SALT LAKE CITY-Tuesday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles confirmed the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the Church to make further adjustments to missionary work.
As the conditions for missionaries and their families have been prayerfully considered, two opportunities for missionary service for those who have returned and are awaiting reassignment are available.
Each of these opportunities require a temporary release from missionary service prior to reassignment.
These options, as well as opportunities for prospective missionaries and missionaries beginning their service feature several conditions.
Missionaries returning to the U.S. and Canada from international assignments are to be temporarily released.
By April 30, they are to be reinstated to original or temporary assignment as soon as conditions allow (with original end date) or returned to service within 12-18 months.
For missionaries from the U.S. and Canada currently participating in online MTC training, they can be released after online MTC training and reinstated to either original or temporary assignment as soon as conditions allow (with original end date) or released and returned to service within 12-18 months (with new end date).
For those currently under call but have not begun their online MTC training, they can choose by April 30 to begin online MTC training as scheduled and begin service in either the original or temporary assignment as soon as conditions allow (with original end date) or delay their missions and begin service within 12-18 months (with anew end date). Prospective missionaries in the U.S. and Canada have the choice to submit their application, receive mission calls, begin service in either original or temporary assignment as soon as conditions allow (with original end date) or delay and submit the application at a later date.
The specific mission assignments will be determined by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Adjustments to missionary service for countries outside of the U.S. and Canada will consist of the following:
Missionaries returning to their home countries will be reassigned to a mission in their home country and return to service as conditions allow.
Missionaries currently in online MTC training or under call are to complete online MTC training and begin service in a mission in their home country as soon as conditions allow.
Prospective missionaries outside of the U.S. and Canada are to submit a missionary application, receive a mission call, complete online MTC training and begin service in a mission in their home country as soon as conditions allow, or delay and submit a mission application at a later date.
For all missionaries outside of the U.S. and Canada, the missionary’s original end date would remain unchanged.
Until conditions change, all prospective missionaries outside of the U.S. and Canada will be assigned to their home countries.
The statement concludes with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve expressing confidence that all current and prospective missionaries will seek the counsel of parents, priesthood leaders and the Lord as they contemplate future missionary service.
