In a social media post on Facebook, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared a glimpse into the process of how Church leaders call men and women on full-time missions.
Latter-day Saint missionaries submit their papers online to the Church’s Missionary Department after a review process with their local ecclesiastical leaders, including their bishop and stake president. The future missionaries express a willingness to serve the Lord anywhere in the world they are assigned for up to two years.
Young men can serve at age 18. Sister missionaries are eligible to serve at age 19 for 18 months. Missions for senior missionaries (age 40 and older) range in length from six to 23 months.
After mission assignments are determined, the missionaries receive a notification letter or mission call in the mail. This is always an exciting time for families to find out where their loved ones will serve. Returned missionaries often express that their callings were inspired and they were sent to serve in a part of the world where they were intended to go.
Nearly 80,000 missionaries are currently serving full-time missions around the world. Visit the Newsroom’s topic page to learn more about the Church’s missionary program.
Additional resources:
Thousands More Latter-day Saints Choose Missionary Service
Elder Ronald A. Rasband: The Divine Call of a Missionary