File to Track Dates for Mission Application and Service Preparation

The Google Sheets file linked to in the button below is designed to help you track major milestone dates in your mission application and preparation to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can input your own personal availability date into the file and then see our recommendation for when to do things to help you stay on schedule to leave on your mission on the timeline you are hoping for.

The major events tracked in the file are application milestones such meeting with the bishop to enable the Missionary Online Recommendation System (MORS), doctor visits, and submitting your application in MORS. The file also helps you track when to complete milestones you will need to meet after receiving your mission call in order to be prepared to leave on time such as applying for a passport, shopping for clothes and gear, receiving your temple endowment, and making travel plans. The time allotted to each step is based on my personal experience, the time each step took in sending my daughter on a mission in 2022, and other recommendations from the Church.

Instructions for “Mission Application and Service Preparation – Recommended Dates”

Step 1: Make Your Own Copy of the File

The link above takes you to a “view only” version of the Google Sheets file, which means you cannot edit that version. To customize the file with your personal dates, you will need to make your own copy of the file, which can be done one of two ways:

1) Go to the “File” menu in the top left of the screen and select “Make a copy”. This will create a copy of the file on your own personal Google Account that you will be able to edit with your personal mission availability date.

2) Go to the “File” menu in the top left of the screen and select “Download” then select “Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)”. This will download a copy of the file on your own computer that you will be able to edit with your personal mission availability date.

Step 2: Put Your Mission Availability and Start Date in the File

In cell A1 of the “application timeline” tab of the file, put your mission availability date, and then all the other dates in the application timeline will adjust accordingly. Your availability date is the earliest date you could start your mission which is, at the earliest, the day your turn 18 if you’re a young man, or the day you turn 19 if you are a young woman. Your availability date, though, could be later depending on your personal circumstances such as schooling and work.

In cell A1 of the “preparation timeline” tab of the file, put your mission start date. This is the date you have been called to start serving your mission. It is the day you start the MTC, whether At-Home MTC or in-person MTC. If you have not yet received your mission call, until you do, just put your availability date as your mission start date. Again, once you change this date in cell A1, all the other dates in the preparation timeline will adjust to let you know when you need to aim to get things done.

Step 3: Follow the Recommended Dates and Mark Things Off When Completed

After completing step 1 and 2, you just have to follow the recommended timeline in the file and do the activities by the dates suggested to help ensure your best chance of leaving on your mission on time. For your convenience, I have put a column in the file so you can mark off the date when you accomplish the various tasks. I hope this is helpful, but contact me or comment below if you have any questions.