Missionary Work

Perhaps you have seen missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walking down the street or riding their bicycles to an appointment. Perhaps they have knocked on your door or stopped you on the sidewalk to talk to you. Or perhaps you have even invited them into your home and they have shared a message about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In any case, you may have wondered, who are they and what do they do?

The Church takes seriously the charge given by the Savior to his apostles when he said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Missionaries of the Church voluntarily serve at their own expense to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Generally, these missionaries are young men or young women. However, many retired couples who desire to serve are also called as missionaries. As of April 2008, more than 52,000 missionaries are currently serving throughout the world.

When an individual desires to serve a mission for the Church, he or she fills out an application, speaks with their ecclesiastical leaders, and submits an application to Church headquarters. That individual can then be called to serve virtually anywhere in the world. After receiving a call from the President of the Church, the new missionary attends a missionary training center for a short time before reporting to their missionary assignment. The next 18 to 24 months are spent proselytizing, conducting humanitarian efforts, assisting in genealogy work, or other church assignments. This is all done at the expense of the individual serving. Their personal lives are put on hold as they dedicate their entire time to helping others come unto Christ. Following their mission, young men and young women resume their careers or university studies, and have the opportunity to get married and start families.

The missionaries who proselytize teach individuals and families about the gospel of Jesus Christ and His restored church. They answer questions, invite individuals to attend church meetings, and act as ambassadors of Jesus Christ in helping individuals make changes to become closer to Christ. For me (I served a mission from 2000-2002 in Belgium and France), it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

For a more detailed explanation regarding the Church's missionary program, click here. The photo used in this post is courtesy of lds.org.