The First Presidency is pleased to announce that effective immediately, young women who choose to serve a full-time mission may begin their service at age 18 following graduation from high school or its equivalent.
While the Lord asks every worthy, able young man as part of his priesthood responsibility to prepare for and serve a mission, we reiterate that missionary service remains an optional opportunity for young women. We recognize that for those young women who desire to serve a full-time mission, the choice of age to begin service will not be the same for everyone.
We extend our love to the youth of the Church and commend them for their faithfulness.
“We extend our love to the youth of the Church and commend them for their faithfulness.”
President Emily Belle Freeman
Young Women General President and Member of the Missionary Executive Council
“We are so excited about this announcement as a Young Women’s General Presidency and what this means for our girls. This announcement is effective immediately, which means that girls can start preparing now to serve at the age of 18 if they have graduated from high school. They will be able to submit their application 150 days before their birthday or their availability date.
“We love what this does for these young women. It gives them an opportunity as they leave from young women and enter into adulthood to think about all of the options that are available for them.”
Elder Matthew S. Holland
General Authority Seventy and Executive Director of the Church Communication Department
“For a woman who chooses to serve a mission, she should prayerfully consider the timing of that. It’s a very individual decision. This change provides an additional opportunity for women who choose to serve a mission, and it gives added flexibility about when to begin their missionary service at a time of life when they have lots of different, wonderful opportunities to learn and grow and develop.”
Elder W. Mark Bassett
General Authority Seventy and Executive Director of the Missionary Department
“We want to reiterate that missionary service is a priesthood responsibility for young men, and it’s their duty to serve, but a powerful yet optional choice for young women. Every young man that receives a mission call serves for 24 months. And every young woman that receives a call serves for 18 months. There’s no variance in that. The only exception would be, for example, you might have a young man or young woman that that has some health challenges ”
Sister Amy A. Wright
First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency and a Member of the Missionary Executive Council
“The length of service has been consistent for many years. As we have reached out throughout the entire world to young women, inviting them to be a thoughtful part of this revelatory process, we have learned that, overwhelmingly, it has been their desire that they prefer that their term of service is 18 months.”
The First Presidency is pleased to announce that effective immediately, young women who choose to serve a full-time mission may begin their service at age 18 following graduation from high school or its equivalent.
While the Lord asks every worthy, able young man as part of his priesthood responsibility to prepare for and serve a mission, we reiterate that missionary service remains an optional opportunity for young women. We recognize that for those young women who desire to serve a full-time mission, the choice of age to begin service will not be the same for everyone.
We extend our love to the youth of the Church and commend them for their faithfulness.
“We extend our love to the youth of the Church and commend them for their faithfulness.”
President Emily Belle Freeman
Young Women General President and Member of the Missionary Executive Council
“We are so excited about this announcement as a Young Women’s General Presidency and what this means for our girls. This announcement is effective immediately, which means that girls can start preparing now to serve at the age of 18 if they have graduated from high school. They will be able to submit their application 150 days before their birthday or their availability date.
“We love what this does for these young women. It gives them an opportunity as they leave from young women and enter into adulthood to think about all of the options that are available for them.”
Elder Matthew S. Holland
General Authority Seventy and Executive Director of the Church Communication Department
“For a woman who chooses to serve a mission, she should prayerfully consider the timing of that. It’s a very individual decision. This change provides an additional opportunity for women who choose to serve a mission, and it gives added flexibility about when to begin their missionary service at a time of life when they have lots of different, wonderful opportunities to learn and grow and develop.”
Elder W. Mark Bassett
General Authority Seventy and Executive Director of the Missionary Department
“We want to reiterate that missionary service is a priesthood responsibility for young men, and it’s their duty to serve, but a powerful yet optional choice for young women. Every young man that receives a mission call serves for 24 months. And every young woman that receives a call serves for 18 months. There’s no variance in that. The only exception would be, for example, you might have a young man or young woman that that has some health challenges ”
Sister Amy A. Wright
First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency and a Member of the Missionary Executive Council
“The length of service has been consistent for many years. As we have reached out throughout the entire world to young women, inviting them to be a thoughtful part of this revelatory process, we have learned that, overwhelmingly, it has been their desire that they prefer that their term of service is 18 months.”
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