Missionaries are volunteers who have set aside their everyday lives for up to two years to help others come closer to Jesus Christ. Before leaving on a mission, they were students, employees, athletes, bookworms, musicians, and, well, you get the idea. After their service, they will return home and go back to normal life.

They come from all over the world. It’s not uncommon for missionaries to serve in a country and speak a language other than their own. Missionaries serve as young adults or in their retired years as singles or couples. Whatever their age, their motivation is sincere—they leave their homes and families for a period to do what Jesus taught His Apostles: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

No, missionary visits are free for everyone. Jesus Christ invites all to come unto Him “without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). Missionaries actually pay to see you, covering their own costs to come on a mission. Local Church leaders and class instructors don’t get paid either.

Church service times vary from congregation to congregation. However, you can always count on one main worship service for everyone, followed by classes for children, youth, and adults.

The service for everyone is called “sacrament meeting.” This meeting consists of songs, prayers, and sermons (or “talks”) given by different members of the congregation every week. But the most important part of the meeting is when we take the bread and water of the sacrament (similar to Communion) to remember the Savior.

If you would like to worship with us, missionaries can answer your questions, share information about the time and place of your local worship services, and then save you a seat when you’re ready to visit.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are just like anyone else. We have ups and downs and everything in between. Latter-day Saints have a reputation for being a happy, peaceful people. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have challenges. Everyone in life is fighting a hard battle—but when we try our best to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have additional strength and peace to make it through.

As far as lifestyle is concerned, Latter-day Saints try to keep Jesus Christ front and center. Our beliefs about the Savior and His teachings affect our day-to-day decisions about how we speak, dress, and act. For example, we try to avoid working on Sundays so we can attend church, serve others, and spend time with family. Faithful members of the Church do not smoke, drink alcohol, or gamble.

All aspects of your life will improve as you seek to come closer to Jesus Christ and keep His commandments. You will have more peace and joy, a stronger relationship with God, and a greater sense of meaning in your life. Missionaries can help you with specific concerns, such as coping with loss, strengthening your relationships with your family, overcoming bad habits, learning how to pray, keeping the Sabbath day holy, and understanding the scriptures better. When you meet with missionaries, tell them what you hope to gain from your visits so they can tailor their message to address your needs.