Mormon missionary
[2] Most full-time LDS missionaries are single young men and women in their late teens and early twenties and older couples no longer with children in their home.
All Mormon missionaries serve voluntarily and do not receive a salary for their work; they typically finance missions themselves or with assistance from family or other church members.
Young men between the ages of 18 and 25 who meet standards of worthiness are strongly encouraged to consider a two-year, full-time proselytizing mission.
[10] Prior to the announcement, members from some countries were allowed to serve from the younger age to avoid conflict with educational or military requirements.
Married retired couples, on the other hand, are encouraged to serve missions, but their length of service may vary from six to 36 months depending on their circumstances and means.
"[13] 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.
Additionally, members who have submitted to, performed, encouraged, paid for, or arranged for an abortion (except in the case of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is in danger) are usually excluded from missionary service, as are members who have fathered or borne a child out of wedlock; men under 26 and women under 40 who have been divorced; and anyone who has participated in homosexual activity after age 16.
The church began emailing calls to prospective missionaries residing in Utah and Idaho in the summer of 2018, with the goal of expanding to the rest of the United States and all countries with reliable internet by the beginning of 2019.
[29] Subsequently, in 2020, church leaders also announced approved adjustments and exceptions to the dress standards for young male missionaries, which allowed for the usage of blue shirts, along with foregoing the usage of ties, with the approval of the area presidency, although standard missionary attire for young males remains the status quo in specific circumstances (mission or zone conferences, weekly worship services, and in attending the temple).
The name tag also bears the church's name, unless the mission president considers this inadvisable due to circumstances in the area (e.g., adverse political conditions).
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).
[20]: 25 The general interpretation of this guideline is to listen to only religious music, such as that performed by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, though the rule's application has been variable in some missions.
[20]: 27 These guidelines were updated in October 2017, when the church announced that in some missions, missionaries would be issued smartphones and be permitted to use technology on a wider scale.
Missionaries were often instructed to adhere very closely to the six lessons, and they frequently quoted segments word-for-word (an especially helpful practice when learning a foreign language).
The missionary discussions were replaced beginning in October 2004 by a guide called Preach My Gospel which places emphasis on "teaching by the Spirit".
[citation needed] According to The Huffington Post, the church has online missionaries, who work at a Referral Center Mission in Provo, Utah.
Many fully able missionaries are called to do genealogical research or act as tour guides or hosts at Temple Square or Family History libraries and other 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.
Most of the supervisors were Americans, while most of the workers were young men indigenous to the areas of the South Pacific and Latin America where the work was carried out.
One example is Jose Alvarez, who was a native of Argentina, but had lived in the United States for three years when he was called to go with his family to Chile, where he served as a building missionary supervisor.
[citation needed] As families now contribute to a general fund for missionary expenses, the sum is deductible under many nations' tax policies regarding charitable gifts.
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 many receive assistance from parents, family, or friends.
[64] The notion of the Mormon mission as a crucible is a common one, and the benefits gained from going through it have been used to help explain the prominence of LDS Church members in business and civic life.
[69] Prominent individuals who have served LDS missions include Aaron Eckhart (Switzerland/France),[70][71] Shawn Bradley (Australia),[72] Orson Scott Card (Brazil),[73] Stephen Covey (England),[74] Jon Heder (Japan),[75] Ken Jennings (Spain),[76] Elizabeth Smart (France),[77][78] Lindsey Stirling (NYC),[79] Elaine Bradley (Germany),[80] Shannon Hale (Paraguay),[81] Jon Huntsman Jr. (Taiwan),[82] Brandon Sanderson (Korea),[83] Mitt Romney (France),[84] Paul Alan Cox (Samoa),[85] Shay Carl (West Indies), Chad Lewis (Taiwan),[86] Dale Murphy (Boston),[87] Taysom Hill (Australia),[88] and David Archuleta (Chile).
[96] Each mission was responsible for individually developing lessons until 1952 when, under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley, the church published "A Systematic Program for Teaching the Gospel".
By the late 19th century, the story of Joseph Smith's first vision had gained prominence and was given an important role in the official missionary lessons.
David O. McKay eventually removed Moyle from his responsibilities over the missionary program but many of the changes introduced during this time remain even today.
Missionary work in places such as Brazil may have increased pressure to change the policy due to the difficulty of verifying lack of African descent in these populations.
Gospel students would be encouraged to make personal commitments to attend church, to read the Book of Mormon and to be baptized.
[115][116][117] The forthcoming 2024 horror film Heretic depicts two young sister missionaries who find themselves trapped in the home of a man who invites them in to discuss religion.
