The Lord's Emissaries (part 1)

Elders and Sister recovering from variety of illnesses at the MRC

It is a privilege to serve a mission. As written in previous posts there are many areas of service that senior couples are involved in. This post isn't about senior missionaries. It is about the younger missionaries- the ones people normally associated with when asked what a Mormon missionary is.

Elders at Provo, MTC heading to the Philippines

Some background. Young men who grow up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are expected to take two years of their life and serve a full time mission for the Church somewhere around the world. Anytime after the age of 19 is when a young man can submit his request to serve a mission for the Church. When they submit their paperwork they have no idea where or when they will leave for this mission. Why 19? What makes that the marker for a young man? The easiest way to respond to that, and perhaps the most correct, is that is the age, through revelation, in which the Lord has made known to the leaders of the Church.

Young women also serve missions for the Church. Their age requirement is a little higher beginning at 21. One major difference between the young men and the young women serving is that their isn't the same emphasis or expectation of young women to serve missions as there is on young men.


Currently there are over 50,000 missionaries from all over the world serving in 350 missions. The pictures that are shown are ones that I have taken over the last few months...jsf

Monsoon/Typhoon rain displaced Sisters waiting to help
create food kits, clothing and hygiene kits

Elders and Sisters from Mongolia on last day at Manila,
MTC before there return to Mongolia