The Book I Will Write Someday....

Introduction

“So, when I ask for more missionaries, I am asking for the

very best.

I am asking for missionaries that have been trained

better, earlier, and longer

so that each anticipates his mission with great joy . . . .”

“We must no longer say, ‘Let every prepared boy go on a mission.’

We must say,

‘Let every boy prepare himself in every way to go.’

And let his parents and his priesthood leaders help in that preparation.  Assisted by sisters and married couples who will serve as missionaries, what an army we should then have teaching of the Christ and his gospel. . . .”

President Spencer W. Kimball, 1975

What a powerful request from a Prophet of God!  Those who heard him immediately looked for ways to could make his request come true.  Manuals were re-read and there were conversations about how improvements could be made.  Unknown to most, however, eight years earlier, in 1968, a man especially in tune with the Spirit, anticipated President Kimball’s clarion call for better trained missionaries and had actually started a program to do just that.

The man I am talking about is Robert K. “Bob” Bowden, a local, hometown insurance salesman, affectionately known among the youth as “Uncle Bobby.”  Through inspiration, determination, and hard work he established and maintained the Arizona Temple Youth Guides.  Because of his indomitable spirit, the Youth Guides became known far and wide as the premier pre-mission prep program in the Church.  Here’s how it happened.

He sought out those who were already outstanding in academics and the sports arenas who were eagerly anticipating their missions and were excited to find something more they could do to prepare.  They accepted his challenge and he trained them better, earlier, and longer.  Soon they became the very best trained group of pre-missionaries in the Church and each looked forward to his mission with great joy!

They entered the MTC confident in their solid testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and with the already tested ability to teach the Gospel to not-yet-members of the Church.  As a result, they were successful, becoming leaders in their missions, making great contributions to the work, and wrote letters home of sincere gratitude for their preparation.

As a result of his efforts, members in the Salt River Valley have over the years been involved in a one-of-a-kind program that has changed thousands of lives!

One evening, while sitting in the Gardens at the Arizona Temple, after his shift as a volunteer at the Visitors’ Center, Uncle Bobby noticed how many people there were strolling around.  The Gardens were full of people who were there for the peace and serenity they found as they walked amid the fountains, reflection pool, and the beautiful flowers, shrubs, and trees.  Businessmen gave their time during the day to give tours, but at night they went home to their families and other responsibilities and there were no guides available.  He wondered how this beautiful setting might be used in the evening to introduce these many visitors to the Gospel.

As he sat, his thoughts turned to the youth of the Church, so clean and pure, who were sent all over the world at the age of 19 to serve missions.  Who could refuse to listen as these wonderful young people brought them the message of the Gospel?  Why couldn’t the youth is our area be recruited and trained to give tours in the evening as their elders did during the day?  What better opportunity to prepare for a mission than to learn what questions these visitors to the Gardens might have, prepare to answer them, and work in the Gardens giving tours and talking to nonmembers from our community?

The tour would evolve over the years but essential would have some of the history of Mesa, talk about the plants, introduce our doctrine on families and eternal life, explain the purposes of temples, and invite all to read the Book of Mormon to find out for themselves if what we said was true.

It was not easy to convince others that youth could be trusted or had the capacity to become dependable guides.  But Uncle Bobby was convinced they could and with this goal in mind, of combining the youth of the Church with such a marvelous setting, he embarked on a journey that was to last over two decades.

The beautiful weather in Arizona for most months of the year is conducive to outside activities.  Even on the hottest days, the Gardens provide a refuge from the heat.  The low average yearly rainfall for the area means that most winter evenings are usually crisp and clear.  It seemed a perfect year-round activity for those who had the time and inclination to become a part the effort.

After obtaining permission from local authorities, and using the Gardens as a backdrop, Uncle Bobby invited young men and women ages 16 and up, returned missionaries, and eventually older couples, from the Greater Phoenix area, to participate as Youth Guides, Young Adult Guides (RMs), and Senior Guides.  Their work was giving short, informational tours each evening in the gardens between the Arizona Temple and the Visitors’ Center.  Returned missionaries worked only on Sunday evening, while the Youth Guides had their weekly (except for Fast Sunday) testimony meeting.  Senior Guides worked on Mondays, so the youth could enjoy Family Home Evening with their families.

In order to accomplish this large task, a program was developed based on the principles found in the Missionary Guide, a comprehensive youth leadership organizational structure was put in place, and adults were called from the local area to assist Uncle Bobby in teaching and training an army of youth.  At one time each night of the week had as an additional advisor a former Mission President.

The Youth Guides began in 1968 and continued until 1975 when the Church began calling older couples as full time missionaries at the Visitors’ Center, and it was thought that local businessmen and youth would not be needed.  However, in 1985 a newly called Visitors’ Center Director read the Center’s history and the program started up again.  It continued until 1998, when it was again discontinued.  Since it is no longer in existence, the many things we learned as we worked in the program are now available in this book.

For a total of 23 years the Gardens was the home of the Youth Guides.  During those remarkable years, Uncle Bobby, through trial and error, created a missionary force never before seen in the Church in modern times.  We who were a part of it are grateful beyond words for his sacrifice and dedication to the youth of this area.  One young man wrote from his mission that he never knew anyone who loved the youth of the Church more than Uncle Bobby did.

My own participation began in 1989 when my daughter, Leslie, invited me to Parents’ Night.  That night I met Uncle Bobby and that meeting dramatically changed my life.  Shortly thereafter, I was called to serve as an Assistant Director for several years and then as the Director for two years.   My extensive files contain a record of struggles and successes during that time.  Using this material, plus my own personal experiences with thousands of youth, I have written this book, The GUIDElines for Pre-Mission Prep.  It tells the story of the Arizona Temple Youth Guides during my years of participation from 1989 to 1995, and offers a program of mission preparation based on the training piloted by the Youth Guides.

In this book you will find a pattern that can be used by anyone preparing for a mission, no matter what age.  The principles we learned have been modified for use without a Visitors’ Center.  Most importantly, it is specifically targeted at the busy youth of today.  Even though you go to school, work at part and full time jobs, date as often as is humanly possible … and do all the things pre-missionaries do, you can still become better prepared, as the Youth Guides did … IF you are willing commit to the Pre-Missionary Standard of Excellence and follow the pattern outlined in these pages.  In other words, this book is written for the serious Latter-day Saint (youth or older couples) who really wants to be the best missionary possible.  By saying that I don’t limit it in any way to the most popular, the handsomest, the prettiest, the smartest, or the most likely to succeed.  Although Uncle Bobby started with the very best he could find, to make sure that the program had an opportunity to be successful, we took all comers to the Youth Guides.  All they had to do was commit to the Standard, and they were in.  And they stayed as long as they continued to work towards becoming a better missionary.

Let me say it again, because it may be hard to believe.  It is possible to have a busy life and still prepare for your mission.  You don’t have to be the most popular or considered the most spiritual in your group.  The Lord wants all young men to prepare for missions who are physically and mentally able.  I am convinced you can do it, because I have helped thousands of busy youth in our region of the Church prepare for their missions.  The keys are here, but you must work the plan to be successful.

When they came to the Youth Guides in most cases I knew nothing about them.  I didn’t know their parents or their leaders.  All I had to know is that they were willing to follow our Standard.  Many came with weak testimonies, from broken homes, with a long history of challenges in life.  They found that we really meant it when we said they could be successful in preparing for their mission.  It wasn’t easy.  It took a lot of counseling at times.  If they weren’t convinced at first, it wasn’t long until they understand that what they had found was truly unique.  It was a group of youth who found it was “cool” to be religious.  They proudly studied the Book of Mormon and confidently invited others to come and learn more about the Gospel.

I am hoping that you will find all you need within these pages.  I am also hopeful that by the time this book is published that I will have a web page where you can contact me if you have challenges with the program.

                However, first things first.  Where are you in your preparation?

Last minute?  Catch the plane in two days?

See Appendix A ….  If you’ve stumbled upon a copy of this book in a bookstore, or at the home of a friend, and you are so close to departing for your mission that you have run out of time to do anything but pray for a dramatic intervention, please turn to Appendix A and learn about a newsletter I call The Helaman Son Letters.  This is a newsletter that can come to you once a month during your mission, if you complete and send in a subscription form, plus the amount calculated for your mission.

Each issue of The Helaman Son Letters will bring thousands of words of encouragement from former Youth guide missionaries who served in missions throughout the world.  They have good advice for your personal journey as a servant of the Lord.

I once corresponded with more than 130 missionaries in 21 counties around the world, and have in my files more than 2,000,000 words from the field written by missionaries in all stages of their missions.

This vast storehouse of firsthand knowledge was the basis for a wonderful newsletter published for nine years and sent to the Youth Guide Alumni while they were on their missions.  It was so popular with the former Youth Guides that they told me it was the letter they most anticipated receiving during the month.  I have re-created it using the best of past issues.  Follow the subscription directions and you, too, can receive this wonderful, spiritually uplifting newsletter and missionary training tool during your mission.  Missionary stories and lessons learned are timeless and will help you as you “put your shoulder to the wheel” in the work.

Got your call?  Here’s what you can do in the short time before your mission….

If you have just received your mission call, and you have a couple of months to prepare, then this book will be of value to you.  In addition to subscribing to The Helaman Son Letters, you’ll want to go to Appendix B and learn about Fast Tracking.  In that section I have tried to condense everything down into a two-month time frame.  Using the Fast Track Outline, you will be able to pick up the basics and learn a few of the most important concepts you’ll need to know before you leave for the MTC.  It will help you become a more successful missionary as you reach the MTC and later in the field.  Don’t forget to subscribe to The Helaman Son Letters described in Appendix A.  If you subscribe during your mission, it will help you review the things you learned in Fast Tracking, and be a strength to you in time of need.

If you have time … up to a year or more … then this program is especially for you ….

If you are preparing for your mission, and you have not received your call or there is up to a year or more before you send in your papers, The Guidelines for Pre-Mission Prep will be of immense value to you.  The Youth Guides established a highly effective, comprehensive method for training pre-missionaries.  I have outlined this method and how you can take advantage of it as you prepare for your mission.  Take the opportunity to skim through its pages, stopping from time to time to sample its words of wisdom.   Within these pages is a tremendous story of faith and works by modern day youth.  It will buoy up your day and increase your faith in your fellow youth who are marshaled by the thousands in the cause of Truth.

The Guidelines is devoted to training you to become the best missionary possible as you follow the simple suggestions and report your success to your family, friends and leaders.  It will help you outline a path to follow during the months that remain before your mission, and instill within you the principles of effective missionary work.

The majority of the information contained here is for youth who have not yet received their call, but who are currently preparing for their missions, and is about youth who found themselves in the same boat.  By the time they left they were prepared.  If you follow the lessons we learned in the Youth Guides, you, too, can become successful as a missionary.  We learned (or in some cases re-learned) simple rules that helped us to become the most successful pre-mission youth training program in the Church.  You can learn them, too.

As an example, one of our rules was based on an approach to study that was found successful.  To be a member of the Youth Guides, you had commit to study the Gospel for 30 minutes each day, a total of 210 minutes a week, and report that you had studied to your leader.  (We found that if it wasn’t reported on, it usually wasn’t done!)  This commitment, in addition to the rest of the Standard of Excellence, was included on the Application form for the program.  The application form was signed by the applicant, then by his/her parent/guardian, and the bishop of the ward attended.

Everyone knew from the outset what the rules were, because they were spelled out on the Application form that they signed.  It is important to know the rules, and the fact that the parents or guardian and the bishop knew, meant that they would be able to help make sure the Standard was kept.

Back to the example.  Each Guide kept a record of the time spent studying the Gospel on a Weekly Report form, which was given to a youth leader during the District meeting each week.  As a bonus, on the back of the form each Guide was encouraged to write something about that week for the District Leader to read.  As they worked in the Gardens, these Weekly Reports began to contain some of the most spiritual moments of their lives.

If you are not used to studying the Gospel for 30 minutes each day, this might sound like a huge assignment.  However, because we all worked and went to school and still managed to have time to put the Youth Guide program in our lives, we designed ways of getting things done that can work for you.

Did you notice that our standard was to study the Gospel?  We didn’t just say read the scriptures or read the Book of Mormon.  The Gospel is much more than that and we knew that reading the scriptures alone was good, but it wasn’t the best preparation.  Our solution to getting in 30 minutes a day of study, taking into account that we had to go to school and work, was that we had lots of ways this could be accomplished.

We were allowed to listen to tapes by General Authorities as we traveled in our cars, read books by them, study from the Missionary Guide or listen to the tapes from that program.  We could also read Church magazines, gaining up-to-date information from the General Authorities and filling us with inspirational stories.  There were lots of ways during our day that we could accomplish the goal, without waiting until we were so tired and it was late at night and we fell asleep reading the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon was our basic standard, and everyone was encouraged to sup from its pages daily, but we didn’t stop there.

Some people didn’t like to read, at first, but wouldn’t go anywhere without their portable CD player.  What about investing in Church CDs?  That seems like a natural.  Also, there are times during a break at work when pulling out a Church magazine and reading in an article fit right in to our missionary goals.  Someone might ask what we were reading and instantly there was an opportunity to invite them to the Gardens for a tour.  (More about that in the section on the Standard of Excellence.)

We learned many things in the Youth Guides.  We learned that you don’t have to be the most popular Mormon youth in the ward or stake to be really successful at missionary work.  We learned, that if you just set up some basic rules and encourage everyone to follow them that your success can become legendary.

Modern Day Stripling Warriors!

In the annals of modern day Church missionary history, I believe that you will find there is nothing that compares in breadth and depth to the story of the Youth Guides who served in the Gardens at the Arizona Temple Visitors’ Center.  We were fortunate to have two of the premier missionary attractions in the Church.  One was the Easter Pageant with a cast of 350 and attended over six nights by more than 100,000 people.  The other, was the annual Christmas Lights at the Arizona Temple.  More than 1,000,000 people viewed the lights each December and many were greeted and given information about the Church and our beliefs on a personal, one-to-one relationship by the Youth Guides.

The Youth Guide story is one of an unmatched legion of youth whose missionary labors and accomplishments are the basis of numerous local legends.  In a metropolitan area of 3 million people, these young men and women came from 28 stakes and over 100 wards, were called and set apart by their Stake Presidents, with the intention of becoming the most outstanding missionaries the Church has ever known.

Buoyed by faith, hope and charity combined with sweat, toil and tears, they rose to the challenge of missionary work in the most unique program for youth the Church has ever sponsored.  Their tremendous courage reminded us of the Ancient Stripling Warriors.  Therefore, this book is dedicated to the modern-day equivalent of the Helaman Warriors, the ones I call my Helaman Sons and Daughters.  With their faith they moved monsoons, with their courage they confounded the learned, and with their indomitable spirit they taught the basic principles of the Gospel to literally thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of their earthly brothers and sisters.

All of this was done within the confines of an acre of ground known as The Gardens of the Arizona Temple.  This is not an ordinary tract of land.  It is a place between the gleaming Arizona Temple and the Visitors’ Center, dedicated to the work of the Lord, buffered from the world by these two marvelous buildings, and filled with the beauty of a reflection pool, surrounded by a glorious variety of flowers, shrubs and trees, especially planted to enhance the wonderful message and beauty of the Gospel.

                In addition to this volume there is another I have titled Letters from my Helaman Sons.  Out of the thousands of youth who were members of the only program like it in the Church, I have selected 52 whose stories will provide you with a year’s worth of inspirational Sunday reading.  These are youth that I was personally involved with before, during, and after their missions.  We counseled together, struggled in leadership positions together, fought Satan together, went to the temple together and became the best of friends.  With their permission I share their innermost thoughts and feelings about the Gospel and the work.  We’ll be with them in the Gardens, at the MTC, and go with them to lands near and far.  From each you will learn lessons they learned as they worked to become awesome missionaries.

                Although it is complicated and has been difficult to put into words, I will explain in greater detail who and what the Youth Guides were.  We’ll look at the organizational structure and the things that we were able to do within it.  We’ll suggest things you can do in your home, ward, or stake that will benefit your missionary preparation. The Helaman Son Letters will be stories from my files recounting the struggles, trials and accomplishments of my friends in the program.

                Appendix A will outline what The Helaman Son Letters was and how you can become a part of that wonderful publication.

                Appendix B is Fast Tracking, for those of you short on time and preparation.

                Lastly, let’s talk about the guarantee.  If, after you have taken the time to search this book for the gems that will help you, and you tried them out in your life, and you find that they really didn’t, please return the book for a full refund.  The last thing I want to do is waste even $1 of the money you need to spend to prepare for your mission.  But, if you find that it is helpful, I am hoping you will tell a friend.