Is there some rule in the church that you can’t serve a mission until you’ve graduated from high school? I want to serve, but my bishop says I should graduate first.
2 Responses to “Is there some rule in the church that you can’t serve a miss…”
AllAboutMormdons.com Webmaster
2009-10-04 04:24:42
A missionary visiting Brazilian friends in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.
Hi friend. I think it's admirable that you want to serve a mission. Church policies are usually found in the General Handbook of Instructions. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of this book, so I can't really comment on what constitutes official church policy. However, it seems reasonable to me that a high school diploma should be required for missionary service. Your church leaders are clearly concerned about your personal development. It would be very difficult to graduate from high school after a mission, but it is relatively easy before a mission. A high school education will help you live a happier and more productive life. The Church encourages its members to get as much education as possible.
Don't worry. The Church allows young men to go on missions up to their 25th birthday. I believe there is no limit for young women who wish to serve. You probably have plenty of time to finish high school and still go on a mission. Good luck, my friend!
Pamela Dean
2009-10-10 06:43:48
Missionaries in Alagoas, Brazil.
I'm pretty sure that as a young single brother you have to be at least 19 years old and less than 25 years old to serve a mission. Males are encouraged to serve when they are 19-21 because it helps to strengthen their testimony before they have the huge responsibilities of being accountable for the spiritual progression of their wife and children. It helps them to transition from being dependent on their parents to being able to care for themselves. It also teaches them to get along with someone else who they may not always get along with and to resolve conflicts appropriately, before they marry. In addition, it teaches them to be diligent and hard working, to persevere even when they don't want to, to develop strong study habits, to get along with many different people, to be financially responsible.... All of these things are required skills for becoming well educated, being a good provider for their family, to serve in callings that may have great responsibilities, and to put the needs of others before their own. It also allows time to work part-time during highschool (and sometimes for a year afterwards) to save money for your mission. I also think you have to be a certain age to receive your endowment, and as a full-time missionary you must have your endowment. By age 25 it is assumed that you should be married, and it would thus be inappropriate to serve a single mission after that age.
Sisters who choose to serve a young adult mission must wait until they are 21. One of their responsibilities is to ready themselves to be righteous mothers, to "raise up a royal generation" and to care for their families if something were to happen to their husbands.
Senior missionaries, I believe, are supposed to wait until their responsibilities to their children are finished, as in their children are grown. And I would think it highly unusual - except in the case of mission presidents - for anyone with children at home to be accepted as a missionary.
It's wonderful that you feel such a strong desire to serve, but right now is probably not your season to do so as a full-time missionary. There are other ways that you can assist the missionaries in your ward now, though. For example, one ward I was in regularly encouraged aaronic priesthood holders to accompany the missionaries on a regular basis. If you check with your ward mission leader he can help you find ways that you can help the missionaries that are appropriate for someone in your circumstances. I think this would only help you to have a very successful and honorable mission when you do serve your mission. Blessings to you.
Don't worry. The Church allows young men to go on missions up to their 25th birthday. I believe there is no limit for young women who wish to serve. You probably have plenty of time to finish high school and still go on a mission. Good luck, my friend!
Sisters who choose to serve a young adult mission must wait until they are 21. One of their responsibilities is to ready themselves to be righteous mothers, to "raise up a royal generation" and to care for their families if something were to happen to their husbands.
Senior missionaries, I believe, are supposed to wait until their responsibilities to their children are finished, as in their children are grown. And I would think it highly unusual - except in the case of mission presidents - for anyone with children at home to be accepted as a missionary.
It's wonderful that you feel such a strong desire to serve, but right now is probably not your season to do so as a full-time missionary. There are other ways that you can assist the missionaries in your ward now, though. For example, one ward I was in regularly encouraged aaronic priesthood holders to accompany the missionaries on a regular basis. If you check with your ward mission leader he can help you find ways that you can help the missionaries that are appropriate for someone in your circumstances. I think this would only help you to have a very successful and honorable mission when you do serve your mission. Blessings to you.