Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reduces mission age for women from 19 to 18

According to a November 21 press release from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “The First Presidency is pleased to announce that effec­tive immediately, young women who choose to serve a full-time mission may begin their service at age 18 following graduation from high school or its equivalent. While the Lord asks every worthy, able young man as part of his priesthood responsibility to prepare for and serve a mission, we reiterate that missionary service remains an optional opportunity for young women. We recognize that for those young women who desire to serve a full-time mission, the choice of age to begin service will not be the same for everyone.”

Photo courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Historically, the mini­mum age for service was 19 years for young men and 21 years for young women to enter the church’s mission­ary service. The age was lowered in 2012 under the presidency of Thomas S. Monson, setting the mini­mum age for service at 19 for women and 18 for men. With the 2025 change to 18 for women, young men and young women will be setting out on missionary service at the same mini­mum age for the first time in church history. Com­munities with a relatively high LDS population may now see young women, like the men, signing up for mis­sionary service planning for a departure straight out of high school - applications are viable 150 days before the applicant’s 18th birth­day or graduation from high school, whichever comes later.

Said the church’s Young Women General President, and Member of Mission­ary Executive Council, Emily Belle Freeman, “We are so excited about this announcement as a Young Women’s General Presidency and what this means for our girls. This announcement is effec­tive immediately, which means that girls can start preparing now to serve at the age of 18 if they have graduated from high school. They will be able to submit their application 150 days before their birthday or their availability date. We love what this does for these young women. It gives them an opportunity as they leave from young women and enter into adulthood to think about all of the options that are available for them.”

Church authorities con­firmed that young women in missionary service – called “sister missionaries” in church colloquialism - will continue the practice of serving an 18-month mis­sion, as opposed to the young men - called “elders” - who serve for 24 months, health permitting in both cases.