MissionChecklist.com — LDS Mission Preparation Checklists

1) Planning to Go on a Mission

Choose wise timing, understand interviews, and set goals before you start your recommendation.

Milestones

Pick an availability date (earliest you can leave) and a desired return date. Mission Timing
Meet with your bishop to align on timing; get oriented to the Missionary Portal. Missionary Portal
Review standard interview questions so you know what to expect. Interview Questions

Tasks and Logistics

Review mission timing guidance together as a family. When to Submit
Bookmark the Missionary Portal (steps appear as you progress). Missionary Portal

Spiritual and Personal Readiness

Pray and discuss timing with family and leaders; sketch a savings plan aligned to your availability date.

2) Before Receiving a Mission Call

Use this during high school/college up until papers are submitted and the call is issued.

Milestones

Meet with bishop to start the missionary recommendation. Missionary Portal
Stake president interview (final clearance before submission).
Medical exam & forms. Health Prep
Dental exam (incl. wisdom teeth evaluation).
Receive a patriarchal blessing (if not yet received). Rasband: Patriarchal Blessings (search)
Attend stake/ward mission prep classes. Mission Prep lessons

Tasks and Logistics

Obtain a valid passport (apply early). U.S. Passports
Update immunizations per guidelines. Health Requirements
Gather documents (birth certificate, Social Security card, insurance info, patriarchal blessing copy).
Create a mission savings plan and account. Ballard: The Lord Provides a Way (search)
Keep seminary attendance and worthiness current. Seminaries & Institutes

Spiritual and Personal Readiness

Daily gospel habits: scripture study, prayer, journal. Uchtdorf: Daily Restoration (search)
Begin Preach My Gospel (2023) — Lessons 1–4. PMG (Online) PMG (Print)
Live missionary standards now. Missionary Standards
Serve & minister regularly. Oaks: Small and Simple Things
Study the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood (D&C 84:33–44) and become fluent with it. D&C 84 Priesthood Power (Burton)
Discuss temple endowment timing with parents and bishop; review temple prep resources together. Temple Prep (Self-guided)
Build self-reliance: cooking, laundry, budgeting, time management. Self-Reliance (Overview)
Health habits: exercise, sleep, avoid addictions. Nelson: Your Body

3) After Receiving a Mission Call

From the time your call arrives until you report to the MTC.

Milestones

Read and pray over the mission call letter as a family. Mission calls are inspired. Elder Rasband (video) Holland: Greatest Generation (search)
Notify bishop and stake president; schedule follow-up interview.
Obtain Melchizedek Priesthood ordination (timing per bishop/stake). Bednar: The Powers of Heaven (search)
Temple recommend & endowment; schedule and attend your first endowment session. Nelson: Spiritual Foundation
Plan sacrament meeting farewell talk.

Tasks and Logistics

Follow the clothing/packing list from your call packet; purchase approved gear and scriptures. Dress & Appearance Church Store
Complete any mission-specific immunizations and medical/dental follow-ups. Health Requirements
If international, prepare and submit visa documents as instructed in your call.
Confirm financial plan for monthly mission costs.
Practice travel readiness: packing, airport security, itinerary.
Prepare a family communication plan (email cadence, photos, weekly updates).
Complete any stake/mission office paperwork and endorsements.

Spiritual and Personal Readiness

Finish reading the Book of Mormon prior to departure. Nelson: The Book of Mormon
Memorize missionary purpose, baptismal invitation, and key scriptures (Preach My Gospel, Teaching Skills). PMG (Online)
Role-play teaching with parents/leaders/friends.
Practice technology use according to Missionary Standards. Missionary Standards
Build endurance with consistent exercise and healthy diet.
Strengthen family relationships before leaving; set expectations together.
Keep a gratitude journal and testimony record to bring to the mission.
Try a simplified missionary schedule (early to bed/rise, planned day). Bednar: Becoming a Missionary

4) Returning Home

Whether you served a full mission or came home early — you served faithfully. Here is how to land well and begin the next chapter.

If you returned early

Medical, mental health, or other challenges that shortened your mission do not define your faithfulness or your worth. The Lord knows your heart. Coming home early is not failure — it is a different path. Every item below applies to you. Please start with your bishop, and know you are not alone.

General Handbook: Returning Missionaries Church Mental Health Resources

Milestones

Receive your official release from your mission president and stake president. Returning Home
Meet with your bishop within the first week. Share your testimony, your transition plan, and anything you need support with — spiritually, emotionally, or practically.
Schedule a post-mission medical checkup — especially for international missions (parasites, tropical illness, vaccinations to update). Missionary Health
Dental checkup — 18–24 months without regular care can add up quickly.
Mental health check-in. The transition home is often harder than the transition out — anxiety, identity shifts, and reverse culture shock are common and normal. Do not wait to get support. Mental Health Resources

Transition and Logistics

Save your mission photos — do this in the first week. You have 60 days. Your Church-issued Android phone runs a Google Workspace account managed by the Church. As of January 1, 2026, that account — and everything in it — is permanently deleted 60 days after your release. Only about half of missionaries successfully save their photos. Don't be in the other half.
Step-by-step (missionary Android → your personal iPhone):
1. On the missionary Android, open Google Photos and sign in if needed.
2. Tap your profile photo → Photo settings → Partner sharing → invite your personal Gmail address. Set it to "Save to your account" — this copies every photo into your personal Google account, not just shares them. (Shared-only photos are deleted with the missionary account.)
3. Accept the partner sharing invite from your personal Gmail.
4. On your iPhone, download the Google Photos app, sign in to your personal Google account, and confirm the photos are all there.
5. To move them into your iPhone Camera Roll: in Google Photos, select photos → tap the share icon → Save to device. Or use Google Takeout (takeout.google.com) to download everything as a zip to your computer and import via iCloud or a cable.
6. Also save your mission emails — in Gmail on the missionary account, go to Settings → Forwarding, or export via Google Takeout. Same 60-day clock.
Missed the 60-day window? You may have until 120 days — visit mail.missionary.org with your Church account credentials and select "Extend Access."
Complete your release process in the Missionary Portal. Missionary Portal
Review documents that may have expired: driver's license, passport, insurance coverage.
Set up or reactivate bank accounts; build a monthly budget for the next phase of life.
Make a concrete plan for education, employment, or military service — register for classes, submit applications, or meet with a career counselor. Do not drift into this decision. Self-Reliance
Re-enter technology intentionally — social media, smartphone habits, and screen time. Decide your standards before the apps decide for you. Missionary Standards (reference)
Give a homecoming talk in sacrament meeting if invited — share your testimony; you do not need to perform, just bear witness.

Spiritual and Emotional Health

Keep the habits. Wake up and scripture study, daily prayer, and journaling kept you spiritually strong on the mission — they still will. Protect them before the world fills the time. Bednar: Becoming a Missionary
Find and attend a YSA ward or branch immediately — do not drift through the first few weeks attending only family ward. Community is the fastest path to purpose. Handbook: Single Members
Connect with other returned missionaries — people who understand where you came from. Your mission friendships and new RM friendships are some of the most spiritually anchoring relationships you will have.
Set real goals for the next six months — spiritual, educational, social, physical. The mission was structured. Post-mission life will not be unless you structure it. Monson: Be Valiant
Carry the work forward — member missionary work, referrals, fellowshipping investigators. You are still a missionary, just without the badge. Preach My Gospel (2023)

What's Next

Young Single Adult Life

You made it through the mission. Now comes education, relationships, career, temple covenants, and building your own life. Seven areas. Start anywhere.

Build your life. Keep your faith.

ysachecklist.com

FAQ & Notes

Is this an official Church site?

No. MissionChecklist.com is an independent resource that links to official Church materials at churchofjesuschrist.org and other government resources for passports and travel. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Who built this?

MissionChecklist.com is part of CovenantBuilders.ai — a collection of free gospel tools for the covenant path. Other projects include The Covenant Rendering and EveryVerseMatters. Reach us at aaron@covenantbuilders.ai.

What if a link changes?

All links were verified as of publication. If something moves, use the site search at churchofjesuschrist.org and update your bookmark.

Can I print this?

Yes. This page is designed to print cleanly. Press Cmd/Ctrl + P for a checklist handout.

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At a glance

1) Planning to Go on a Mission

Milestones

Tasks and Logistics

Spiritual and Personal Readiness

2) Before Receiving a Mission Call

Milestones

Tasks and Logistics

Spiritual and Personal Readiness

3) After Receiving a Mission Call

Milestones

Tasks and Logistics

Spiritual and Personal Readiness

4) Returning Home

If you returned early

Milestones

Transition and Logistics

Spiritual and Emotional Health

Young Single Adult Life

FAQ & Notes