mission trip mormon

Missionary Program

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' missionary program is one of its most recognized characteristics. Mormon missionaries can be seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities in the world as well as in thousands of smaller communities.

The missionary effort is based on the New Testament pattern of missionaries serving in pairs, teaching the gospel and baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ (see, for example, the work of Peter and John in the book of Acts).

More than 88,000 missionaries are serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at any one time. Most are young people under the age of 25, serving in more than 400 missions throughout the world.

Missionaries can be single men between the ages of 18 and 25, single women over the age of 19 or retired couples. Missionaries work with a companion of the same gender during their mission, with the exception of couples, who work with their spouse. Single men serve missions for two years and single women serve missions for 18 months.

Sister Missionaries

Missionaries receive their assignment from Church headquarters and are sent only to countries where governments allow the Church to operate. Missionaries do not request their area of assignment and do not know beforehand whether they will be required to learn a language.

Prior to going to their assigned area, missionaries spend a short period of time at one of 15 missionary training centers throughout the world. There they learn how to teach the gospel in an orderly and clear way and, if necessary, they begin to learn the language of the people they will be teaching. The largest training center is in Provo, Utah, with additional centers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa and Spain.

Male missionaries are addressed with the title “Elder” and women are addressed with the title “Sister.”

A typical missionary day begins by waking at 6:30 a.m. for personal study. The day is spent proselytizing by following up on appointments, visiting homes or meeting people in the street or other public places. Missionaries end their day by 10:30 p.m.

In some parts of the world, missionaries are sent only to serve humanitarian or other specialized missions. Those missionaries do not proselytize.

Missionary work is voluntary. Missionaries fund their own missions — except for their transportation to and from their field of labor — and are not paid for their services.

Contacts with family and friends during this time of service are limited to letters and occasional phone calls to family at special times. Missionaries avoid entertainment, parties or other activities common to this age-group as long as they are on their missions, so they can focus entirely on the work of serving and of teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources

Related topics, church welfare.

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LDS Mission Trips

Join IVHQ for an LDS Missionary Program Alternative or Post-LDS Mission Service Opportunity

Every year, International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) supports more than 15,000 teens and adults to serve abroad in more than 40 countries across Africa , Asia , Europe , South America , Central America , North America , the Caribbean , the Middle East and the Pacific .

IVHQ’s organized mission trips are available year-round and you can choose to serve for durations ranging from 1 to 24 weeks across a wide range of community-led projects . They provide the perfect mormon mission alternative for members of the LDS community who want to get a taste of serving abroad before volunteering for a longer duration LDS missionary program. They are also ideal for those seeking another service-led trip to the country of their choice after having already completed an LDS mission.

You can count on IVHQ’s locally-run service projects to address the most pressing issues of your host community and enable you to make a genuine impact. Our projects help you to nurture the essential skills and experience needed to become a long-term LDS missionary, as well as providing fulfilling service trips for those seeking a post-LDS mission opportunity.

With affordable fees starting at just $20 per day including accommodation and all your project arrangements taken care of, there has never been a more accessible way to serve abroad on a mormon mission alternative.

Get in touch with one of our Mission Trip Specialists to start planning your customized trip.

What is a Mormon Mission Trip Alternative?

IVHQ’s affordable mission trips offer a fully-organized LDS mission alternative and an opportunity to serve people and places around the world with a strong focus on supporting vulnerable communities and wildlife.

On your service trip with IVHQ, you will make a tangible impact by contributing your time and expertise, while also benefiting from a two-way cultural exchange with your host community. From increasing access to education to improving the quality of healthcare in underdeveloped regions, a mormon mission alternative is an excellent opportunity to serve alongside like-minded people and local community members.

Why Serve on a Mission Alternative with IVHQ?

• Experience an organized mission-style trip before joining your missionary program with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Choose from over 300 impact-orientated projects in 40+ countries around the world
• Meet new people and build meaningful friendships easily
• Serve a purpose larger than yourself while developing your own skills and talents
• Build positive relationships with people of varied backgrounds and gain a new sense of responsibility for yourself and others
• Grow confidence, patience and cross-cultural understanding
• Carry home a wealth of knowledge and new experiences to set the course of your life

Book with Confidence: Flexible Booking for your Alternative LDS Mission

We have a range of flexible booking options to choose from and it’s free to change your start date, destination or program for all IVHQ trips this year . Once you’ve paid your registration fee, your money is protected so you can book with complete confidence.

What’s Included in a Service Trip with IVHQ?

• Pre-departure preparation support from your IVHQ Program Manager
• Airport pick-up and orientation
• All accommodation and most meals
• Around 4 hours of organized service work per day, Monday to Friday
• 24/7 in-country support from a dedicated local team
• Socialization with other IVHQ volunteers

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“I felt very suited to the work I was doing, and left feeling very fulfilled. I felt that the locals who I was working with were appreciative of my time and effort. I could see how my physical presence and assistance was helping the community. I have learned so much about the world, different cultures and lifestyles and my horizons have definitely expanded. I returned home with a newly found sense of confidence in myself and a stronger sense of direction for my life. My trip with IVHQ transformed me and absolutely changed me for the better, I feel like I’ve become the person I want to be.” Ella Capek, 21 - Mission Trip in Africa

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“My experience in Ecuador was great and it exceeded all my expectations. Volunteering opened my mind to several things and changed my perspective about many subjects. The help we gave to the children was very valuable, and I feel the connections we made with them really made a difference.” Juan Hurtado, 19 - Mission Trip in South America

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I'm Converting: How One Man's Missionary Trip Reconnected Him To His Family's Past

Sophia Alvarez Boyd

Daniel Ortner converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10 years ago. Courtesy of Daniel Ortner hide caption

Daniel Ortner converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 10 years ago.

Daniel Ortner grew up Jewish. His mom had a strong belief in God and would routinely make latkes for Hannukah. His father's family was deeply rooted in Judaism. Some of his father's relatives died in the Holocuast.

As a child, Ortner attended a Jewish private elementary school in South Florida. But then, a tragedy in high school shattered his faith - when his mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She passed away on his 18th birthday, right around Hannukah.

"I couldn't accept how [God] could do that to her. So, for several years I became a pretty ardent atheist. I was very adamant that there was no God," Ortner says.

Soon after his mother's death, Ortner was in college at Brandeis University, where he founded a humanist group and held long, theological debates denying God's existence.

"But eventually, after a couple of years I realized that there was something missing in my life, that I felt a need to connect spiritually again," Ortner says.

One of his friends at Brandeis belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ortner, searching for a spiritual connection, became curious.

"I went to a Barnes and Noble store and opened the Mormonism for Dummies book and the Complete Idiot's Guide to Mormonism," Ortner says. "Seemed like decent places to start given what I knew about the church at the time."

The more he read, Ortner says he was struck by some of the doctrines of the church, especially what the church believed about Jesus Christ.

"The idea that those who died not knowing about God, not knowing about Jesus Christ, not knowing about God's plan would still have a chance after this life to accept it. Immediately I kind of latched onto that and knew it was true," Ortner says.

Ortner had found an answer to a question that had plagued him growing up: What happens to people in the afterlife who don't believe in Jesus?

He decided he wanted to join the church, but he says it's a choice his father resisted.

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"Shortly after I told him I wanted to be baptized he told me he would disown me if I did that," Ortner says.

He says his father felt his decision to convert was naive and ill-motivated. Ortner made his case for almost a year. Finally, his father relented and he was baptized.

But the friction wasn't over. Evangelism is central to Mormon belief. The majority of young men who belong to the church take a missionary trip to spread the word of God in the hope of converting others. Ortner says that didn't sit well with his father.

"I knew that my father saw missionary work as evil as a thing as imaginable. Particularly because so many of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust because of their beliefs," Ortner says.

Ortner's grandparents lived in a small town in Poland, not far from the Auschwitz concentration camp. They escaped Poland shortly after the Nazi occupation and fled to Russia during the Second World War. There, they became refugees in a work camp in Siberia.

Those who go on the missionary trip are not allowed to select where they want to go, so when Ortner found out he was going to Siberia, he saw that as a sign from God.

Daniel Ortner lies on Lake Baikal in the southern region of Sibera in Russia. He lived there for two years on his missionary trip for the Mormon church. Courtesy of Daniel Ortner hide caption

Daniel Ortner lies on Lake Baikal in the southern region of Sibera in Russia. He lived there for two years on his missionary trip for the Mormon church.

"While I was on my mission my father and I exchanged emails about our family ancestors and I learned a lot about my family and I learned about one relative," Ortner says. "He escaped from Poland and actually joined the Russian army at one point and then he was taken as a prisoner."

That relative, his great uncle, starved to death as a prisoner because he refused to eat the food they offered, which had pork in it.

Ortner says before becoming a missionary, he would have interpreted that story differently.

"Why would you not save your life? Why would you sacrifice ... yourself for a belief?," Ortner asks. "And it was only after I went out as a missionary and I dedicated two years of my life to everyday getting up and serving — serving God, serving others — that I really came to understand how belief and faith can motivate and change your life."

"I really came to appreciate, you know, religious believers of all faiths, how they live their life according to divine principles they embrace and how it pushes them to be a better person every day."

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The Daily Utah Chronicle

Buening & Cowley: Mormon Missionary Trips Do More Harm Than Good

Abu Sufian Muhammad Asib

Snowfall in downtown Salt Lake City on a Christmas night on Dec. 25, 2018. (Photo by Abu Asib | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

By Sarah Buening and Elle Cowley April 29, 2022

Fifty-four thousand five hundred thirty-nine  missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints currently serve in one of 407 mission locations worldwide. Members go with the intention to serve their faith dutifully, but the reality is more complicated than that.

As people with LDS family members, acquaintances and friends, we have watched many people embark on mission trips. We’ve seen firsthand how these trips exploit members of the church, as well as the communities they visit. And while the church touts mission trips as voluntary, the lack of informed consent, lifetime of pressure and questionable self-sovereignty would indicate otherwise.

The mission trips promoted by the Mormon church have lasting psychological and financial impacts on members and harm the communities they visit more than they help.

The Missionary Experience

From a young age, church members are encouraged to proselytize — recruit people to convert to their faith. Mission trips are the embodiment of this recruitment. Men can begin their two-year missions at the ripe age of 18 , while women can serve for 18 months when they’re 19. For men especially, missionary service is an expectation. The church’s apostles have reinforced serving a mission as a “ priesthood duty ” and “obligation” for them.

While serving in foreign or otherwise unfamiliar areas, a missionary’s duty is to convert as many people as they can, working in tandem with another missionary — their “companion.” Meanwhile, they must abide by a strict set of rules that dictate everything, from what they can wear to what types of media they can consume. Missionaries cannot communicate with family or friends on their own terms, either. Breaching these rules can mean getting sent home — a fate sometimes equal to social ostracization.

Engaging in such service can be damaging for young missionaries. Take, for example, Janell Christensen — a returned missionary and current student at the University of Utah. As a Utah-raised Mormon, she approached her mission as an opportunity for spiritual growth and service. But looking back, she said she had “no idea what [she] was getting into.” She said that although she volunteered to serve, she didn’t have what was necessary to provide informed consent.

Upon getting to Chile, her mission location, Christensen was “torn away from all of [her] coping skills.” She had no time or energy to take care of her own needs, and the mission encouraged her to neglect them altogether. Even for the bulk of her mission, she skipped dinner to be “diligent” and find more people to teach.

When she tried to escape an emotionally abusive companion, Christensen’s mission president threatened to send her home. When placed in an area with high crime, she received little protection or preparation. Men groped her, she withstood carbon monoxide exposure and endured harassment. The church places missionaries like her in some of the world’s most dangerous areas, with promises that obedience to the rules will keep them safe. Missionaries must also pay a minimum of $500 a month for the trip’s duration. This exchange might reap more members for the church, but it exploits the free labor of young people with innocent intentions.

Separation from everything familiar deals a severe blow to many missionaries’ mental health. Uprooting and isolating missionaries during some of the most formative years of their lives is not coincidental on the church’s part. Stripping missionaries of their autonomy effectively indoctrinates them as lifelong members of the religion.

Community Consequences

Mission trips are similar to modern-day colonialism. They resemble Christian assimilation as more missionaries attempt to convert people from poor and developing communities. Should poor people convert, they have to begin paying a “tithe,” where the church collects one-tenth of their income. Regardless of socioeconomic status, they’re expected to contribute these funds to the church’s multi-billion dollar organization.

Christensen said that because missionaries purposefully sweep the more controversial subjects under the rug, converts aren’t given enough information to make an informed decision about conversion. As a result, convert retention rates are poor, with most countries only retaining about 50% of their converts after one year.

The church also sends missionaries to both struggling countries and Native American reservations within the U.S. This comes after a long history of invading Native people’s lands that dates back to when Utah was first settled. When Mormons arrived in Utah, they pushed out the native tribes who had been living on the land for thousands of years.

Mormon presence meant devastation for the native people. LDS leader Brigham Young preached that the Navajo and other native tribes were descendants of a prominent LDS group that would become “white and delightsome” once baptized. In addition, church leaders encouraged members to buy child slaves in order to convert and “civilize them.”

Sometimes Native people felt forced to sell their children to the Mormons. Even in recent history, Mormons have taken native children from their families to “assimilate” them. The Indian Placement Program ran from 1947-2000, and ripped native children from their families to place them in boarding schools. The church has repeatedly seen Native people as nothing more than potential converts and continues to target them.

There are better ways to provide aid to those in need. The church’s missionary programs make it clear that their want for more members outweighs concern for human wellbeing and historical insult. For missionaries, their service can result in lasting trauma. For communities, missionary work can resemble colonialism by ushering underprivileged people into problematic power structures and covenants. What’s the good in that?

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Russ • Dec 2, 2022 at 9:08 am

I’m a returned missionary and absolutely loved every minute of it. There is no doubt it was one of the most difficult periods in my life. Living the rules and lifestyle is not easy. However, those trials have paid massive dividends in my life. I’ve received FAR more than I gave. There’s no comparison.

It always astonishes me how much hate and vitriol there is for the church. Have you even considered the massive good that also comes from serving a mission?

Amy • May 13, 2022 at 10:32 pm

Some very important points made there.

My husband had a companion who was suicidal and didn’t want to return without serving an ‘honourable mission.’ That is a lot for young people to cope and deal with in those circumstances. My husband was afraid to sleep incase he woke up to find his companion dead.

My husband also spent the night in a cell for doing missionary work as did many others on that mission..

I do think transparency to prospective members is important. I doubt many have any idea the ceremonies and promises that the missionaries have made shortly beforehand at the temple. I doubt even the missionaries have even themselves processed by then that they promise to give their entire lives over to the church or be as dead… they aren’t allowed to discuss what happens in the temple outside of it. Go figure.

I would be very concearned sending my children off to another country on a mission for the LDS church.. based on the experiences that I and others have had with members of the church who have been extremely abusive while portrayed and portraying as the most lovely people. If so lovely why does the church need to send out salesmen to draw people to it? If so lovely why is there no sign of true care and compassion or concearn expressed in the many comments here so far by members, for the experiences of the missionaries in the article? Instead plain discrediting of experience that is shared. How do people become so cold and inhumane?! More concearned with appearing right than actually doing right.

Christine • May 13, 2022 at 7:26 pm

Thank you for this article. My mission was traumatic and the worst mistake I ever made. So many missionaries who have a horrible experience are made to think it is their fault. Shame and judgment is unhealthy. Also, I hated the ethnocentric audacity of predominantly white people going to other countries and telling them that their beliefs are wrong. It destroys culture.

Kerry • May 13, 2022 at 8:27 am

I served a mission in the mid 90s. My father died while I was serving. I was told “ the brethren expect you to stay” . I wanted to go home but the expectation was repeated. I stayed. I received nothing but praise for my amazing sacrifice for 20 years. I finally realized that the unprocessed grief and the choices that were taken away from me as a fully competent adult were wrong and a glimpse into what is problematic about the church’s missionary program. I did love the people and it was cool learning a language but the extreme rules and putting adults in a situation where they are not thinking for themselves can often cause mental distress. Missions can be great but it’s not the military , it’s not a job, it’s a volunteer opportunity and as such should give those serving control over their experience.

Thomas • May 12, 2022 at 10:08 am

Your overall arguments and reasoning throughout this opinion piece are shallow and your evidence is rather unimpressive. Many things that you say are taken completely out of context. As people who have never served missions, I would never expect you to fully understand them. This is yet another unnecessary low blow at the Church to paint it in a bad light with the intent to sway people to leave it and fight against it. There is also no mention of the wonderful, life-changing growth that takes place for missionaries nor the people that they interact with. Before writing your opinion about something, you ought to think a little harder about what you are actually saying and who will be reading it. Your mentioning of “indoctrination” attempts by the church throughout your article are, in my opinion, offensive. Members of the church are often portrayed as “brainwashed” and “indoctrinated” to make them feel ignorant and to think of their beliefs as being foolish. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ myself, and a returned missionary, there has been no lack of thought, analyzation, or questioning on my part. I have spent my whole life asking questions and will continue to do so. You have tried to belittle my service and my sacrifices here and portray them as meaningless and stupid. In response to this, I might ask you the same question that you ended your article with: “What’s the good in that?”

Djent • Jul 31, 2022 at 7:25 pm

Ty • May 9, 2022 at 11:57 am

I served a mission. I loved the people, memories I made, and the opportunity it gave me to grow. I am black, and was adopted and all my life growing up I had to think about how the church had a ban on allowing men of African descent into their priesthood that was in effect until the late 70’s, and then it was “lifted” and the members treated it like it was the emancipation proclamation. No official apology. No official explanation. I stumbled upon the Nelson Lowry letters, where the first presidency under George Albert Smith responded and stated that black people were “less faithful in the preexistence.” Read them and please tell me if they were fake. I read a book written by a general authority called “Mormonism and the negro” off of my grandpas bookshelf. I was always the only black person in the church building. No matter what the individual members think, the church’s view of race is set in stone. Even in regard to the LGBT community and the church’s involvement in politics against them. I remember a mission leader told us to focus on black people because “they are more humble” because they’re poor. The rules placed on missionaries has been relaxed in the past few years but when I went it was completely against the rules to talk to family, only for an hour on mondays. My stance is that individuals in the church are amazing people, but the organization of the church and what it stands for is not welcoming to many people, and people that are trying to join should be made aware of what they’re getting into

Sarah • May 3, 2022 at 8:17 am

Oh boy! I sure feel sorry for you. You sound very unhappy. Someone has filled your mind and soul with lies and misleading information. Obviously you have not served a mission yourself. Take the time to get on your knees and pray, it will change your life.

Deborah W. • May 3, 2022 at 3:53 am

What a slanted bunch of garbage!

You have obviously not spoken to many people who actually served missions. Everyone I know that served a mission is glad they went. That includes those who are no longer members. You also have not talked with any of the Indian students involved in the Indian Exchange Program, or families that opened their homes to house an Indian student.

Both my husband and I served missions. To this day, we both say it was one of the best decisions we ever made! He says that, inspite of getting mugged and beat up by 5 drunk cowboys in a little town in Iowa, ON HIS BIRTHDAY! Crime happens everywhere, and the strict mission rules are an attempt to keep all of the missionaries safe. Even with the best rules and safety proticol bad things happen.

Within the last few years the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has put out a series of safety videos to train missionaries how to stay safe. No one anywhere in this world can be guaranteed 100% safety all of the time. The Church provides immediate counseling for missionaries who have bad things happen.

If you took a random sampling of the same age group of non-missionary, college-aged students, you would find the assults, rapes, robberies, and violent crime is much much higher. Those numbers are probably posted on many college campus info sites. The crime statitics actually verify it is much safer to serve a mission.

The missionary safety proticols continue to evolve and improve. I didn’t receive any safety training in 1992. Yes that was probably naive of me. I also got almost no safety training when I went to college in 1990 either. So you can’t say missionary safety was worse.

Today missionaries are actually counseled to avoid certain areas, if is not safe to be there use your best judgement as an adult. We geek we do get special promptings from God that keep us safe.

Around the world, as various conflicts arise, such as Ukraine and Russia, missionaries are removed early, before they could be caught in a dangerous situation.

My husband and I both faced numerous challenges as missionaries. Every missionary week struggle learning to get asking with companions different than themselves. In college I had to learn to get along with roommates. That’s life.

We sacrificed a lot to serve for 18 months and 2 years. No one forced us to stay. At any point we could’ve bought a plane ticket and come home.

Our oldest son choose not to serve a mission. No one forced him or pressured him to go. Missions don’t want someone who doesn’t want to be there! We love him.

Our second son went on a mission to England. Your article is completely false about missionaries not being able to contact their families. It’s false to say they can’t go home when they want to. Missionaries are encouraged to email, write, and call home weekly. If a missionary is serving in a very remote area, that is going to affect how often they can contact their families. Lack of internet is to be expected in some countries or rural USA areas.

To me it seems pretty obvious why foreign missions may keep the passports in the security of the mission office. It’s so they don’t get stolen or lost! You can’t get back into your home country without it. Your premise is completely false. It’s not easy to replace a passport. Any foreign travelor that has had their bag stolen can attest to what a traumatic feeling it is to not have any ID to fly home! It would include significant time, money, and resources to get to an embassy on a large city to replace a VISA, passport, or other lost documents.

Our son contacted us daily, or as needed, from the day he left for England. His Mission President knew he was having a hard time being away from home for the first time. When he started having mental health issues due, to anxiety and depression, no one forced him to stay. The mission first offered counseling and tried to help him stay. When that didn’t work, he made the decision to come home early after 6 months. The Mission President was supportive. The decision was our son’s. No one forced him to stay. It was the same with other missionaries he knew that needed or wanted to come home.

Counseling was also offered free of charge from the Church after he came home. He chose to continue his mission from home. He served as a local Service Missionary. There is zero proseliting. Your article completely leaves out the option of serving a service mission. That is an option now that is given to everyone who wants to be a missionary.

Our son lived at home and volunteered at the VA Hospital, Haven Hospice, and delivering food with Meals on Wheels during covid. He worked hundreds of service hours. Your premise that a missionary is only out there to convert people is so naive and wrong!

Missionaries worldwide spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of hours each year volunteering and serving within their communities! They clean up after natural disasters. They offer translation services, teach English, teach hygiene and water sanitation practices. In Europe right now missionaries are helping the hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Teaching others about what we believe is only one small part of what missionaries do.

We serve within the communities we are assigned. We improve lives. My local sister missionaries weekly go to help a woman rebuild her fire damaged house. Missionaries are a benefit to their communities. We come to love those we serve. We learn to be less selfish and more Christlike. We became a ray of hope and goodness in their lives.

Missionaries grow up on their missions. They learn to be adults with a strong work ethic. They learn to love people and serve people in different socioeconomic and cultural situations. That isn’t a bad thing. Many come home and become interpreters. They continue to serve in their home communities. Their possitive outlook lifys others.

Missionaries come home with a better perspective of the world. They have seen what real life is like for many people. The many skills they learn often translate into getting better jobs and better education skills. They can provide better for their future families. Learning to study scriptures and a new language diligently every day for 18 months – 2 years translates into better college study skills. What college student doesn’t need better study skills?

Missions can be very very hard. Mine was. My husband’s was. My son’s was. When my oldest son, who chose not to go on a mission, told his younger brother, “I told you you would hate it and come home early!” The younger brother’s response was, “Actually, I don’t regret a thing. I’m glad I went, even if it was only 6 months. I had a lot of good experiences, even though I needed to come home early.”

Your article is very very flawed in so many ways. By focusing on a few of the negative things that some have felt, you have left out the majority of those whose overall experience was positive. Nothing in life is 100% negative or positive.

You also mention the Indian Placement Program in your article. Since I also have experience with that, your article is very flawed in its assumptions. The Church was trying to help Native American children gain a better education off the Reservation. You obviously have no idea how awful the schools on an Indian Reservation can be. Have you ever personally set foot on an Indian reservation? Have you ever talked with anyone who went to school there?

You can look up the statistics of low graduation rates, reading and math scores below national averages. Reservations, like any school, get funding from taxes and federal government dollars. There is a lack of funding and it is difficult to get good teachers to stay and teach in remote resrvation areas.

In the 1980’s my family in AZ had the oportunity to host a middle school aged Navajo Indian Boy. He lived with us for the school year. It was not an indoctrination program. The program was set up to give a better education opportunity to students on reservations. They had free room and board, so they could get a better education than the one offered on the Navajo Reservation. Think of it as free boarding school.

Our Navajo student joined in with all the activities my brother and I did. My parents enrolled him in soccer and any extracurricular activities my brother did. I’m sure it was difficult for him to be away from his family for that school year.

There were no cell phones back then, but he could call home if needed, but long distance calls are expensive back then. It would’ve been similar to a Student Exchange Program where a student from Germany comes to America to go to school with a host family. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that.

No one forced his parents to sign him up for the program. He decided to come too. Families usually took 1 or 2 children into their home for the school year. Although there are cases of some issues with the program, you cannot say it’s any worse than any other student exchange program, just because a religous organization was in charge of it.

Yes, Navajo student came to church with us on Sundays. My sister’s German exchange student did that too. He joined in family prayers. He was included in other activities our family did, like vacations.

My sister’s German Exchange student in 2019-2020 did the same thing. In both situations, religious involvement was voluntary, but her exchange student chose to join in.

The Church sponsored program, by virtue of being the sponsor, made it pretty clear to those who signed up, that their kids would be living with families who attended church regularly. These Indian families weren’t dumb. No one forced them to send their children to stay with members of our church. I’m sure the students had a mixture of good and bad experiences with the program, just like other foreign exchange student programs.

Your entire article is flawed. It’s obvious you didn’t do a good job of researching your topic and talking to enough missionaries. You cherry-picked your examples to fit your negative viewpoint.

The view that missionaries are some sort of Western White conquorer is pretty dumb too. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a global church with congregations all over the world. Hundreds if thousands of members live oitside the USS. Members are from many cultures and countries. Thus, they aren’t all from the USA or all white, so we don’t fit your narrative.

The total number of missionaries serving INCLUDES those from outside the USA serving within their own foreign countries. That’s thousands of missionaries doing service within their own nation.

Sorry, too many flaws with your article to discuss them all.

Ace Tanner • May 14, 2022 at 4:18 pm

What a slanted bunch of garbage! You have obviously not spoken to many people who actually served missions. There are also many people who didn’t like, or even hate the fact that they’ve served a mission! I’m glad you and your family had a great time server a mission, but it doesn’t necessarily mean all missionaries have a great time. Calling this article “a slanted bunch of garbage” arbitrarily by deliberately ignoring the voice from the people who were suffering from their missions is not nice and open-minded, which I believe contradicts from what the Bible taught us to do. Your comment is very very flawed in so many ways. By focusing on a few of the positive things that some have felt, you have left out the majority of those whose overall experience was negative. Nothing in life is 100% positive or negative. People could choose to believe in your God, or they could choose to not believe in your God at all. Why does the Church have to send missionaries to persuade people to believe in its God? Plus, if the Church is actually that good, why would it send out missionaries? Sorry, too many flaws with your comment to discuss them all! (Laugh😩)

Mike • May 2, 2022 at 10:32 pm

Biggest load of crap I’ve ever read. Poorly written and poorly researched. And some ought right false information. But it’s The Cranny. We’ve come to expect National Enquirer type journalism from them.

Margaret A Black • May 2, 2022 at 7:03 pm

This article is ridiculously slanted.

John • May 13, 2022 at 2:20 pm

Like everything the church says. Does the “one and only true and living church” or the “Lords anointed” give open and truthful information about; church history? Polygamy? Polyandry? Race issues? Conversion therapy? Are the open and honest? How about the church pr department do they slsnt things? Absolutely! So we should follow the examples of those ordained right??

正名 • May 2, 2022 at 3:16 pm

To paraphrase William Dalrymple:

“One can write the history of anything as a chronicle of crime and folly. First you decide what you hate, and then you gather evidence for its hatefulness. Since man is a fallen creature there is always much to find.”

Alas, if only these two were clearer about whom they hate. However, full marks for vacuous buzzwords.

Vaughn • May 1, 2022 at 8:45 pm

When are we going to read the opinion of the the other 54,000 missionaries.vaughn

J. P. • May 1, 2022 at 6:29 pm

I served a mission in El Salvador more than ten years ago. It was one of the most dangerous missions in the world with lots of crime and gang activity. But, we had very good safety protocols and training that we repeated every couple months. We never went into the most dangerous areas and never went out at night. No missionary was harmed in the whole 2 years I was there. Over the whole world, young missionaries are safer on their missions than most college campuses.

We taught a lot of people that we poor (basically everyone in El Salvador is poor). Most people that embraced our message ended up doing better financially as a side effect of joining our church. They quit expensive vices like cigarettes and alcohol, they networked with church members to find better jobs, and they were introduced to affordable education programs like the perpetual education fund.

Sergio Roa • May 1, 2022 at 12:36 pm

A Chilean Professor here, and a Latter Day Saint: I will speak as a professor: a) In your investigative work, you show the “Lenses” , my colleages put in your minds, that lenses are Neo marxism, Critical History Teory, Critical Race Teory , and a Militant Atheism. b) You need to know where your “Lenses” came from. c) All those ideologies, that the left use actually, came from a group of Intelectuals, professors like me, in the Franckfort University, they realice that marxism did not work, and develope a new aproach in the Post war Europe.

Jesse Bardsley • Apr 30, 2022 at 11:27 pm

Not considered here is that many of these poor people who join the church in developing countries find a loving and supportive community and purpose in life. Many of them claim it was the best thing that ever happened to them (although about as many end up leaving in the end). But still, it is difficult to say with confidence that it “does more harm than good.” It is the same with missionaries themselves: many former missionaries, even those who leave the church, still love their missions. It can be traumatic for some, but again, difficult to say if it does more harm than good.

R Clark • Apr 30, 2022 at 3:44 pm

Sarah Buening has no idea what she’s talking about.

Andrew Smith • Apr 30, 2022 at 9:11 am

I am a non mission serving man that was pressured to go but could not give up my passion for metal music and the art of drumming. Just the freedom to listen to music that can release stress and the freedom to have hobbies that make you unique could make the difference between a depressed and traumatic mission and a fun positive opportunity for developing as an adult. The church wants to create a generation of indoctrinated top down life long employees. That is really the reason why the convert retention is so low. People do not have life changing interactions when the truth bearer is unrelatable. They think “Yeah thats nice but I could never see myself being like them”.

tt • Apr 30, 2022 at 6:07 am

In my mission, we were trapped there. Our passports were locked in a safe in the mission office. So if we wanted to go home on our own accord, we couldn’t. I have read that this is a common practice in some missions outside the U.S.

I clearly remember one elder who was begging to go home for weeks, but the mission president wouldn’t let him.

N Jones • Apr 30, 2022 at 1:16 am

A critical point eluded to here is that the purpose of LDS Missions are to complete the indoctrination process and keep the missionary in the Church. The leadership has stated in training meetings that if new members don’t do 1. Mission 2. Temple 3. Marriage in Temple by age 30, 91% will leave. Missions are to indoctrinate and create loyalty to the Church first. Period.

Jack M • Apr 30, 2022 at 7:20 pm

Jared A • May 2, 2022 at 5:01 pm

Indoctrinate is the wrong word. Educate is better. No other church asks their potential members to ask questions and to find out for themselves if what they are being taught is true more than the LDS church. It is their entire mantra. Your response insinuates motive, which you do not know.

Chris Vore • Apr 29, 2022 at 8:52 pm

I’ve been around about 30 of these missionaries for many hours the last 3 weeks. They are so good! They want so badly to help people to become loving and kind like Jesus. It’s incredible to watch them sacrifice a couple of years to serve others.

Amy • May 13, 2022 at 11:18 pm

It is a terrible shame for them to try to help people become kind when in the organisation they bring people to there is so little kindness given unless assimilating. Not a lot of kindness in the LDS church toward GLBTQ’s. At one point the children of same sex parents were not allowed to be full members of the church even. I’ve witnessed incredible amounts of bullying and threats made to people within the church.. people Living live trapped in dispair. I once bumped into an investigator while shopping who has special needs and asked her how she was doing and she cried telling me that missionaries would not stop contacting her.. she had told them time and time again that she wasn’t interested but they just kept showing up.. harrassing her. Just because they were possibly unaware they were doing it doesn’t make it any less so! I know people after serving missions and finding that they had been lied to regarding important parts of church history felt sad and regretted sacrificing years of their life on missions and bringing others into the church.. some have even contacted each of the people that they baptized to apologize to them and share with them the fuller version of what they have learned since.

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How we view a person significantly affects how we treat them. When we see people as enemies, we focus on defending ourselves and defeating them. But when we see them as victims, we want to help them. Seeing Mormons as people victimized by Mormonism profoundly impacts how you will interact with them.

Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Jesus loved Mormons so much that he died for them. He now wants us to reflect his love to them. One of the best ways of doing this is listening to them rather than assuming you know what they believe.

Focus on their stress points rather than on the things in Mormonism which bother you.

It is common for Christians to focus on the aspects of Mormonism which demonstrate it is not Christian. These topics, however, don’t bother most Mormons. In fact, most view them as strengths of Mormonism. As a result, most Mormons quickly shrug off anything we say.

When, however, we talk about things in Mormonism which give them stress, their ears perk up. Topics like forgiveness, living eternally with Heavenly Father, worthiness and perfection. Through pointed use of God’s Word, we can turn their stress points into rest points in Jesus.

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Good communication takes work. Loving communication involves making the effort to speak to somebody with words and phrases familiar to them. Mormons not only have a unique way of saying many things, they also give unique definitions to important biblical words. To avoid talking past each other, we need to speak their language.

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When we show what is wrong with Mormonism, we put the focus on it rather than on Christ. In addition, we are almost guaranteeing that they will become defensive.

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Mission Rules: Formerly Known as the Missionary Handbook. Now Known as Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.

Update Nov. 15, 2019: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released a new, updated handbook of instructions for full-time missionaries serving around the world. The new handbook is called, “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ,” and can be found on the Church’s website .

The Missionary Standards handbook documents the mission rules for full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Obeying these rules will keep you safe as a missionary, and will help you be more productive and successful. The Missionary Standards handbook is one of the primary resources youth, parents, and priesthood leaders should use in preparing youth for the mission field. The Church Handbook even instructs bishops to review the guidelines in the Missionary Standards handbook with each missionary candidate to make sure they understand and are committed to obey the mission rules. The handbook outlines the rules on expected missionary behavior, dress and grooming , media, finances , communicating with family and friends , and other expectations. Let’s briefly walk through the major sections of Missionary Standards handbook. Click on one of the five links below to jump directly to that section.

Introduction to the Full-time Mission Experience

Missionary Organization and Activities

Missionary Conduct

Physical Well-Being

Completion of Your Mission

The first section of the handbook reinforces the sacred nature of your calling and reminds you that you have been called of God by a prophet and set apart to assist the Church in this great work of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. It explains the meaning of the title of the handbook, Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, is because to be an effective missionary, you must be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. And it explains how following these standards will help protect you physically, spiritually, and emotionally and help you be the disciple Jesus Christ needs you to become.

This section also encourages you to take joy in your missionary experience. It says “this is a time to rejoice and to experience lasting happiness and peace through Jesus Christ.” It says that you will get the most joy out of your mission when you are faithful to the commandments and obedient to the rules. And it also “means that you try to learn, grow, and improve; correct mistakes quickly; and take personal responsibility for your actions.” It reminds you that mission standards will bless you on your mission and help you for the rest of your life as you learn to use God’s commandments and His Spirit to guide you throughout your life.

Mission Leadership : This section explains the role of the mission president and other young missionary leadership positions. “Your mission president and his wife, who serve together as your mission leaders, are called of God and set apart to lead the mission.” Young missionary leadership positions include the assistants to the mission president, zone leaders, and sister training leaders, and the handbook emphasizes that “leadership assignments do not indicate special recognition or advancement or reflect the worth of a missionary.”

Self-Reliance and Magnifying Your Calling : This section of the handbook also teaches that missionaries are to become spiritually self-reliant, and “act for [yourself]” (2 Nephi 2:16) by trusting the Lord and following the Spirit. It emphasizes the missionary’s personal responsibilities to learn to “magnify [your] office unto the Lord” (Jacob 1:19). Open communication with your companion, peer missionary leaders, and your mission president is also encouraged in this section.

Companions : Each missionary is assigned a companion who they are to stay with at all times. Regarding companions it says, “Never be alone. You should be able to see and hear your companion at all times unless you are in the bathroom, in an interview.” The handbook teaches that one of the blessings of being in missionary companionships is that “learning patience and love, practicing forgiveness, and accepting differences in personalities will bless you throughout your life.”

Stay in Your Assigned Area : Missionaries are assigned an area, typically a section of a city of set of neighborhoods, in which they are to stay and work. It says, “concentrate your efforts in your assigned teaching area….If you need to leave your area for another reason, request permission” from you mission leaders.

Missionary Work Activities : This section is about activities such as “participating in companion exchanges and transfers, working with members, responding to referrals, teaching, participating in councils and meetings, and serving” in the community. It says that, in working with members, invite them “to join you in normal and natural ways as you find, teach, baptize, and fellowship.”

Daily Schedule : Missionaries follow a strict daily schedule of activities as well as weekly district council meetings, regular zone conferences, and other mission leadership council meetings. The following is the standard daily schedule, though it “may be adjusted by the mission president” as needed. Missionaries get up by 6:30am. They eat, exercise, study the scriptures, plan lessons, and schedule the day, and then leave the apartment by 10am to find, teach, serve others, and do other proselytizing activities. They return to their housing by 9:30 p.m, write in their journal, pray, and are to be in bed by 10:30pm. “The schedule approved for your mission will allow time to work, rest, and refocus. It is important to get adequate rest and nutrition for your spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.” See my full article on the missionary schedule for more details .

Preparation Day : One day a week, missionaries’ schedule varies a little to allow them to get prepared for the rest of the week. “Preparation day allows you time to refresh physically, spiritually, and emotionally” and provides “opportunities to be with other missionaries in your district and to enjoy wholesome recreational activities together.” On p-day, missionaries are to do communications with their family, do laundry, get hair cuts, clean the apartment, go shopping, and rest. “All preparation day activities should be completed by 6:00 p.m.” and afterwards you should do regular proselytizing activities. See my more detailed article on preparation day for more information.

Service in the Community : Missionaries work a few hours each week in service to others. “Find opportunities to serve your companion, the people you are teaching, members, and others in the community.” The handbook stresses that “you should serve with a sincere desire to help others without any expected outcomes” and that “if someone expresses interest in your message, reply very briefly and arrange to meet with them at a different time and location to share a message.”

This section describes missionary standards of behavior and includes the characteristics of Christ you are expected to exemplify during your mission. As a missionary, you should conduct yourself at all times in such a way that everyone who sees you will recognize you as a representative of Jesus Christ.

Christlike Behavior :  This section talks about how to put into practice more Christ-like behavior and includes a discussion on respecting “the customs, religious beliefs and practices, and sacred sites in your area at all times.” Says the handbook, “Pray and work to develop Christlike attributes as described in the scriptures and in Preach My Gospel , including gratitude, kindness, love, humility , patience, empathy, and obedience. With the Savior’s help and your own sincere and diligent efforts, you can develop Christlike attributes”

Temple Worthiness : Missionaries are expected to remain temple worthy at all times . “Keeping temple covenants of obedience, sacrifice, and consecration will empower you and help you become more like the Savior.”

The Law of Chastity : One important part of worthiness is keeping the Lord’s law of sexual purity, the law of chastity . “Do all you can to protect yourself, your companion, and others from sexual temptation that could lead to breaking this sacred covenant.” This includes but is not limited to sexual intercourse, same-sex activity, oral sex, sexting, masturbation, and pornography.

Honesty : Missionaries are, of course, expected to be honest in all their interactions. This includes “giving accurate reports of your work and how you have spent your time throughout the week in your weekly reports.”

Interactions with Others : Missionaries should keep their language dignified and avoid using slang. Missionaries should “not counsel adults about personal problems. [Instead], refer members to their bishop if they need counseling.” Missionaries should, “never be alone with anyone younger than age 18.” They should “be cautious about playing with groups of children” and “whenever possible, get a parent’s permission to interact with a child.”

Recreation : Missionaries are encouraged to participate in wholesome recreational activities on p-day such as visiting historical and cultural sites, museums and parks. “You can learn to more fully love the people you serve by taking sincere interest in their culture, history, land, and traditions through visits to local places of interest, generally on preparation day.” Missionaries are cautioned to not participate in high risk activities “because missionaries have been seriously injured while participating in risky activities.” Therefore, missionaries should not do: contact sports, gymnastic, winter sports, water sports, mountain climbing, rock climbing, motorcycle riding, horse riding, firearms or fireworks.

Videos, Music, Online and Offline Media : Missionaries have strict guideline regarding the type of media they can consume. There is no “television, movies, video games, and unauthorized videos”, no “audiobooks, music, and reading material”, and no “social media, mobile apps, and online media” except those specifically allowed for missionaries such as the scriptures, Church magazines, and Church social media.

Photos and Videos : “Photos can help you share your mission experience with people at home and can be meaningful reminders of your mission”, but be sure to “ask permission before taking and sharing photos or videos.” And also remember that “taking certain photos may be offensive or illegal in some cultures and places.”

Communication with Family and Friends : Communicating with family and friends should only take place on your preparation day. “You may communicate with your family on your weekly preparation day via letters, emails, text messages, online messaging, phone calls, and video chat.” But remember that you, the missionary, should be the one to initiate all the communications with your family. Also, “prioritize your time on preparation day by communicating with your parents first and your mission president second.” Also remember that “generally, family and friends should not visit you during your mission.”

Weekly Letter to Your Mission President : “Write a letter to your mission president weekly on preparation day. Generally, you will submit your letter to him using the [online] Missionary Portal.” In that letter, “be open and honest so that he can understand any concerns you have and provide relevant counsel and feedback.”

Nutrition and Food Preparation : “Proper hydration and nutrition are important to your well-being” therefore missionaries should “eat balanced meals that include vegetables, fruits, grains, healthy fats, and protein [and] limit junk food, carbonated drinks, processed foods, and restaurant fast food.” Missionaries should also to remember to observe the safe food preparation guidelines set out in the handbook and only drink “clean water and pasteurized dairy products are safe.”

Exercise : The missionary schedule provides time each day to exercise. “Exercise keeps you healthy and helps relieve stress. Make it a part of your daily routine.” But do remember that missionaries “should not exercise at public or commercial gyms.”

Stress Management : Following the rules for healthy eating, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep will help you manage stress. You may also want to consult the Adjusting to Missionary Life pamphlet available from the Church to help you manage your stress. And “if you have been prescribed medication for stress, follow the prescription and your doctor’s directions.” Also check out this article I wrote on preparing emotionally for a mission .

Medical Care : “Nonemergency visits should be approved in advance by the [mission] medical coordinator.” “If you have a health emergency, take common-sense actions for your immediate safety or care. Call local emergency services (such as 911 in the United States) unless you have been given other instructions in your mission. As soon as possible, contact your mission leaders.”

Dangerous Situations and Threats : “Many possible dangers can be avoided with common sense and by observing mission standards,…[but] If there is a problem, immediately report it to either of your mission leaders.” “Leave immediately if you or your companion feel uncomfortable about a location, person, or situation.” Stay away from unsafe areas and avoid situations that could lead to confrontations such as public demonstrations.

Money : “The funds donated by you, your family, and Church members to support you on your mission are sacred funds and should be used responsibly and honestly.” Your monthly mission allowance includes money for: food, transportation, hair care, personal hygiene, laundry supplies, postage, and internet expenses for weekly communications home. Personal funds (i.e. money sent from home) will have to be used if you need money for additional items such as: bicycle maintenance, some medical expenses for preexisting conditions, traffic fines, repairs to housing if you cause damage, music, video devices, souvenirs, and gifts. “Become [financially] self-reliant during your mission by creating and following a spending plan,” aka, a budget. Read my article for more info on the cost of a mission .

Dress and Grooming : “Your dress and grooming should be a demonstration of humility, respect, and faith.” Follow healthy grooming standards such as bathing daily, brushing your teeth regularly, using deodorant, wash your hands regularly, and wearing sunscreen. “Choose a neat, professional hairstyle that is easy to maintain.” See more detail here about the dress and grooming standards for missionaries .

You are expected to follow all missionary rules until you have returned home and been released by your stake president. The Church strongly prefers for missionaries to return home directly. “This is especially important if you are serving in a country other than your own where visa requirements are enforced. Delaying your return home could make it difficult for future missionaries to obtain travel visas.”

“When you return home, continue to live the gospel standards.” Make sure to continue the habits you developed as a missionary to pray and study the gospel daily, and attend church meetings. Also attend the temple as often as circumstances allow, go to institute classes if you can, continue your education and seek meaningful employment. Also remember to “continue to communicate with those you have taught and worked with on your mission,” including people you taught and baptized, former companions, and other mission leaders. “Support and strengthen them through your words and example, and celebrate important events in their lives.”

A Note for Couples and Senior Sisters

Couples and sisters age 40 and older are not expected to follow the same proselyting schedule of younger missionaries, though most of the other rules still apply. As older missionaries, the younger missionary will look to you as an example. Be aware that to meet the needs in your area, your mission president may assign you responsibilities other than those you received with your call. Even if you have an office role or a non-proselyting assignment, all missionaries should seek to share the gospel.

Living the missionary rules found in the Missionary Standards handbook will help you feel the spirit of missionary work. When you accepted your call, you promised to live by these standards. Always keep in mind the importance of your service and strive to magnify your calling . As you obey the rules you will show the Lord your love for Him, earn the trust and confidence of members and non-members, and be able to have a more full measure of the Holy Ghost with you. “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” (D&C 64: 34).

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From the outset, Joseph Smith believed that his revelation was a message for the whole world. He sent out missionaries to win converts to the faith and make the Church a vital force throughout the world. By the 1840s, missionaries were in North America, Europe, and many Pacific Islands. During the first 25 years of the church, 71,000 converts were made in Great Britain alone. Approximately 17,000 emigrated to the early The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settlements in Kirtland, Ohio, Nauvoo, Illinois, and Utah.

At the beginning of the 20th century, WWI and WWII restricted missionary work due to the fact that many signed up or were drafted into the wars. Under Latter-Day Saints’ President David O. Mckay, missionaries totaled 24,280 during 1950 – 1960. In 1974, President Spencer Kimbell called for all able, worthy young men to go on a mission and, within a few years, the numbers doubled. By 1978, the church built the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. The Missionary Training Center is one of the 10 training centers today.

Who goes on missions?

All Latter-day Saints aged 18 to 26 are eligible to receive a mission call and concentrate two years of their life on what Latter-day Saints’ President Gordon Hinckley called the sacred service. Women 19 or older may also be called to serve on missions, but they only serve 18 months. Seventy-six percent of the missionary force are young men. In addition to women, a few missionaries are married couples or older serving Latter-day Saints on a second mission.

Missionaries are expected to cover all expenses of their mission . Many Latter-day Saints children start saving for their missions when they first get an allowance, at 6 or 7-years-old. Many young Latter-day Saints also work after-school jobs to save for their missions. However, if the cost is too high for a missionary and their family to bear, a missionary’s local ward may help to pay the expenses. Once accepted, missionaries go through training at a Missionary Training Center.

The rigorous training can last up to two months of 16-hour days. The trainees learn various lesson plans designed to take the potential convert to the goal of baptism. Training Center teachers teach missionaries how to listen, find common ground with a stranger, and answer challenging questions. Young missionaries do not choose where they serve, but are assigned by the Church to a particular location.

What happens on the mission?

The mission itself involves long workdays. A typical day involves two hours of scriptural study and eight to nine hours of going door to door teaching and contacting potential converts. One day a week is set aside for personal activities like laundry, letter writing, or sightseeing in the host country. At the end of their mission, they return to their communities. Many veterans describe their experience as transformative.

Missionaries and Potential Converts

When first meeting with a potential convert, missionaries try to engage them with an open dialogue about faith. Missionaries then teach the doctrines and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, including the nature of God and God’s plan for humankind. Missionaries stress their fundamental belief in Joseph Smith as a modern prophet and the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ. LDS missionaries will also teach a potential convert about the Latter-day Saints lifestyle. When ready, missionaries ask potential converts to join them for Church services with the local congregation. If the potential convert is prepared to repent of their sins and declare faith in Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel, then they’ll be baptized by immersion.

Their emphasis when approaching non-believers is on the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed to Joseph Smith. In their eyes, Christianity has suffered from a Great Apostasy starting in the years after the death of Jesus and the martyrdom of His twelve apostles, necessitating the restoration of the prophetic office, modern revelation, and, therefore, the need to spread the message of the Restored Gospel throughout the existing Christian world.

Joseph Smith envisioned his followers fulfilling what Christians call Christ’s ‘great commission’ (Matthew 26:16-20), spreading the gospel worldwide. He wanted to make the Church a vital force throughout the world. In the first 25 years of the Church’s existence, there were thousands of converts in Great Britain, and many of them emigrated to early Mormon settlements in Illinois, Ohio, and Utah. Latter-day Saints go on missions because they want to spread the message of Jesus Christ, and the “Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Should Serve|Types of Missions

The Lord asks every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission. For Latter-day Saint young men, missionary service is a priesthood responsibility (see Doctrine and Covenants 36:1, 4–7 ). The Lord also welcomes worthy, able young women to serve missions if they desire. For young women, a mission is a powerful, but optional, opportunity. Preparing for a mission will bless a young woman whether she decides to serve as a missionary or not. “Pray to know if the Lord would have you serve a mission, and the Holy Ghost will respond to your heart and mind” (Russell M. Nelson, “ Preaching the Gospel of Peace,” Liahona , April 2022). Senior missionaries are also needed and invited to serve (see General Handbook , 24.0). For the most recent prophetic guidance on this question, see “ Preaching the Gospel of Peace” by President Russell M. Nelson.

Yes. Young missionaries and senior missionaries can serve either proselyting or service missions. Whichever type of mission you serve, the Lord is pleased with your sacrifice in helping to gather Israel. In his general conference address “ Preaching the Gospel of Peace,” President Russell M. Nelson stated: “You are each vital to the Lord. He has held you in reserve until now to help gather Israel. Your decision to serve a mission, whether a proselyting or a service mission, will bless you and many others. We also welcome senior couples to serve when their circumstances permit. Their efforts are simply irreplaceable.” Visit the young service missionary website and senior missionary website to learn more about these opportunities.

Preparing to Serve

Preparing spiritually for a mission includes strengthening your conversion to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel (see General Handbook , 24.3.1 ). Preach My Gospel chapter 5 states: “The Book of Mormon, combined with the Spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion. It provides powerful evidence for the divinity of Christ. … As a missionary, you must first have a personal testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.” Commit to study the Book of Mormon daily to strengthen your testimony of its divine power and truths. You should also become familiar with Preach My Gospel , especially chapters 1 and 3 . To learn how to be a missionary, you could share the gospel with a friend, go to teaching appointments with the full-time missionaries, or ask recently returned missionaries about their experiences in the mission field. For additional ideas on how to “love, share, and invite” others to come unto Christ, explore these resources to help members share the gospel, as well as Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s April 2022 general conference address, “ Love, Share, and Invite .”

Become familiar with the Adjusting to Missionary Life and Safeguards for Using Technology resources, which will be available to you throughout your mission. For additional support, consider enrolling in the course “ Finding Strength in the Lord: Emotional Resilience ” through your local ward or branch or working through the materials with a friend or family member.

For guidance on financial sacrifice for missions, see General Handbook , 24.3.4 , “Finances.”

For guidance on when to receive the endowment, see General Handbook , 27.2.2 .

A complete list of necessary items is provided on the Missionary Portal after you receive your mission call. Refer to the “ Personal Funds ” section of Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ for additional direction on purchasing personal necessary items in the field.

Submitting Your Papers|Receiving Your Call

Many factors may affect when you should begin missionary service. These factors include family needs, health, and schooling, among other things. However, the most important consideration is the will of the Lord. You can also use Mission Planning Tools , available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to plan when your stake president should submit your missionary recommendation.

To start the recommendation process, first meet with your bishop. He will give you access to the Missionary Online Recommendation system. If you are attending a young single adult (YSA) ward and living away from home, speak to your YSA ward bishop first. He will guide you and coordinate with your home ward bishop based on your individual circumstances.

For guidelines on when a recommendation can be submitted, see General Handbook , 24.4.3 , “Submitting Recommendations.” You can also use tools on Planning When to Serve a Mission to decide when to submit your recommendation.

Every young teaching missionary is called to serve by the President of the Church. A specific mission assignment is given by revelation to an Apostle (see General Handbook , 24.2 ). Learn more by reading “ The Divine Call of a Missionary ,” Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s April 2010 general conference address, and “ Called to the Work ,” Elder David A. Bednar’s April 2017 general conference address.

What to Expect on Your Mission

As a missionary in the MTC, you will participate in guided instruction and personal and companion study. You will also have dedicated time for meals, exercise, and temple attendance. For most missionaries, the MTC experience now includes at-home training and on-site training at one of the 10 MTCs worldwide. When you receive your mission call, you will receive specific instructions regarding your MTC experience on the Missionary Portal and in your call packet. To learn more about what to expect during the at-home portion of your training, see these frequently asked questions .

A missionary’s day is filled with activities that help accomplish the missionary purpose of bringing souls to Christ. Read the “ Daily Activities and Schedule ” within the Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ , and study the lessons in chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel to find what missionaries teach.

For information on communicating with family and friends, see section 3.9 , “Communication with Family, Mission Leaders, and Friends,” in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ .

Additional Questions

Chapter 24 of the General Handbook provides important information about missionary service. You can also find information in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ and Preach My Gospel . If you have additional questions, talk with your parents or your ward or branch leaders.

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Mission Field

UTAH PARTNERSHIPS FOR CHRIST

Read: Mormon glossary of terms

An Unreached People Group

2.5 million residents ● 90,000 protestants ● only 3.9%.

Do you want to reach Mormons for Christ? Pray about going on a mission trip to the heart of where Mormons live…Utah! Join approximately 3,000 students over the last 19 years that have gone on a mission trip to Utah with Utah Partnerships for Christ! Your trip will provide you the opportunity to reach a culture that believes they can become a god, that you can have multiple wives in heaven, and that that Jesus and Satan are brothers.

Your trip will put you in places where you can share grace and truth in small group discussions over dinners, sporting events, hikes, and places like Temple Square in Salt Lake City. You will also serve the local church by inviting people to Sunday services, reaching out to high school and college students near their campuses and of course do some snow tubing in the mountains nearby.

God will show Himself to you in amazing ways as you serve Him as His ambassador to reach this place of 3 million people where only 2% are Christian. Come plant seeds of the Gospel and watch how God may transform a life through you!

Who are we?

Who are the mormons, what's next, will you come share the good news with the lds faithful.

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First Presidency Calls 164 New Mission Leaders to Begin Serving in 2022

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2022-mission-presidents

       Updated October 10, 2022

2022 Mission Leadership Assignments

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has called 164 new mission presidents and companions; most will begin service in July. Their names and assignments are listed below. This includes the new Rwanda Kigali and Hawaii Laie missions. Links to the couples’ brief biographies will be added as they are published in the coming months.

Mission Areas

Africa central area, africa south area, africa west area, asia north area, brazil area, central america area, europe area, europe east area, méxico area, north america central area, north america northeast area, north america southeast area, north america southwest area, north america west area, pacific area, philippines area, south america northwest area, south america south area, additional resources.

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Everything To Know About Mormon Missions Like Jack Barlow's

Lisa Barlow's oldest son has decided to be missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Season 4 of  Real Housewives of Salt Lake City   finds Lisa Barlow  trying to accept her oldest son, Jack Barlow's decision to go on a two year long Mormon mission  trip.

How to Watch

Watch  The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on  Peacock  and the Bravo App .

"When he told us, you know, I was crying because I hadn't been involved in the process," Lisa said to her husband, John Barlow, during Episode 1 of Season 4 . "I think I'm still dealing with the emotion that I had no idea and he's been prepping for a year, and then it makes me think, you know, maybe he does need more time with me, or maybe he just wants less." 

But in that episode, when she asked Jack why he'd kept it a secret, she said he told her, “‘Because you and Dad are different than me.’”

In Season 4, Episode 6, Lisa explained more about his upbringing : "Jack has been raised non-orthodox, so I'm still processing everything."

Read on for more details about what it's like going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — more commonly referred to as the Mormon Church. 

What is a Mormon mission?

According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a mission is "a period of volunteer service, usually ranging from six to 24 months, when Church members devote themselves part-time or full-time to proselytizing, humanitarian assistance, or other service."

Missionaries' works is unpaid and self-funded.

RELATED:  Lisa Barlow Shares an Update on Her Son Jack’s Post-Graduation Plans

As Lisa explained in the Season 4 premiere, "a mission is devoting two years of your life to serving others and teaching people about Jesus Christ. So, Jack's giving up two years of his life to basically help everyone but himself."

However, in some parts of the world where they serve, missionaries are not allowed to proselytize at all. 

According to Heather Gay — who served her mission in France — being even solely a proselytizing missionary is hard work. "It was like hard, knuckle breaking work," she said during Episode 2 of Season 4 of  RHOSLC . "You were knocking on doors, selling the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's all that it is, being a door-to-door salesman."

How long is a Mormon mission?

It depends. According to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, "single men serve missions for two years and single woman serve missions for 18 months."

Most missionaries are between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, which is why someone like Jack would defer college to go on his mission. 

In an interview during Episode 5, Lisa said of Jack's mission, "The fact that I'm not going to have my son for two years is a lot for a mom." 

What do Mormons do on missions? 

Prior to embarking on their mission, missionaries train for up to three months, according to PBS, where they learn how to talk about the church's teachings and sometimes learn the language of the country to which they are going. 

A typical missionary wakes up early in the morning, according to the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter Day Saints, and spend their day visiting homes, following up on appointments, or meeting people in public places in order to proselytize and convince people to convert. One day a week is set aside for activities like laundry and sightseeing, and days typically end around 10:30 p.m. 

In her book,  Bad Mormon , Heather described herself as a "very effective missionary." "I could get butts in seats, or bodies in the font, if you know what I mean," she wrote. "I held the record for most baptisms in our mission: 16 dunked in 18 months. The average for other missionaries was one or less."

What are the Mormon mission rules? 

According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, missionaries must avoid traditional entertainment and parties — anything that might distract them from the mission at hand. They are, however, allowed to listen to music and read books about religion, according to PBS. 

Unmarried missionaries must work with a companion of the same gender 24 hours a day throughout their mission; only married spouses are allowed to work together. Missionaries also "cannot come within arms length of the opposite sex," according to PBS.

RELATED:  Lisa Gives Her Son Jack an Emotional Send-Off: "My Whole Heart Is Breaking"

The experience can be transformative.

Heather noted during a recent episode of  RHOSLC that Lisa might be surprised by Jack when he returns from his mission. "What I don't think she's prepared for is who he might be when he comes home," she said. "And I think she's in for a rude awakening."

Can missionaries contact their family and friends? 

Mormon missionaries are allowed to  contact family members one day a week through text messages, phone calls, and/or video chatting, in addition to writing them emails and sending them letters. However, family members are asked to not initiate these calls, but wait for the missionary themselves to contact them, according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Up until 2019, missionaries were only allowed to call home twice a year  — on Christmas and Mother's Day — and only write letters or send emails once a week, according to NBC News.

Where are Mormon mission trips conducted?

Anywhere, according to Lisa. "He could go to Idaho, he could go to Southern California," she said during Episode 1. Although Lisa was excited about the possibility of Jack going to a location where she could shop, like Milan, it's not up to her or Jack to decide where he serves his mission.

She told Meredith Marks in Season 4, Episode 5, "You know what's going to be really hard? When Jack gets his mission call, he could literally be called anywhere. We can't go see him, and he can't come home. I cry every day. I'm like a baby."

Church headquarters determine where each missionary is assigned to serve and missionaries are not allowed to request where they want to be assigned. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has 411 missions around the world , with the majority located in the United States and South America. So, Jack could well land in Southern California — or nearly anywhere else.

Where is Jack Barlow serving his mission?

In Season 4 Episode 8 of RHOSLC, Lisa threw Jack a party in honor of finding out where he would be serving his mission for two years. Guests got to eat cookies with “Elder Barlow” written on them — a reference to how missionaries refer to themselves while serving — chow down on a cake in the shape of a suitcase, and celebrate Jack’s big accomplishment.

“Getting your mission call, it’s a huge thing in Utah,” Lisa said in a confessional. “Like, a gender reveal party.”

Jack then revealed, in front of a room filled with his family and friends, that he would be serving in the Colombia Bogotá North Mission.

“I was expecting like, Europe, or something, or New York,” Lisa told party goers.

But Lisa has since come around to accepting Jack’s placement.

In a post on X (formerly called Twitter) after the episode aired, Lisa expressed her excitement surrounding his mission location . “We are soooo happy Jack was called to serve in Colombia,” she wrote. “He loves serving others and was so happy this is his call. He has so many friends that have served here and still are and we are sooo happy for him.”

What happens when a Mormon missionary comes home?

Things might be weird after being away from home for two years and having limited contact with your family. However, missionaries are expected to pick back up as normal with their every day lives, according to  The Daily Universe .

After spending their days talking about their religion to strangers, missionaries get to go back home, often attend college, and share their "transformative" experiences with their communities, according to PBS. ​​

You can see more of Lisa's family and learn more about Jack's decision to go on a mission by catching new episodes of  RHOSLC  Season 4 on Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo. 

Originally published Sep 28, 2023.

• Heather Gay
• Lisa Barlow

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Every year since 2000, Evidence Ministries has taken a team of Christians to Manti (pronounced Man-tie), Utah to preach the gospel to Mormons at the Mormon Miracle Pageant . Manti is located in central Utah about 2 1/2 hours south of Salt Lake City. The pageant is an outdoor drama that depicts the beginnings of Mormonism in upstate New York in 1820. Scenes include the trek out west to Salt Lake City, the murder of the founder Joseph Smith and various Book of Mormon stories. The pageant runs every year in mid-June. It is not uncommon to have anywhere from 5,000- 20,000 visitors each night.

The pageant grounds open at 6:00pm, but the pageant itself does not begin until 9:30pm. That gives Christians 3 ½ hours to engage interested Mormons in religious discussions. The city closes the streets surrounding the temple to vehicular traffic allowing people to congregate and talk in the middle of the street. The streets can fill up with literally scores of conversations ranging from one-on-one to one-on-50.

Evidence Ministries trains our teams to effectively engage Mormons in fruitful conversations. Extra attention is given to teach Christians how to do this without getting into negative arguments with Mormons. We teach our teams two main witnessing techniques through seven weekly training sessions. The seven weeks are as follows;

• Week 1- Introductions and The Mormon Puzzle Video.
• Week 2- The Mormon World View of Exaltation.
• Week 3- Mormonism’s Impossible Gospel Part 1.
• Week 4- Mormonism’s Impossible Gospel Part 2.
• Week 5- Explaining the Gospel to Mormons.
• Week 6- God Is Not A Man.
• Week 7- Role-playing to apply what you have learned.

The training is open to Christians who want to learn more about Mormonism and how to witness to them. You do not have to go on the mission trip in order to attend the training. Our training sessions are always fun and informative. You will learn more about Mormonism than you ever thought you could know. Our goal is to cultivate in you a heart for the Mormons and to equip you to reach out in love to those who are lost. Training materials will be available for purchase. Training is usually held at Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. Childcare is available with advance notice.

Thank you for being interested in reaching out to the Mormon people. If you have any other questions, feel free to email us at [email protected].

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Why Mormons Send Their Children on Missions

by Valerie Steimle | Mar 1, 2014 | Valerie Steimle: Strengthening Families | 2 comments

This past week I sent my youngest daughter off on a mission. What is a mission you ask?  Every worthy child of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has the opportunity to serve their fellow man in the early years of their young adult life.  They can apply as a missionary to be called to anywhere in the world where the Church has a congregation and they spend anywhere from 18 months to two years serving their fellow man.

Along with serving the people of the area where they serve; these missionaries also teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For those who are thirsting for spiritual nourishment, it is a Godsend. There are many souls who feel lost in this world and the enthusiasm and fresh look at life held by these young members along with teaching the gospel can make a huge difference in the lives of people all over the world.

Those missionaries who are sent far away first attend a training center, which is where my daughter is now.  The Provo, Utah facility holds over 3,000 missionaries and they are trained in the language and culture of the country they serve. There are 15 Missionary Training Centers (MTC) all over the world all teaching these young people to be representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.

From the time they can understand gospel principles in junior Sunday school, all children can learn that serving a mission is a noble calling. Parents teach their children that to serve a mission is a great achievement and teaches those who serve how unselfish acts of love and kindness make us better people.

As a family we attend church every Sunday and involve ourselves in the congregation we live closest. We also set aside time to pray together every day and read some kind of scripture verse to remind ourselves who is in charge.  Taking the time to pray and read, no matter how small, renders great dividends of great blessings to parents when we pray and read together often.  The more days families can consistently participate together, the better the Spirit of the Lord can dwell in the home.

Participating in service projects is another way to prepare children to serve a mission.  We have engaged in countless hours of service projects for others over the years as my children grew to adulthood which taught them the importance of serving others no matter how inconvenient.

Building Strong Families To read more of Valerie’s articles, click the picture.

To help communities clean a park, or plant new trees or clean up damaged buildings after a storm. Sewing quilts for war torn countries, serve food to the homeless, snow shovel an elderly neighbor’s yard or mow lawns for a disabled person.  There are missionaries all over the world helping others in these ways and more. Countless hours of service and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is a great training ground for adulthood.

So am I sending off my children as an interruption to their life?  No, of course not. A mission will do more to educate themselves in preparation to life than anything I can do while I am with them. Taking on selfless service and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ helps set a precedent which will last a life time. A lifetime which will have meaning and purpose to themselves and those around them; including me.

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5 missionaries! wow! My oldest is planning on a mission next year! I loved serving a mission. It is such an education on the gospel, culture, people and the amazing Love God has for all of his children.

Yes, Missions are wonderful experiences…

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