Most people know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church) has a vast missionary force serving all over the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and guide humanitarian aid. But in addition to full-time young and senior missionaries serving traditional missions, the Church has tens of thousands of “service missionaries” of all ages. Service missionaries do their service locally or part-time. Many are seniors, but youth who cannot serve full-time missions away from home may qualify to serve this way.
“Formal missionary service is not limited to those who are able to serve proselyting missions,” says Elder Adrian Ochoa, a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. “There are many young adults for whom a proselyting mission isn’t possible due to physical, mental, or emotional challenges. These young men and women do a great deal of good in Church organizations throughout the world as Church-service missionaries.”
Young men ages 18-25 who have been honorably excused from serving a full-time proselyting mission can serve as young Church-service missions. Elders who return home involuntarily from full-time missions because of an accident or an illness are encouraged to complete their missions as Church-service missionaries. Worthy, single young women ages 19-25 are also eligible to serve a young Church-service mission if they desire.
Those wishing to serve a young Church-service mission must also:
- Be worthy to hold a temple recommend
- Be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to fulfill the specific call and its related duties
- Provide their own transportation
- Be responsible for their own financial support, including living expenses and insurance
- Be endorsed by a bishop and stake president
- Be responsible for their own medical and dental needs, including eye care and prescription drug expenses
Young church service missionaries live at home and serve as much as they can — hopefully, full time (8 hours a day). Service missions can last as long as 24 months. Some assignments that can be fulfilled by service missionaries include the following:
- Family history: This calling involves research, process images, index, or provide assistance at a Family History Library. One role of a missionary is to enable the salvation of the dead, and family history is one way your child can fill that role.
- Information and Communication Services: If your child has access to a computer and a high-speed internet connection, he or she can preformed IT-related service during his or her time as a YCSM.
- Mission offices: Serving in the mission office is an awesome way to interact with other missionaries all the time. Those working in the mission office as YCS Missionaries will help manage referrals and materials. They will also provide office support and administrative assistance.
- Meetinghouse facilities: Meeting houses are important to Latter-day Saints, and it is important that they look the best they can. As a YCSM, your child can help Church buildings look their best through building maintenance and landscaping.
- Seminaries and Institutes: If your child serves with the Church Educational System, he or she will work in seminary and institute offices. He or she will provide computer support, help with student recruitment and enrollment, provide special needs assistance, and help with even support.
- Welfare Operations: These bishops’ storehouses, Deseret Industries stores, employment resource centers, and canneries are all included in welfare operations. As a YCSM, your child will have the opportunity to serve in these daily and bless the lives of many.
Potential young service missionaries fill out a recommendation form and then meet with their ecclesiastical leaders. In a ward (normal sized congregation), this would be the bishop; in a branch (smaller congregation), this would be the branch president. Although traditional full-time missionaries receive a packet indicating where they will serve, service missionaries can select their type and location of service according to their abilities and desires. There is a service mission website that lists opportunities in various locations. There are even opportunities to serve with non-Church organizations whose services are in line with the gospel.