The Immediate Effect Of The Missionary Age Change

[cinepro]

I have a relative in a church calling that deals with missionary work, and he sent out a "family update" email today with this update on the missionary program:

That announcement at conference has had a big impact. I believe that we will see a large surge in the number of young ladies who fulfill missions. The bishops I’ve spoken to from our stake all say they’ve received calls from young ladies who want to get started on the application process. I spoke with another man who had been trying to get through on the telephone to the BYU health center. He kept trying, leaving messages, etc. Finally, they called him back. They apologized for taking so long, but they had been “buried” with sisters who needed physicals for their mission applications. The work is going to take a leap.

It will be interesting to see how this changes the dynamics (and demographics) of the missionary force.

[Judd]

I think the change for the sisters will have a larger magnitude of influence as well as being relatively more beneficial (comparatively) in the long run. I don't know that the increase in converts from more missionaries will be the primary benefit (though not discounting it to any degree), but I think it will produce a stronger church just by the significant increase in percentage of women who will have the experience of serving missions. I could see the age being dropped to 18 as well.

[Freedom]

The main reason often sited for having the age at 21 was to discourage women from serving missions. I suspect that the initial excitement will wear off; nevertheless, eventually there will be a gender reversal in the field.

[CA Steve]

This is all speculation on my part but I think it will be interesting to see is how the Church deals with the initial surge of extra missionaries. For a year or two they are going to have more missionaries than they will have in 2 to 3 years, when the numbers settle down to what they can normally expect. For the next while they will be combining the ones that can go at 18/19 with the ones that had to wait. I wonder if the push for the new MTC building was based on any discussions leading up to lowering the age requirements?

[wenglund]

It will be interesting to also see what impact this anticipated surge of female missionaries will have on enrollment at church colleges. Perhaps it will be easier now than before for young ladies to go to BYU.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Tacenda]

Mormonmatters.org has a great podcast that I'm listening to right now. It's podcast #129-130 "New Missionary Age". Maxine Hanks is part of the discussion.

[KorbenDallas]

In High Council meeting this last Sunday, my Stake President made postulated on the effect of having a much higher percentage of RM mothers out there raising children. It gives me shivers to think about. I know there's some notable differences in the way my wife (who did serve a mission) raises children compared to how my mother did (who did not). Of course, I like to think my mother did a great job, but my kids are much better prepared for facing some of life's tough lessons than I probably was, and I think it is directly attributable to that missionary service of my wife.

It was interesting that in the press conference after the announcement, I didn't get the impression that any of the brethren had any desire to discourage sisters from serving missions at all, although I agree that may have been part of the rationale for the age difference in the past. The main reason they gave for the age difference was in support of better mission dynamics, and that, in their experience, having sisters older than elders worked much better. I think a year difference is becoming pretty irrelevant, and could also see it dropping further for the sisters if it turns out the missionaries can keep the hormones and flirtations to a minimum at zone conferences...

[cinepro]

I think a year difference is becoming pretty irrelevant, and could also see it dropping further for the sisters if it turns out the missionaries can keep the hormones and flirtations to a minimum at zone conferences...

I suspect the ages are now close enough to drastically increase the number of future husbands and wives who met as missionaries. If the age for women were further lowered, than that number would go through the roof.