Never been much of a studier? Get ready to change that! Missionaries spend 2 to 3 hours studying depending on whether they’re learning a new language. New missionaries can expect to add an extra hour to that for companionship study with your trainer. Some missionaries have a hard time adjusting. It is a large chunk of your day after all, and you have to sit, be diligent and focus. It takes a lot of getting used to.
It’s times like these when you need to remember the purpose of your studies; it’s definitely not free time. No, this time was given to you so you can prepare to teach your investigators, members, and less-actives. Don’t make the mistake of believing that your calling alone is enough to teach with the power of God. Look at the sons of Mosiah. They didn’t just travel on up to the Lamanites and teach whatever came into their heads. The Book of Mormon tells us that they first, “searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore. . . they had the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God” (Alma 17:2-3). In other words, if you want the Spirit of revelation, you need to work for it.