LDS missions

Hey All,

It's me, the Ignorant guy who is ALWAYS asking questions

I have seen many members reference " mission " in many ways.
I am curious as to the following.

When are you suppose to go on your mission ( age range ??)

Are the missions encouraged by the Church??

Are they paid for by the Church ??

Are you going on your mission as a group of LDS?? ( or solo )

Who picks your destination ?? ( do you have any say in where you might like to go )

What exactly, are you suppose to do on your mission??

Where do you live?? Do you try and get a job on mission ??

Do you report to anyone while on mission??

Where does your " money to live on " come from??

Can you say " NO " to a mission??

Is a completed mission one of the criteria to be Temple worthy??

Any other info to try and help people like me ( Non LDS ) get a better understanding would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and God bless,
Carl

[checkerboy]

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Hey All,

It's me, the Ignorant guy who is ALWAYS asking questions

I have seen many members reference " mission " in many ways.
I am curious as to the following.

When are you suppose to go on your mission ( age range ??)
Guys when they are 19. Girls when they are 21.

Are the missions encouraged by the Church??
Yes

Are they paid for by the Church ??
No

Are you going on your mission as a group of LDS?? ( or solo )
You are with other missionaries at all times.

Who picks your destination ?? ( do you have any say in where you might like to go )
You get no say. It is determined by revelation.

What exactly, are you suppose to do on your mission??
Teach the gospel.

Where do you live?? Do you try and get a job on mission ??
In apartments or in some cases with members. You do not work at a job while on your mission.

Do you report to anyone while on mission??
You report to district and zone leaders and your mission president.

Where does your " money to live on " come from??
You save it yourself or your family and friends can help.

Can you say " NO " to a mission??
Yes.

Is a completed mission one of the criteria to be Temple worthy??
No.

Any other info to try and help people like me ( Non LDS ) get a better understanding would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and God bless,
Carl

Hope that helps.

[bytor2112]

Hey All,

Hello Ceeboo!!

When are you suppose to go on your mission ( age range ??)

WORTHY.....young men can serve a two year mission at age 19....young ladies at age 21 for 18 months. Often, retired members serve fulltime missions as well.

Are the missions encouraged by the Church??

Yes....young men are expected to serve an honorable full time mission.....optional for young ladies.

Are they paid for by the Church ??

Typically no......Young men amd young women save money for their own missions...parents help....but they are encouraged to save for their own missions. However, the Church will help if you can't afford to go.

Are you going on your mission as a group of LDS?? ( or solo )

Solo....unless it is a married couple.

Who picks your destination ?? ( do you have any say in where you might like to go )

I think you are called by the First Presidentancy after they have prayed about it. I am not sure if you have much input or not.....

What exactly, are you suppose to do on your mission??

Spread the gospel.........full time.

Where do you live?? Do you try and get a job on mission ??

Apartments....etc provided by the church. Their job is to spread the gospel.

Do you report to anyone while on mission??

They have a Mission President and usually work with the Ward Mission leader.

Can you say " NO " to a mission??

Yes.

Is a completed mission one of the criteria to be Temple worthy??

No.....but you do have to be temple worthy to serve a full time mission.

]

Hey Checker,

Thanks for the info Ceeboo does appreciate it.

A couple more questions, if I may.

Are they all 2 years?

When you say " teach the Gosepel " are you talking about door to door at peoples homes?

Thanks
Carl

[DigitalShadow]

I am not LDS but I have talked to my share of missionaries and have lived in Utah for the last few years, so here is what I've gathered from the culture around me:

Originally Posted by ceeboo

When are you suppose to go on your mission ( age range ??)

From what I've heard, you can go on a mission any time, but most people seem to do it after high school but before college

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Are the missions encouraged by the Church??

Yes, however it is supposed to be thought of as a priveledge rather than requirement. Unfortunately I have heard of some people being all but disowned by their parents for chosing not to go on a mission and there is somewhat of a cultural prejudice against people who haven't gone on a mission. (i.e. *whisper* I wouldn't trust my kids with him, he didn't even go on a mission! *whisper*)

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Are they paid for by the Church ??

I know a lot of people who save up for their mission, so I think a significant portion at least is out of your own pocket. I'm sure other people who have gone on a mission will provide more details.

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Are you going on your mission as a group of LDS?? ( or solo )

I think you are usually paired with a companion who you have not met before hand.

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Who picks your destination ?? ( do you have any say in where you might like to go )

Presumably God does (via the mission director I think).

Originally Posted by ceeboo

What exactly, are you suppose to do on your mission??

Share the gospel and bring people to the church. Investigators will make appointments with missionaries and go through lessons.

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Where do you live?? Do you try and get a job on mission ??

Getting a job is a no-no on your mission, though you are encouraged to offer help to investigators and serve to the community. I'm not sure where you live.

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Do you report to anyone while on mission??

As far as I can tell there is something like a chain of command.

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Where does your " money to live on " come from??

From the church and what you have saved up to go on your mission I presume.

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Can you say " NO " to a mission??

I think you have to be "called" for a mission and at that point you probably could say no, but family and friends may be very unhappy with you.

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Is a completed mission one of the criteria to be Temple worthy??

Not sure, but I know you have to go through a process and not everyone is deemed "worthy" to go on a mission.

Edit: misread the question, thought you were asking if being temple worthy was a requirement to go on a mission

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Any other info to try and help people like me ( Non LDS ) get a better understanding would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and God bless,
Carl

I don't have all the answers, but I thought you might want an opinion from another (mostly) unbiased outsider to get a feel for what missions are. I hope that helps a little.

[BenRaines]

Good questions Ceeboo. Most answers should be the same from the members but here is my viewpoint.

Worthy young men are encouraged to go on a mission between 19 and 25 years old. Once you are older than 25 men are not allowed to go unless they go with their wife.

Worthy young women are allowed to go when they are 21 and can go at any age.

Missions are encouraged for single young men, young women when they have completed education and retired couples and older single generally widowed sisters.

Each missionary pays for his own mission or with the help of family. In some rare cases other members donate to support a non family missionary.

Each person is called to a mission in the US or other part of the world. They go to the mission as individual, unless married couples, but serve in pairs of two and at times of need in group of three.

The mission department as a matter of prayer decides where you should serve your mission. Older couples have a little more choice in where they will serve and what they will do on their missions.

On your mission for most it is to contact or find those willing to listen to the message of the "Restored Gospel". Lots of missionaries provide service in the communities they are called to. Couples called on missions also provide support in growing areas of the church and in temples, church offices, mission offices, etc.

Missionaries live in apartments that are approved by Mission President and his staff.

Missionaries do not work for wages while on mission.

Missionary companions report to a missionary district leader, who reports to a missionary zone leader, who reports to missionary assistants to the Mission President, who report to Mission President. Mission President reports to Area Presidency where the mission is located. All of these positions are for no compensation.

Money comes from own savings, family donations, as a last resort from general membership donations to the missionary fund.

You say no by not even applying. If you apply to go you are expected to go but some still say no.

A mission is not a prerequisite to a temple recommend.

Hope that helps some.

Ben Raines

[checkerboy]

Yes door to door is one way of teaching the gospel. But most of my baptisms on my mission came from referrals given to us by members. We taught them in the members home.

[Misshalfway]

I served my mission when I was 21. ( many moons ago) I was called to serve in Ohio. My brothers went to France and Australia. Some missionaries learn another language and some like me, speak their native tongue. My parents will be leaving on their mission next year. It is always an exciting event in the church when someone receives their mission letter announcing where they are called to serve. And FYI, all boy missionaries are called ELDER (they don't all have the same first name) and all girlie missionaries are called Sister.

Have you ever heard of the movie "The Other Side of Heaven"? I think you can Netflix it. It is a major motion picture about an man named Elder Groberg and his mission to the people of Samoa or Tonga. I can't remember. Other than being a little hollywood, it is a good beginning and entertaining picture of what mission life is like or was like for this gentleman back in the 50's.

I was going to say too that not all missions are prostlytizing missions. Some are welfare or service missions where they help with the local economic, educational, and medical needs of the people. Some are visitor center missions. The church has many visitors centers around the world and missionaries are needed to run them. Some go on temple missions and serve at one of the many LDS temples. They are also needed for geneological efforts as well.

(forgive the spelling. the spell check ain't working today.)

[jonathanncrm]

Originally Posted by ceeboo

Hey Checker,

Thanks for the info Ceeboo does appreciate it.

A couple more questions, if I may.

Are they all 2 years?

When you say " teach the Gosepel " are you talking about door to door at peoples homes?

Thanks
Carl

Hi Carl,
Teaching is a part of missionary work. You will often here the term "Serving a mission". Serving is a very important aspect of any missionary service. Each missionary will take time whenever possible to serve the people around him or her. This helps one to be humble, in touch with the people and do as Christ would do. Some of my own greatest missionary experiences came while serving the people.
Teaching is also an intrinsic part of missionary labor. There are many different environments to teach in. They come from many different sources. Some will be generated from contacting people on the street, some door to door and some from media resources like this one. Teaching in ones home is preferred. In this environment the missionary is a guest and is respectful to the rules and privacy of the homeowner. It is also a great environment for one to feel of the Lords spirit.
Men serve for 2 years and Women for 18 months. Thanks for the questions.
-Jonathan

THANK YOU ALL for the information as well as the time to share it with me

My Catholic Perspective for what it's wirth.

I absolutly LOVE, ADMIRE, AND RESPECT THE LDS MISSION IDEA.

For LDS members to reach out to people and try and teach them what they hold so dear is nothing short of remarkable ( IMHO )

I have always thought of the missionaries as truly unselfish, giving, honorable young people of God. Not bad coming from someone who has some differences with you all, huh.

In addition, I truly believe that even if they do not " convert " someone to the LDS faith, I ABSOLUTLY believe they have had countless situations where they have helped others get a little closer to the LORD. For that and that alone, I admire them and Ceeboo's door is always open to these fine young blessed people.

Peace,
Carl