Mormon Mission Prep.com in the NEWS

A while ago, my Jimmy wanted to create a website about Mission Preparation. So ... he made it happen. It's evolved a little and will probably continue to change over time. I especially like all the mission stories he records because I think it's great for posterity's sake.Jimmy's website, Mormon Mission Prep.com, was spotlighted in an LDS Living article and I wanted to share and document it here.

This is the section of the article about Jimmy's Site:

Especially for Missionaries

Social networks, group scripture study, blogs. What is next—a site to help future missionaries prepare for service? Actually, Lehi resident Jimmy Smith did just that.

“I thought: wouldn’t it be cool if there was a website for future missionaries where they could go and have everything at their fingertips,” Smith said.

A web analytics employee of the LDS church, Smith searched the web, but found little dealing with preparing missionaries. He, like countless others, started his own site.

On the site you can find an introduction to Preach My Gospel, suggested scripture readings on missionary work, and a map where anyone can post their mission call and a photo. One of the main features of Smith’s site are the dozen-plus videos he’s posted on varying aspects of a missionary’s life.

“There are a lot of topical based posts but I also try to tell a lot of stories, which are of more interest to people,” Smith said. “I do a lot of YouTube videos about my mission and those help them be more engaged in the site.”

The site receives about fifty visitors each day and Smith has received compliments from many of these. One mother told Smith her fourteen-year-old son reads posts religiously and after one particular post told her said “Mom, you gotta teach me how to do laundry.”

“I wish I had time to do it more,” Smith said. “I enjoy doing it and I’m glad people find it useful.”

With these and other sites to help support those of the LDS faith, Church members’ future on the Internet appears almost limitless. It seems certain, whatever new uses the next decade holds, that the Web will continue to be a place where members can help build up the gospel and one another.

LDS Living: Connecting Online article by Kedrik Hamblin