Your results will vary. The kids are individuals, and they have individual experiences, which prepare them differently. My older son has had to delay his mission for health reasons, and the younger one is still not sure he’s going. I don’t think there’s a patent solution to all of the questions.

My wife and I were both new converts when we served our missions, and that was what really made the gospel alive for us.

Jim, thanks, that’s what I meant!

Deacon, I agree with you, and I think the Church is trying. I think even if parents are new to the Church, or haven’t had much experience, the Lord magnifies the efforts they do make. All the Lord ever asks us is to lift where we stand.

I reread what he actually said and I am not trying to read his mind or between the lines but I don’t think I misinterpreted it. The bottom line is this whole post is about the premise that most missionaries are unprepared by not knowing the gospel well enough. Not all as you indicate you know many that are prepared. I know of very very few that has ever gone to the MTC that didn’t feel the spirit at least a few times. A 16 year old boy that is focused on mission only will not be very good at talking about anything else when he is 19.

Part of being a good missionary is communication and the ability to build friendships and I have to say the companions I had that were so over prepared were the worst teachers I have ever seen. I had one that knew the scriptures inside out and backwards but we never taught anyone ever the discussion was presented and they avoided us from then on. As soon as he left I was teaching a dozen (mission average was 4/wk) discussions a week with a companion that may not have ever read a book before his mission. He could communicate and he loved the people where the other guy did not. Teach your kids to love the people they work with and let people see the joy of life in their eyes and they will be good missionaries. Not whether they con quote scripture and know the doctrine in great detail. This gospel is about joy and happiness to focus on stupid things like white shirts and memorization is exactly what Satan wants us to focus on.

If we look at what it takes to be a good home teacher being a missionary is the same. Does the guy care? If so he can read the lesson and be effective if not he never will be. I would suggest that it isn’t a lack gospel teaching that makes us select which missionary to expose your friends to it is whether they care.

Wesley hardly needs me to back him up, but I agreed 100% with his comment. And I think you misread his post.

As I read it, he is merely pointing out that parents should not rely on the Church to prepare sons and daughters for missionary service. And that preparation cannot begin too soon.

If our children have their first spiritual experiences in the MTC or on their mission, we have missed the boat as parents.

He said nothing about “force teaching” our kids. Instead, if I understood him correctly, he indicated that by living and teaching the gospel in our homes, our children from an early age will gain their own testimonies and will be familiar with the language of the Spirit. This is no way implies that children cannot have fun or have full, balanced lives.

I have seen many 19 year olds that are very mature and well prepared to serve.

As a parent of those kids your talking about I think you are lost in space. If you really want mature informed capable missionaries send them at 21 like the girls. Fact is a 19 year is what he is and mature, capable young men are few and far between. It is almost like you want them to give up their youth so they can be better missionaries. The main question is do want to wait until full maturity or do you want them to come home mature and strong in the church? There is nothing fundementally wrong with the way it is. If you don’t want your friends taught by some immature kid teach them youselves.

No matter what you do there will be less than desirable side effects. If they go later than many will be married and not go and if they go earlier then they are immature.

I had companions of all levels on my mission and I strongly disagree with the notion you can force teach these kids to be better missionaries. The bottom line is the best missionaries are the one that focused on other things besides the gospel growing up. They must be aboe to have a conversation with people if they are going to teach. I do find it encouraging that so many are interested in seeing these kids succeed.

A stake should have missionary preparation seminars, lessons as standard and these issues should be adressed as priority.

I think the church offers us so little in the way guiding ourselves spritiually in our regular meetings that sending these teenagers out is about all that is left to really get them in touch with the spirit.

On the flip side getting kids to go is so important to most local leaders in my area that if a kid doesn’t act excited about a mission by 16 they get after them pretty hard.