Mission Presidents... Qualifications? Training?

[AddamS]

As a non-member, this has always fascinated me. I'm glad that there has been some recent mission discussion as of late and hope this will stimulate responses and debate.

Do they sign to the position for a predetermined amount of time like the missionaries do?

Do they have to go through specialized training like the missionaries get in the MTC?

Is there a typical age? If so, are they generally people with wives/children back home?

[guerreiro9]

If so, are they generally people with wives/children back home?

The wife and children go with them. If they have "wives" back home they have a difficult time being called as a Mission President.

-guerreiro9

Edited June 13, 2013 by guerreiro9

[why me]

I believe that they usually serve for 3 years. Also, I don't think that they have much training. But they usually have moved up the later when it comes to church callings. Many have perhaps been stake presidents or bishops before being called a mission president.

Some mission presidents are understanding and others are not. I would think that regardless of the independent rules a mission president may make, the missionary learns from the experience.

[halconero]

Do they sign to the position for a predetermined amount of time like the missionaries do?

They do not. Stake Presidents, however, are asked to submit the names of those they believe are willing and able to serve as mission presidents. It's not the only source for a pool of possible mission presidents, but makes up a large part of it. From that pool some are called in to meet with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They ask them various questions about their spiritual and temporal (financial, familial, etc) ability to serve. They then receive a call from a member of the First Presidency asking them to serve if selected. They get their call in the mail, and are, at some point, set apart by a member of the First Presidency or the Twelve, who give them the keys (divine authorization) to conduct missionary work and perform ordinances for non-members.

Do they have to go through specialized training like the missionaries get in the MTC?

Yup! They go the MTC for a few weeks in what's called a Mission President's seminar. Their training will include aspects that Junior Missionaries (technical name for the 19-26 year old missionaries have) don't get: Medical, Administrative, Counseling training, etc.

Is there a typical age? If so, are they generally people with wives/children back home?

There is nothing set, but those called are generally financially and spiritually stable. My first mission president was quite wealthy, and a former vice-president of Proctor and Gamble International. My second was an editor/writer for the Deseret News, and lived in a modest home in Provo. He once told me, "We're debt free, and have always had enough to meet our needs and satisfy a few modest wants."

[AddamS]

The wife and children go with them. If they have "wives" back home they have a difficult time being called as a Mission President.

-guerreiro9

Took a few reads to get this. Nice.

[AddamS]

I believe that they usually serve for 3 years. Also, I don't think that they have much training. But they usually have moved up the later when it comes to church callings. Many have perhaps been stake presidents or bishops before being called a mission president.

Some mission presidents are understanding and others are not. I would think that regardless of the independent rules a mission president may make, the missionary learns from the experience.

I would agree. Just being out in the field has go to be exciting and educational regardless of the MP.

[AddamS]

Do they sign to the position for a predetermined amount of time like the missionaries do?

They do not. Stake Presidents, however, are asked to submit the names of those they believe are willing and able to serve as mission presidents. It's not the only source for a pool of possible mission presidents, but makes up a large part of it. From that pool some are called in to meet with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They ask them various questions about their spiritual and temporal (financial, familial, etc) ability to serve. They then receive a call from a member of the First Presidency asking them to serve if selected. They get their call in the mail, and are, at some point, set apart by a member of the First Presidency or the Twelve, who give them the keys (divine authorization) to conduct missionary work and perform ordinances for non-members.

Do they have to go through specialized training like the missionaries get in the MTC?

Yup! They go the MTC for a few weeks in what's called a Mission President's seminar. Their training will include aspects that Junior Missionaries (technical name for the 19-26 year old missionaries have) don't get: Medical, Administrative, Counseling training, etc.

Is there a typical age? If so, are they generally people with wives/children back home?

There is nothing set, but those called are generally financially and spiritually stable. My first mission president was quite wealthy, and a former vice-president of Proctor and Gamble International. My second was an editor/writer for the Deseret News, and lived in a modest home in Provo. He once told me, "We're debt free, and have always had enough to meet our needs and satisfy a few modest wants."

Thanks for all of the great info.

I don't know why but the selection process sounds very heartwarming to me that so much care is taken to find the best individuals for the job.

I have also always been curious about if the position puts people out so the inclusion of the financial stability aspect answers some of my questions as well.

Thanks again!

[rpn]

The only formal MP training they get is the 2 week MP seminar in June that precedes their July mission start. But most have years of experience in work, and in church callings and as missionaries themselves. And they are called and set apart. (BTW one of the sections of the MP seminar is going to be broadcast worldwide on June 23, 2013, with all church members invited to participate. So if anyone wants to know the kinds of things MP are trained in, they can show up at your ward meetinghouse to participate next week.)

[rpn]

Not all MP can support themselves though: the church does provide a stipend and travel and education costs for them and their families (who go with them to serve. the wife now is a member of the mission counsel as of a few months ago) if they need that help. I think the youngest MP I've know is in his mid-thirties and the oldest was 70 (though that wasn't recent).

[Alan]

I went to a mission reunion in Scotland a few years ago and the serving mission president was quite old. he had served as a regular missionary in Scotland over 50 years previously.

He said, "when I served here as a young missionary, no one had a car, no one had a fridge, but everyone had a Bible. Now I find everyone here has a car, everyone has a fridge, but no one has a Bible".

I think it would be fantastic to return to your old mission as an MP.

[Buzzard]

A friend of ours was in the paper recently, as he will be stepping down from a public position to be a MP. The article stated that he was approached about being a MP in 2010, but told the church that he had family obligations that made it untenable for him to go, ditto in 2011. In 2012, he informed the church of his willingness, and several months later received the call.

I thought this was interesting because it seemed to be different from the way callings are typically issued. Of course, being a Scoutmaster does not involve relocating to a foreign country with your family.

[Johnnie Cake]

Not all MP can support themselves though: the church does provide a stipend and travel and education costs for them and their families (who go with them to serve. the wife now is a member of the mission counsel as of a few months ago) if they need that help. I think the youngest MP I've know is in his mid-thirties and the oldest was 70 (though that wasn't recent).

According the the Handbook for Mission Presidents...(which I recently read)...MP's receive much more than a stipened. All of their medical expenses, food, lodging, utilities, transportaion including gas, vehicle and insurance, a maid (up to 20 hours per week) plus any university aged children receive free education at a church owned university and they even get reimbursed for gifts given such as birthday and christmas gifts...basically all of their costs of living are taken care of by the church....tithing free of course...so I'd say that they receive much more than a stipen.

I would post a link to the book for CFR purposes but the book is proprietary to the church and was leaked to the web...so I can't link it...

Edited June 14, 2013 by Johnnie Cake

[cdowis]

I remember my MP discussing how the church had purchased a car for him. There was some disagreement because he wanted a luxury vehicle, and he finally talked them into it. He was the owner of a major furniture store so I guess he knew how to get his way.

[Johnnie Cake]

I remember my MP discussing how the church had purchased a car for him. There was some disagreement because he wanted a luxury vehicle, and he finally talked them into it. He was the owner of a major furniture store so I guess he knew how to get his way.

Well my MP had the equivalent of a Chevy Impala...adequate but certainly not a luxury vehicle...MP's and their families are not doing this for the money...it is a sacrifice of their time...I know of 1 MP who lost his business while he was on his mission...came home to basically nothing...so for him and his family it was a major sacrifice

Edited June 14, 2013 by Johnnie Cake

[cdowis]

Well my MP had the equivilent of a Chevie Impala...adequate but certainly not a luxury vehicle...

Well, this was in Germany, and they are very class conscious. I remember teaching someone with the title "Herr Professor Doktor Doktor"..... I had to use his full title when I addressed him.

It was not Kansas, but the land of the Mercedes Benz.

Edited June 14, 2013 by cdowis

[daz2]

when my friend was called as MP a few years ago, not only where there interviews with a member of the 12, but there were other pretty thorough questionnaires and interviews with others to get more information about him and his family and situation (e.g., health, finances, relationships, potential burdens on family if they were called) before the call was issued. The Church made a real effort to be sure this would be as positive and workable a thing as possible.

[cinepro]

My second mission president had some serious family and business problems, so he got released a year early to go home and deal with them. Towards the end, we could tell he wan't that focused on the mission.