You’ve decided to serve a senior mission. You’ve prayed about it, received confirmation that you should go, you’ve thought about your finances and about the status of your family, and you feel this is the right step for you to take. The next thing you’ll do is make an appointment to talk to your bishop.
Your bishop will help determine if you’re ready to go, if you’re worthy to go, and if you’re able to go. He’ll do this by asking you questions.
He’ll double check to make sure that you’ve looked at your finances. If you’re a single sister, the Church will help subsidize your mission costs and you will be responsible for a monthly payment of $400.00, which is also the current rate for young missionaries. If you are a couple, you will be responsible for the entire expense of your mission. If you have budgetary concerns, the bishop can help you figure those out or refer you to someone who can.
He’ll talk with you a bit to make sure you’re prepared to leave your family for such a long period of time. Eighteen months, the current standard of service for a senior missionary (some missions are longer, some are shorter, but the standard is eighteen months) can seem a long time when you’re separated from grandchildren who change so fast.
He’ll make sure that you have a current temple recommend and that you’re worthy to carry it. Worthiness to serve a mission and worthiness to attend the temple go hand in hand – you can’t serve a mission unless you are temple-worthy.
This interview with your bishop is the perfect time to ask any questions you might have about serving. He can help you allay any concerns you have, give you advice, and help you determine that this truly is what you would like to do. He’ll be delighted with your desire to serve. As we’ve discussed, the need for senior missionaries is great.
After meeting with your bishop, you’ll meet with your stake president, and the interview will be largely the same. After talking to these two Priesthood authorities, you’ll be ready to get to work on your papers and your doctor’s visits, which we’ll discuss in the next blog.
Related Blogs:
The Need for Senior Missionaries