Who are the Senior Missionaries?

Brad and I have both been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for our entire lives.  Brad's family have been members for generations since the early days when the Saints crossed the plains in wagons and handcarts.  My parents, also pioneers in their own right, joined the church about a year before I was born after being contacted by two young missionaries.  

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' missionary program is one of its most recognized characteristics. Most of you have seen Latter-day Saint missionaries on the streets of your communities large and small all over the world.

The missionary effort of the church is based on the New Testament pattern of missionaries serving in pairs, teaching the gospel and baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ (see, for example, the work of Peter and John in the book of Acts).

Most of the tens of thousands of missionaries serving for the Church of Jesus Christ are young people under the age of 25, serving in 449 missions throughout the world.  But of the 80,000 total full-time missionaries that serve in the church, nearly 30,000 of them are "Senior Missionaries".  Married couples, retired or on sabbatical, that serve in many positions of support and service all over the world.Some of these "senior" missionaries still have school aged children that go with them to serve! 

Senior missionaries serve for 6-36 months and have a bit different function than the young teaching missionaries you've likely seen.  Senior missionaries in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serve in a variety of roles, including: 

• Teaching: Sharing the gospel, reactivating members, and supporting new converts 
• Supporting local leaders: Helping local leaders in stakes, wards, branches, and districts 
• Preserving history: Preserving and sharing Church history, helping people find their ancestors, and preserving family history records 
• Providing humanitarian aid: Feeding the hungry, helping people become self-reliant, and providing humanitarian aid 
• Supporting church operations: Staffing and running mission offices, working in Church communications, and managing and maintaining church properties and facilities 
• Supporting young adults: Strengthening young single adults 
• Working with family history: Helping others with their family history 
• Working with prisoners: Helping prisoners reform their lives 
• Working in mission offices: Working in visitors' centers, historic sites, employment centers, and other roles in area and mission offices 
• Assisting with construction: Assisting with construction, property, and building maintenance 

When I was young, I remember several sets of senior missionaries that came to serve as MLS (Member and Leader Support) in our congregations. These couples, often in their 70s and 80s, were tireless in their service to us, our congregations and our communities. It seemed like there was nothing they wouldn't do! They became part of our family and I always thought of them as an extra set of grandparents.  After their service was ended, our family frequently visited them in their homes in Idaho and Utah.  The Barlows, Henrys, Jenks and Nalders, along with scores of young single missionaries, lit a spark of desire in me to be like them and serve full time as a missionary in the future.

Brad's grandparents and parents both served as senior missionaries.  His grandparents served in New Zealand, and his parents served 3 missions.  Brad's grandparents served in New Zealand circa 1970-72 and their example was central to his determination to serve not only as a young missionary (Brad served a misison to Montevideo, Uruguay from 1981-83), but also a desire to serve senior missions.  In addition to Brad's dad Steve's mission to the Northwestern States Mission in 1956-58 as a young missionary, his parents served three full time missions.  The first was to Nairobi Kenya in 1999-2001.  Their second mission was to the Navajo Reservation in the Arizona Phoenix Mission 2003-2005. They then served as Historic Site Missionaries in Nauvoo Illinois from 2009-2011. The legacy of Pat and Steve Jones' ambitious and enthusiastic service is manifest in Brad who wants to serve multiple times as senior missionaries.  Can you think of any greater heritage than one of love and service? 

Along the way as we approached retirement, we continued to be inspired by couples who made the choice to consecrate their time, talents and energy to serve a full time missionary assignment.  We watched them eagerly show up and cheerfully without reservation love and serve in any capacity they could find.  Tireless in their efforts, they fanned the flame of that spark of desire in us to serve as well.  Our desire is to generously serve and sincerely love like the Quincys, Judkins, Sturms, Adrus' and Barneys did as they served in their roles. 

In the MTC (Mission Training Center) we met and were inspired and motivated by so many more couples on the same adventure that we are but going to all different parts of the world. We LOVED our time there. But that's a story for another day!  😉

So, now you know.  It doesn't matter your age or circumstances, there are so many opportunities to love and serve those around you.  Serving a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is how we choose to serve at this time and we're so excited to share our experiences.  We invite you to find ways to LIVE your deep love for the Savior in your lives.  We can promise you that as you do, your  life with be filled with peace, joy, confidence and fulfillment and the Lord "will open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”