Religion 130: Missionary Preparation
Purpose
The purpose of this course is to serve as a sturdy bridge from your time here at BYU-Idaho to the time you will spend at the Missionary Training Center in preparation to serve the people of your respective missions. As such, great efforts have been undertaken to ensure that the daily activities that you do in the MTC will have a familiar air to them because they have been a staple portion of this class. In order to accomplish this the course has intertwined the Religion 130: Missionary Preparation manual, Preach My Gospel , and the Pre-MTC Training Checklist to enable you to become more prepared for your experiences at the MTC and to hit the ground running as a missionary.
Overview
The basic premise of this course was to combine the contemporary curriculum of Mission Prep. with the Pre-MTC Training Checklist and Pre-MTC Preparation Curriculum in order to help prospective missionaries more effectively prepare for missionary service in ways that will enable them to accomplish the objectives of this course and the Pre-MTC training checklist in order to more effectively springboard into their MTC experience. This course aims to create an MTC-like atmosphere for the students and instructors.
The course curriculum and learning activities consist of the following:
- Study from Religion 130: Missionary Preparation Manual and Preach My Gospel.
- Pre-MTC Training Checklist:
- Identifying and recording in a study journal personal testimony building experiences relative to the 13 missionary lessons that will be taught by prospective missionaries in the course (i.e. How I came to know Joseph Smith was a prophet, How I learned the Book of Mormon was true, How feeling the power of the Atonement has affected my life, etc.)
- Studying and preparing, with a companion, 13 missionary lessons from Preach My Gospel.
- Reading or re-reading the Book of Mormon.
- Watching and recording insights about seasons 1 and 2 of The District
- Creating a Mormon.org profile.
- Participation in online discussion forums called "District Meeting".
- Participating in Companionship Study Preparation activities and companionship study (you will just do personal study until after Lesson 3).
Outcomes
As a prospective missionary in REL 130, you will:
Know
- Learn gospel teaching and gospel studying related insights from missionaries, returned missionaries, new members, and companions, district members, instructors, and through personal study.
- Gain a firmer testimony of the principles contained in the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and the missionary lessons.
- Learn to empathize with your companion(s) and with prospective investigators.
Do
- Complete the pre-MTC Training Checklist:
- Read or reread the Book of Mormon
- Watch The District, record impressions, and implement principles of teaching and testifying excellence
- Create a mormon.org Profile
- Prepare 12 (3-5 minute) missionary lessons found in Preach My Gospel
- Identify personal testimony building experience,or work to have these experiences, relative to each of the missionary lessons you will prepare and teach this semester
- Identify personally meaningful scriptures relative to the 12 missionary lessons you will plan, prepare, and teach this semester
- Regularly meet and study with your companion using your missionary study journals
- Receive and dispense instruction-related feedback to both your companion and district members
- Seek to recognize how God has played a part in your life, and the life of non-members, in leading His children back to His presence
Become
- Become a more devoted disciple-leader by regularly assessing your progress in developing and implementing Christ-like attributes in your interactions with your companion(s) and the people you teach
- Become a more powerful gospel teacher, testifier, and disciple of Jesus Christ by implementing feedback from your companion(s), district members, and instructors
- Become accustomed to sharing your thoughts, feelings, and testimony of the gospel with other people
- Become accustomed to studying, planning, and teaching with your companion(s)
- Become more prepared for entrance into the MTC with its associated rigors (i.e. studying, planning, preparing, teaching, and learning)
- Begin to become the type of missionary described by Elder David A. Bednar in his October 2005, General Conference address: "Becoming a Missionary"
Course Materials
- The Scriptures
- Religion 130: Missionary Preparation Student manual
- Preach My Gospel (online PDF version also available)
- True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference (online PDF version also available)
- A webcam, and access to video conferencing technology (i.e. Face Time (iPhone users), Skype, Google Hangouts just to name a few). During Lesson 4, you will be assigned into a district and into a companionship and will use video conferencing to meet, study with, and teach your assigned companion.
- A Study Journal (replete with dividers and tabs for studying the Gospel by topic and for recording impressions and insights)
Grades
Grading Scale
| 93-100 A | 80-82 B- | 67-69 D+ | ||
| 90-92 A- | 77-79 C+ | 63-66 D | ||
| 87-89 B+ | 73-76 C | 60-62 D- | ||
| 83-86 B | 70-72 C- | 0-59 F |
Grading Categories
Your grade will consist of the following:
| Companionship Study/Teaching | 40% | |
| District Meeting | 40% | |
| Book of Mormon Reading | 20% |
Under each category, there will be a variety of activities that will need to be completed. Read the instructions carefully for maximum impact and greatest effectiveness.
Important Points for Consideration
It is imperative that you take personal responsibility for your own learning. If you do, you will be empowered and enabled to become a powerful missionary in the Lord's service. It is cliche, but true to life that grades are not given in this course, they are earned. The instructor is not responsible for giving you a grade, you will earn your final grade based upon your personal diligence. That being said, all of you are capable of receiving an A, and I hope that you do. I want to help you succeed because I care about each of you and desire your success. Please contact me if you are experiencing trouble so that we can make arrangements for you to successfully complete your assignments. I will not make concessions after assignment deadlines as no late work will be accepted. Additionally, extra credit may or may not be given, but this is up to my discretion. In the event it is given, it will be minimal (only 1% of the total grade) as it is not meant to be replace your personal due diligence.
Students with Disabilities
In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to reasonable accommodation. It is the student's responsibility to disclose to the teacher any special need he/she may have before the end of the first week of class.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and any other sex crimes are not tolerated at BYU-Idaho on or off campus. Sexual harassment and sexual assault refers to unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment and sexual assault may include 1) unwelcome sexual advances, 2) requests for sexual favors, and 3) other verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may also include denying or limiting, on the basis of sex, the student's ability to participate in or receive benefits, services, or opportunities in university programs. Sexual violence is defined as physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person's will or where a person is incapable of giving consent. This may include 1) rape, 2) sexual assault, 3) sexual battery, and 4) sexual coercion. All such acts of sexual violence are forms of sexual harassment covered under Title IX. BYU-Idaho's policy against sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking extends not only to employment situations but to academic situations as well. If a student becomes aware of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or needs assistance or information related to these allegations they should contact the Student Honor Office at 208-496-9300, Kimball Building Room 270; Dean of Students Office at 208-496-9200, Kimball Building Room 290; or Human Resources at 208-496-1700, Kimball Building Room 240. Victims of a sex crime, violence, or stalking should contact the police where the crime occurred.
Syllabus Quiz
Please be sure to complete the syllabus quiz to assess your understanding of the course requirements and standards. (click here to begin the quiz).