Missionary (LDS Church)

Missionary (LDS Church)

Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)—widely known as Mormon missionaries—are volunteer representatives of the LDS Church who engage variously in proselytizing, church service, humanitarian aid, and community service. Mormon missionaries may serve on a full- or part-time basis depending on the assignment, and are organized geographically into missions. The mission assignment could be to any one of the 347 missions organized worldwide.

The LDS Church is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, reporting that it fielded over 55,000 full-time missionaries and over 22,000 part-time church-service missionaries worldwide in 2011. Most full-time Mormon missionaries constitute single young men and women in their late teens and early twenties and older couples no longer with children in the home. Many are assigned to serve far from the missionary's home, often in another country or overseas, which often requires learning a new language at a missionary training center. These assignments are typically two years for males, and anywhere from 6 to 18 months for females and older couples. Missionary service is strongly encouraged for young men, but it is not required. All Mormon missionaries serve voluntarily, not receiving any salary from the church for their work, typically supporting themselves financially or through assistance from family and other church members. Many young LDS members save money during their teenage years to afford missionary expenses when they are so called to serve.

Throughout the history of the church, over one million missionaries have been sent on missions.

In October 2012, the LDS Church announced that young men have the option of serving a mission at age 18 if they have graduated from high school. It was also announced that young women may serve beginning at age 19 instead of 21.