Preparation Day

In LDS missionary lingo a "Prep Day" is a day off of missionary work to do laundry, buy groceries, and generally prepare for the rest of the week. In a broader sense, every day of our lives is a day of preparation (Alma 34:32).

A few years ago, a newly called missionary on a LDS Chat Board asked how he could prepare for his mission in South America. Naturally, I could not resist offering some advice. Here is some of what I said:

Some of the best advice for missionaries of any age is given in Alma 29 through 39. …

Purchase about 6 to10 Zig Millennium red pens (MS-01) and 2-3 [metal] 6" straight edges. These pens have archival quality ink that does not soak into the other side of the page. Mark your scriptures neatly with the straight edge. … Once you have your scriptures marked and footnoted, you will be able to teach many wonderful lessons with just your scriptures in hand. …

Study Jesus and learn how he dealt with the controversies of his time. Apply the same principles to today's controversies. If you do so, then you will find that most of the nagging issues you could encounter on a mission or on these web pages will fall by the wayside. Nearly all controversies can be answered from the scriptures themselves. Learn to do so. …

Remember that missions set the stage for the rest of your life. Do not squander the time or make light of what you are doing. Be a leader and an example to other missionaries. Carry the demeanor and comportment of a 30 year old, even though you will be much younger. Do not succumb to excessive laughter and silliness. Have fun, but give up immaturity as a sacrifice to the Lord.

Finally, and maybe this is the most important piece of advice (and this is something that cannot be learned in just a few weeks): learn how to engage the gift of the Holy Ghost and the enabling power of the atonement. They will be your main survival tools. There are few more important lessons in life than the one that involves learning to listen to the still small voice.

Preparation is an issue that follows us all our lives, not just on missions. We need to prepare for marriage; prepare for getting a job; prepare for children; prepare for the temple; and prepare for retirement. Our very existence is a preparation.

What does it mean to “prepare,” or is this just a word we toss around? It means to plan in advance; to make ready beforehand; it means to consider all possibilities to allow for decisive action. I am reminded of the following passage:

Proverbs 30:24-28
24 ¶ There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26 The conies [rodents] are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

Of course, the fifth little thing on earth that is exceeding wise is the LDS missionary who is in tune with the spirit. With preparation and love, he or she will be able to teach with great power.

The Lord can inspire during preparation just as easily as he can inspire during presentation. Furthermore, he usually does!! Can you imagine trying to teach a missionary lesson without knowing the “Preach My Gospel” manual? Inspired presentation requires inspired preparation. This is a great lesson to remember. Actually, we should remember that the gospel is more action than words. I love the phrase attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”

We forget that Patriarchs prepare for their blessings, because what we see is just the actual blessing itself. Actually, there is much to prepare. Patriarchs must know the gospel, the scriptures, the basic bureaucracy of the Church (having served in previous leadership positions), how to receive revelation, how to live the gospel, etc., etc.

Being “filled with the spirit” does not mean that we go into the world with blank minds. Action in ignorance must be the most frightening of experiences. Imagine being a surgeon and trying to do an operation without preparation. Imagine being a soldier in the thick of battle and not knowing how to operate or aim your rifle. A good phrase to remember is: “Know before you go.”

In the context of the previous paragraphs, the following sentence can now make sense: A seer is someone who sees into the future with foresight. To plan effectively, one must forecast and prognosticate the future. Sometimes one must solve problems before they ever occur.

Preparation is really a “study it out in your own mind” kind of process. Isn’t that the first step to revelation??? (See: D&C 9:8).

I once saw a humorous needlework with the phrase “Plan Ahead,” embroidered like in the figure shown above. The embroidery was an effective reminder of what can happen when we don’t.

When we Latter-day Saints do NOT prepare, we come to meetings late, our sermons at the pulpit go over time, and our meetings drag on without accomplishment. Preparation and punctuality show respect for other people’s time.

When Jesus comes to earth, he is not going to just wave his hand and “New Jerusalem” will appear out of nowhere. He will need a prepared people. We need to be that prepared people.

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Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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