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The basic philosophy of an LDS missionary is to serve God with all their heart, might, mind and strength. As an LDS missionary, you are a literal representative of Jesus Christ. You are his personal messenger, delivering His message to those prepared to hear it. To handle such a responsibility you must be prepared just as Jesus was prepared when He began His ministry.

We learn from a single account in the Gospel of Luke the formula to how Jesus prepared for His mission: "And Jesus increased in wisdom (mental), and stature (physical), and in favour with God (spiritual) and man (social)" (Luke 2:52).

Mental Preparation

What you study and learn will make a big difference in your knowledge, understanding, attitudes and beliefs. Gaining knowledge and understanding will allow you to be prepared in all things that you may encounter. You will be better prepared to understand and communicate more effectively with a wider diversity of people.

It is imperative that you seek out and learn from only the best sources. Don't waste your valuable time on things that only serve to pollute and destroy your mind. Avoid immoral, violent or demeaning forms of education and entertainment found in movies, television, music and video games.

Physical Preparation

LDS missionary work is very demanding. It requires good health, physical strength, endurance and discipline. How well you feel during your mission and how well you adjust to the environment of your mission is due in large part to how you prepare yourself physically. As such you should be prepared physically for your mission.

The physical preparation for your mission incorporates a variety of factors. It's a multifaceted endeavor involving proper nutrition, sufficient rest, adequate physical exercise and healthy lifestyle habits. Prior to a mission, conditions are pretty much under your control. You can eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, get plenty of rest and follow an exercise program. However, as soon as you leave for your mission, all of this changes. Your diet will no longer be monitored or provided by your mom. Your ability to exercise will be compromised because of time and equipment constraints. About the only thing that may remain constant is the amount of rest you will get.

It's important that each of these factors be addressed and balanced before leaving on your mission. You should begin an exercise program and follow it consistently before your mission. This can be accomplished by participating in athletic activities or by engaging in other forms of physical activity like running or lifting weights. If you make these physical preparations a priority you will be able to better magnify your calling and be more apt to reaching your full potential as an LDS missionary.

The care of your physical body is a spiritual obligation. There is a very close and real relationship between physical health and spiritual development. The healthier the body, the greater capacity it has to obey. The weaker the body, the more it demands. As you properly take care of your body, it will function more effectively and efficiently.

Spiritual Preparation

Your spiritual preparation should begin long before you begin your LDS mission. Aside from the brief instruction given at the Missionary Training Center, you receive relatively little specific and formal training for your mission. The majority of your spiritual preparation for your mission will come from your own personal study of the gospel, teachings from your parents, attending church meeting and attending seminary and/or institute. In addition, there are countless books and other resources available to assist in your spiritual preparation.

You will know that you are spiritually prepared to serve your mission when you have developed the desire to pray regularly, to study the scriptures daily, to share your testimony to others, to serve others, to be humble, to keep your life clean in thoughts and actions and to be obedient to the commandments.

Social Preparation

An LDS mission requires confidence and the ability to communicate with others. It requires faith in yourself and in understanding who you are and the message you share. You need to become the type of person others want to be around and associate with. Here are some guidelines to follow in becoming this type of person:

-Learn to communicate with others. Be a good listener. Remember you have two ears and one mouth. This means you should listen twice as much as you speak.

-Learn to get along with others. Focus on what you have in common with others and think about their good qualities. Don't let differences stand in the way of developing a relationship with others. Become genuinely interested in others and in their interests. More than anything else, this will help you get along with your companion and other missionaries.

-Learn to be gracious and well mannered. Behave appropriately in every situation observing good manners and speaking politely and with respect to others and about others.

-Learn to lead and to follow. Be grateful for the opportunities you have to lead, but even more grateful for the opportunities you will have to follow. Show respect for your leaders because someday you may be in their position.

-Learn to love. This will be one of the most valuable attributes you can possess.

As an LDS missionary you will develop some of the most lasting friendships of your life. You will meet missionaries, members and investigators who will touch your life in ways no one else can.

Make sure to take full advantage of the time you have in preparing for your mission in each of these four areas. By preparing mentally, physically, spiritually and socially you will be prepared to quickly adapt to the unique circumstances of serving a mission.