The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have approved several updates to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ handbook for missionaries.
“Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ” was first published in 2019. Updates to the text, published today, August 21, 2023, address commonly asked questions from missionaries and mission leaders and provide clarifications on existing standards.
The same chapter adds a reference to the “General Handbook” entry on prejudice. Latter-day Saints, the handbook teaches, “strive to be persons of goodwill toward all, rejecting prejudice of any kind. This includes prejudice based on race, ethnicity, nationality, tribe, gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, religious belief or nonbelief, and sexual orientation.”
Chapter 3 also clarifies that missionary companionships should always have an adult of their own gender present when meeting with a single person of the opposite gender. Also, physical contact with the opposite gender and children should be limited to a handshake.
Read the updated version of “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.”
You can read the full news release on Church Newsroom.
Discussion about this post