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LDS Mission Preparation Ideas For Parents

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

Set family rules and have consequences for broken rules. Be consistent.
Share lessons on commandments, and “For the Strength of Youth” in FHE
Create family dating rules. Encourage them to avoid pairing off.
Tell them why, but also teach them to trust you when you feel prompted by the Spirit
Say yes most of the time, so when you say no they know you mean it
Be an example and accept and fulfill church assignments willingly. Ask them to help you.
Don’t complain about church leadership, Scouting, or other church programs. Kids are always listening. Edify,
edify, and edify church leaders.
Have them be accountable for where they are, who they are with, what they are doing. Wait up.
Return & Report: Have a regularly monthly accountability interview. Ask specific questions about moral
cleanliness, spirituality, and goals.
Read & discuss scriptures as a family. Ages of kids change, schedules change, but stick to it.
Study the Duty to God and Scouting manuals. These are parent-child involvement programs.
Help them set and accomplish Duty to God and Scouting goals. Sunday’s are great for this.
Memorize scriptures as a family. Use list of seminary/missionary scriptures.
Help them memorize Articles of Faith. Have you? DTG
Encourage personal prayer and ask if they are doing it in your interviews. DTG
Encourage personal scripture study, especially the Book of Mormon. DTG
Encourage journal writing and ask if they are doing it in your interviews. DTG
Encourage & support seminary attendance. Support teachers by offering to sub. DTG
Encourage sacrament meeting, priesthood meeting, and other Church meeting attendance. DTG
Have them teach the Plan of Salvation in FHE. Have them teach it too.
Have them teach the first vision and about Joseph Smith in FHE. DTG
Teach them what an appropriate fast is. And about fast offerings. DTG
Encourage them to bear an appropriate testimony. Not travel logs, or thank-a-monies. DTG
Teach them to keep the Sabbath day holy. Be an example. DTG
Teach what patriarchal blessings are, and discuss how to know when to get one. DTG
Encourage them to take piano lessons, SING, and lead music. Reinforce each FHE. DTG
Let them conduct & teach Family Home Evening lessons. DTG
Encourage them to perform musically in public. Voice lessons can help. DTG
Encourage note taking during General Conference & church meetings
Teach them how to recognize spiritual promptings, and then how to act on the Spirit.
Help them prepare talks in Primary, Sacrament meeting, etc. DTG
When old enough, send them on splits with the ward missionaries
Encourage them to take missionary preparation classes as a priest. DTG

EDUCATIONAL, PERSONAL, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Encourage good grades in school. Help them on assignments.
Teach them how to follow a calendar and homework schedule. Missionaries now spend 1 hour scheduling
their day.
Encourage them to take a 2nd language, and learn to bear testimony in that language. DTG
Teach basic first aid by encouraging First Aid, and Life Saving MB’s
When they are older, teach them how to find, and interview for a job. DTG
Teach them how to clean bathrooms, kitchens, their room, and expect it to be done right, but account for age
limitations.
Show them how to spot treat and wash clothes. Ours fold clothes at 8, and wash their own at 12.
Teach them to follow a budget and save. Personal Management MB, DTG
Give them opportunities to work and earn money around the house around age 3.
Help them pay tithing, save for mission/college, and other purchases around age 3. DTG
Open up a savings account so they can monitor their own mission savings.
Teach them about following a clothing budget, and the benefits of shopping sales. Let them make some
mistakes in purchases, but don’t bail them out.
Teach them to make a menu, a grocery list and shop in the grocery store. DTG
Teach them to follow the Word of Wisdom. DTG
Teach them basic meal preparation & cooking. Especially breakfast. Cereal and milk are not available
everywhere. Family Life MB.
Teach them how to cope in an emergency with fire and earthquake drills. Missionaries help after disasters.
Emergency Preparedness MB.
Around 16 or 17 help them open a joint checking account, and do the monthly reconciliation. Teach them how
to use an ATM card wisely.
Send them away for 1st year college, if possible. Helps you with separation anxiety, his or her homesickness,
and living with someone else.
Pornography: teach them what it is, and how to avoid it. Start young. Show them how to use the Internet
safely. Put parental locks on questionable sights, and monitor time. Keep computer in the open. Get rid of
“women’s” magazines, and mailers. Read conference addresses on this subject, especially Pres. Hinckley’s
talk in October Priesthood session. Be vigilant.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Encourage physical activity through sports, exercise, and Personal Fitness and other physical MB’s. DTG
Encourage camping, hiking, and wilderness trek type experiences. DTG
Take them to regular doctor’s appointments for physicals, and dental checkups.
Get wisdom teeth pulled junior or senior summer.
Teach importance of rest; power naps and to avoid caffeinated drinks.
Teach them stress management and balance of school, church, & social activities.
Teach them good hygiene and grooming habits like washing their hands, blowing nose, and avoiding other
disrupting noises at the dinner table. DTG
Encourage them not to be picky eaters. Start at young age to eat at least one bite of each item on plate.
Introduce a variety of ethnic foods.
Teach them how to handle a cold, flu, & fevers and ingrown toenails.
If older, teach them which medicines to use. DTG

DTG = a DTG requirement
MB = Scouting merit badge

By Valerie Albrechtsen

ORGANIZEDLDSFamily.com