Mission

The Mission of Mormonism

The word mission in Mormonism can have three distinct, but related meanings. The first and most general meaning is that of goal, as used in the phrase the Three-fold mission of the Church. This refers to the Mormon Church's mission to bring all unto Christ through perfecting the Saints (i.e. members of the Mormon Church), preaching the Gospel through missionary work, and redeeming the dead (see Baptism for the Dead).

Proselyting Missions

The second and third meanings of mission as used by Mormons are related. Both refer to full-time missionary work. Mission is this case can mean either the geographic area in which Mormon missionaries proselyte, or the service itself. Returned Mormon missionaries refer to their term of service as their mission.

There are currently over 335 geographic missions in the world covering 165 countries.[1] There are approximately 56,000 [[Mormon missionaries|proselyting missionaries and 5,100 humanitarian missionaries.

Each mission is presided over by a mission president who is Melchizedek Priesthood holder called to fulfill a three-year term of service. Like the missionaries themselves, the mission president is a volunteer who pays his own way, though the Mormon Church generally provides housing and pays for transportation costs. A mission president is almost always married and brings his family with him during his time as president.

The mission president is assisted by two counselors who are also Melchizedek Priesthood holders, but live in the local community. He also has two missionary assistants, called assistants to the President or APs who help teach and oversee the missionaries. The mission is subdivided into zones and districts with zone and district leaders pulled from the missionaries. This facilitates communication and teaching. Regular conferences are held at each level (hence district conferences, zone conferences, and mission conferences) to provide instruction for the missionaries and to conduct interviews and inspections of mission property such as apartments and automobiles if the mission uses them. Each mission typically has 70 to 80 companionships of missionaries.

Missionary Service

Mormons typically refer to the time spent serving as a missionary as a mission. Returned missionaries (RMs) refer fondly to their mission. For a Mormon who serves a mission, it is a time of both extreme growth and extreme challenges. Most RMs say their mission was the most difficult thing they ever did, but also the most rewarding. A mission is a sacrifice and Mormons believe that great blessings only come through great sacrifice. Sadly, some see only the difficulties and challenges and dislike their mission, but the vast majority of Mormon missionaries love their time of service and see the great benefits such service brings to them.

See also Mormon missionaries.

Mission as a church unit

The term Mission can also be used to refer to a specific unit of the church. Currently there are 339 missions in the church.

They vary greatly in size, number of missionaries serving, administrative responsibilities, and numbers of both members and those of other faiths within their boundaries.

Under the current system missionaries are called to a specific mission, where in theory they will labor their entire time as a missionary. However due to issues of health, boundary changes and difficulties in gaining visas to go to certain areas, some missionaries serve in more than one mission.

Historical Development

Originally missionaries were sent out from where the saints were and lead by the spirit where to go. Many times in the Doctrine and Covenants missionaries are called to go to areas such as "the east" or "by way of Detroit" on a journey to Missouri(Doctrine and Covenants 52:8). At other times the direction is even more general to go and preach the gospel, the direction not being important.(Doctrine and Covenants 75:26)

It was not until the opening of the British mission in 1837 that an organized mission existed. This mission early on had a president with counselors, and was divided into Conferences, the predecessor of modern Districts.

Stories about Mormon Missionaries

• Mormon Missionary Service article about missionary service from the BBC Religion and Ethics page.
• God's Army: Mormon Missionaries article and transcripts about PBS story on Mormon missionaries
• Manhattan Mormon Missionaries, an article about Mormon missionaries in New York City.