Elder Ethan Bird wheels his luggage the airport as hundreds of missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints return from the Philippines to Salt Lake City International Airport on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — As tens of thousands of Latter-day Saint missionaries return to their home countries they have been given the option to return to serve after being released temporarily.
New guidelines released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says those returning will be given the option to go back out and serve as soon as the pandemic is over, or wait 12-18 months.
The church says that the returning missionaries will have until April 30 to decide.
If they choose reinstatement as soon as possible, they would finish their mission as originally scheduled.
Utah Area President Elder Craig C. Christensen says that there will be nearly 20,000 American and Canadian missionaries returning over the next few weeks.
Those who were released for medical reasons have an honorable release.
Missionaries who just got called can also choose to delay.
Missionaries from other countries are returning to their homes, too. They will be reassigned in their home country and return to service as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Missionary Service: United States and Canada
March 31, 2020
Missionaries returning to the U.S. and Canada from international assignments
Temporarily released and choose by April 30, 2020 to be:
1. Reinstated either to original or temporary assignment* as soon as conditions allow (with original end date); OR
2. Returned to service within 12-18 months (with new end date)
Currently under call but have not begun online MTC training
Choose by April 30, 2020 to:
1. Begin online MTC training as scheduled and begin service in either original or temporary assignment* as soon as conditions allow (with original end date); OR
2. Delay mission and begin service within 12-18 months (with new end date)
*Specific mission assignments will be determined by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Missionaries from the U.S. and Canada currently participating in online MTC training:
Choose by April 30, 2020 to be:
1. Released after online MTC training and reinstated to either original or temporary assignment* as soon as conditions allow (with original end date); OR
2. Released and return to service within 12-18 months (with new end date)
Prospective missionaries
Choose to:
1. Submit application, receive mission call, begin service in either original or temporary assignment* as soon as conditions allow (with original end date); OR
2. Delay and submit missionary application at a later date
*Specific mission assignments will be determined by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Additional communication will be provided to stake presidents, including information about senior missionaries.
For missionaries from outside North America the adjustments are:
Adjustments to Missionary Service: Countries Outside the U.S. and Canada
March 31, 2020
Missionaries returning to their home countries
Will be reassigned* to a mission in their home country and return to service as soon as conditions allow
Prospective missionaries
Choose to:
1. Submit missionary application, receive mission call, complete online MTC training, and begin service in a mission in their home country as soon as conditions allow; OR
2. Delay and submit missionary application at a later date
Missionaries currently in online MTC training or under call
Will complete online MTC training and begin service in a mission in their home country as soon as conditions allow
For all missionaries from countries outside the U. S. and Canada:
— The missionary’s original end date would remain unchanged
— Until conditions change, all prospective missionaries will be assigned to their home countries
*Specific mission assignments will be determined by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Additional communication will be provided to stake presidents, including information about senior missionaries.
