Welcome Home

A lot of books are written for people preparing to serve missions, but very little has been written for those returning home. Joe J. Christensen's book Welcome Home: Advice for the Returned Missionary is an excellent book to help returned missionaries retain all that they have learned and become and also helps them apply it to the rest of their lives.

Christensen addresses several practical areas of a returned missionary's life. One would expect a chapter and dating, and this certainly receives a lot of attention in the book. But the author also covers choosing a career, education, social interaction (not just dating, but creating a basic social life), physical exercise, and even dress and grooming.

Perhaps the most important part of the book is on how to maintain the level of spirituality that one has on a mission. The answer is very simple: continue to do what you did as a missionary! Continue reading the scriptures and praying with real intent. Continue to magnify your calling, whatever it may be. Continue to look for opportunities to serve. Avoid degrading music. These might seem simple, but these are the very things that missionaries do every day for two years. That is why they have the Spirit! In order to maintain the Spirit in everyday life, we need to do the same things.

It's a shame this book is no longer widely available. I think it would be helpful for any returned missionary.