“24. Missionary Recommendations and Service,” Selections from the General Handbook (2023).
“24. Missionary Recommendations and Service,” Selections from the General Handbook.
24.
Missionary Recommendations and Service
24.0
Introduction
In ancient times, the Lord gave the commission to gather Israel among “all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19; see also verse 20). The Lord has renewed that commission in these latter days (see Doctrine and Covenants 39:11; 68:6–8; 112:28–30).
To serve the Lord as a missionary is a sacred privilege. It brings eternal blessings to the person and those he or she serves (see Doctrine and Covenants 18:14–16).
The Lord asks every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission.
The Lord also welcomes worthy, able young women to serve missions if they desire.
Senior missionaries are also needed and are encouraged to prepare to serve.
24.1
The Call to Serve
Missionaries represent the Lord and must be called by proper authority (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:11; Articles of Faith 1:5). The call to serve a mission is generally extended by the President of the Church. For senior service missionaries, the call is extended by the stake president.
24.2
Missionary Assignments
The call to serve as a missionary includes a specific assignment. These assignments vary widely.
24.2.1
Young Teaching Missionaries
Young teaching missionaries are assigned to teach the gospel away from home. These assignments are made by Apostles through revelation. These missionaries serve under the direction of a mission president.
24.2.2
Young Service Missionaries
Young service missionaries are assigned to serve in the Church and the community while living at home. These assignments are made by Apostles through revelation. They are extended to candidates whose circumstances are best suited for a service mission (see 24.3.3).
24.2.3
Senior Missionaries
All senior missionaries are encouraged to find people to teach and help them prepare for baptism. Senior missionaries may also be assigned to support:
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Members and local leaders.
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Areas, Church departments, and Church facilities.
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Charitable organizations.
Senior missionaries are not asked to work the same hours, perform all the same activities, or meet the same expectations as young missionaries.
Assignments for senior missionaries are given by revelation to Apostles. Candidates may express a preference for an assignment but should be willing to accept any assignment.
24.2.4
Senior Service Missionaries
In addition to callings in their home ward or stake, members may serve the Lord as senior service missionaries. These missionaries give valuable service in Church departments, facilities, and missions (see 24.7.1). They live at home.
Senior service missionaries are called by the stake president. They serve under his direction. The amount of time they serve each week depends on their capacity, service opportunities in their area, and direction from the Area Presidency.
24.2.5
Summary of Missionary Assignments
The following table summarizes the types of missionary assignments.
|
Young Teaching Missionary |
Young Service Missionary |
Senior Missionary |
Senior Service Missionary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Is called by | Young Teaching Missionary President of the Church | Young Service Missionary President of the Church | Senior Missionary President of the Church | Senior Service Missionary Stake president |
|
Is assigned by | Young Teaching Missionary An Apostle | Young Service Missionary An Apostle | Senior Missionary An Apostle | Senior Service Missionary Stake president |
|
Is set apart by | Young Teaching Missionary Stake president | Young Service Missionary Stake president | Senior Missionary Stake president | Senior Service Missionary Stake president or counselor |
|
Lives | Young Teaching Missionary Away from home | Young Service Missionary At home | Senior Missionary Away from home or at home | Senior Service Missionary At home |
|
Ecclesiastical leader | Young Teaching Missionary Mission president or historic site president | Young Service Missionary Stake president | Senior Missionary Mission, temple, or historic site president; or Area President | Senior Service Missionary Stake president |
|
Reports to | Young Teaching Missionary Mission president or historic site president | Young Service Missionary Mission president, through the service mission leaders | Senior Missionary Mission, temple, or historic site president; Area President; visitors’ center director; or a Church department or facilities manager | Senior Service Missionary Operation manager of the service assignment |
|
Age requirements | Young Teaching Missionary 18–25 (men) | Young Service Missionary 18–25 (men) | Senior Missionary 40 or older if married or if a single sister | Senior Service Missionary 26 or older |
24.3
Preparing and Qualifying to Serve a Mission
Prospective missionaries are encouraged to serve a mission because of their love for the Lord and His children. They should be familiar with the missionary recommendation interview questions.
24.3.1
Conversion to Jesus Christ
Prospective missionaries strive to strengthen their conversion to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
24.3.2
Meeting the Standards of Worthiness
Prospective missionaries strive to be worthy of the companionship of the Spirit. This is needed for effective missionary service (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:13–14).
24.3.2.1
Repentance
Repentance requires exercising faith in Christ, having real intent, and keeping the commandments. It includes confessing and forsaking sin. For serious sins, repentance requires confession to the bishop or stake president (see 32.3 and 32.4 in this handbook).
A person who repents is forgiven and made clean through the Atonement and grace of Jesus Christ. The Lord remembers the sin no more. “How great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:13; see also Isaiah 43:25; Jacob 6:5; Alma 34:15–17; Helaman 5:10–11; Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43; and 32.1 in this handbook.)
A missionary candidate must have repented of serious sin before the stake president may submit his or her recommendation (see 32.6; see also 24.4.4). The repentance process includes enough time for the person to show through righteous living that he or she has received the spirit of Christ unto the remission of sins (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:37).
24.3.3
Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health
Missionary work is challenging. Young teaching missionaries must be committed and physically, mentally, and emotionally able to work the full missionary schedule.
24.3.4
Finances
24.3.4.1
Financing Young Missionaries Serving Away from Home
Young candidates who have prepared according to their ability should not be delayed from serving for financial reasons. Those who need financial help to meet expected contribution commitments can receive it from extended family and friends.
If need remains, the bishop or stake president may ask members in the ward or stake to contribute to the ward missionary fund.
Local unit budgets and fast-offering funds may not be used.
Monthly contribution commitment. Young teaching missionaries and their families contribute a specific amount each month to help cover missionary program costs.
Contributions are made to the ward missionary fund. Bishops verify that the funds are contributed each month. Funds beyond the monthly amount should not be contributed in advance. Funds contributed in advance cannot be refunded if a missionary returns home early.
Expenses in the field. Each month, young missionaries receive adequate funds from the mission to provide for healthy food, transportation, and other living expenses. These funds are sacred. Missionaries use them only for mission-related purposes. They should not be used for personal expenses, saved, or sent to family members or others. Missionaries return to the mission any funds they do not need.
Missionaries use personal funds to cover other expenses. These personal expenses should be minimal. (See Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, 4.8.)
24.3.4.2
Financing Senior Missionaries Serving Away from Home
Monthly contribution commitment. Senior missionaries serving away from home contribute to their home ward missionary fund each month. These contributions help cover housing and vehicle costs.
Bishops verify that the funds are contributed each month. Funds beyond the monthly amount should not be contributed in advance.
Additional expenses. In addition to the monthly contribution commitment, which helps cover housing and vehicle costs, senior missionaries must fully cover all other expenses, including food, personal items, and vehicle fuel.
24.3.4.3
Financing Missionaries Serving at Home
Missionaries serving at home are responsible for all their financial needs.
24.3.4.4
Medical Insurance and Expenses
All missionaries, including young teaching missionaries, are strongly encouraged to keep their existing medical insurance if possible.
Missionaries serving from home must provide their own medical and other insurance coverage. Senior missionaries serving away from home must also provide this coverage. Senior missionaries who will serve outside their home country may be able to obtain insurance through the Senior Service Medical Plan.
24.3.5
Role of Family Members and Leaders in Preparing Missionaries
Family members, bishops, and other leaders help youth prepare to serve a mission.
Family members and leaders encourage all missionary candidates to study:
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Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Family members and leaders help all candidates commit to follow missionary standards. They encourage candidates to study the missionary standards handbook that pertains to their probable assignment:
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For young teaching missionaries: Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ
24.4
Recommending Missionaries
24.4.1
Health Assessments
All candidates are required to have medical professionals assess their health readiness.
24.4.2
Interviews and Recommendation Forms
The bishop and stake president conduct thorough, spiritually searching, and uplifting interviews with each candidate. They use the missionary recommendation interview questions.
The bishop and stake president also review information about standards of worthiness and health readiness in the Missionary Online Recommendation System. The bishop and stake president do not add any eligibility standards. Nor do they change the interview questions.
If the bishop and stake president have concerns about a candidate meeting the standards of worthiness or about his or her health readiness, they counsel together and with the person. With a young candidate’s permission, they may also counsel with his or her parents. The bishop and stake president do not submit a recommendation until the person has repented of serious sin (see 24.3.2.1). Depending on the person’s physical, mental, or emotional health, they may discuss the possibility of being assigned as a service missionary.
In urgent cases when the bishop or stake president is unavailable, he may authorize one of his counselors to conduct these interviews.
In districts, the mission president or an assigned counselor interviews and recommends missionary candidates. District presidents do not conduct these interviews.
24.4.4
Those Unable to Serve as Full-Time Missionaries
Sometimes a member who desires to serve and is recommended for missionary service may not be called as a 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.
24.5
After Receiving a Mission Call
Newly called missionaries are encouraged to read or reread the Book of Mormon before beginning their mission. They follow King Benjamin’s counsel to “watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds” (Mosiah 4:30).
24.5.1
Temple Endowment and Temple Service
Newly called missionaries are encouraged to receive the temple endowment as soon as possible and to attend the temple as often as circumstances allow (see Doctrine and Covenants 43:15–16; 105:33). This applies to teaching missionaries and to service missionaries if appropriate for their circumstances.
Newly called missionaries who are endowed may serve as temple ordinance workers before they begin missionary service as appropriate (see 25.5).
24.5.2
Sacrament Meetings
The bishopric invites newly called missionaries to speak in sacrament meeting before beginning their mission. This is a regular sacrament meeting. The focus should be on the sacrament and the Savior.
24.5.3
Setting Apart Missionaries
The home stake president sets apart each missionary as close as possible to his or her mission start date. In urgent cases when the stake president is unavailable, he may authorize one of his counselors to set apart missionaries.
The mission president or one of his counselors sets apart missionaries who are called from districts in his mission. The district president does not set apart missionaries.
A brother who will serve away from home must have received the Melchizedek Priesthood before being set apart as a missionary. A brother who will serve as a service missionary should hold the Melchizedek Priesthood if appropriate for his circumstances.
24.6
Service Away from Home
24.6.2
In the Field
24.6.2.5
Requests to Support Others Financially or with Schooling or Emigration
Missionaries and their families should not provide financial support for those who live where the missionaries are serving, including financial support for schooling. Nor should missionaries and their families sponsor persons who want to emigrate to other countries (see 38.8.19).
24.6.2.8
Membership Records and Tithing
A missionary’s home ward retains the membership record. The home ward also records his or her tithing status. Missionaries do not pay tithing on support funds they receive from the mission. However, they do pay tithing if they have any personal income.
24.6.3
Returning Home from a Mission
24.6.3.1
Returning Home as Originally Scheduled
Missionaries and their family members should not request early releases or extensions of service for personal convenience.
Young missionaries should travel directly home from their missions. Any other travel may be approved only if the missionary is accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.
Missionaries are not released until they report to their stake president. They follow missionary standards until that time.
24.6.3.2
Returning Home Early
Some teaching and service missionaries are released early for health, worthiness, or other reasons. Bishops and stake presidents give special support to these returned missionaries. Leaders help them work to regain health or return to service if possible.
24.7
Service Missions
24.7.1
Identifying Opportunities for Service Missionaries
For senior service missionaries, the bishop, stake president, and missionaries counsel together to identify local opportunities to serve.
For young service missionaries, the service mission leaders identify appropriate service opportunities. The missionary’s parents or guardians generally participate in the discussion.
24.8
After Missionary Service
24.8.2
Missionary Release Interview
The stake president releases teaching and service missionaries and conducts a release interview. In districts, generally the mission president or an assigned counselor releases missionaries.
The following guidelines for this interview may be helpful.
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Encourage them to continue as a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
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Counsel them to build on good habits they developed as a missionary.
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Encourage them to consider and prepare for the future, including education and employment for young missionaries.
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Encourage them to always live worthy of a temple recommend.
24.8.4
Callings
Leaders promptly give ministering assignments and callings to recently released teaching and service missionaries. This includes being considered as temple ordinance workers as appropriate (see 25.5).
24.9
Resources for Missionary Recommendations and Service
24.9.2
Websites
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MissionaryRecommendations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org (available to local leaders and missionary candidates only)