Mission Accomplished: Topics of Discussion With Future Latter-day Saints Missionaries

Most returned missionaries say that their missions have been the most rewarding experience of their lifetime. It is no wonder: their maturity, testimony, and knowledge grow phenomenally. There is no greater feeling than to teach, convert, and baptize a new family into the Church. The miraculous changes that occur in people as they accept, live, and progress in the Gospel are worth all of the missionaries' personal sacrifices.

If we lovingly encourage and prepare our sons to serve full-time missions, they will accept the challenge. They will happily prepare themselves and look forward with great anticipation to serve the Lord anywhere in the world for two years.

If you do the things suggested in Mission Accomplished, you will have successful missionaries who serve honorable missions. You will be showered with never-expected blessings. Indeed, the windows of heaven will open wide to pour out innumerable blessings from on high.

I recommend the following to parents of all currently serving missionaries:

• Pray for them daily
• Write to them weekly; keep letters positive and encouraging
• Send them periodic care packages
• Do not call them unless permitted by the mission president
• Help them complete an honorable mission

If you do these things, you will reap blessings galore. Your missionaries rely on the support they receive from home. They need your support. They look forward to your support. Don't let them down.

Bob Uda has served as a stake mission president. As bishop of the Palomar Ward, he is primarily responsible for missionary work. He and his wife soon plan to serve on a full-time mission. Bob Uda and wife live in San Marcos, California, where he moonlights as a university adjunct faculty.