"A PARENT'S GUIDE TO RAISING SUCCESSFUL MISSIONARIES," by Brad and Sandy Harris, Covenant Communications, $13.99, 182 pages (nf)
Brad and Sandy Harris have met many Mormon missionaries.
Their recent book, “A Parent’s Guide to Raising Successful Missionaries,” strives to encourage and lead parents down a path of family centered discipleship.
Called to serve in a branch presidency at the Missionary Training Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Harrises learned firsthand the traits that most help youths succeed as they enter the mission field.
After adding that knowledge to the repeated plea from parents that they be given a manual similar to the one their missionary children receive, the Harrises decided to take on the challenge to support these missionary parents.
With their LDS Church service as a focused backdrop, the Harrises collected an array of advice and counsel to help parents as they prepare children for missionary service and life beyond.
Concentrated on scriptures and words of prophets, this guide delves into every corner of a missionary’s life. From gospel study and the importance of obedience to the danger of comfort zones and the power of hard work, the Harrises engage readers in a steady flow of direction aimed at shaping youths for a future involving missionary service.
Each chapter shares concepts and plans and also poses thoughtful questions that readers can work through to determine their picture of parenting. The authors also include responses to several surveys given to missionaries and their leaders — those on the front lines of missionary work.
While the book’s insight is geared toward parents planning on rearing missionaries, the ideas and direction on the pages could easily be applied to molding children into successful, faithful adults in any field.
The thoughts shared in “Raising Successful Missionaries” are based on the life experiences of missionaries, mission presidents, parents and families. The book is linear, logical and simple but is deeply tied to gospel principles and personal application of values and wisdom.
This work is a good starting place for any family looking forward to missionary work in the future.
Melissa DeMoux is a stay-at-home mother of six young children who lives in West Valley City, Utah. Her email is mddemoux@gmail.com and she blogs about her adventures in motherhood at demouxfamily.blogspot.com.