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SALT LAKE CITY — One announcement in Salt Lake’s LDS Conference Center in October 2012 changed the direction of thousands of young lives. In fact, because of what President Thomas S. Monson said, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fundamentally changed.
That announcement allowed 18-year old boys and 19-year old girls the option of serving full-time missions at a younger age. Elder David F. Evans, executive director of the church’s Missionary Department, said the response has been unlike anything he’s ever observed.
For almost 10 years prior to President Monson’s announcement, missionaries from many other countries could already serve at age 18, and Elder Evans says that experience was “spectacular” in all aspects.
And now that the same option is allowed in the United States, young people responded in droves. Young women stepped forward in huge numbers. In fact — with all these young people leaving, the student population at Utah universities dipped significantly for the time being.
Mission presidents say the younger missionaries are valiant and humble, and resulting blessings in the mission field are plentiful.
We spoke to a group of eight sister missionaries who served together in the Russia St. Petersburg Mission. Their mission president, Warren Clark, said these young women were some of the first to submit their papers following President Monson’s announcement … and they literally changed the landscape of the mission upon arrival. In fact, there weren’t enough sisters to train and teach them Russian, so these young women basically had to do it themselves.
With more, younger missionaries heading out to serve now, many wonder if they’re prepared. That preparation is best when it starts at home (spiritual and temporal training) and is accompanied by seminary and a stake missionary preparation class. Brigham Young University and other church schools — as well as institute classes — are also available for those who graduate from high school. Those classes may not be able to help with concerns such as homesickness, but they can help young people better learn the doctrine and practice teaching.
Leaders agree that if youths will daily study the scriptures — especially the Book of Mormon — and Preach My Gospel, pray to receive or strengthen a testimony, share the gospel, attend a mission preparation course and stay worthy, they’ll be prepared to be strong missionaries.
We ventured into the California Santa Rosa Mission to see these young missionaries in action. Mission President René and Sister Kathie Alba say the mission “took a step up” when the increased numbers of young people arrived. The total number of missionaries serving with them is up by 100 since the Albas first arrived in 2013 to serve their three years. They agree that some of the young male missionaries should wait until they’re 19 to serve — while others are ready at 18, despite their lack of life experience.
The Albas say that the increased number of sisters serving has been a blessing and that the sister trainer leaders have added much to their mission leadership council. Those serving in the California Santa Rosa Mission utilize Facebook in their missionary work, under strict guidelines. In fact, it was the first mission to use iPads, which has also been a successful proselyting tool.
When it comes to age and the timing of serving a mission, Elder Evans says prospective missionaries should do what President Monson asked of them — prayerfully consider the timing of their missionary service with their parents and bishop. “This generation just said ‘yes’ to missionary service. And one of the things we’ve learned is that this generation wants to become not only missionaries, they want to become lifelong, faithful disciples of the Lord.”
