Because of the rapid growth of the Church throughout the world and more particularly in areas outside of the United States and Canada, there is an increasing need for more senior couples.
Serving a senior mission sure beats staying home and watching your birth certificate expire!!!
Mission and Service Opportunities for Senior Adults and Recommended Young Adults
Current Needs - Updated March 18, 2008
Service is for 12, 18, or 23 months, depending on location. Missionaries assist in finding, retaining and activating worldwide.
Leadership/Member Activation/Fellowshipping
Some foreign missions require no foreign language while others require pre-MTC language training.
- Japan Missions: 10 couples, 2 office needed. Pre-MTC language. $2200/month
Mission Office Assignments include secretary to the mission president, financial secretary, apartment administrators, vehicle fleet administrators, and referral secretaries. Office missionaries will also assist in finding, retaining, and activating.
- Korea Missions: 9 Couples, 1 office. $1400/month
Temples, International locations
- Spiritually mature couples and a limited number of sisters with abilities in Korean are needed for 18-24 mos. Training provided.
Family History Support Missionaries
- Couples to work with Area Presidencies, local leaders and members to support family history programs and functions, teach basic family history responsibilities, and help gather names for temple work.
Japan Tokyo South: Cost $2000 per month (Need Japanese language skills)
Koreal Seoul: Cost $1300 per month (Need Korean language skills)
Family Service Missionaries
- Couples are needed in Tokyo, Japan to assist agency managers in consultation about mental health and relationship issues, establishing of support groups for marriage, parenting and addiction recover, providing training to ecclesiastical leaders and identifying needs and resources. At least one member of the couple must have experience as a mental health worker. The spouse will assist in organizational and administrative aspects of Family Services.
Serving a Senior Mission -- The salary isn't much, but the rewards are "out of this world"
Missionary-recommendation forms can now be completed online. The new system is a self-serve Internet system. Speak with your bishop and or branch president to obtain prospective missionary access to the system with a password for their specific missionary recommendation forms. To access the recommendation system, go to:
www.lds.org/mss
Questions may be directed to the Global Service Desk at 1-801–240–4357 or 1–800–453–3860, extension 24357.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Senior Missionaries and Couples
What kinds of missions are there?
Leadership
Temple
Family History
Other
Finding/Teaching
Ward & Branch Leadership
Mission Office
Visitors’ Centers
Medical Ordinance Worker
Family History Library (SLC)
Microfilming
Document Preparation
Family History Centers Church Education System
Public Affairs
Welfare Services
Humanitarian
Farms
Facilities Management
Can I serve wherever I want to?
Members of the Quorum of Twelve, acting under the influence of the Spirit, make mission assignments. They extend every effort to make a meaningful match between the Lord’s needs and the qualifications of the candidates. While a couple’s preferences are taken into consideration, it is the Brethren’s constant prayer that members would be willing to serve wherever they are needed.
What personal factors influence where I serve?
• Length of time available.
• Date of availability. (The earliest starting date for your missionary assignment.)
• Personal health / insurance.
• Finances available to support yourselves on the mission. (You will list on your recommendation forms how much you can afford per month. You will not be assigned beyond your means.)
• Background and experience, particularly in some specialized fields.
• Language skills.
How long will I serve?
Couples have more flexibility than younger missionaries in how long they serve. Most couples serve 12, 18, or 23 months, although a few six-month missions are available (March-October). Assignment possibilities vary for each term of service:
• 12 months: Home country only.
• 18 or 23 months: Foreign and home-country missions.
• Six months: Some historic sites in the United States.
How much do missions cost?
Mission costs vary from approximately US$375 for some senior sisters to US$4,000 per month per couple. Additional start up costs may be required. The lower-cost missions are in Central and South America. The more expensive missions include Boston, New York, England, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, and DR Congo. The average cost of a mission in the United States is approximately $1,400(US) per month per couple. Costs include housing, utilities, food, and vehicle maintenance.
Couples are not eligible for the equalization program used by younger missionaries. Single senior sisters in proselyting assignments, however, are eligible for the equalization program. Costs for senior sisters in non-proselyting missions would be about two-thirds the cost of couples.
Are mission costs tax deductible?
Couples living away from home and with duplicate housing costs may, in some instances, deduct costs for housing, food, etc. You should consult a tax adviser before making such a deduction. You should not channel your funds through your bishops, but should pay mission costs directly in the field.
What do you need to know about my health?
You should make sure that every question is answered in the personal health history and the physician’s health evaluation portion of the missionary recommendation form. If additional questions need to be answered, you will be contacted for that information.
What about health insurance?
Couples must have medical or health insurance. If you do not have adequate insurance for your assignment, policies are available through the Church insurance provider. For information, please call 1-800-777-1647, ext. 5728. Costs are $110 per person per month. Couples serving in the United States should keep their Medicare, and those going out of the country are encouraged to keep their own retirement insurance where applicable.
What are the age limits?
The minimum age for both couples and senior sisters is 40. There is no maximum age limit as long as both husband and wife are in good health. Many missionaries over 70 years of age are serving vigorously.
Can single men over 26 years of age serve missions?
Single men over 26 years of age may not serve full-time missions away from home. They may, however, serve full-time missions in their local areas while living at home.
May we take dependent children, aging parents, or pets with us?
Couples with dependent children still at home are not allowed to serve a mission. Couples cannot take aging parents into the mission field, and pets are not allowed.
What do leadership missionary couples do?
Senior missionaries do not proselyte as young full-time missionaries do. Couples in proselyting assignments normally do not tract and are not held to the same memorization and teaching requirements as younger missionaries. They work with less-active and part-member families, which frequently leads to baptisms. Also, many investigators found by younger missionaries prefer to be taught by more mature missionaries. In remote areas of the Church, couples are involved in ward and branch leadership. Also, much good will is promoted by couples actively involved in community service. Couples’ missions are spiritually rewarding and truly joyous experiences not only for the couples but also for those with whom they share the gospel.
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