The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church) is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 50,000 full-time missionaries worldwide. Commonly referred to as Mormon missionaries, most LDS Church missionaries are single young men and women in their early twenties and are assigned to a mission of the church that is usually far from the missionary's home. Mormon missionaries do not receive a salary for any of the work they undertake.
The most visible and most common type of missionaries are typically those who proselytize door-to-door and ride bicycles for transportation, but not all missionaries engage in these activities. There are "service missionaries" who solely perform volunteer work in impoverished areas, do genealogical research, or are tour guides or hosts at Temple Square and other historical church sites. In many areas, even proselytizing missionaries spend most of their day responding to incoming phone calls and queries, delivering requested media from the church's television and radio commercials. Many missionaries also use public transportation, walk, or in some areas drive automobiles owned by the church.
The LDS Church also has a strong welfare and humanitarian missionary program. These humanitarian missionaries typically serve in impoverished areas of the world and do not actively proselytize; humanitarian missionaries will not wear any identifying tags if local law forbids it. This allows them to operate in countries where religious organizations are typically forbidden, such as in predominantly Muslim countries or in Southeast Asia. Regular proselytizing missionaries are asked to engage in welfare activities and community service for a minimum of four hours per week.
In 2007, 80% of all Mormon missionaries were young, unmarried men, 13% young single women, and 7% retired couples.
The most visible and most common type of missionaries are typically those who proselytize door-to-door and ride bicycles for transportation, but not all missionaries engage in these activities. There are "service missionaries" who solely perform volunteer work in impoverished areas, do genealogical research, or are tour guides or hosts at Temple Square and other historical church sites. In many areas, even proselytizing missionaries spend most of their day responding to incoming phone calls and queries, delivering requested media from the church's television and radio commercials. Many missionaries also use public transportation, walk, or in some areas drive automobiles owned by the church.
The LDS Church also has a strong welfare and humanitarian missionary program. These humanitarian missionaries typically serve in impoverished areas of the world and do not actively proselytize; humanitarian missionaries will not wear any identifying tags if local law forbids it. This allows them to operate in countries where religious organizations are typically forbidden, such as in predominantly Muslim countries or in Southeast Asia. Regular proselytizing missionaries are asked to engage in welfare activities and community service for a minimum of four hours per week.
In 2007, 80% of all Mormon missionaries were young, unmarried men, 13% young single women, and 7% retired couples.
Missionaries
You've seen those young men in white shirts .... ties and suits ...... riding bikes around your neighborhood ......