mission” (5:22)

An example of a youth deciding whether to serve

If it would help to share an example of a youth deciding to serve a mission and testifying of the blessings they received. See Elder Ganesh Vardhanapu, “The Decision to Go On a Mission” (Liahona, Mar. 2020, digital only).

Give counsel

At times, Church magazines pose questions, and various youth throughout the world write in answers that can help. Invite your class to imagine they were given the question: How do I decide whether to serve a mission? Give them several minutes to write a response that includes a scripture or statements from a prophet or Church leader. Then invite them to read the responses in “How do I decide whether to serve a mission?” (New Era, Dec. 2019, 44–45).

If students have a desire to serve but worry they are not able

If students are in this situation, consider inviting them to read Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Nephi 3:7; Mosiah 4:27, looking for various principles that may help them. Also explain that they can share any concerns they have with parents, priesthood leaders, and health professionals who can counsel them on what they can do.

How coming closer the Savior affects our desire to share the gospel

If useful, invite students to complete the “Personal or Companion Study” at the top of page three in Preach My Gospel. They can ponder how coming closer to the Savior affects their desire to share the gospel and serve a full-time mission.