Latter-day Saint Life

35 benefits of serving a mission we may not think about

Two elders study scriptures on a bench at the Missionary Training Center.
From conflict resolution skills to a consistent sleep schedule, missions can bless your life in many ways.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Russell M. Nelson has taught, “Your decision to serve a mission, whether a proselyting or a service mission, will bless you and many others.”

While these blessings may not look the same across every mission, serving as a volunteer representative of Jesus Christ will positively impact your life long after your return date.

Here are just 35 potential benefits of serving a mission.

1. Eternal Friendships

Throughout your service, you’ll have opportunities to meet people you likely wouldn’t get to know otherwise and form lasting friendships. These connections might include the people you teach or contact, mission leaders, companions, and other missionaries.

2. Increased Capacity to Receive Revelation

Missions provide unique opportunities to discover how the Spirit speaks to you, especially as you seek specific guidance to serve others. As President Thomas S. Monson often taught, “When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.”

3. A Healthier Approach to Using Technology

As a missionary, you have the unique opportunity to “unplug” from certain aspects of today’s digital world—like scrolling on social media or being constantly available to message friends or loved ones. Technology safeguards around following the Spirit, focusing on your purpose, being disciplined, and being one will help you to use technology wisely long after your mission.

4. A Consistent Sleep Schedule and Exercise Routine

Your mission may be one of the only times in your life that you regularly get 8 hours of sleep and exercise for 30 minutes a day. This schedule encourages greater health, productivity, and energy and is excellent practice for maintaining healthy habits after your mission.

5. Greater Adaptability and Willingness to Embrace Change

While your schedule on the mission remains relatively consistent, you’ll experience lots of change—including appointments falling through, transfers every six weeks, and new companionships and areas. Developing flexibility and stability amid change is crucial to thriving in today’s world.

6. Improved Conflict Resolution Skills

Serving and living with different kinds of people can teach you how to navigate various communication styles and challenges. These insights will be invaluable throughout your life as you apply them to other areas like marriage, education, employment, and future Church service.

7. A Stronger Relationship with God and Jesus Christ

Your mission will create more opportunities than you’ve ever had before to pray—both out loud and in your heart. As you build the habit of more frequent and earnest prayers, you can develop a stronger connection with Heavenly Father and His Son.

8. Time-Management, Planning, and Goal-Setting Skills

One of the first principles you learn as a missionary is how to set goals and make plans. Conducting daily and weekly planning sessions will help you make the most of your time—as a missionary and beyond.

9. Development of Christlike Attributes

Missionary work provides many moments to focus on cultivating Christlike attributes, such as faith, hope, virtue, integrity, patience, humility, and obedience.

10. Greater Sense of Personal Responsibility

Missionaries learn how to take ownership of their time and actions. As Elder Lynn G. Robbins taught, “God holds His children 100 percent responsible for the use of their agency. … Being 100 percent responsible is accepting yourself as the person in control of your life.” 

11. Navigation Skills in Unfamiliar Areas

Depending on the mission, you might have opportunities to drive or use public transportation in new areas. These experiences can build confidence in exploring new places, asking for directions, and using mapping technology.

12. An Expanded Worldview and Cultural Awareness

As you learn about people’s stories and backgrounds, you’ll develop greater empathy and understanding of different cultures and lifestyles.

13. The Ability to Speak More Articulately

Conversations are crucial to missionary work, and you’ll have many opportunities to practice expressing yourself and teaching about your faith.

14. Increased Spiritual Strength for Your Loved Ones

Your emails, letters, and experiences as a missionary can benefit your loved ones—in the present and in the future. As the Lord promised in the Doctrine and Covenants, “I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families; and an effectual door shall be opened for them, from henceforth.”

15. Public-Speaking and Teaching Proficiency

Missionaries gain experience in giving both planned and improvised lessons, speeches, and trainings. These skills can be applied to future speaking commitments, such as sacrament meeting talks, Gospel Doctrine lessons, Come, Follow Me discussions, and school and work presentations.

16. Greater Capacity to Interact with People of Different Ages and Backgrounds

Missionaries gain experience in presenting complex concepts in simple terms tailored to the people they’re teaching. These skills can help you connect with anyone and learn from others’ unique perspectives.

17. Interpersonal Confidence and Self-Assurance

Missions are crash courses in overcoming shyness. Contacting new people and interacting with strangers can build your people skills and assertiveness, regardless of whether you’re an introvert or extrovert.

18. Increased Respect for Interfaith Dialogue and Connections

Some missions will include opportunities to interact with people of many different religious backgrounds. These conversations can build your respect for the diverse beliefs and contributions of other faith groups.

19. Sense of Belonging and Purpose Outside Yourself

President Russell M. Nelson has taught that the gathering of Israel is “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today.” Missions allow you to join a cause much larger than yourself and focus on serving God’s children—ultimately leading to more feelings of fulfillment and joy.

20. Stronger Work Ethic and Diligence

As President Ezra Taft Benson said, “I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work!” While missions are not always easy, they can help you develop a strong work ethic to persevere through challenges, focus on goals, and give something your all.  

21. Emotional Resilience to Challenges and Rejection

Self-regulation skills that missionaries develop—such as responding to feelings of inadequacy and coping with rejection—can strengthen emotional resilience in all areas of life.

22. A Deeper Love for People Around You

Serving as a missionary can give you a glimpse into how God sees and feels about His children. This can also help you feel more love for God and yourself.

23. Leadership Experience

Missionary work includes many opportunities to develop leadership skills. These opportunities are less about specific roles or assignments and more about learning how to serve individuals. As Church News managing editor Scott Taylor wrote, “Some of the best missionaries don’t lead groups as district or zone leaders, sister training leaders, or assistants. Rather, they lead one by one, as a trainer to a new missionary or companion to an elder or sister in special settings.”

24. Self-Assurance in Your Ability to Serve the Lord

The Introduction to the Adjusting to Missionary Life booklet states: “As you exercise your faith and act on the decision you have made to do the Lord’s work, you will develop the skills, gifts, and strengths you need more quickly. You will feel His help and grow in confidence in your ability to serve the Lord.”

25. Chances to Grow Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Growth is not always comfortable, but it allows us to find fulfillment and develop into the people God designed us to be. As Sheri Dew wrote, “Our spirits crave to progress, and if we aren’t moving forward, we’re not happy.” 

26. More Extensive Knowledge of the Gospel

As a missionary, you will have dedicated time to study the scriptures as an individual and within a companionship or group. These experiences will help build your understanding of the scriptures and knowledge of conference talks from modern-day seers and revelators.

27. Connections to Members in Many Different Wards and Areas

You will grow to love the people you serve with, especially local members and families. These touchpoints can outlast your mission and be sources of support, inspiration, and fellowship.

28. Growth in Your Spiritual Development and Personal Conversion

No matter where you serve, your testimony and conversion to Jesus Christ will deepen as you serve Him. As Elder Quentin L. Cook said, “A missionary is his or her first and most important convert.”

29. Experience Approaching Difficult Questions

Helping people resolve their concerns on your mission will empower you to navigate difficult questions throughout your life—whether you’re seeking answers for yourself or helping others. You will learn to prioritize looking for accurate information from credible sources and including God in this process.

30. More Perspective

A mission is a unique opportunity to step back from your typical life for a period of time. Your experiences will give you a wider lens—on the gospel, yourself, and the world around you.

31. Increased Professional and Academic Opportunities

The skills you gain on your mission can impact your future education and career. For example, missionaries who learn a new language may be able to receive college credits or participate in a wider array of classes. Missions also expand your network and strengthen your leadership skills.

32. An Appreciation for New Foods and Cultures

Your experiences as a missionary can expose you to diverse cultures and foods. You may just discover new recipes and customs that become your personal favorites.

33. Self-Reliance Skills

As a missionary, you need to learn and apply basic skills like car or bike maintenance, meal planning, and budgeting. Your experiences can help you gain more independence and capabilities to serve.

34. A Better Understanding of Priesthood Authority

Missionaries are set apart with priesthood authority to represent Christ. As you seek and live worthy of this authority, you can feel and witness God’s power throughout your service.

35. A Front-Row Seat to Miracles

You will see many examples of how the Lord directs His work throughout your mission—witnessing miracles in your service and in the lives of those you teach. As Sister Tracy Y. Browning taught, “Miracles can be found everywhere in abundance as you exercise faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”


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Mission Essentials

From journals and study tools to uplifting music and items, Deseret Book has everything you need to support and encourage your missionary from afar. Check out our complete missionary collection here.

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