Planning to serve a mission? Share the gospel with a friend.

That's one of the best ways to prepare, according to a study of "Characteristics of Successful Missionaries," by the Missionary Department.The study also highlighted the importance of young men and young women learning to give talks and teaching lessons before their missionary service. The influence of a family on preparing missionaries is also very important, according to the study.

This study - and interviews with missionaries currently serving - emphasize the importance of gospel-centered pre-mission activities for a happy, productive mission.

"In general, more successful missionaries tend to have more confidence, better interpersonal skills, a greater reliance on the Spirit, and a tendency to work harder," the researchers said. "They are also more effective in involving members of the Church in their work."

According to researchers, these preparations contribute not only to the spiritual level of a young man or young woman, but also to their emotional stability, physical well-being and financial security.

"We live in a time when missionaries need to be better prepared that ever before," said Elder L. Aldin Porter of the Presidency of the Seventy and executive director of the Missionary Department.

"As President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, taught in a recent general conference, missionaries need to `prepare with purpose.' They need to be full of faith and testimony, which comes from keeping the commandments and living clean lives. They need to be able to teach the gospel with conviction and power, which comes from studying the scriptures and living by the Spirit. They need to know how to work. They need to know how to get along with other people. They need to be physically and emotionally strong. They need to work and earn and save as much as they can toward the expense of serving a mission.

"They need to be like the two thousand sons of Helaman described in the Book of Mormon:

" `Exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all - they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

" `Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and walk uprightly before him.' " (Alma 53:20-21.)

Sherman M. Crump, managing director of the Missionary Department, said, "Preparation makes a big difference and has a profound effect on a missionary's success in spirituality, in proselyting, and in learning languages."

"Half of the missionary's success is based on who he or she is, and half on what he or she does," he said.

"Missionaries should know how to work hard and plan their days. The successful missionary is one who shows no hesitation to talk to people. Learning to be obedient to supervision is also important."

Speaking generally about pre-mission activities, he said that research indicates that when young men make a decision at deacon age to serve a mission, they are much more apt to go than if that decision is postponed. Moral cleanliness, encouraged in regular interviews, is essential.

He also said that priesthood leaders, as well as family members, can have a major influence on young men in deciding and preparing to serve missions.

Brother Crump also observed that, regarding physical health, LDS medical volunteers have visited every country missionaries serve in and have developed disease-preventive measures to help promote physical health among full-time missionaries.

Another source of advice on preparation comes from missionaries who are currently serving.

The following are some of the subjects discussed about preparation by a few representative missionaries:

Attending four years of seminary in high school and graduating from institute was valuable preparation, said Sister Diane Prolo, California Santa Rosa Mission, from Pocatello, Idaho. "I learned a lot by taking classes about Joseph Smith and Church history."

On the other hand, "I probably should have studied the Bible more. We were recently working with investigators that really know the Bible and I thought, `Whoops, I should have done that [study]!' "

Elder Brian Christensen, Spain Malaga Mission, from Taylorsville, Utah, said a missionary preparation class at the institute at the University of Utah helped strengthen his testimony and knowledge of the scriptures.

He wished he'd "worked with the missionaries. That would have helped prepare me. I'd like to have gone tracting and gotten the feel of missionary work."

Elder Preston Hatch of Colonia Dublan, Mexico, serving in the Mexico City Mexico East Mission, said: "In my family, one thing that really helped me prepare is that we had Book of Mormon study class before school at 7 a.m. I had a testimony of the Book of Mormon before I came on my mission."

He suggested that in preparing for his mission, "I wish I had known a little more about the doctrine of the Church and about the Restoration. I remember in the Missionary Training Center I was learning things I had heard before, but I wasn't very sure about."

Sister Marika Stacey of the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, from Novelty, Ohio, said on her mission she has overcome her shyness. "Don't let anything hold you back from the happiest time of life, your mission," she said. "I didn't give talks before my mission. Now, I have given talks. You overcome shyness by just doing missionary work. I can now go up to people and be bold." Her companion, Sister Heidi Terry from Westminster, Calif., said: "You never find more happiness than on your mission. It is like the Book of Mormon describes, `exceeding great joy.' I never had it until my mission."

Sister Terry added that developing a friendship with the Savior, learning about prayer and its power were important ways for her to prepare. "I always like the quote: `It is easier to prepare and prevent than to repair and repent,'" she said.

Elder Henk Fischer, Colorado Denver North Mission, from Frankfurt, Germany, said that baptizing his best friend a few months before serving a mission "really enthused me about missionary work."

He said studying English in school helped him learn the language. One area where he felt he could have used more preparation was in domestic skills. "My companion had to teach me to iron. He was a pretty good teacher."

Elder Jason Robinson, his companion from Madison, Fla., said he has always wanted to serve a mission. "I had some great examples. I had two brothers who served missions, and they helped prepare me. I always studied scriptures as often as I could. A mission for me is a continuous opportunity to learn."