Hello everyone!

I am so glad you are here and preparing for a full-time mission! I remember when I was in your shoes, eager, excited, nervous, and above all, uncertain. It honestly feels like just yesterday, though I have been home for a little over a year now! You may be experiencing some of those same emotions right now.

A little bit about me to start off: I am the only person in my family and extended family who served a mission, aside from my dad. He is in his 50’s, so his missionary experience is over 30 years old. While his insights are valuable, they are not necessarily reflective of more recent missionary experiences. I only have one older sibling, a brother, who did not serve a mission. And many of my friends and cousins who chose to serve began their missions at the same time I did, so I did not have many seasoned missionaries to learn from beforehand! 

You could say I went into the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and the mission field somewhat naïve. There is for sure value in not knowing everything. It can ease some of the anxiety that often accompanies anticipation and the unknown. However, there is also value in knowing what to expect at least to some degree, and that’s why I am here! As a missionary, you will likely face unexpected challenges, but having some idea of what lies ahead can help you prepare mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. It can also guide you in knowing what to bring and what to leave behind.

With that in mind, I have created this blog post to help those who may find themselves in a situation similar to mine when preparing for their mission. I had a lot of preconceived notions and assumptions about missionary work and daily missionary life, but many of those assumptions turned out to be inaccurate. I want to share a few things that could be helpful for you to know before you begin, and then provide a glimpse into what a day in the life of a missionary might look like. Some of these points may seem a bit silly to others, but I didn’t know them, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one! 

P-day:

Before I went on my mission, I thought P-day was just a day off, but I quickly learned that boy was I wrong! I vividly remember my first P-day in the MTC and my first P-day in the mission field. Honestly, I was more exhausted after those P-days than after a regular day of work! P-day stands for "Preparation Day." My mission president emphasized that we should refer to it as "Preparation Day" to remind us of its purpose. It's a day designed to prepare us for a full week of work, not a day off from missionary work. It is important to remember that missionary work is, well, work! Hard work, in fact! If you're curious about all the purposes and guidelines of P-day, you can refer to Section 2.5 in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.

On preparation day, you are responsible for tasks like grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, haircuts and other grooming, sightseeing, activities with members of your district, emailing, calling your family, and doing chores such as cleaning and laundry - things that can't be easily done or focused on during the week. Typically, a standard P-day runs from 8 am to 6 pm. From 6:30 am to 8 am, you follow your usual morning routine (and no, you cannot sleep in! :( I know what you’re thinking!). Then, from 6 pm to 9 pm, you are expected to work like you would on a regular missionary evening.

I wish I had known all of this before I started my mission because I truly thought P-day was a “day off” each week. And of course, it is always nice to have a day off! I quickly found out the hard way that that wasn’t the case! At first, it was tough to accept at first, but it all worked out. P-day can of course be stressful because there is so much to get done, but it’s also a huge blessing. It gives you time to prepare for the week ahead, connect with your family, explore new parts of your mission, and take care of personal needs! There's always a bright side! :) 

The MTC:

As a returned missionary who experienced both the MTC and a year and a half in the mission field, I can wholeheartedly say that the short time I spent in the MTC was one of my favorite parts of my whole mission! Those were some of the most spiritual and powerful days I have ever had, and I experienced things I will never, ever forget. However, saying goodbye to my family before the MTC, and feeling anxious about what comes after the MTC, was incredibly hard. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I found myself consumed in doubt, worry, fear, and sadness for much of the time I spent there. Entering and leaving the MTC felt like taking off the training wheels twice, once when leaving home, and again when leaving the MTC. It can feel surreal and overwhelming, but it is also so exciting at the same time. The number one piece of advice my parents gave me at the MTC, as well as throughout my mission, was to just enjoy it!

So now my advice to you all, is to just enjoy it!! ;)

The MTC is a place where you learn a lot in a short amount of time, and though it may feel like there’s not enough time, it is enough! You learn foundational principles in the MTC, but the real learning happens in the mission field. And believe me, you will have plenty of time to learn, grow and gain experience in the mission field! There is power in being new! Rookie power! I recommend reading this BYU Speech about the power of not knowing! Remember, you will have a trainer for your first 12 weeks in the field, along with all the resources you will need to succeed. Most importantly, remember to ENJOY IT! You’ve got this! 

Day in the Life Schedule 

One aspect of missionary life that I had some incorrect assumptions about, and didn’t fully understand, was the missionary schedule. I never realized just how rigorous, busy, and demanding it truly would be. While I knew that missionary work would be hard and time-consuming, I couldn't fully grasp the extent of that until I was actually in the mission field. On my first day in the field, as I sat down on the couch with my trainer and began daily planning, I began to realize just how packed our schedule would be. There was something planned every minute of the day, all laid out in front of us, which was quite overwhelming for me! I wish I had known this before, as it was challenging to adjust to such a fast-paced, highly productive lifestyle every single day of the week.

With all that being said, the most important thing to remember is the missionary purpose. As taught in Preach My Gospel, your purpose as a missionary is to “invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.” This purpose guides and motivates everything you do throughout your mission. Every minute of the day is dedicated to fulfilling this purpose. Everything from the activities you schedule, to the tasks you complete, such as studying, eating, sleeping, and attending meetings, is designed to help you fulfill your calling. It’s crucial to keep this in mind when thinking about the day-to-day life of a full-time missionary. This is the Lord’s time!

Additionally, I thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the typical events that occur each week in the field, and during transfers, as these aspects are likely not familiar! Let’s dive into it!

The Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel Library App is a great resource. It includes the missionary schedule, with both a sample daily schedule and typical daily activities. You can find it at the link above! Planning is one of the hardest and most important skills to learn and develop throughout your mission. As a new missionary, you are not expected to be perfect at it right away. Rather than aiming for planning perfection, this schedule serves as a guide to help you visualize what a typical day might look like.

Keep in mind that every mission and every day is unique, but this outline represents a typical structure, drawn from my own experience, as well as Preach my Gospel. Embrace the variety of each day, and trust that the Spirit will guide you! 

6:30 am: Rise and Shine

Your day begins bright and early every day! There is no sleeping in unless you’re sick!

6:30 am - 6:35 am: Morning Prayer

Begin every day getting out of bed and onto your knees to pray.

6:35 am - 7:30 am: Workout & Shower

Definitely prioritize this time to move your body!

7:30 am - 8:30 am: Get Ready & Breakfast

8:30 am - 9:00 am: Daily Planning

This is the time to sit down with your companion and review your plans for the day, as well as creating and organizing new ones. Plan your meetings, finding times, appointments, travel times, and meals. 

9:00 am - 10:00 am: Personal Study

This is a time to ponder, pray, learn, and study on your own. 

10:00 am - 10:30 am: Companionship Study

You and your companion study together during this time. As you study together, you’ll grow in unity and strengthen your ability to teach and serve as a team.

10:30 am - 12:00 pm: Finding, Teaching, & Serving***

This is the time for active missionary work. Whether you’re finding new people to teach, meeting with current investigator friends, or serving others, this time is dedicated to your core mission activities.

***If you are learning a new language, you will have additional time to study the language each morning. 

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm: Lunch

12:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Continue Finding, Teaching, & Serving

Continue with the important work of finding, teaching, serving, and fulfilling your missionary purpose. Make the most of every opportunity during this time!

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Dinner

Sometimes you will have dinner at home, at a restaurant, with members, or with investigator friends. It depends from day to day.

6:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Prime Teaching Time

The evening is the most important part of the day. It is when people are home! It is the most productive time for teaching, thus, typically, it’s filled with teaching appointments or prime finding opportunities. Never waste this time or take it for granted!

9:00 pm - 10:15 pm: Journal & Prepare for Bed

As the day comes to a close, take a moment to write in your journal! Reflect on all the blessings, challenges, and lessons you've experienced. This will help you recognize and remember the hand of the Lord in your life. Your future self and family will appreciate it! I didn’t start journaling until six months into my mission, and I regret it! However, I’m super grateful that I made it a daily habit for the last year of my mission.

10:15 pm - 10:30 pm: Personal & Companionship Prayer

The day ends just as it starts, on your knees. You will say your personal goodnight prayers, and you will pray with your companion.

10:30 pm - 6:30 am: Lights Out

Lights out and bedtime!

Weekly Events and Transfer Events

As a new missionary, one of the things I was completely unaware of was the events that take place each week and every transfer. It took me a while to adjust and get into the rhythm of it all. I’ll lay it out a little bit for you below to help you understand! I also want to quickly clarify the difference between a district and a zone, as I know this was really confusing for me when I first started my mission!

A district is typically made up of around 4-10 missionaries, all serving in the same surrounding areas, each companionship with their own area. A District Leader presides over the district. You typically spend time with your district a couple of times a week, whether it’s at a P-day activity or District Council Meeting. A zone, on the other hand, consists of several districts, covering a larger geographical area than a district. I like to think of the district as a ward and the zone as a stake. Zones are larger than districts because they are made up of multiple districts. Each zone has a companionship of Zone Leaders and a companionship of Sister Training Leaders.

Every Week

District Council Meeting:

District Council typically happens on a designated day each week, assigned by your mission president. It usually lasts 1-2 hours. This is a time to meet with your district members, discuss your goals, hold each other accountable for the previous week’s work, and talk about how to improve and find greater success in fulfilling your missionary purpose for the upcoming week. The meeting consists of prayers, training, role plays, and goal-setting with accountability.

Weekly Planning:

Once a week, at a time assigned by your mission leaders, you and your companion will sit down for your weekly planning session. This differs from your daily planning, as you will focus on the most important events and goals for the week ahead. Weekly planning usually lasts between two and three hours.

District Leader Calls:

At an assigned time every week, your District Leader will schedule a brief phone call or brief Zoom meeting to check in with you and your companion. He will ask about your area, the people you are teaching, your efforts within the ward, your well-being, how your companionship is doing, and more. He will also inquire about any support you may need and how he can help you.

Every Transfer

Zone Conference:

Zone Conference typically happens once every transfer. This is when your entire zone (sometimes multiple zones, depending on your mission) gathers together for a meeting with your mission leaders. It’s similar to District Council meetings but on a larger scale. You’ll hear messages, receive trainings, participate in role plays, and typically have lunch. It’s a wonderful opportunity for learning and growth, and it’s always an uplifting experience. Zone Conference usually lasts a couple of hours.

Interviews with Your Mission Leaders:

Once a transfer, you’ll have an interview with your mission president, and often, a separate interview with his wife. Typically, he’ll invite you to come prepared with questions or a topic you’d like to discuss. He’ll ask how he can better support you, how you’re doing, and what he can do to help you better fulfill your missionary purpose.

Exchanges:

Exchanges, sometimes called “splits” or “divisions,” happen once per transfer (or more if necessary). This is when you and your companion swap places with other missionaries. Usually, exchanges are conducted with the Sister Training Leaders (if you are a Sister) and Zone Leaders (if you are an Elder) assigned to your zone. It’s a great opportunity to learn from the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders, to share insights about each other’s areas, and to grow together. Most exchanges last 24 hours, with one of you staying the night at the other’s place. One of the leaders will then come to your area. In other words, one of you will leave your area while the other stays.

Transfers (Every 6 Weeks):

Transfers happen every six weeks! Every mission handles transfers differently, but every six weeks brings the possibility of a new area, a new companion, or a new position, such as becoming a Sister Training Leader, Zone Leader, District Leader, or even a trainer. Your mission will constantly change and evolve, offering many opportunities to learn and grow! Transfers are super exciting!

Hopefully, this gives you a clearer picture of the weekly and transfer events you’ll experience as a missionary! It may take a little time to adjust, but eventually, it becomes second nature. Remember, all things are learned with time and experience. These are not things you have to know right now, but this gives you an opportunity to get a little familiar so you can better know what to expect! :)