One important thing that we can to do for our young men is to help them prepare to serve a mission. The decision to serve is up to each young man, but the skills they need to successfully serve a mission are beneficial to any person. This month’s “New Era” focuses on missionary preparedness. There is also an excellent article in “The Ensign” on missionary preparedness. President Hinckley has asked that all missionaries be prepared before they begin to serve. Here are a few ways that each young man needs to prepare and how you can help them to do this.
One of the most important ways a young man can prepare to serve a mission is spiritually. There are many ways that you can help your son prepare spiritually. Family scripture study and family home evening are great ways to help your son learn about the gospel. Also using the new missionary manual, “Preach My Gospel,” for your family home evenings is a great tool. You can also encourage him to study the scriptures on his own.
Another way that each missionary needs to prepare is physically. It is important that a missionary is healthy and able to perform the duties that are expected of him. If you encourage your son to have an active lifestyle, he will be better prepared to serve in the field. This does not necessarily mean being involved in sports, but you may hike as a family regularly or take long walks together. If you start these habits at an early age, they are more likely to last.
A missionary also needs good social skills. This includes the ability to talk to strangers and introduce himself. It also includes knowing how to act at a dinner table. It can also involve making appropriate comments at the right times. It is very easy to offend people, and so your son should learn to be polite and respectful. This is something that can be taught simply by the way you act in your home. If your son is shy you may want to talk about ways to overcome the shyness.
Related Articles:
Young Men: Preparing Your Son for a Mission
Benefits of Family Scripture Study