The Missionary Program The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for the missionaries it sends throughout the world to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The program follows the biblical pattern of sending out missionaries two by two. Missions The Church operates more than 330 missions in the world. A mission covers a geographic area and has a central headquarters. Each is led by a mission president who is selected from the ranks of Church membership to a three-year position. The mission president relocates with his family to the mission area and directs the work of the missionaries. Missionaries Currently, some 56,000 Latter-day Saints are participating in proselytizing missions around the world. Approximately 75 percent of the Church's proselytizing missionaries are young men between the ages of 19 and 26. They are referred to as "Elder" because of their ordination to that priesthood office. Substantial numbers of single women (about 18 percent) and older couples (about 7 percent) also serve proselytizing missions. Each elder or sister missionary accepts an assignment from Church leaders to serve in a specific mission. Missionaries generally work 60-65 hours per week, for two years (elders) or 18 months (women and couples), teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and participating in community service. In addition, about 5,100 individuals (including couples) are given special service assignments. Health specialists and doctors go to developing countries where the Church's health services program teaches preventive care. Craftsmen, artisans and construction supervisors train members in local building projects. Agricultural experts train people to produce food more effectively and economically. Other mission assignments include education, family history research and leadership training. The missionaries or their families donate money to the Church to pay for their personal expenses. When his or her assignment is completed, the missionary returns to home to pursue vocational, academic or other personal goals. Missionary Training Centers Before leaving on a mission, each missionary is assigned to one of 17 missionary training centers around the world. Those required to learn another language spend eight weeks in training before traveling to their assigned mission. If the missionaries do not need to learn a new language, they attend only two or three weeks of basic orientation. Preparation Aside from their brief orientation at a missionary training center, missionaries receive little formal training for their ministry. Missionary preparation comes primarily from personal study and, in many cases, from examples taught in the home from childhood.   Church Growth Since 1830 Year Members Missions Missionaries Countries (1) 1830 6 (2) 0 0 1 1844 26,146 3 586 8 (3) 1947 1,016,170 (4) 43 2,132 29 1963 2,117,451 77 11,653 43 1971 3,090,953 98 15,205 50 1978 4,166,854 165 27,669 54 1982 5,162,619 180 26,606 86 1986 6,166,983 193 29,265 95 1989 7,308,700 228 39,739 100 1991 8,089,540 267 43,395 130 1994 9,024,569 303 48,708 156 1995 9,340,000 307 48,631 159 1996 9,694,500 309 53,000 160 1997 10,070,524 318 56,531 162 1998 10,354,241 331 57,853 162 1999 10,752,986 333 58,593 162 2000 11,068,861 334 60,784 162 2001 11,394,522 333 60,850 165 2002 11,721,548 335 61,638 165 2003 11,985,254 337 56,237 165 Notes to the above chart: 1 And territories 2 At founding, 6 April 1830 3 Estimated 4 Figures given hereafter are as calculated at year's end Proselytizing Missionaries Young men approximately 75 percent Single women approximately 18 percent Couples approximately 7 percent Total approximately 56,000 Missionary Training Centers Worldwide Total 17 Locations Provo, Utah (USA) Preston, England Buenos Aires, Argentina Sao Paulo, Brazil Mexico City, Mexico Santiago, Chile Bogotá, Colombia Lima, Peru Guatemala City, Guatemala Hamilton, New Zealand Manila, Philippines Tokyo, Japan Seoul, South Korea Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Madrid, Spain Accra, Ghana Johannesburg, South Africa Languages taught at Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, USA 50