Mission Prep

GroupMe Link 

https://groupme.com/join_group/103251601/MjhVA2nL

Curriculum 

This year the Butterfield Canyon Stake will be providing a Mission Prep course at a stake level to not only prepare members of the stake for missionary service, but to bless young people who are not planning on missionary service but want to improve their ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

            The course material will come from the newly published “Missionary Preparation: A Teaching Resource” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025?lang=eng). The guide at the beginning of the manual recommends that each learning activity have these parts:

1.     Study. Ideas to engage learners in study that encourages faith-inspired actions, such as reading, searching, highlighting, pondering, recording, discussing, and testifying. 

2.     Practice. Suggestions to help class members put what they have learned into practice. This usually involves summarizing, explaining, and teaching.

3.     Set a goal. Time dedicated for class members to assess what they have learned and what commitments they could make to learn, grow, and improve. You could invite learners to bring a personal study journal to record their goals throughout the course. (Rather than providing personal study journals and copies of PMG that are often lost or outdated, our stake has found it to be more effective to have a worksheet each week that includes pages from PMG and journaling opportunities. We will encourage participants to set goals each week, and remind them throughout the week via a class GroupMe.)

The Mission Prep teachers are expected to always begin on time (even if youth are late) and end on time (even if they are in the middle of saying something amazing). This is IMPORTANT to teach, by example, the concept of respecting other people’s time (missionaries are famous for being late to appointments, and teaching way longer than they schedule a lesson). We have found that teaching from 2:30-3:30 allows everyone to be done with Sabbath meetings and still be home with their families for dinner (and participants that attend the 12-2pm block don’t even have to change!). 

President Bowen has also asked that we supplement this manual by studying the Gospel Topics Essays! Recognizing that today so much information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be obtained from questionable and often inaccurate sources, officials of the Church began in 2013 to publish straightforward, in-depth essays on a number of topics. The purpose of these essays, which have been approved by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has been to gather accurate information from many different sources and publications and place it in the Gospel Topics section of ChurchofJesusChrist.org, where the material can more easily be accessed and studied by Church members and other interested parties. We will be studying each of these essays, and how missionaries can use them appropriately (not Bible-bashing) to help others acquire spiritual knowledge.

Mission Prep 2026-27

Week 1
Date: September 13, 2026
Title of Lesson: Lesson 1 We Invite Others to Come unto Christ
Summary: All missionary work focuses on Jesus Christ. Indeed, a missionary’s essential purpose is to “invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel” (Preach My Gospel [2023], 1). Jesus Christ invites His followers to share the gospel message with everyone. “As [our] understanding and testimony of the Savior and His Atonement grow, [our] desire to share the gospel will increase” (Preach My Gospel, 2).
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/001-we-invite-others-to-come-unto-christ?lang=eng

Week 2 

Date: September 20, 2026
Title of Lesson: Are “Mormons” Christian?
Summary: In recent decades some have claimed that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a Christian church. This class we will discuss the most cited reasons, and how you can help others know that we definitely are!!
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/christians?lang=eng

Week 3
Date: September 27, 2026
Title of Lesson: Lesson 2: Introduction to Preach My Gospel
Summary: “Preach My Gospel is a valuable resource not just for missionaries but for all members of the Church” (Preach My Gospel [2023], ix). This inspired resource can help missionaries fulfill their purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ. It can also help us come closer to the Savior and better understand His doctrine.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/002-introduction-to-preach-my-gospel?lang=eng

Week 4 

Date: October 5, 2026
Title of Lesson: Lesson 3: Fulfill Your Missionary Purpose

Summary: A missionary’s purpose is to “invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end” (Preach My Gospel [2023], 1). Understanding and applying this purpose to all aspects of missionary work can elevate how young people think about, prepare for, and serve a mission.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/003-fulfill-your-missionary-purpose?lang=eng

Week 5
Date: October 11, 2026
Title of Lesson: Book of Mormon Translation
Summary: When pressed for specifics about the process of translation, Joseph repeated on several occasions that it had been done “by the gift and power of God” and once added, “It was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of Mormon.” Yet, many “anti-Mormons” attack the translation process. We will discuss what we do and don’t know about the translation process to make sure your testimony is built on a firm foundation.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-translation?lang=eng  

Week 6 

Date: November 1, 2026
Title of Lesson: Lesson 4: Search the Scriptures and Put on the Armor of God (Preach My Gospel, chapter 2)
Summary: Studying and applying truths found in the word of God is central to conversion and helping people come to Jesus Christ. Righteous use of technology can enhance our study and help us find answers to our gospel questions. Following safeguards while using technology is an important way to “put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11).
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/004-search-the-scriptures-and-put-on-the-armor-of-god?lang=eng

Week 7
Date: November 8, 2026
Title of Lesson: Lesson 5: Study and Teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Preach My Gospel, chapter 3)
Summary: The lessons missionaries use to teach the Savior’s gospel are found in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. “The lessons in this chapter contain the essential doctrine, principles, and commandments of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Preach My Gospel [2023], 25). As learners study and practice teaching from these lessons, they will be better prepared to share the Savior’s gospel with others.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/005-study-and-teach-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

Week 8
Date: November 15, 2026
Title of Lesson: Mother in Heaven
Summary: One of the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ that are not found in other Christian religions is that we have Heavenly Parents—a Heavenly Father AND Mother. Many youth today wonder why we don’t talk about Her more, and why we don’t pray to Her. This lesson will address all those questions.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/mother-in-heaven?lang=eng

Week 9
Date: November 22, 2026
Title of Lesson: Lesson 6: Practice Teaching (Helps for Teaching Lessons from chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel)
Summary: Providing class members with repeated teaching opportunities can increase their confidence and ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It can also strengthen their testimony of the Savior and His doctrine.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/006-practice-teaching?lang=eng

Week 10
Date: December 6, 2026
Title of Lesson: Multiple Accounts of the First Vision
Summary: Historians expect that when an individual retells an experience in multiple settings to different audiences over many years, each account will emphasize various aspects of the experience and contain unique details. Yet many that attach the Church use the differences in the First Vision accounts as evidence that Joseph Smith made it up. We will study the consistency remains across all the accounts, and how the differences are further evidence that he truly met Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/first-vision-accounts?lang=eng

Week 11
Date: December 13, 2026
Title of Lesson: Lesson 7: The Invitation to Be Baptized and Confirmed

Summary: The Savior has commanded all accountable people to repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. “Keeping the covenant of baptism is the first step in binding ourselves to God so the Holy Ghost can cleanse, strengthen, and change our nature for the better” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [2023], 28). Extending invitations to be baptized and confirmed is an important way missionaries fulfill their purpose of helping others come unto Jesus Christ.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manua l-2025/007-the-invitation-to-be-baptized-and-confirmed?lang=eng

Week 12
Date: January 10, 2027
Title of Lesson: Peace and Violence among 19th-Century Latter-day Saints
Summary: In the first two decades after the Church was organized, Latter-day Saints were often the victims of violence. Unfortunately, the disciples of Jesus Christ returned violence at times as well. This lesson will discuss some of the hardest moments of Church History to deal with (like the Mountain Meadows Massacre) and how those shameful moments shouldn’t define the Church’s attempt to walk with Jesus.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/peace-and-violence-among-19th-century-latter-day-saints?lang=eng

Week 13
Date: January 24, 2027
Title of Lesson: Lesson 8: Seek and Rely on the Spirit (Preach My Gospel, chapter 4)
Summary: “The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts that God has given His children” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, [2023], 101). The Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ and of the truthfulness of the gospel. People are converted to Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost. As missionaries seek and rely on the Holy Ghost, they can help bring His influence into the lives of those they teach.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/008-seek-and-rely-on-the-spirit?lang=eng

Week 14
Date: January 31, 2027
Title of Lesson: Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temples, and Women
Summary: “We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be? When a woman—young or old—is set apart to preach the gospel as a full-time missionary, she is given priesthood authority to perform a priesthood function.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,” CR April 2014.) This lesson will discuss what we do, and do not know about women and the priesthood.

Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/joseph-smiths-teachings-about-priesthood-temple-and-women?lang=eng

Week 15
Date: February 7, 2027
Title of Lesson: Lesson 9: Use the Power of the Book of Mormon (Preach My Gospel, chapter 5)
Summary: “The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [2023], 113). The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and is the instrument God has prepared to gather Israel in the last days. As we study from the Book of Mormon and apply its teachings, we can come closer to God.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/009-use-the-power-of-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng

Week 16
Date: February 21, 2027
Title of Lesson: Book of Mormon and DNA Studies
Summary: Many members of the Church believed that all Native Americans were descendants of Lehi after he migrated from Jerusalem. However, the majority of DNA identified to date in modern native peoples most closely resembles that of eastern Asian populations. This lesson will discuss the other natives mentioned in the Book of Mormon, and how to reconcile modern DNA studies with faith in the origin of the Book of Mormon.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-and-dna-studies?lang=eng

Week 17
Date: February 28, 2027
Title of Lesson: Lesson 10: Seek Christlike Attributes (Preach My Gospel, chapter 6)
Summary: “One important way to seek Jesus is to make a diligent effort to learn about Him and become more like Him” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [2023], 124). Seeking to develop the attributes of Jesus Christ can help us share the Savior’s gospel more effectively. With the Savior’s help, we can gradually develop attributes that help us become more like Him.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/010-seek-christlike-attributes?lang=eng

Week 18
Date: March 7, 2027
Title of Lesson: Becoming Like God
Summary: Many are offended that we believe that, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become like our Heavenly Mother and Father. They are not offended when we tell them we want to be more like Jesus. This lesson will discuss if there is a point where we can become TOO much like Jesus, or if His work and glory is our Eternal Life.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/becoming-like-god?lang=eng

Week 19
Date: March 14, 2027
Title of Lesson: Lesson 11: Help People Make and Keep Commitments (Preach My Gospel, chapter 11)
Summary: “Helping people become converted to Jesus Christ is central to [the] missionary purpose” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [2023], 202). An important way to assist others in their conversion is by inviting them to make and keep commitments. Extending effective invitations increases the likelihood that people will make and keep commitments.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/011-help-people-make-and-keep-commitments?lang=eng

Week 20
Date: March 21, 2027
Title of Lesson: Plural Marriage
Summary: The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that monogamy is God’s standard for marriage unless He declares otherwise. And yet, why did Joseph Smith have about 30 plural wives? Why did many of the prophets in the Old Testament have multiple wives? Come to this class to get all your questions answered. 
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/plural-marriage?lang=eng

Week 21
Date: April 11, 2027
Title of Lesson: Lesson 12: Adjusting to Missionary Life
Summary: Missionary preparation involves preparing for the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental demands of missionary work. Adjusting to Missionary Life (2013) can help missionaries and those preparing for missions manage these demands. It provides guidelines that can help us access the Lord’s strength and find joy in missionary service.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/012-adjusting-to-missionary-life?lang=eng

Week 22
Date: April 18, 2027
Title of Lesson: Race and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Summary: Many antagonists of the Church claim that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is racist since, early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice. This lesson will focus on the doctrine that “all are alike unto God,” including “black and white, bond and free, male and female” (2 Nephi 26:33), and how that relates to the 1978 revelation that allowed “all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.” (Official Declaration 2)
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/race-and-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints?lang=eng

Week 23
Date: April 25, 2027
Title of Lesson: Lesson 13: Go Forward in Faith
Summary: This lesson is intended to help learners evaluate their progress and growth as disciples of Jesus Christ during their participation in the Missionary Preparation course.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/missionary-preparation-teacher-manual-2025/013-go-forward-in-faith?lang=eng

Week 24
Date: May 2, 2027
Title of Lesson: Origins of the Book of Abraham
Summary: Many YouTube “experts” have looked at the three print illustrations in the Book of Abraham, known as facsimiles, and claim that they could have translated it better than Joseph Smith. They pretend to know things that they have no right to claim and slander the prophet of the Restoration while they are at it. This lesson will discuss the best way to know if the Book of Abraham is revelation from God, or not.
Link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/abraham-book-of?lang=eng

2025 Herriman Utah Butterfield Canyon Stake (unit #418234)*this website is not an official, sponsored product of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints