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The Missionary Program

(this information was taken from the church's official website, LDS.ORG)

The Missionary Program

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for the missionaries it sends throughout the world to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The program follows the biblical pattern of sending out missionaries two by two.

Missions

The Church operates more than 330 missions in the world. A mission covers a geographic area and has a central headquarters. Each is led by a mission president who is selected from the ranks of Church membership to a three-year position. The mission president relocates with his family to the mission area and directs the work of the missionaries.

Missionaries

Currently, some 56,000 Latter-day Saints are participating in proselytizing missions around the world. Approximately 75 percent of the Church's proselytizing missionaries are young men between the ages of 19 and 26. They are referred to as "Elder" because of their ordination to that priesthood office. Substantial numbers of single women (about 18 percent) and older couples (about 7 percent) also serve proselytizing missions. Each elder or sister missionary accepts an assignment from Church leaders to serve in a specific mission. Missionaries generally work 60-65 hours per week, for two years (elders) or 18 months (women and couples), teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and participating in community service.

In addition, about 5,100 individuals (including couples) are given special service assignments. Health specialists and doctors go to developing countries where the Church's health services program teaches preventive care. Craftsmen, artisans and construction supervisors train members in local building projects. Agricultural experts train people to produce food more effectively and economically. Other mission assignments include education, family history research and leadership training.

The missionaries or their families donate money to the Church to pay for their personal expenses. When his or her assignment is completed, the missionary returns to home to pursue vocational, academic or other personal goals.

Missionary Training Centers

Before leaving on a mission, each missionary is assigned to one of 17 missionary training centers around the world. Those required to learn another language spend eight weeks in training before traveling to their assigned mission. If the missionaries do not need to learn a new language, they attend only two or three weeks of basic orientation.

Preparation

Aside from their brief orientation at a missionary training center, missionaries receive little formal training for their ministry. Missionary preparation comes primarily from personal study and, in many cases, from examples taught in the home from childhood.

Notes to the above chart:
1 And territories
2 At founding, 6 April 1830
3 Estimated
4 Figures given hereafter are as calculated at year's end

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