Raising the Bar

"Please understand this: the bar that is the standard for missionary service is being raised. The day of the “repent and go” missionary is over."..." It is far better to keep yourselves clean and pure and valiant"
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"doing such simple things as:

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  Developing a meaningful prayer relationship with your Heavenly Father.
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  Keeping the Sabbath day holy.
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  Working and putting part of your earnings in a savings account.
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  Paying a full and honest tithing.
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  Limiting the amount of time spent playing computer games. How many kills you can make in a minute with a computer game will have zero effect on your capacity to be a good missionary.
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  Giving the Lord more of your time by studying the scriptures and gaining an understanding of the marvelous message of the Restoration that we have for the world.
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  Serving others and sharing your testimony with them."

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"...fathers, you have a vital role in this preparation process."..."if we are “raising the bar” for your sons to serve as missionaries, that means we are also “raising the bar” for you. If we expect more of them, that means we expect more of you and your wife as well."

President Gordon B Hinckley,"To Men of the Priesthood,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2002, 57
"We must raise the bar on the worthiness and qualifications of those who go into the world as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ”

Letter From the First Presidency, December 11, 2002
“Full-time missionary service is a privilege for those who are called through inspiration by the President of the Church. Bishops and stake presidents have the serious responsibility to identify worthy, qualified members who are spiritually, physically, and emotionally prepared for this sacred service and who can be recommended without reservation. Those individuals not able to meet the physical, mental, and emotional demands of full-time missionary work are honorably excused and should not be recommended. They may be called to serve in other rewarding capacities.”

Elder L Tom Perry, Raising the Bar, October 2007 General Conference
"The bar was raised by the leaders of the Church, and now the minimum standard for participating in missionary work is absolute moral worthiness; physical health and strength; intellectual, social, and emotional development."
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"Raising the bar to a higher physical standard could involve further physical conditioning.

"It also could include improving your physical appearance. A missionary is expected to dress a certain way, projecting a clean-cut appearance that includes an appropriate haircut; being clean shaven; wearing a clean white shirt, a tie, and a well-pressed suit—all the way down to a good shoe shine. Start now to prepare for a full-time mission by adopting the appearance of a full-time missionary.

"Raise the bar higher in your intellectual preparation. Take your schooling seriously. It is important to be able to read, speak, and write with intelligence. Expand your knowledge of the world around you by reading good books. Learn how to study. Then apply your improved study habits to learning the gospel of Jesus Christ. Consistently and regularly read from the Book of Mormon."
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"Learn now about your emotional limits, and learn how to control your emotions under the circumstances you will face as a missionary. By doing this, you raise the bar to greater heights and, in effect, fortify yourself against emotional challenges during your missionary service."
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"Much of missionary work involves relating face-to-face with people, and unless you set the bar higher in the development of your social skills, you will find yourself under prepared."
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"Be certain that you easily clear the minimum standards for service as a missionary and that you are continually raising the bar. "


Elder Tad R Callister, The Power of the Priesthood in the Boy, General Conference April 2013
“We can raise the bar and vision for these young men, and they will respond.”

My Thoughts
{
We raise the bar on missionary service by raising the bar on young men and what we expect of them before they are missionary age.
}