32 Facts About Mormon missionaries

1.

Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints —widely known as Mormon missionaries—are volunteer representatives of the LDS Church who engage variously in proselytizing, church service, humanitarian aid, and community service.

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2.

Many Mormon missionaries learn a new language at a missionary training center as part of their assignment.

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3.

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.

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4.

Missionaries can be sent home for violating mission rules, and occasionally Mormon missionaries choose to go home for health or various other reasons.

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5.

The church began emailing calls to prospective Mormon 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.

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6.

All Mormon missionaries are set apart by the laying on of hands to preach the gospel; this is usually performed by the missionary's stake president.

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7.

Prospective Mormon missionaries usually attend the temple for the first time to receive their endowment if they have not already done so.

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8.

Newly called Mormon missionaries attend a short training period at one of 10 church Missionary Training Centers worldwide.

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9.

In 2018 it was announced that female Mormon missionaries could wear dress slacks if they wanted, except when attending the temple and during Sunday worship services, baptismal services, and mission leadership and zone conferences.

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10.

Subsequently, in 2020, church leaders announced approved adjustments and exceptions to the dress standards for young male Mormon 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 .

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11.

All full-time Mormon missionaries wear a name tag that gives their surname with the appropriate title .

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12.

Missionary companionships are generally maintained for months at a time and most Mormon missionaries will have served with multiple companions by the end of their mission.

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13.

In dealing with a problem, Mormon missionaries are first to raise the issue with their companion and if it is not resolved, to raise it with the mission president.

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14.

Single Mormon missionaries are prohibited from dating or courting while serving missions.

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15.

Foreign-language Mormon missionaries often develop a "mission language", distinct from but combining aspects of their first and acquired languages, that they use when communicating with each other; the senkyoshigo of Japan is an example.

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16.

Mormon missionaries argues that the number of converts would increase if missionaries made greater efforts in meeting new people; he points out that the average pair of missionaries spends only four or five hours per week attempting to meet new people.

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17.

For many years, Mormon missionaries used structured lessons called "missionary discussions" to teach interested non-members and recent converts about the doctrines of the LDS Church and to commit them on the steps to take to become a member of the church.

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18.

The Mormon missionaries are responsible for knowing the doctrine and continually preparing to teach it.

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19.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported that these Mormon missionaries are more successful than traditional proselytizers.

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20.

Many fully able Mormon 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.

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21.

In many areas, even proselytizing Mormon missionaries spend most of their day responding to incoming phone calls and queries, delivering requested media from the church's television and radio commercials.

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22.

Regular proselytizing Mormon missionaries are asked to engage in welfare activities and community service, limited to four hours a week on days other than weekends or preparation day.

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23.

Now, all young Mormon missionaries pay a flat monthly rate which is then redistributed according to regional costs of living.

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24.

In Latter-day Saint culture, stereotypes and jokes abound regarding newly returned Mormon missionaries, most dealing with their difficulties in handling the reverse culture shock.

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25.

Notion of the Mormon missionaries 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.

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26.

The first two single female Mormon missionaries were Jennie Brimhall and Inez Knight, who were called to serve as companions in England.

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27.

In 1974, two young-adult male Mormon missionaries were murdered in Austin, Texas, by Robert Elmer Kleason.

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28.

From 1999 to 2006, three LDS Mormon missionaries were murdered worldwide, while 22 died in accidents of some sort.

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29.

The Mormon missionaries were released unharmed a few days later without payment of the ransom.

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30.

Mormon missionaries have been portrayed in various popular culture media.

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31.

Films portraying missionaries gone astray include Trapped by the Mormons, Orgazmo, and Latter Days .

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32.

Mormon missionaries appeared at the end of the American horror film The Strangers ; the missionaries were depicted as children as opposed to young men.

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