A Latter Day Saints missionary is a member of the Mormon faith who chooses to fulfill his or her obligation to serve through mission work. While not required of LDS members, many volunteer to do this work as a way to spread the Word of God and the Mormon faith throughout the world. There are more than 300 missions in the world, served by over 50,000 missionaries. They are unpaid for their work and time, with the financial burden being borne by themselves and their families.

The Work of the Latter Day Saints Missionary

Each mission covers a geographical area and has a central headquarters staffed by a mission president. Missionaries are often moved around to different areas if the need arises. A mission worker can expect to spend 18 to 24 months on each assignment, and during that time he lives and works with one or two other missionaries. Training for the mission prepares him for using the methods of Discussion and proselytizing to reach the people within his appointed mission.

Other duties of the Latter Day Saints missionary may include community service, and if a missionary has special training in certain areas, he may be asked to use those skills on a mission. Doctors, health care workers, construction supervisors and agricultural experts are a few of those with specialized training who can help local people with their particular needs. By doing so, these missionaries fulfill the Gospel mandate to live out their faith in a practical way, through service to others.

The work of the Latter Day Saints missionary is important to many LDS members. Serving others in need demonstrates a readiness to accept obedience to God, who directs all people to love and help their neighbors. In Mormon theology, this is one of the paths to salvation, a humbling of oneself for the good of others. In this way, a missionary is considered to be acting as the voice of the Mormon Church.