Are You Ready?

Here are a few stats showing how the change in missionary ages has impacted the work:

Before the change the age limit for sisters was 21 and 19 for elders, now the limit is 19 for sisters and 18 for elders (if they have graduated from high school).

Before the change, approximately 15% of missionaries in the field were sisters.  Now approximately 50% of missionaries in the field are sisters.

Before the change the maximum number of missionaries per mission was 170, now the maximum number is 250.

Before the change, missionaries not learning a foreign language spent three weeks in the MTC, now they spend two weeks.

Before the change the number of weekly missionary applications was around 700.  That number jumped to 4,000 immediately following the announcement.  There has been a 471% increase in the number applications since the announcement.

There are 347 missions around the world.  58 new missions were created to accommodate the influx of new missionaries resulting from the change.  52 languages are taught at the Prove, Utah MTC.  There are 15 Missionary Training Centers worldwide.  The Provo MTC can accomodate 4,800 missionaries.

The largest mission, with a population of 1 billion, is the India Bangalore Mission.  The smallest mission, of just 10 acres, is the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission.

There are 65,634 full time missionaries, 20,000 more have received their call, and 6,000 more are in the interview process.

"The response of our young people has been remarkable and inspiring," said President Thomas S. Monson.

There is no question that this is exciting.  As a recent U.S. Navy recruiting ad put it, "Let the journey begin."  The great adventure awaits.

But let's pause a moment and ask an important question: Are you ready?

Have you done all that you could to prepare?

Are you familiar with the discussions you will be teaching?  Are you familiar with the scriptures?  Can you make a lesson plan?  Can you teach?

Are you physically prepared for the rigors of missionary works, riding bikes and walking all day long?

Are you spiritually prepared to give the work everything you have, everyday, every moment, all the way?

The time to start preparing to serve is not the day you arrive in the MTC, especially now that missionaries not learning a foreign language will only be in the MTC for two weeks instead of three.

The time to start preparing is not the day you arrive in the mission field, or the morning you first wake up in your first area.

The time to start preparing is now.  How much time do you have before you enter the MTC?  What can you do in that amount of time?  Plan your work and work your plan.

God speed.