Chase Driggs, Mason Rich, Lehi Ramos, Maxwell Worsham, and Devin Vanderwood pose for a picture while they were on the Chiclayo Peru mission. (Maddi Driggs)
Nearly 63 percent of BYU enrollees for Fall 2015 are returned missionaries, an all-time high for the university.
According to the statistics from BYU's press release, 20,401 of the 32,615 daytime students enrolled this semester have served missions.
'I think it is so exciting to have so many returned missionaries on the BYU campus,' BYU junior Kiffyn Smith said. 'It is such a pleasure to be a part of such an important time in the history of the church. It really brings a special spirit to the campus.'
Since the 2012 General Conference announcement made by President Thomas S. Monson, BYU has seen an increase in the amount of students that have served missions, both male and female.
This semester marks the first wave of 18-year-old missionaries returning home from missions. The number of male returned missionaries on campus has increased from 79 percent to 88 percent. For returned sister missionaries, the number has gone from 10 percent in 2012 to 33 percent this semester.
Maxwell Worsham, Brady Martin, Chase Driggs, Landon Hulet, and Ryan Sainsbury pose after their mission.
(Maddi Driggs)
BYU officials anticipate the trend to continue.
'We expect (the number of returned missionaries) to grow just slightly,' said Carri P. Jenkins, assistant to the President at University Communications.
With the amount of returned missionaries being the highest it's ever been at BYU, many students have recognized the blessing it is to be part of such a large group and the obligation BYU has to represent the LDS church.