In the opening moments of the 182nd Semiannual General Conference on Oct. 6, President Thomas S. Monson announced that men may now begin serving missions at age 18 and women at 19.
"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the opportunity of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of the age of 19," said President Monson in his remarks during Saturday morning's session of conference on Oct. 6.
"As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age at which young women might serve. Today I'm pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21."
Between the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions of conference, a press conference was held at which Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve and chairman of the Church's Missionary Executive Council, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve and member of the Missionary Executive Council and Elder David F. Evans of the Seventy and also a member of the Missionary Executive Council addressed members of the media and answered questions.
Elder Nelson said the change in policy will allow more young men and women to enjoy the blessings of missionary service and noted that the Savior's mandate to His followers was to go into all the world and preach the gospel. "From the earliest days of the Church, that mandate has been followed," Elder Nelson explained. "More than 1 million missionaries around the world have been called to serve."
He said with President Monson's announcement, the Church is "accelerating our efforts to fulfill that mandate and give more young men and women an opportunity to participate in that divine commission."
"Let me be clear, we are not suggesting that all young men will or should serve at this earlier age," he explained. "Many will still prefer to start at age 19 or older. Neither are we suggesting that young women are expected to serve or that they do so at age 19. Many will still prefer to serve at an older age or not at all. Their voluntary service is valuable and most welcome."
He said the adjustments are new options available to bishops in evaluating what is best for their young men and young women, and that prospective missionaries should not begin their service before they are ready spiritually and temporally. "Schooling, family circumstances, health, worthiness and personal preparation remain, as always, important considerations for the timing of missionary service."
Elder Nelson said the Church has had much experience with 18-year-old missionaries. "Over the past decade permission has been given for young men from 48 countries to serve at age 18," he explained. Now, he said, the Church will have a single policy worldwide. "This adjustment will be a blessing in the lives of many young men and young women who are eager to begin their missionary service," he said. "It will also be a great blessing to their families now and in the future. We hope that many will seize this opportunity. We hope that it will also allow our youth greater flexibility in planning for their schooling, careers, marriage and military obligations, when and if needed."
Elder Holland noted that the current missionary force is 58,000 and growing and that Church leaders expect missionary numbers will increase dramatically next spring.
He said, "Suffice it to say, this will require some changes in how we administer the missionary program of the Church."
At the Church's flagship MTC in Provo, Utah, officials will hire new instructors and staff, increase housing, and construct additional instruction and service facilities. He said the Church does not plan at this time to build any additional MTCs.
He said missionaries in the field are already benefitting from a highly successful, 12-week training course administered by their mission presidents.
He said the Church will also need, in time, to create new missions; the current 347 missions can absorb the initial growth brought on by the change, he said.
Speaking to prospective missionaries, he said, "God is hastening His work, and He needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light and the truth and the hope and the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an often dark and fearful world. ... You must prepare by personal worthiness and moral cleanliness and you must study diligently to know the gospel you will teach. We want you teaching effectively from the first day onward. And that will require preparation that starts long before you get your call to serve."
Elder Holland referred to the change in policy as "an option and a wonderful opportunity. It is not an edict or a mandate."Elder Holland concluded by expressing his personal gratitude for the missionary program of the Church. "I love missionaries," he said. "I love being with them. I love teaching them. I love encouraging them.... The strength of their faith, the power of their testimony, the degree of their sacrifice, the goodness of their lives inspire me to no end. It is obvious that the Lord loves them, as well, to entrust them with His precious gospel at such tender ages."
