Guidelines shared with my counselors when assigned to release a full-time missionary:
- Open with a kneeling prayer (usually ask them to pray…in whatever language they’re most familiar)
- What area did your mission cover?
- Where did you serve? (how many wards/branches)
- What was the Church (members) like where you served?
- Did you get along with your companions? What did you learn from them?
- What kind of relationship did you have with your mission president?
- How did your mission influence your family back home?
- What was a high point of your mission?
- How did your mission affect your testimony?
- How are you different personally because of your mission?
- What are some things you plan to do on a daily or weekly basis for the rest of your life because of what you learned on your mission?
- Make sure they came home with a temple recommend that should expire in 3 months
- Conduct a worthiness interview, especially pornography and/or inappropriate fraternizing with other missionaries
- Visit about future plans (did he/she write anyone on a mission? school plans? if staying home, plan to attend YSA or family ward?)
- Offer counsel, if inclined
- Schedule to report in the next PEC, if available
After all the questions…
- Please bear your testimony one more time as a full-time missionary
- I then respond by bearing my testimony
- Then I ask him/her to remove their missionary name tag and thank them profusely for their service
- Close with a kneeling prayer (an opportunity to seek the Lord’s blessing on the missionary for the rest of his/her life)
