The Usage Companion:

A Dictionary for New Missionaries

By: Weston Goggins

Dear Future Missionary, I served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cordoba, Argentina (2009-2011). I remember when I entered the MTC, I thought Spanish had already begun because I did not understand a lot of words and phrases that were being thrown at me. I was already excited, stressed out, and nervous; I did not need puzzled to be added to the list. Eventually, I got a hold of the mission slang and I found myself more focused on the things that mattered most. I wrote this dictionary to help you better understand the common terminology that you will most likely hear for the next two years. Some of these terms apply to the MTC, and you will hear them on your first day; some of these terms apply in the mission field. This list will not teach you every single word that you will learn on your mission nor will it t apply to every mission around the world, but it will help you to have a starting foundation so you can be more focused on learning how to teach and serve instead of trying to understand confusing missionary slang. In addition to definitions, I have added a couple of notes of advice based on my personal experiences as a missionary to further explain some terms. The mission is a great opportunity that will teach you many life lessons and I hope that The Usage Companion will do its part to help you in your preparation. Enjoy, Weston Goggins

active, five active, and five inactive families within the ward or branch boundaries. Missionaries re-teach the families the mission discussions and invite the families to invite non-members to the lessons. Ask the bishop for the family names.

5,5,5 (n.) a new program in its beta version that involves working with five less

of burning articles of clothing. At six months a tie is burned; 12 months, a shirt; 18 months, a pair of slacks; 24 months, a suit coat.

6-month traditions (n.) few missionaries follow this made up tradition

Area Book (n.) this book contains all of the information for previous and cur-

rent investigators. It contains details on what lessons have been taught, the concerns and questions of investigators, and how many times an investigator has been to church.

When an investigator gets baptized, a missionary feels an immense love for someone that he or she has grown to deeply care for.
*Note Do not get caught up in how many baptisms you have during your mission. Yes, it is important to strive to baptize the people that you teach, but do not get stressed or depressed because you have not baptized at least a dozen people. Baptisms are precious and should be counted as so.

Baptism* (n.) a missionarys and an investigators greatest moment of joy.

is important to make friends with the bishop and to follow his counsel.

Bishop (n.) he is in charge of the missionary work within the ward boundaries. It Book of Mormon (n.) a missionarys most treasured tool. Always carry an Born (v.) the day a missionary enters into the mission field one of the most terrifying days of a missionarys life.

extra copy of the Book of Mormon you never know whom you will meet.

be able to have success. A mission requires love and understanding, and if a missionary has done the job right, he or she will be full of this attribute.

Charity (n.) it is the Christ-like attribute that every missionary should learn to

equal standing. There is no junior or senior companion; both are leaders of the companionship.

Co-Companion (n.) when both companions in the companionship are at

Ghost Texts (n.) this happens in the MTC when a missionary thinks that there
is a phone vibrating in his or her pocket because he or she is so used to having one.

Ghost and is confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Confirmation (n.) when recently baptized investigator receives the Holy

Girlfriend (n.) a lost hope. Greenie (n.) a missionary that has recently entered the mission field. Investigator (n.) someone who is taking the missionary discussions. A missionarys investigators become a missionarys world. Missionaries constantly think of, talk about, and even dream about their investigators.

Convert (n.) a newly baptized and confirmed member of the church. A new
member remains a convert for one year.

Dad* (n.) a missionarys trainer.

*Note - There is a lot of mission genealogy. There are dads, cousins, moms, children, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. Just have fun with it.

stating that she has chosen (obviously, a terrible decision) to be with someone else.

Dear John (n.) the dreaded letter from a missionarys girlfriend back home

Usually, one is more experienced (senior companion) and one is less experienced and is still learning a great deal about how to be a successful missionary (junior companion).

Junior Companion (n.) in a companionship there are two missionaries.

Kid* (n.) what a trainer calls his or her new missionary.

Note* this will sound demeaning at first, but it gets better with time. Also, when you are a trainer, you wont be able to resist the temptation to call your trainee a kid.

fying days of a missionarys life.

Die (v.) - the day a missionary leaves the mission field also one of the most terriDistrict (n.) - a group of 2-4 areas. A district always has a district leader who is
called to serve as the leader and mentor of the district.

Dying (adj.) used to describe a missionary that is about to leave the mission
field.

ber of the family. In the past, missionaries would teach set lessons (1-6), but better, modern teaching requires that missionaries teach to the needs of their investigators and plan lessons for each family specifically.

Lesson (n.) when missionaries enter into a home and teach at least one mem-

period of time and is not willing to progress.

Eternigator (n.) an investigator who has been taking the discussions for a long Fetch (n.) a missionarys vulgar substitute for real, vulgar vocabulary.

Church with them to teach another family. These lessons are the most effective types of lessons.

Lesson with a Member (n.) when missionaries bring a member of the

Lunch

(n.) when a missionary gets to stop walking and gets to fill his or her belly with delicious food that is usually provided by local members.

phasis. Used to substitute words like really, dumb, and cool.

Freaking (adj.) a totally unnecessary but rather frequent word that adds em-

and friends in written form. A rare treasure.

Mail (n.) it is supposedly some type of correspondence that comes from family

Mission Field (n.) wherever missionary work takes place. Some people think
this only applies to full-time missionaries, but the mission field applies to every member of the Church.

Referral (n.) when missionaries receive names of people to teach from either
members or non-members.

Mission Home (n.) where the misison president and his wife and children

live. This is also where the secretary, the transportation manager, the mail manager, and the finance manager work.

Usually, one is more experienced (senior companion) and one is less experienced and is still learning a great deal about how to be a successful missionary (junior companion).

Senior Companion (n.) - in a companionship there are two missionaries.

Mission, Zone, or Area of Zion (n.) this happens when every companionship in the mission baptizes at least one person in a month. Also can be used to refer to a zone or an area.

and the foundation of a missionarys work ethic.

Testimony (n.) a missionarys fuel to keep going even though times are rough Tract (v.) when missionaries walk down the street knocking on locals doors to try
to get inside to teach.

hour designated by the mission president. On this day, missionaries buy groceries, clean the apartment, write their families, tour local sites, play sports, and relax.

P-day* (n.) one day each week that starts after morning studies and ends at an

Transfer* (n.) every six weeks the president of the mission moves around all of
the missionaries to different areas.
Note* You never know if you will stay or go so just have faith and trust in your call.

*Note remember to relax. It is so important not to forget to take some time to reflect and take a day to prepare yourself for next weeks challenges.

debate among missionaries: do you have to be in church clothes on P-day or can you just change into them when you work in the evening?

P-day Clothes (n.) casual clothes (t-shirts, Levis, etc.). There is a common

Transfer Night (n.) At night, the zone leaders call and let every missionary

useful tools, quotes, activities, and more that help missionaries and their companions more fully understand how to be effective teachers.

Preach My Gospel (PMG) (n.) the missionary study guide. PMG is full of

know whether he or she is staying or leaving. It is the night when most missionaries cannot sleep and think: What will my new area be like?, Will I get along with my new companion?, or Can I survive another 6 weeks with my companion?

Trucho or Truch (adj.) infamously disobedient.

the work. He or she is thinking about packing his or her trunk (suitcase).

Prez (n.) a shorter, more informal way to refer to the president of the mission. Proselyte (v.) to preach.
restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service[2004], 1).

Trunky (adj.) when a missionary is thinking about home instead of focusing on Ward Mission Leader** (n.) a man in the ward that is called to direct
Note** When the ward mission leader and the missionaries get along and have the same goals in mind the work is a lot more effective and successful.

Purpose (n.) - to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the

the missionary work in a ward or branch.

White Handbook/White Bible (n.) the missionary rule book. It contains information on dress and grooming, driving, preaching, curfews, and almost anything a missionary could possibly think of.

same time. Both of the missionaries are new to the area so they have to start from scratch (finding new investigators, re-establishing relations with local members). It is a clean slate.

Whitewash (v.) when two missionaries are transferred to the same area at the

Zone (n.) - a group of districts under the direction of zone leaders.

called to serve over a zone, or large geographical area of a mission. A zone usually consists of anywhere from 12 to 24 missionaries.

ZLs (n.) stands for the zone leaders. Zone Leaders are missionaries that are

Zone Conference (n.) - when the zone comes together to have a day of workshops. They are usually put on by the zone leaders of that specific area but sometimes the mission president will come to teach the missionaries.