Mormon Missionaries
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has over 50,000 missionaries serving worldwide at any given time. Most are young men ages 19 – 21, who serve full-time for two years. Others are young women, most between the ages of 21 – 23, who serve full-time for 18 months. Others are senior missionaries who have retired from the workforce and now desire to serve. They normally serve for 1 – 2 years, although some serve part-time missions from home, usually for health reasons. Mission presidents take their families with them into the “mission field” and serve for 3 years.
Not all missionaries proselyte. The Church also sponsors health missions, education missions, public relations missions, and humanitarian aid missions. For all missions except those of mission presidents, the Church pays for travel to and from the mission field, but the missionary pays for his or her full support while serving.
When a church member desires to serve a mission, he or she approaches the bishop of the ward where the member worships. Then an application is submitted to church headquarters. Applicants must be worthy to serve, living the Law of Chastity, living the Word of Wisdom (the health laws of the Church), paying a full tithe, and living an honest and upright life. Submitting an application is called “submitting mission papers.” Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles decide where missionaries will be sent, according to revelation they receive for this purpose. There are over 300 missions worldwide.
It’s an exciting event when a prospective missionary’s call arrives. Usually, family gathers for the event, or at least joins in on a conference call for the big moment. Missionaries can state a preference as to where they would like to serve, but there’s no guarantee. Missionaries go where they are sent. Those who are called to foreign countries get some language training at the Missionary Training Center closest to home. Missionaries who serve domestically also spend some time at an “MTC” learning the gospel and how to share it effectively.
Mormon missionaries serve two-by-two, but they are transferred often from zone to zone within their missions. This gives a Mormon missionary the opportunity to serve with several “companions” during their time of service. This also prevents new converts from basing their testimonies of the gospel on a charismatic missionary. Missionary couples serve as companions to each other.
The schedule is rigorous and involves rising early, studying, praying, teaching, and tracting (for proselyting missionaries — going door to door looking for interested people). Missionaries forsake all their usual at-home activities while serving. Young missionaries are not allowed to date or even to embrace someone of the opposite sex. Missionaries listen only to uplifting music, abandon vocations and sports, and leave family behind. Young missionaries can email home once a week, but phone home only on Christmas and Mothers’ Day or in an emergency. Senior missionaries leave children and grandchildren and beautiful homes behind. Many have grandchildren born or children married while they are away. However, rules are less strict for senior missionaries.
Serving a mission for the LDS Church may do more for those who serve than those they are serving. It is an adventure in selflessness and complete focus on others. The experience expands faith, strengthens testimony, increases confidence, hones skills, and enhances leadership abilities. Young missionaries who serve in foreign countries become fluent in both the language and cultural nuances of the language, making them valuable as employees and leaders when they return home to enter a global workplace.