How to Be a Member Missionary

This is a sweet conversion story, as well as comforting advice for parents of missionaries. It is shared by Deana Ross, who currently has a son serving a mission in Portland, Oregon. Here are her words: My husband is a convert. He joined the Church while he was in Guam, serving in the Navy. This was over 32 years ago. How grateful I am for parents who teach their young men and young women to stand for the truthfulness of the Gospel. Steve is the first of his family to join the Church. His sister and his parents still live in Kansas City and Windsor, Missouri. Over the years they have come to see the church in a different light than that taught in their own church. Whether your children serve ... Read More

Today's conversion story is from Maggie Steward. She says her family calls it the "Cub Scout Story", and groans when she starts to tell it. Enjoy! SHORT STORY : One Cub Scout asks another to attend scouts at church with him. People are converted who later serve missions in Montreal, Peru, Italy, Brazil (3), Texas, and Indiana. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir gets a general manager. I get an eternal companion and four children. LONG STORY : When I was in my early teens and living in La Habra California, my younger brother was a Cub Scout, attending the school's pack. He had a best friend there. One day this friend told him that he would not be a part of that pack any more as his mom wanted him to attend the "church pack" (... Read More

I just flew home from Utah, completely exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. Yesterday was one of the highlights of my life - I put my first of four sons in the Missionary Training Center, heretoafter known as the MTC. I knew it was going to be both brutal and fantastic. I came prepared with a purse full of tissue and a prayer in my heart that I would be strong and not collapse in a heap of pitiful tears in front of my son and the entire MTC. When my husband, son and I drove up to the MTC we were excited to see scores of soon-to-be-missionaries and their families pouring onto the grounds. We later learned that 256 missionaries were to enter that day. We followed the signs to the special parking area which ... Read More

I recently heard about a fun feature on the Church's web site www.mormon.org They have an area where you can chat live online with a real missionary. I thought I'd check it out, so I clicked on the link and instantly received a greeting from a guy named Josiah. He was very polite and friendly and helped answer some questions I had about submitting referrals online. The conversation occurred in a pop-up window and it was really cool to know someone from the Church office building was sitting there typing just to little 'ole me! If you haven't visited this website for awhile, be sure to swing by soon and take another peek. It is extremely easy to navigate and has tons of great information to share with your non-member friends. Anyone can reques... Read More

You're not Jewish? No Jewish heritage in your family or even on your neighborhood block? That's ok; you can still enjoy the rich cultural and religious history of the Passover by creating a learning experience for your family at home! It's a wonderful tradition, full of symbolism, history, and faith. This year Passover starts on April 20th and continues for 7 days. You'll probably start to see kosher items on shelves in your grocery store now. Howard W. Hunter once said "I believe it is safe to say that Passover is without equal in the Jewish calendar of celebrations. The Passover in the Old Testament and Easter in the New Testament testify of the great gift God has given and of the sacrifice that was involved in its bestowal. Both of these great religious commemorations declai... Read More

1 Peter 1:25 says "But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." Today's conversion story is from Don Busenbark: My family did not attend any church services growing up. I remember going to a few different churches, always looking for something, but not really finding anything I liked or that touched me. I lived in an out-of-the- way area in Washington state and had few friends my age. When I was about 14 years old, two young men moved into my neighborhood and we became friends. Their family was LDS, but the boys were not really excited about church. I think they went because their family went. Anyway, I was home and a couple of missionaries came to my door. It was 1980 and I was 16 years old. I was impressed ... Read More

Yesterday I received an email from a old high school buddy. Hmmm...maybe I should rethink that word "old." She was organizing an elementary school reunion and trying to track down friends she had lost contact with over the years. She was looking for a particular person who she remembers was Mormon and since she knows I'm Mormon she was hoping I'd know her. Kind of like asking someone from the gigantic state of Texas "Oh, if you're from Texas then you must know so and so." Well, I thought it was cute, but I was sorry to tell her I didn't know her former gal pal. I DID know how to help find her and I thought I'd pass this information along should you ever be in a similar situation. ... Read More

I just discovered mission.net! It is THE place to go on the net to learn about every mission ever organized in the Church since 1837! You can spend quite a bit of time exploring the site and learning about the 350 missions currently operating in 162 nations. It has helpful links to mission web sites where newly-called or returned missionaries can register and reconnect with companions and friends where they served. You can click anywhere on the map of the world and read about the missions in that area. Most of the mission "alumni" sites include photos, reunion information, statistics, updated news, and message boards. If you've served a mission, be sure to register in the alumni database so others c... Read More

Our conversion story today comes from Maria Moreno from Santa Ana, California. Her daughter is currently serving in the Italy, Milan mission! Here are her words: My conversion has been a slow process, I believe. It began with the death of my biological father when I was 7 years old, followed by my paternal grandfather, my maternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother within a space of 2 years. Amidst the rosaries and the Hail Mary's, the Masses, candles and the incense, I discovered that the essence/spirits of my loved ones was gone; they had gone to a better place, and what was left in that coffin was an empty shell. From then I refused to pray to the saints as is customary in the Catholic church and instead directed my prayers to God directly and looked upon Jesus... Read More

Usually when we think of missionary work we think of sharing the gospel with non-members, but reminding less active members of important covenants and blessings is also a part of missionary work. Great sensitivity and care should be taken, all in the spirit of Christ-like love and without judgment. Elder M. Russell Ballard encouraged "You and I must do everything we can to see that every member of the Church is completely fellowshipped and enjoying all the blessings the gospel has to offer." (Ensign, Sept. 2008, pg.8) I was talking with some friends online recently about King Saul, Soloman, and David from the Old Testament. Isn't it great to be able to talk about gospel topics with friends all over the globe?!) One of the people in the group shared a personal experience s... Read More

I just love hearing other people's conversion stories. Here is a sweet one that was written shortly before President Hinckley's death. It was shared with me by Linda Champion: My conversion story starts about 4 years ago. My daughter, Sister Crystal Champion, was investigating this church as well as one other, while singing at the Catholic church in town. One day she told me that she had decided to get baptized and asked me to attend the baptism. I was very supportive of her decision to join although I had not heard of any of the beliefs. Crystal took a strong interest in the Sister missionaries serving in the ward. We had them over for lunch and dinners and she drove them to appointments. We live in Upstate New York. One day Crystal told me that she had decided to move... Read More

If you attended Seminary or have a child who has, then the simple command to "Chase!" probably conjures up all kinds of fun memories. Raising the bar for missionaries also means raising it for families. LDS families should be the greatest scriptorians! Knowing where to find specific verses is certainly a start. Elder J. Thomas Fyans spoke to the men in the church at the 1977 Priesthood session of General Conference and encouraged them to dig into the scriptures more. Said he "Let these scriptures become worn and used so they will feel as comfortable in your hands as well-worn tennis shoes do on your feet." (J. Thomas Fyans, “... Read More

Sometimes we may feel that we make little difference in the world as we go through our normal daily lives and schedules. Sometimes we're knee deep in diaper duty (or should I say doodee?)that we wonder how we can possibly build the kingdom of God here on earth. Remembering that great scripture in Doctrine & Covenants 64:33 can help us keep things in perspective: "Out of small things proceedeth that which is great." Do we really understand the power of the small things we do and the effect they have on the people around us and on the eternities? To you, washing the dishes may seem like a chore, but to someone it may represent one of the many ways you show love for them. To you, dusting the furniture may seem like a... Read More

Today's Conversion Story comes from Charlotte Meyer of Maquoketa, Iowa. Her story is a great example of the journey of faith many people have. It's also a great example of how simply inviting a friend to church can lead to miracles. These are her words: I grew up in the Methodist Church and went to MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship,) but I never felt comfortable there. I now know that what I was feeling was a lack of the Spirit. My parents quit going to church because they didn't like the minister or something, but I wanted to keep going to church. There was a Christian & Missionary Alliance Church down the street and around the corner from us and some of my friends from high school went there, so I started going to their chur... Read More

Elder M. Russell Ballard, a living apostle, gave the commencement address at BYU-Hawaii in December 2007 where he marveled at this rising generation and all the technology it has to offer. He reminded the students that when President Hinckley was in charge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints', referred to as the Mormons, Public Affairs Department that the staff consisted of only one person - himself! We sure have come a lo... Read More

If you're a mother of a missionary, then you're probably already counting down the days and minutes until you get that long-awaited phone call from your son or daughter on Mother's Day! When it comes to talking to your missionary on the phone you need to keep a few guidelines in mind. Your son or daughter is a missionary of the Lord and needs to stay focused. Be positive and encouraging on the phone. Dallas H. Bradford served as a mission president and shared some good counsel for parents: "If you are not careful, these phone calls can have a distracting effect upon your missionary." ... "As with your letters, we encourage you to focus these conversations on the well-being of your missionary,... Read More

As soon as my son received his mission call in December I went online and joined every "Missionary Moms" Yahoo group I could find. I also registered both of us on his mission's web site. I can't tell you how helpful it has been to be able to chat with other mothers who are preparing their sons and daughters to serve full-time missions or whose children are currently out in the field. I love it and thank Heavenly Father every day for the Internet! Just do a Yahoo search under "Groups" and you're sure to find several sites that address general missionary topics, as well as specific missions around the world. Even though I've served a full-time mission myself, I'm a real Greenie when it comes to being the parent of a missionary! Because I've never done this before I truly appreciat... Read More

Serving a full-time mission is an honor and a privilege that will bless your life an hundred-fold. I recently ran across some quotes by President Kimball that I thought were worth sharing here. They offer powerful perspective on who has been called to share the gospel. The prophet spoke clearly of our duty. He said "I was asked a few years ago, 'Should every young man who is a member of the Church fill a mission?' I responded with the answer the Lord has given: Yes, every worthy young man should fill a mission. The Lord expects it of him. And if he is not now worthy to fill a mission, then he should start at once to qualify himself." The Lord has instructed, "Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea... Read More

The moment I met Congressman Tom Lantos I immediately adored him. It was my first day as an intern in his Washington DC office and the entire staff was whirling around the reception desk in an effort to get a bunch of letters signed, stamped and delivered in less than an hour. Everyone dropped what they were doing to pitch in, including the boss. My first impression was that this great man was a real team player who was willing to do whatever it took to get the task done, even if it meant kneeling on the floor with the lowly intern to lick envelopes and stamps. Tom Lantos died Monday morning after a six week struggle with cancer, surrounded by his beautiful wife and family. If you were one of the lucky ones to receive his annual family letter and photo then you know how crowded... Read More

You know when you get a song stuck in your head and you just can’t seem to shake it out of your brain? That happened to me yesterday, but in a good way. I kept humming the words to Lee Greenwood’s patriotic song: I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free If that first paragraph sounded sappy, then you better stop reading now because it’s only going to get worse. The Twelfth Article of Faith tells me to obey the laws of my land, but I also think it means that we should contribute to our communities. I served as a poll worker all day in California and have the bags under my eyes and the official flag pin today to prove it. Despite the long hours, the time flew by fast and I s... Read More

I've talked with many people who have joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referred to as the Mormons, and I love hearing their conversion stories. Rarely does a person join the Church because of one member...it's usually the result of a variety of experiences with many members. Such is the case of this conversion story from Debi Onken. Her son is currently serving a mission in Boston and another son served in Venezuela. I was about 12 or 13 when my mother joined the Church. We were living in San Marcos, TX. My mother was either just starting or just ending her second marriage. All of her ch... Read More

I ran across this prayer given by President Gordon B. Hinckley today and thought it was particularly timely after Super Tuesday last week. I served as a poll worker all day and will share some of my thoughts about that experience with you in a separate post. Getting out to vote is a simple way to have your voice be heard. The Twelfth Article of Faith reminds us to be active in our communities. "O God, our Eternal Father, Thou great Judge of the Nations, Thou who art the governor of the universe, Thou who art our Father and our God, whose children we are, we look to Thee in faith in this dark and solemn time. Please, dear Father, bless us with faith. Bless us with love. Bless us with charity in our hearts. Bless us with a spiri... Read More

The Church held a special news release today, announcing the change in the First Presidency. With the passing of our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, many non-members have wondered how a new leader of our church is selected. Someone even compared our church to the Catholic church and asked me if white smoke comes out of the temple once the new president is chosen. I thought that was pretty cute. With Mitt Romney running for president of the United States, many eyes have turned to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and wondered how things work. The process of succession is a terrific excuse to talk to our non-member friends and neighbors about our beliefs and practices. We often feel uncomfortable or unsure of our answers when discussing doctrine or c... Read More

Irene Gilchrist from Calgary, Alberta, Canada has a son who is currently serving a full-time mission in Tempe Arizona. She recently shared her conversion story with me and I thought you'd enjoy it as much as I did! A week before the missionaries came to my door, I had sent off another religious couple (not LDS) from my apartment. I was raised Roman Catholic and to this day have devoted parents to their faith. Let me begin by letting you know, that when these two sister missionaries came knocking on my door, I was asleep not feeling very well. To my astonishment, when they told me they wanted to talk to me about Jesus Christ, I invited them inside (much to my own shock). I had not been active in my faith for many years. Within the first 15 minutes of ... Read More

My son's mission call finally came! Woohoo! If you've just started following my blog, then you know that my oldest son recently sent in his mission papers and was patiently waiting. Notice that I didn't say I was the one patiently waiting? I was going crazy with anticipation! It almost felt like when I was pregnant, excitedly waiting to meet this new little person who would forever be a huge part of my life. I knew that wherever my son would be sent would play a big role not only in my son's life, but also in that of our entire family. Well, if you read the title of this post, then you already know the punch-line...drum roll please....He's going to Argentina! YAY! It's the Argentina, Rosario mission to be exact. We're all completely thrilled! I served my mission in S... Read More

As the world mourns the loss of a great spiritual leader and prophet, President George W. and Laura Bush shared the following statement: THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release January 28, 2008 STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our friend, Gordon B. Hinckley. While serving for over seven decades in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon demonstrated the heart of a servant and the wisdom of a leader. He was a tireless worker and a talented communicator who was respected in his community and beloved by his congregation. As President of his church, he traveled to more than 60 countr... Read More