To prevent the loss of photos, emails and data from Google accounts created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ryan Zimbauer is helping fellow returned missionaries take proactive measures.
“I'm helping returned missionaries on BYU campus save memories before they get deleted forever,” Zimbauer said. “It’s a need thats not being met and I feel like it has spiritual value.”
Missionaries for the Church receive an email account at the beginning of their missionary service equipped with 30 GB of storage to store all of their emails, photos and videos. However, after the missionary completes their service, their accounts get deleted, along with all of the data stored.
“I’ve met tons and tons of people who have lost their digital mission memories,” Zimbauer said. “They can only continue to access the account for 90 days.”
After 90 days, downloading data gets more complicated. Many missionaries who returned before Fall Semester 2024 are in the 90-120 day time period of having their mission account deleted forever. After 120 days, there isn’t much you can do to save your digital mission memories.
“It's a timely situation,” Zimbauer said.
Many have found value in saving their mission memories and being able to look back and recall memorable, fun and spiritual experiences. Atticus Cutri served in Portugal from 2020-2021. He saved all of his mission photos and videos before his account was deleted.
“It was pretty simple, definitely worth it though,” Cutri said.
On the contrary, some have lost their digital mission memories, and wish they had saved them while they had the chance.
“It made me feel like part of my experience was lost,” Ryker Adcock, who returned from his mission to El Salvador earlier this year, said. “I wish I would’ve taken the time to preserve those memories.”
Zimbauer has created a document that helps return missionaries walk through how to save different kinds of data. He also has a google form to fill out if any returned missionary needs additional help saving their data.