Free resources about the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
*The Tulsa Mission was Renamed to the Arkansas Bentonville Mission in 2015.
*Other Mission Pages: Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission.
Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. We try to keep this info up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the mission address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
This mission does not currently exist
Renamed the Arkansas Bentonville Mission
Phone Number: N/A
Mission President: N/A
Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission (LDS). To access the official LDS.org map for the Tulsa Mission:
Videos with Tulsa RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Tulsa Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
LDS-Friendly Videos about Oklahoma
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Oklahoma. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Oklahoma, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Oklahoma Tulsa Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Groups
Here are Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Tulsa Mission.
- Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Facebook Group (713 members)
- Tulsa Mission Pres. Richard Merkley Group (196 members)
- Tulsa Mission Scott Shumway Era Group (144 members)
- Tulsa Mission Pres. Quade P. Hansen Group (127 members)
- Tulsa Mission 1988-90 Facebook Group (66 members)
- Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Parent Group (41 members)
- Tulsa Mission – President Miles Group (7 members)
- Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Sisters Group (1 member)
- Tulsa Mission/President Bird/Thompson Group (1 member)
Oklahoma Tulsa Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission!
Shirt designs include Tulsa Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Tulsa missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Tulsa Mission gifts
Oklahoma Tulsa Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Tulsa LDS Mission.
- 2015, Oklahoma Tulsa Mission renamed Arkansas Bentonville Mission
- 2015, Kevin H. Loveland
- 2012-2015, Scott K. Shumway
- 2009-2012, Richard E. Merkley
- 2006-2009, Kent M. Seal (Listen to an interview with the Seals)
- 2003-2006, Durrell W. Nielsen
- 2000-2003, Randall Dee Peterson
- 1997-2000, Quade P. Hansen
- 1994-1997, R. Clair Miles
- 1994-1994, N. Lee Allphin
- 1991-1994, Glenn A. Wardrop
- 1989-1991, Arthur W. Elrey
- 1986-1989, Samuel O. Thompson
- 1983-1986, Tom L. Bird
- 1980-1983, Pat B. Brian
- 1977-1980, Calvin Merkley
- 1974-1977, Earnest J. Whiting Jr.
- 1971-1974, Persyl L. Richardson
- 1969-1971, Albert Crandall
- 1967-1970, Bryant F. West
- 1964-1967, James B. Keysor
- 1961-1964, Wayne C. Player
Oklahoma LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 46,588
- Missions: 2
- Temples: 1
- Congregations: 88
- Family History Centers: 26
Helpful Articles about Oklahoma
Oklahoma Tulsa Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Oklahoma Tulsa RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.
When did you serve?
- 2012-2014 (Sarah)
- 2011-2013 (Kyle)
- 2010-2012 (Ian)
- 2013-2015 (Jordan)
- 2012-2014 (Jordan)
- 2013-2015 (Rayven)
- 2013-1015 (John)
- 2006-2008 (Kevin)
- 2012-2014 (McKay)
- 2003-2005 (Chad)
- 1982-1984 (Tigi)
- 1989-1991 (Hank)
What areas did you serve in?
- Muskogee, OK, Cassville, MO, Sapulpa, OK, Skiatook, OK, St. Robert, MO. (Sarah)
- Tulsa (Mingo valley), Owasso, Tahlequah, Webb City, Monett, Bentonville, Centerton. (Ian)
- Nevada MO, Pittsburg KS, Nixa MO, Eldon MO, Rogers AR, Nixa MO, Aurora MO. (Jordan)
- Tulsa, OK; Osage Beach, MO, Springdale, AR; Fayetteville, AR; Fort Smith, AR.(Jordan)
- Claremore, Oklahoma; Cassville, Missouri; Rogersville, Missouri; Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Centerton, Arkansas; Bentonville, Arkansas; Ozark, Missouri. (Rayven)
- Berryville AR, McAlester, OK, Branson, MO, Springfield, MO (Chesterfield Ward), Prairie Grove, AR, Bentonville, AR, Eufaula, OK, West Plains, MO, Mountian View, MO, Poteau, OK, Talihina, OK. (John)
- Monett, Fayetteville, McAlester, Tulsa, West Plains, Lake of the Ozarks. (Kevin)
- Webb City, Willard, Bentonville, Springfield, Jenks, Sapulpa, Branson, Tulsa. (McKay)
- Muskogee, OK…Nixa, MO…Springfield, MO…Siloam Springs, AR…Rolla, MO…Owasso, OK. (Chad)
- Springdale, Eldon, Sallisaw, Osage Beach, Eldon, Aurora & Branson. (Luke)
- Fort Sill, Mid West City, Ponca City, Mustang, Monett Mo. (Tigi)
- Springdale, AR; Tulsa, OK; Lebenon, MO; Pittsburg, KS; Joplin, MO; Springfield, MO; Venita, OK. (Hank)
What were some favorite foods?
- Catfish, okra, fried chicken. (Sarah)
- Catfish and hush puppies! (Kyle)
- Homemade chili there were so many different homemade versions. Also braums!! (Ian)
- Ribs, fried chicken, pulled pork burgers and Andy’s concrete shakes. (Jordan)
- Mexican food, served Spanish speaking. It was great. When I was in an English area, we ate a lot of fried stuff. Like okra, and friend Mac and Cheese. (Jordan)
- Fry bread, Biscuits and gravy, Beer-battered fish, Homemade rolls, Homemade strawberry jam, Oatmeal tacos. (Rayven)
- Pizza, Plain Tortillas, Cheese, Milk, and Tomatoes. (John)
- Coleslaw, BBQ, Cornbread, Frozen Custard. (Kevin)
- Roast Beef and Potatoes. Anything BBQ. Anything but pasta and pizza. (McKay)
- Fried Okra! The BBQ is Awesome! (Chad)
- Everything Ace (a member) made. I’m pretty sure he fed us roadkill once or twice, but it was always amazing. (Luke)
- Anything at Braums!!!!! (Tigi)
- Buffalo Burger, Possum Stew, BBQ, Sister W’s Roast, Rattlesnake strips. (Hank)
What was a funny experience?
- Jumping into a pile of raked leaves at a service project and hiding. (Sarah)
- The time my companion’s milk from Braum’s fell out of the bag and spilled all over the parking lot. The time my companion and I watched an entire Easter broadcast from Salt Lake City in Spanish, a language none of us understood. When we left the church, there was a tornado a brewin’. (Kyle)
- Every day with my trainer teaching me the ropes of a missionary and doing some tricks to a greenie. (Ian)
- I was serving in Nevada, and my trainer and I were teaching this less active member and his name was Jimmy. Well, we started to teach and then he gets a knock at the door and he opens the door and there is this older guy standing there in a cowboy attire and a 6 inch cigarette coming out of his mouth. He also has a squirt gun in his hand and he tells Jimmy to get his gun and go squirting some cats, well they get there squirt guns all loaded up and they start chasing cats in the neighborhood and squirting them like crazy. (Jordan)
- My companion and I had to rap about the restoration in order to get a returning less active to say the prayer. (Rayven)
- In Talihina, Oklahoma, we were trying to find the home of a member on our records. It seemed like there was just an empty space where the home should be, so we knocked on the neighbor’s door to ask about it. Some guy opened up the door and saw it was us and said: WOAH! and closed the door quickly until there was a two inch opening. He said: “Boys, I just got out of the shower and I’m as naked as a Jaybird right now!” (John)
- My Companion and I were tracting in McAlester, Oklahoma and we were talking to this lady on the street corner about the Book of Mormon. She kept telling us she already had a Bible and the Bible was all she needed. She was eating a big, flaky pastry of some sort and as she took a big bite of it, a giant flake covered her entire chin and just sat there all awkwardly. As we finished and walked away, my companion said: “The Bible is all I need! And this pastry….is all I want!” (Kevin)
- I need something more specific. It’s hard to think of one randomly. (McKay)
- While serving in Springfield, Missouri we got a call from some other Elders in our district…they had opened the door to the crawl space under their ground level apartment and a feral cat jumped out of it into their apartment! We had to go rescue them. (Chad)
- Companions. They in and of themselves are a funny experience. (Luke)
- Pipes freezing up in Ponca City…we had to boil water to bathe. (Tigi)
- While tracting in Lebanon, MO, this 30-something guy told his Rottweiler to “git” us. I held a copy of the Book of Mormon behind me while running after my companion and the dog took the Book of Mormon from my hand and brought it back to it’s master. I told the zone leaders about our exciting BoM placement when reporting the numbers that week. The AP’s put my BoM placement story in the mission-wide report that month and reminded us that President Kimball said every BoM placement will result in someone joining the church one day. (Hank)
What was a crazy experience?
- A man we were teaching confessed he loved my companion. He was in his 50’s. (Sarah)
- There was a tornado warning in Greenwood Arkansas going on that day. The sirens went off. We grabbed some things and booked it to the car. We knew that hail would start falling at any time and we were concerned about denting the car. There was an abandoned car wash next to the church. We raced toward it. Just as the first drop of hail hit the car roof, I stepped on it and barely made it inside the car wash. Huge chunks of hail immediately started falling, doing some damage to uncovered cars. I felt like Indiana Jones. (Kyle)
- We were invited into a house to share a message and when we walked in they had invited a Jehovah Witness member in already so we mainly were asked questions from him instead of the family and the guy just wanted to bash. Crazy that someone would have two different religions in their home to teach at the same time. (Ian)
- I broke my leg on my mission providing service for a member. I was serving in Nixa and one of our neighbor’s apartments in our apartment complex caught fire and she was an old lady, my companion gets the extinguisher, but he doesn’t know how to use it. Then I grab it and pull the pin and I ran in there and put the fire out. It was awesome. (Jordan)
- We were right by a tornado landing and you could see it whipping through the water. There wasn’t any solid areas to seek shelter so we were in a trailer in a trailer park. (Jordan)
- A car slid on the ice and stopped right in front of our vehicle. (Rayven)
- I almost got in three wrecks with members driving every time! (John)
- Well you’re in Tornado Alley, so you can imagine. I remember in West Plains, Missouri we were riding to our dinner appointment with the member, and they were listening to the weather. We were allowed to watch or listen to weather reports if it was a dangerous storm, so you can prepare. They were saying on the radio that a F2/F3 tornado was in West Plains, and the roads were like rivers. So much water, lightning, wind, and hail it was unbelievable. It was dark as night due to the storm, but with every lightning flash we were looking for the funnel. I never saw it, but I thought I might have at one point and then it went dark again. When we got to the members’ home, we went in their storm shelter to wait it out. (Kevin)
- We met a less active while doing service at Salvation Army in Rolla, Missouri. We got invited to dinner at his house. When we got there, it was on a dead end street and already dark, kind of eerie feeling. We knock on the door and get invited in. They guys whole house was decorated in Nazi garb! He was a full on white supremacist and was acting really weird/shifty. We made an excuse to leave as soon as we could! (Chad)
- Having a dude chase is off his property with a shotgun. (Luke)
- Taking a picture up close to a buffalo who chased us around! Crazy… (Tigi)
- While tracting in a rural area of Arkansas, we rode our bikes up to a farmhouse. The farmer came to the door with a shotgun and asked if we were from the FBI and I cheekily responded, “No, FBI agents don’t ride bikes.” He smiled and asked us who we were and after a brief discussion about our purpose as missionaries, he gave us a tour of his farm and how he had set up the buildings to facilitate the work. (Hank)
What was a spiritual experience?
- I was able to say the right words to a woman who was dealing with a difficult situation. I could definitely feel the Spirit there. (Sarah)
- Every time an investigator saw the light and felt the presence of the spirit. You just saw someone understand what your teaching (what the Spirit is teaching) nothing really tops that besides seeing the investigator go into the waters of baptism. (Ian)
- In Nixa, MO we were teaching our investigator, Rick and he had a stroke and his whole left side of his body was paralyzed l. He was really easy to teach, but he wasn’t good on reading, so we went in there prepared to teach him and I got an impression before hand. We get in there and everything is going good and I tell Rick this ” Rick, we’re here for you and we want to see you read more often and I promise you that if you read from the Book Of Mormon every day that you’ll begin to heal and you’ll be able to walk again, go to the mailbox without a cane, mow more of your lawn each time.” After that, it started to come true for him and he was not just progressing spiritually, but also physically. (Jordan)
- One of my favorite spiritual experiences was seeing a family get married on a Friday, baptized on a Saturday, and then confirmed on Sunday. They are still active to this day. (Jordan)
- When I was transferred, my companion and I were both new to the area so we had to get to know everyone quickly if we wanted to be more familiar with the work. Our first Sunday, our ward mission leader introduced to one of the ward missionaries who was the sweetest 80 something year old woman who was as graceful and young as a woman in her 20s. When she turned around to greet us, she immediately had tears in her eyes and gave us big hugs. She told us she could see so much light around us and knew that good things were going to happen with us here. Later on in the transfer, she had told me that the real reason she started crying was because when she looked at me it was like meeting an old friend. She felt like she knew me and immediately knew that we must have been kindred spirits in the pre-existence life. She’s been someone close to my heart ever since who always reminds me that we were meant to meet again. (Rayven)
- One I remember very prominently is, in a lesson with some investigators in a part-member family, when we prayed our hearts out for the Holy Ghost to testify to hearts that the Book of Mormon was true. The Holy Ghost burned so strong in our hearts and our exchanges said several times for about an hour after how he still felt it burn in him! (John)
- Looking back, almost everything was a spiritual experience in one way or another. I can pinpoint one in my first area when I was relaying the story of the First Vision. I can’t describe the feeling, but it was incredible. I already had a strong testimony of the first vision, but that hit me hard. I also had two personal experiences that confirmed to me why I was called to serve in this mission. (Kevin)
- In Webb City, I had a ton of spiritual experiences. One that comes to mind was when we taught the Priests and Laurels a Mission Prep class. Matt E. shared how he felt about the missionaries that helped him join the church and it was very powerful. (McKay)
- So many to pick from. One of my favorites was teaching an investigator who had to have First Presidency approval to get baptized. One afternoon we got a phone call from him asking for us to come over. When we got there he was beaming with the biggest smile! We were invited inside and he showed us his letter from the First Presidency informing him that he could be baptized. He had tears streaming down his face, a man in his 70’s, who had spent time in prison for murder said it was the best day in his life because he could “finally be clean”. (Chad)
- A priesthood blessing given to Paul. (Luke)
- When Jacob De Jäger visited and taught us the true blessings of mission service. (Tigi)
- I had an impression that we should tract a particular apartment building, but we were on our way to appointment. We went to the appointment, but unfortunately the investigator wasn’t home. A week later I had the same impression that we should tract the same apartment building and about half way through we met a golden investigator that told us of the trials he was going through and how he had literally been praying for God to send someone to help. (Hank)
What are some interesting facts about the Tulsa Mission?
- It’s the Bible Belt. Almost everyone is either Baptist, Catholic or Protestant. There are also a lot of American Indians there. (Sarah)
- How often we stopped at Braum’s for a quick bite. Finding that most members were from Idaho and Utah. (Ian)
- There is this awesome town called Branson, Missouri and it is a load fun. There you can do everything that is fun. Also they have the best BBQ. Guaranteed to see at least one dead armadillo on the side of the road. Chiggers and ticks are bad. The storms are the best. Lightning is so cool there when your laying in bed, it looks like the red carpet in Hollywood is right outside your room. It’s awesome. (Jordan)
- It is the Only True Mission. (Jordan)
- The Oklahoma Tulsa Mission no longer exists, it is now called the Arkansas Bentonville Mission. It covers the 4 corners of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas. Everyone says “y’all”, “Walmarts”, “I says”, “fixin”, “finna”, etc. It’s in the middle of the Bible Belt, so everyone loves God but not too many people are fond of Mormons. (Rayven)
- The ABM is the Almighty’s Best Mission! as the OTM was the Only True Mission. The best missionaries in the world are sent here. The Spirit is very strong in the hearts of those who diligently serve the Lord here:)! (John)
- Tulsa is home to Oral Roberts University, who is a famous televangelist. There is a huge McDonald’s that’s built over the freeway and on either side when you leave Tulsa and are headed to Joplin. (Kevin)
- We are the only true mission. We have the best members in the church. The people of our mission are very nice and are very strong believers. (McKay)
- One of the largest missions in the lower 48 states. Parley P. Pratt was murdered in the mission and memorialized with a monument in Alma, Arkansas. (Chad)
- Purple fence posts in Missouri are a thing. (Luke)
- Served under 2 mission Presidents Pat B Brian and Tom L Bird. (Tigi)
- The people in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas were kind and true examples of Southern hospitality. I was offered tea or lemonade on a daily basis during the summers and hot chocolate in the winter, even if they weren’t interested in our message. (Hank)
What was the weather like?
- Very hot in the summer, extremely cold in the winter. There are ice storms and tornadoes. (Sarah)
- The most extreme winter with 16 inches of snow that came all in one night, snowed in for days at a member’s home. The most extreme tornado that hit Joplin when I was in the area next to them. The most extreme winter with 34 days of straight 100 degree heat. (Ian)
- Storms are awesome. Tornadoes, lightning and thunder…doesn’t get much better then that. Winter is really cold, summer is really humid. (Jordan)
- There is a wide variety of weather conditions. I saw everything from flooding that turned over semi trucks, tornados, and freezing rain that made everything look like ice. (Jordan)
- It changed constantly! The common phrase wherever you went was, “Don’t like the weather? Wait 5 minutes…it’ll change.” (Rayven)
- Random 24/7. Kinda does what it wants. This year, 60’s in the winter. A couple years ago it hit 0..and 0 with 98% humidity is the coldest I’ve ever been in my life. It’s -20 in Idaho right now and it doesn’t even compare. (John)
- Humid in the summer, which made it very muggy. Shade from trees do not provide relief from it. Heavy rains that come and go quickly, so you do not expect it and suddenly you’re drenched. In the winter time, the cold humidity cuts through layers of clothing as if you have no coat at all. Earmuffs, gloves, and warm under clothing is a must. (Kevin)
- Unpredictable! Humid! (McKay)
- HOT and HUMID in the spring summer and fall, and bone chilling cold in the winter. (Chad)
- Moderately humid, and cloudy, with the occasional ice storm. (Luke)
- Hot & Humid and snow and cold in the winter. (Tigi)
- Fairly humid with full-blown seasons. The most amazing thing was how quickly the weather could change. We went into sacrament one day and there wasn’t a cloud in the perfect blue sky. As we left sacrament to go to Sunday School, I noticed it was dark outside, the sky was covered with thunder clouds and you couldn’t see a single patch of blue. Then as we left church the thunder storm had mostly passed and was fading into the distance. (Hank)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- The members are very friendly and helpful. They usually have a lot of friends to teach. (Sarah)
- The families you met were always nice and inviting. Members took care of you if you needed anything and most of the ones I met became good friends that I keep in contact with. (Ian)
- There were always a few families in every ward or branch I served in that I loved. There are a lot of people that care about the missionaries. (Jordan)
- Everyone has some kind of belief in God and Jesus Christ, sure they had a religion and they were very stubborn about it. They believed that it was true, but so do we. We shouldn’t chastise them for what they believe in, we should add to it. I would take a area with religion and a belief then trying to instill that in them first any day. (Jordan)
- I loved experiencing the 4 seasons. There was so much green that it felt so amazing to be surrounded by more nature than big buildings and busy traffic. Everything there was to do, was done outdoors. Majority of the people I served were very hospitable with wonderful manners. They were very open and blunt. They loved being outdoors and helping others. (Rayven)
- I sure missed the mountainous terrain of Idaho but the people I met with Southern Hospitality is real. The Members of the Church here are stronger than anywhere else in the World. A Mormon population being >.1% they stood up for what was right. They all were active missionaries spreading the fullness of the Gospel to their family, friends, and to the World. I love them with all my heart. (John)
- The Oklahoma Tulsa Mission has such a variety of people. You have a large population of Marshalese in Northwest Arkansas, and you have some wealthy areas, as well as humble. It’s a lot of fun meeting so many different people. The culture was a lot more diverse than I expected serving stateside. (Kevin)
- Very friendly and God fearing! The Midwest is beautiful! I love the green grass especially coming from the desert. (McKay)
- The overwhelming majority of people whether they are interested in the gospel or not, are very friendly! (Chad)
- Their general kindness and respect for the elderly. They are a kind people. (Luke)
- Their country style, very kind & loving! (Tigi)
- The people were genuine and generally kind. Willing to discuss the gospel and many were prepared to receive our message. (Hank)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Pack warm clothes and light material clothes. It’s nice to have at least a carry on. It gives you more space. (Sarah)
- I would say pack the essentials and wait till you get to the area for a coat decision because you’ll never know what extreme weather will or won’t show up. (Ian)
- Winter time…definitely put money towards good winter gear, because it gets freezing and you might just have go biking in it and it gets much colder when your riding your bike in -15 degrees. Summer…there is really nothing you can do, just get through it day by day. Your definitely going to sweat your white shirts yellow, so you might want some extra white shirts for summer. Get good shoes, because you’ll walk a lot. Pack light,because for me, I had one big suitcase, a dress clothes handbag, shoulder bag and my backpack. The less bags you need to worry about on the flight or transit the better, because sometimes things happen where your stuff gets lost and you may never get back for awhile or at all. (Jordan)
- Bring good shoes, a rain jacket, and some thermals for those crazy days. (Jordan)
- Pack light. Pack for the season. Once the season is over, keep a few items just in case, get clothes or have clothes sent to you for the appropriate season and send the rest home. That way you’re not carrying 4 season’s worth of clothing around. (Rayven)
- I had 2 suitcases of clothes when I came out and 1 suitcase of clothes and 1 suitcase of all the papers I collected on the mission. I would just say make sure to spend that extra time to ship stuff home. (John)
- Tons of short sleeve shirts for the Elders, and only one long sleeve for meetings. Lots of inexpensive ties because the rain will destroy your tie at a moments notice. Do not throw away all your rain damaged ties, use them again on other rainy days when it’s obvious there’s going to be rain. (Kevin)
- You don’t need as much as you think because you don’t really know until you’re out there. (McKay)
- Short sleeved shirts, black ankle socks for the summer, a good camelback type pack with a 2-liter or more bladder. (Chad)
- Normal Utah clothes. (Luke)
- All 4 seasons. (Tigi)
- Clothing for all four seasons, but generally no extremes. (Hank)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I learned more about the Gospel and the scriptures than I ever could. I learned how to share it, and I believe I became braver as well. (Sarah)
- The knowledge of the gospel, a greater love for my Savior and Heavenly Father. The blessings of knowing there is so much more to learn and that families are an essential part of living with our Father again. (Ian)
- I received a deeper testimony in the gospel itself. I’m a convert and I have spent half of my membership in the church as a missionary, so it was completely new for me. I was thrown out of my comfort zone a lot. A greater purpose to do my best as a member missionary back home. (Jordan)
- Way to many to even put here. (Jordan)
- The greatest blessing I received from my mission was my own conversion. I have a greater understanding of the gospel with a deeper appreciation for it in my life. I got to meet so many people, members and nonmembers, many of whom have a special place in my heart. I got to see the Atonement of Jesus Christ work in people’s lives both on my mission and back home among my loved ones. My family has become spiritually stronger and we are even more active in church, busy with each of our callings. I gained so much experience and life learned lessons – more than I could ever imagined compared to if I hadn’t gone. I got to see te Lord’s hand in my life and in others. I was blessed to have a deeper relationship with my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. (Rayven)
- If I wrote you a book on the blessings I received, it would be longer than the scriptures and all the Harry Potter series combined. 1. I learned who my Savior was and the Cleansing Power of His Atonement. 2. I learned how to live my life according to what the Lord would have me do. 3. I learned what to look for in an eternal companion so that I my have joy all our days with our family forever. (John)
- I can’t even begin to tell them all here. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I had a few weeks left. She has been cancer free now for almost 8 years. My Grandma also died while I was in Tulsa. I received amazing comfort from the Spirit during both of these trials. (Kevin)
- Too many to count and they haven’t stopped yet, I’m pretty sure they will never stop. But for sure the biggest is the relationships I built with everyone I met. (McKay)
- Like President Hinckley has described his mission, I can trace a majority of good things back in my life back to my decision to serve a mission. Lifelong friends were made, spiritual growth like I could never imagine! (Chad)
- Appreciation of the rights, powers, and authority of the Holy Priesthood! (Tigi)
- Serving a mission provided me the opportunity to put my faith into action. The fulfillment that comes from loving God and your fellow man, largely without the distractions of normal life, was a terrific experience. It really was two of the best years of my life. (Hank)
What are some skills you gained?
- Learning how to share the Gospel, search the scriptures, use a planner, budget. (Sarah)
- Talking with anyone. I can start a conversation with random people and leave feeling good that I met someone new. (Ian)
- Confidence, determination, drive, run don’t walk attitude, all of the Christ like attitudes. Respect for those that may be different from us. Speaking, teaching and listening. (Jordan)
- Bilingual, patience, and determination. (Jordan)
- A whole lot. I learned how to be more organized, goal-oriented, time management, and how to be a leader. I learned how to study, how to love people, how to actively listen, speak publicly, how to teach inspired and ask inspired questions. (Rayven)
- Study the scriptures, discern the good from the evil in all things, love unconditionally as the Savior would have me do, and love myself. (John)
- Communication, Patience, Love. (Kevin)
- Public speaking, teaching, listening, how to compromise, how to endure well, leadership skills, how to take counsel, and many more. (McKay)
- People skills improved, study habits both spiritual and temporal, dramatically improved. (Chad)
- Leadership, preparation, obedience! (Tigi)
- Listening to the spirit, public speaking, relationship skills, cooking, decision making skills, planning, goal setting, leadership… (Hank)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- Everything I know now I wish I knew at the beginning but I wouldn’t have grown if I did so there isn’t anything I wish I knew before the mission. (Ian)
- I wish I had studied more of Preach My Gospel. (Jordan)
- How little time you actually have to serve the Lord every day and how much of a blessing that it is to serve the Lord. (Jordan)
- At the beginning of my mission, I wish I knew more scriptures and discover ways of how to apply them to my life and work. I wish I knew how to recognize the Spirit more. Most of all, I wish I had developed more of a habit in opening my mouth to everyone that I met. (Rayven)
- Nothing. My mission was hard. The Lord gave me everything I needed to be molded like clay to become what he wanted me to become. I prayed for trials almost every day so I could achieve such; and I did. (John)
- Relax and take it all in. It is going to fly. I know everyone says that, but I wish I took it serious and understood that it’s not just a cliche. You will love every area you serve in. (Kevin)
- I wish I would have sought to be more humble so that I could listen to and respect my trainer more. (McKay)
- Not being in a committed romantic relationship is extremely helpful! (Chad)
- I wish I knew like I know now that the Lord is completely in charge and He takes care of His servants. (Luke)
- The Bible teachings and doctrine. (Tigi)
- That your time is limited and to make the most of every minute. The spirit converts, but you can be a conduit for the spirit if you’re in tune with the gospel. (Hank)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Tulsa?
- You’ll love the people and never want to leave them and you’ll hurt when they don’t understand the truth but keep going and trust that the Lord has a plan for everyone. (Ian)
- When you decide you want to serve, don’t go on one because your family, your bishop, your stake president, your peers, or your Sunday school teacher wants you to. Being pressured into going on a mission is not okay. It is your decision and yours alone, because it is your 2 years or 18 months that your sacrificing for the Lord not theirs. Have fun…there is so much to enjoy and do without having to break the rules. Also be your self, because people can tell when your being fake. Your going to get homesick at least once, and you’ll want go home. All I have to say to that is DON’T GO HOME. You’ll regret it and if you just forget about yourself and go to work, you won’t be homesick at all. Love what you do and love where you serve or who you serve. (Jordan)
- Have faith. You will need it. The Lord will help you if you want to learn. You don’t have to be a bookworm, or a know it all, or have a crazy life changing testimony to serve a mission. (Jordan)
- God knew what He was doing when He placed you in your mission. He knows what He is doing when He calls you to your specific areas, specific companions, specific members, etc. He knows what people are going to help you grow and why people you specifically will help bring closer to Him. Have faith in what He is doing – He sees all, He knows all. Trust in Him and rely on Him always. You will never progress if you do not involve Him. Prepare now to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Make the commitment now to be fanatically obedient no matter how dumb the rule may be. Obedience brings blessings. Pray now for the people you will be serving and the charity to see and love them as the Savior would. You are His full-time representative, you are an instrument in His hands that will perform miracles and bring the good tidings of the gospel to everyone around you. You will never know how much good you will do, but God does. Work hard, work smart, work inspired. Heavenly Father is aware of you, He loves you, and you will never fail with Him by your side. (Rayven)
- Do it for the Lord and yourself. If there are other reasons, let it go, get over yourself, and leave it at home. (Get married later dude!) (John)
- Study your Bible in connection with the Book of Mormon. Be familiar with passages in the Bible that are clarified in the Book of Mormon. Do not spend too much time telling people about how our church studies from the Bible, because everyone there does. Be bold and tell them why you’re different. They are lucky to be speaking with you and you need to believe that. Have confidence in your message because they need it, and you need to give it to them. Do not bible bash. Everyone loses in a bible bash, and it is SO tempting to fall for that trap in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. You absolutely will meet confrontational preachers and ministers of other faiths. Just be loving and maintain your confidence in the Spirit of God and your worthiness to have it with you. (Kevin)
- If you have a desire, go! If you don’t have a desire, study the atonement of Christ more. (McKay)
- Love the people and strive for obedience with EXACTNESS. (Chad)
- Trust the Lord. (Luke)
- There is a law irrevocably decreed in Heaven upon which all blessing are predicated! Remember Faith, Hope, Charity & Love qualify you for the work! (Tigi)
- Be politely persistent and most important, remember that you love the people. If you truly have love in your heart, they will know. People can tell if you have their genuine interest at heart. If you don’t have love in your heart, pray for it and you can receive the gift of charity. (Hank)
What was a funny language mistake?
- I explained that I had a massage for someone instead of a message while tracting. It came across way wrong and not appropriate. (Jordan)
- When I served in Berryville, Arkansas we taught the Marshallese people. One time, speaking Marshallese, I said a guy’s private parts instead of the stinky breadfruit food stuff. Those two words are pretty close. They thought it was pretty funny. (John)
- I was English speaking- not a lot of language issues. I did have a new missionary I was training who desperately wanted to fit in and tried, awkwardly, to use the word “y’all” as often as possible! (Chad)
- One of my companions asked a girl if she needed help with repairs after she said she was “fixin” to go to the store. (Hank)