A calling that endures: How LDS missions shape faith, identity and a new generation

No matter the day, month or year members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather at the Salt Lake City International Airport with only one thing on their minds: a long-awaited mission.

Many members of the Church want to bring the gospel around the world. Almost every destination is possible New York City, Europe, Latin America, Asia and more.

This has remained a longstanding tradition among Church members.

According to the Church Newsroom, in 2024, the number of missionaries serving abroad had reached a new record, with around 80,000 missionaries.

Elder W. Mark Basset, executive director of the Churchs Missionary Department, shared a few of the reasons a person may want to serve a mission.

When it gets into a persons heart, it changes what they do and how they look at other people. Every individual out there in the world is a child of God, and we can bring them back home through making covenants, Basset stated.

Renata Forste, BYU international vice president, echoed these sentiments and shared why she served in Argentina many years ago.

I had felt prompted by the Spirit that I needed to serve. I felt that if the Lord thought I could serve a proselyting mission, I should trust in Him and serve. So I accepted the call," Forste said.

Forste served her mission in the early '80s, when society was different. However, Joseph Hammer, a current BYU freshman, also shared similar words to Forstes.

I was very young, but excited to serve someday. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and wanted to serve them," Hammer said.

Despite the different times, Church members still feel the same senstiments about serving on a mission. Helping Jesus Christ remains a powerful reason to spend two years of their time.

However, there are still some stark differences between Forste and Hammers missions due to circumstance and societal standards.

From allowing sister missionaries to wear slacks, increasing communication with families through text and email and allowing male missionaries to wear blue shirts, there have been many changes throughout time.

Bishop Dave Decker of the Orem YSA 24th ward pointed out changes that 21st-century missionaries have received. Decker served his mission in the late '90s.

I think the biggest difference is that we didnt have social media or the internet, Decker said.

Williams also wrote about modifications that, ultimately, impacted missions more structurally.

It wasnt until 1911 that missionaries received the instruction that they should receive their endowment prior to departing on their missions, Williams said. Starting in September 1940, prospective missionaries were also interviewed by a General Authority at stake conference. This practice was discontinued in 1962.

These changes are not limited to structural affairs; society changed, and the Church did too.

I grew up in the Church, and as a youth I knew that men served missions, but there were very few women that I knew that had served missions, Forste said.

When asked about cultural changes to women serving missions, Forste said that sister missionaries have more opportunities than before.

I think that sister missionaries now have many more opportunities for leadership training than when I was a missionary, Forste said. Many more young women now serve, and they are called as sister leaders and have leadership experiences in the mission that were not options when I served.

Forste also shared how she prepared for a mission.

I didnt take any mission prep classes at BYU. My father had taught me the gospel, Forste said. At that time, sister missionaries had to be 21 years old to serve, so I was older than sister missionaries are now.

Hammer had a different preparation experience when he was preparing to serve in South Korea.

There were lots of physical preparations, like going to the doctor and buying clothes, Hammer said. However, there were also spiritual preparations like prayer, scripture study and receiving my endowment.

Decker also shared his perspective on some Church members not feeling worthy enough to serve a mission.

The most common concerns I deal with are not feeling their testimony is strong enough, not feeling worthy enough, pornography issues and a lot of mental health or anxiety issues, Decker said.

Even with these concerns and societal matters, Decker says that a mission is a life-changing experience.

My mission was amazing, it absolutely changed my life trajectory, Decker said. I was not well prepared; it was a personal conversion quest and process. I think a mission converts the missionary as much or more than any converts a missionary may influence.

Serving in South Korea wasnt easy for Hammer, but he stated that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

My main challenge was to overcome my pride; recognizing that my own efforts were not enough and that I had to rely on the Savior was a challenging but rewarding experience," Hammer said.

Many missionaries also have to overcome their shyness and accept negative answers. This was the case for Forste, as the language and her shyness were the main issues to overcome.

It took a month or so until I really started to understand the language and to be able to communicate with people, Forste said. "It took time to have the courage to talk to people and to handle rejection and not take it personally.

These are some of the challenges, concerns and questions that missionaries have while they are serving. Many of these struggles continue even after they return home.

I have learned that I need to put just as much effort into my relationship with the Savior as I did during my mission. Its true that once I came home, I was sometimes uncertain that I was doing the Lord's will," Hammer said.

Hammer said that once he recalled the scriptures and how his testimony grew, those insecurities started to fade away.

My testimony is still growing, but I have to learn to exercise faith in new ways, Hammer said. However, as I pray, study my scriptures and go to the temple, I can receive revelation about the Lord's will.

Forste also had to adjust herself in her post-mission times.

It took some time adjusting to not having a companion, Forste said. I came home and got right back into the university. I think getting back to school and work gave me purpose and helped me make the post-mission transition easily.

Forste also carried what she learned on her mission into her post-mission life.

The temple became more important to me, and I had a renewed desire to further my education, Forste said. Because I had been endowed in the temple and made covenants, I thought of marriage and family life differently.

As the will to serve Jesus Christ abroad remains in the hearts of the members of the Church, facing personal challenges, meeting new changes in mission affairs and having a character-building experience will remain valuable.