It has been suggested that Senior Missionaries be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

It has been suggested that Returned missionary be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

People of the Church mural on the LDS Conference Center roof with inscription: And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. The Salt Lake Temple appears in reflection.

A Mormon missionary is a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church), more commonly known as the Mormon Church. The LDS church is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 50,000 full-time missionaries worldwide ^[1]. Most Mormon missionaries are single young men and women in their early twenties, who are assigned to a mission of the church that is usually far from the missionary's home. Mormon missionaries do not receive a salary for any of the work they undertake. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... The most widely recognized missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) are the young Elders and Sisters who proselyte the faith. ... Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mormon missionary. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2700x1080, 1639 KB) Summary Detail of People of the Church mural on the roof of the Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States - the scripture in the mural... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2700x1080, 1639 KB) Summary Detail of People of the Church mural on the roof of the Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States - the scripture in the mural... View of Conference Center spire taken from south of the Center on North Temple St. ... Salt Lake Temple is the centerpiece of the 10 acre (40,000 m²) Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for their efforts to contact the public through proselyting activities. ...

Preparation to serve

Basic qualifications

LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball said "Every young man should fill a mission".^[2] Young men between the ages of 19 and 25 who meet standards of worthiness are strongly encouraged to consider a two-year, full-time proselytizing mission. This expectation is based in part on the New Testament passage "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..." (Matt. 28: 19-20). Women who would like to serve a mission must meet the same standards of worthiness and be at least 21 years old; women generally serve shorter 18-month missions. Elderly, retired couples are encouraged to serve missions as well, but their length of service may vary from 3 to 36 months depending on their circumstances and means. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... Spencer Woolley Kimball (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1973-1985). ... John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ...

Standards of worthiness

All missionaries must meet certain minimum standards of worthiness. Among the standards that a prospective missionary must demonstrate adherence to include regular attendance at church meetings; regular personal prayer; regular study of the Standard Works; adherence to the law of chastity; adherence to the Word of Wisdom; and payment of tithing. Mary Magdalene in prayer. ... The Standard Works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consists of several books that constitute its open, scriptural canon, and include the following: The Holy Bible (King James version)* The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ The Doctrine and Covenants The Pearl... The Law of Chastity is a part of the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) belief structure. ... The Word of Wisdom is the common name of Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants — a book that consists of what many churches within the Latter Day Saint movement consider to be revelations from God. ... A tithe (from Old English teogotha tenth) is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax or levy, usually to support a religious organization. ...

Other exclusionary factors

In addition to spiritual preparedness, church bishops are instructed to ensure that prospective missionaries are physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of full-time missionary work. In the same speech where he called for "every young man" to fill a mission, Kimball added, "we realize that while all men definitely should, all men are not prepared to teach the gospel abroad."^[3] Apart from general issues of worthiness and ability, there are a number of specific situations that will disqualify a person from becoming a full-time missionary for the LDS Church. Among those excluded include those who would have to leave dependent children in the care of someone else; young couples who are still in child-bearing age; those who are in debt and have not made arrangements to meet these obligations; those who are on legal probation or parole; couples with serious unresolved marital problems; those who are HIV positive; and those who have been convicted of sexual abuse.^[4] Additionally, members who have submitted to, performed, encouraged, paid for, or arranged for an abortion and members who have fathered or mothered a child out of wedlock are usually excluded from missionary service, as are men under 26 and women under 40 who have been divorced.^[5] In Mormonism, a Bishop is the leader of a local congregation and a priesthood office of the Aaronic Priesthood. ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ...

Mission call

After application to the church and the requisite approval, prospective missionaries receive a "call to serve"—an official notification of their location assignment—through the mail from the President of the Church. The mission call will also inform the prospective missionary what language he will be expected to use during his mission. Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are responsible for assigning missionaries to a particular mission. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ...

Temple attendance

Before beginning their mission, prospective male missionaries are ordained to the office of an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood (if they do not hold this office already). All missionaries are "set apart" by the laying on of hands to preach the gospel; this is usually performed by the missionary's stake president. Prospective missionaries also attend the temple for the first time to receive their Endowment if they have not already done so. Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ... In Mormonism, an Elder is a priesthood and leadership position in many denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Melchizedek Priesthood, to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the authority and power to act in the name of God including the authority to perform ordinances and to preside over and direct the affairs of his Church and Kingdom. ... The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms. ... A stake president is a title held by a Mormon religious leader who oversees a unit of the church called a stake. ... The Salt Lake Temple is the most well-known Mormon Temple. ... In Mormonism, the Endowment is a heavenly gift of priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ...

Training

Newly-called missionaries attend a short training period at one of almost two dozen Church Missionary Training Centers (MTCs). The largest MTC is located in Provo, Utah^[6] adjacent to Brigham Young University. Missionaries who will not be learning a language in order to serve their missions spend three weeks at the MTC and are trained in the use of proselytizing materials, taught expected conduct, and study the scriptures. Missionaries bound for foreign-language missions spend eight to thirteen weeks at the MTC, depending on the language to be learned. During this period, they are encouraged not to speak in their native tongue but rather to immerse themselves in the new language. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Panoramic view of Provo Provo is a city in Utah and the county seat of Utah County, located about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. ... // BYUs origin can be traced back to 1862. ... The Standard Works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consists of several books that constitute its open, scriptural canon, and include the following: The Holy Bible (King James version)* The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ The Doctrine and Covenants The Pearl...

Cost

Missionaries are expected to pay their own expenses while on the mission, often with assistance from family and friends. In the past, each missionary paid his or her actual living expenses, but this approach created a disproportionate burden on missionaries who were assigned to more expensive areas of the world. In 1990, a new program was introduced to equalize the financial responsibility for each missionary and his or her family. Now, all young missionaries pay a flat monthly rate which is then redistributed according to regional costs of living. The cost of a mission as of January 2006 is USD$400 per month, which covers food, lodging, transportation, and personal items. As families now contribute to a general fund for missionary expenses, the sum is deductible under many nations' tax policies regarding charitable gifts. MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ...

Young people in the church are encouraged to save money throughout their childhood and teenage years to pay for as much of their mission as they can, although nearly all receive assistance from parents, family, or friends. Missionaries who cannot save the required funds may obtain assistance from their home congregation or from a general missionary fund operated by the church and contributed to by Latter-day Saints around the world. Married couple missionaries are expected to pay their own costs.^[7] In many areas, church members often invite locally-assigned missionaries over for meals to help reduce the overall expenditures of the missionary program. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a ward is the larger of two types of local congregations (the smaller being a branch). ...

Dress and grooming

Full-time Mormon missionaries are required to adhere to a dress code: for men, conservative, dark trousers and suit coats, white dress shirts, and ties are generally required. For women, modest and professional dresses or blouses and skirts must be worn. In some areas these standards are altered slightly. For example, in hot, humid climates, suit coats are not required and dress shirts may be short-sleeved. Casual clothes may be worn when missionaries are providing manual labor or during "preparation day", when the missionaries are involved in recreation, cleaning, shopping, and laundry.

Name tag

All full-time missionaries wear a name tag that gives their surname with the appropriate title ("Elder" or "Sister" in English-speaking areas). The nametag also bears the church's name, unless the mission president considers this inadvisable due to circumstances in the area (e.g., an adverse political situation). In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mission President is a man who presides over a mission, and the group of missionaries, in the mission. ...

Organization

Missions and mission leadership

Main article: Mission (LDS Church)

Every part of the world is assigned to be within a mission of the church, whether or not Mormon missionaries are active in the area. An adult male mission president presides over the missionaries in the mission. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for their efforts to contact the public through proselyting activities. ... In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mission President is a man who presides over a mission, and the group of missionaries, in the mission. ...

Most missions are divided into several zones, a zone being a geographic area specified by the mission president. A zone encompasses several more organizational units called districts. Each zone and district is presided over by leaders drawn from male missionaries serving in that area. Zone and district leaders are responsible for gathering weekly statistics and assisting missionaries in their areas of responsibility. A district typically encompasses four to eight missionaries, and may or may not comprise more than one proselytizing area.

In addition to the leaders mentioned above, the mission president has two assistants. Assistants to the President (APs) are missionaries who have typically previously served as district or zone leaders. They assist the president in administering policies and helping missionaries throughout the mission.

Companionships

A missionary companionship is the smallest organizational unit of a mission. Every missionary is assigned by the mission president to be another missionary's companion. Missionary companionships are generally maintained for months at a time and most missionaries will have served with multiple companions by the end of their mission. Only in rare instances will missionary companions have met prior to the start of their missions. A missionary's companion is always a missionary of the same gender, with the exception of married couples, who serve as each others' missionary companion for the entirety of their mission. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mission President is a man who presides over a mission, and the group of missionaries, in the mission. ...

Missionary companions are instructed to never be apart during the day or night (with the exception of time allowed for bathing and use of the toilet). Companions share the same living quarters and the same bedroom (but not the same bed, except in the case of married missionary couples). When companions have conflicting personalities or interests, they are encouraged to try to resolve them themselves. If they are unable to do so, mission leaders may be used to help resolve the differences. Sometimes the only resolution is reassigning the missionaries to new companions.

Relationships and marital status

Single missionaries are prohibited from dating or courting while serving missions. The requirement of companionships staying together at all times is intended to discourage these activities. While missionaries may interact with members of the opposite sex, they may never be alone with them or engage in any kind of intimate physical or emotional activity (e.g., kissing, hugging, holding hands, flirting). Missionary companionships are also asked to not visit with single members of the opposite sex apart from an initial first visit. If further visits are required, those contacts are usually handed over to a companionship of the same gender as the contact or to married couple missionaries.

Missionaries may have ongoing romantic heterosexual relationships with persons outside of his or her mission, but missionaries are prohibited from meeting with them or telephoning them while serving their missions. They may, however, write to these persons once a week by postal mail. They also write to family members and other relatives by either postal or electronic mail. However, missionaries often end their romantic relationships before serving their missions, as many see it as the best option for both parties involved.^{[citation needed]} Some missionaries, on the other hand, choose to continue their romantic relationships while on their missions. This can, of course, lead to the dreaded "Dear John" letter, since the missionary is not dating, but their romantic love interest back home very well may be. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

In the early days of the LDS Church, men were called to serve missions regardless of marital status. Today, however, married men are not expected to serve missions, unless specifically called to oversee a mission as a mission president. A call to be a mission president is typically extended to the married couple, and in turn, the entire family of the chosen mission president. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mission President is a man who presides over a mission, and the group of missionaries, in the mission. ...

Number of missionaries and number of converts

Ratio of Converts Baptized to Full-Time Missionaries: 1971-2006

As of December 31, 2006, there were 53,164 Mormon missionaries serving in 344 church missions in the world. Their work, often in cooperation with local members, resulted in 272,845 convert baptisms in 2006^[8]. As a measure of missionary effectiveness, there is some concern within the LDS Church that the number of convert baptisms per missionary per year has fallen from a high of 8.03 in 1989 to just 4.67 in 2005.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Size of this preview: 799 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1058 × 794 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Update of Previous Graphic I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 799 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1058 × 794 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Update of Previous Graphic I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for their efforts to contact the public through proselyting activities. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Types of missionaries

The most visible and most common type of missionaries are typically those who proselyte door-to-door and ride bicycles for transportation, but not all missionaries engage in these activities. There are "service missionaries" who solely perform volunteer work in impoverished areas, do genealogical research, or are tour guides or hosts at Temple Square and other historical church sites. In many areas, even proselytizing missionaries spend most of their day responding to incoming phone calls and queries, delivering requested media from the church's television and radio commercials. Many missionaries also use public transportation, walk, or in some areas drive automobiles owned by the church. Proselytism is the practice of attempting to convert people to another opinion, usually another religion. ... “Velo” redirects here. ... This photo of Temple Square, circa 1897, shows that the plot housed the tallest buildings in Salt Lake City at the time, namely the Salt Lake Temple, Tabernacle and Assembly Hall. ... A taxi serving as a bus Public transport comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles. ... Walking is the main form of animal locomotion on land, distinguished from running and crawling. ...

The LDS Church also has a strong welfare and humanitarian missionary program. These humanitarian missionaries typically serve in impoverished areas of the world and do not actively proselytize; humanitarian missionaries will not wear any identifying tags if local law forbids it. This allows them to operate in countries where religious organizations are typically forbidden, such as in predominantly Muslim countries or in Southeast Asia. Regular proselytizing missionaries are asked to engage in welfare activities and community service for a minimum of four hours per week. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Coming of age

For young Latter-day Saints, completing a mission is often seen as a rite of passage and most tend to regard it as a positive event: the phrase "the best two years of my life" is a common cliché among returned missionaries when describing their experience. Recent changes in church policy, however, discourage the "coming of age" philosophy in order to discourage those who may serve missions out of purely cultural, familial or societal expectations. A Latter-day Saint is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... Shan boy undergoing Poy Sang Long initiation A rite of passage is a ritual that marks a change in a persons social or sexual status. ...

Literature

• Groberg, John H. In the Eye of the Storm (Deseret Book) which was made in to a movie, The Other Side of Heaven. The book has been re-released under this title, The Other Side of Heaven
• Driggs, Ken Evil Among Us: The Texas Mormon Missionary Murders Signature Books

Deseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. ... The Other Side of Heaven is a 2001 Walt Disney film. ...

References

1. ^ The Missionary Program from LDS.org.
2. ^ Spencer W. Kimball, "When the World Will Be Converted", Ensign, Oct. 1974, 3.
3. ^ Spencer W. Kimball, "When the World Will Be Converted", Ensign, Oct. 1974, 3.
4. ^ Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2006, p. 92.
5. ^ Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2006, p. 92.
6. ^ Missionary Training Center (Provo, UT) home page
7. ^ "Frequently asked questions", Mission and Service Opportunities for Senior Adults and Recommended Young Adults.
8. ^ "Statistical Report, 2006"

See also

• Mission (LDS Church)
• Returned missionary
• Senior missionary
• The Best Two Years
• Get the Fire
• God's Army
• States of Grace
• Orgasmo
• The Other Side of Heaven

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for their efforts to contact the public through proselyting activities. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mormon missionary. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Mormon missionary. ... The Best Two Years is a 2003 film written and directed by Scott S. Anderson. ... Get the Fire is a United States PBS-sponsored documentary, by the independent filmmaker Nancy du Plessig. ... Gods Army is a 2000 film. ... States of Grace (also known as Gods Army 2: States of Grace) is a 2005 film which tells the story of two Mormon missionaries in Santa Monica, California. ... This page is about the 1969 movie; the 1990s movie Orgazmo Orgasmo is a 1969 movie starring Carroll Baker and Lou Castel. ... The Other Side of Heaven is a 2001 Walt Disney film. ...

External links

• The Official LDS MTC website
• LDS Missionary Training Centers article
• LDS Mission Network - A comprehensive index of LDS missionary alumni web sites
• Articles about mormon missionaries
• "Preach My Gospel" - The guide currently used by Mormon missionaries
• "Mormon Missionaries, the Vatican, and Respect" article by Cooper Johnson from FAIRLDS.org
• Brief History of Mormon Missionary Work
• Temple Square Mission on YouTube
• Missionary (Mormon) Training Center (MTC) on YouTube