A Customized Experience
President Russell M. Nelson declared: “Through a lifetime of service in this Church, I have learned that it really doesn’t matter where one serves. What the Lord cares about is how one serves” (“Ministering with the Power and Authority of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 68).
Each service missionary is provided a customized mission experience uniquely tailored to his or her talents, skills, and gifts. During the course of their missions, it is common for service missionaries to serve in multiple assignments, including approved community and charitable organizations, Church operations, and stake-assigned service opportunities. Throughout their missions, service missionaries serve under the direction of a mission president, with the close support of service mission leaders. The stake president and bishop provide support in ecclesiastical matters such as worthiness and temple recommends.
Missionary Recommendation Process
All worthy young men and young women who have a desire to serve a mission complete an online recommendation that is processed by their bishop and stake president.
Sometimes a member who desires to serve may not be called as a full-time teaching or service missionary. This may be due to health challenges, not meeting the standards of worthiness, legal issues, or other circumstances. The bishop and stake president express love and gratitude for the member’s willingness to serve. Leaders may address any questions to the Missionary Department at 801-240-2179.
The application for all missionaries includes evaluations by the bishop, the stake president, and medical professionals. The Quorum of the Twelve and General Authority Seventies oversee the mission recommendation process.
A missionary candidate does not choose which kind of mission he or she will serve. All applicants are considered for teaching missions. Young men and women whose talents and circumstances are best suited for a service mission are called as service missionaries. If an applicant is called as a service missionary, the service is tailored to the applicant’s unique talents, skills, and gifts and to the opportunities available in the local community.
A stake president does not determine whether an applicant is assigned to a teaching mission or a service mission. During the application process, stake presidents continue to provide information as requested by the Missionary Department. If a candidate will not be assigned to a teaching mission, a representative from the Missionary Department will counsel with the stake president before a service mission call is issued. The stake president uses judgment to determine whether he should notify the applicant and family that a service mission call is forthcoming.
On the application, bishops and stake presidents answer the question “Does this candidate have a serious physical, mental, or emotional limitation that should be considered when assigned?” If the answer is yes, priesthood leaders will be asked to provide additional information. Priesthood leaders may also discuss with the candidate the possibility of being honorably excused from formal missionary service.
Early-Return Reassignments
Some missionaries initially assigned to a teaching mission may not be in a position to continue their teaching missions for a variety of reasons. After counseling with the mission leaders, service mission leaders, the mission health council, and the missionary’s stake president, the Missionary Department may determine that a teaching missionary will return home. A representative from the Missionary Department notifies the stake president of the early-returning missionary.
Prior to the return of the missionary, the stake president counsels with the mission president, service mission leaders, missionary, and parents to assess the desire, circumstances, and ability of the missionary to continue serving as a service missionary. If reassignment is recommended, the missionary will receive a service mission reassignment by the Quorum of the Twelve
In situations where early-returning teaching missionaries are reassigned as service missionaries, a customized service mission plan will be created for each missionary. If the missionary returned home for physical health reasons, the missionary may continue to serve as a service missionary or may return and be reassigned as a teaching missionary once the medical issues have been resolved.
The stake president counsels with the Missionary Department prior to issuing an early release to the missionary.
Service Mission Resources
Service Mission Office
The Service Mission Office is located at Church headquarters and is staffed by Church employees and senior service missionaries.
The Service Mission Office works closely with the Missionary Department staff in the missionary recommendation process and provides support to local priesthood leaders, service mission leaders (see below), and Church and community charitable operations. The Service Mission Office also works closely with the Missionary Department to provide training, resources, and information to service mission leaders to help service missionaries be successful.
Service Mission Leaders
Where needed, the Area Presidency authorizes an Area Seventy to call a mature couple to be service mission leaders. These leaders serve as a liaison between mission presidents, charitable organizations, and Church operations to identify potential assignments. The service mission leaders work closely with Public Affairs and JustServe.org. These leaders help service missionaries meet the expectations of the organizations.
Service mission leaders serve under the direction of the mission president. They have regular contact with the service missionary, reviewing how he or she is performing, and providing feedback. These leaders , with the approval of the mission president, help provide fulfilling service assignments for the service missionary in charitable organizations, Church operations, temple service or gatherings with other missionaries. The stake president is ecclesiastically responsible for the service missionary.
Service mission leaders receive training from the Missionary Department.
External Operation Managers
The external operation managers are individuals responsible at the service organization, such as bishops’ storehouses and soup kitchens. They help each service missionary have a genuine service missionary experience while serving at the assigned location. They also help service missionaries successfully complete their service assignments. They reinforce the service missionaries’ personal commitment to the standards in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ—Service Missions.