Each year, many worthy young Latter-day Saints apply for the opportunity to serve as performing missionaries. Only a limited number of missionaries can be called. Talent, training, and experience are very important. Other significant qualifications include physical health and character traits such as spiritual maturity, willingness to obey mission rules, and enthusiasm for serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do band members do?
The Nauvoo Brass Band has a regular daily concert schedule featuring period (and period-like) music for trumpets, trombones, French horns, tubas or euphoniums, clarinets, flutes, piccolos, and percussion. Band members may also help full-time missionaries lead tours in the historic homes and other buildings.
What do actors do?
Actors perform on and off the stage each day. Performances range from large shows to small vignettes and musical sets performed on the streets of Historic Nauvoo. Their work is vigorous, with long schedules, but it brings the reward and blessing of sharing the history of Nauvoo and the Spirit of the Lord with thousands of visitors throughout the summer.
All actors must be able to sing and have a moderate level of dancing ability. Additional talent on instruments like violin/fiddle, guitar, mandolin, flute, or piano, are desirable, but not required.
Skilled dancers are needed during all three seasons (summer and fall). However, not all actors must be skilled dancers. Those who are skilled dancers serving during the fall season will form the dance corps for both the Nauvoo and British pageants.
What do production technicians do?
The tech missionaries are the backbone of the work accomplished by the Nauvoo Performing Missionary program. From designing lighting to mixing audio during shows, these elders and sisters labor diligently to make the experience enjoyable for all audiences. During shows, they often assist with stage management duties or usher guests. For those with appropriate experience, there are also opportunities to assist in costume alteration and repair, set, props and other show related responsibilities.
Are performing missionaries associated with a specific school group?
No. Because this is a senior service missionary assignment and not a full-time mission, performing missionaries may receive college credit concurrent with their service. But the program itself is not associated with any particular school and does not grant any college credit.
Are performing missionaries part of the Nauvoo and British pageants?
Yes. In July, some missionaries perform in two pageants as a dance corps. Others provide some live music and technical support. They are not considered part of the family cast, which is a separate opportunity to serve. Learn more about pageants.
Is this considered a full-time mission?
No. Serving as a performing missionary is considered a senior service missionary assignment. While this is a significant opportunity for service, it does not take the place of a full-time mission.
Why is this called a senior service mission opportunity?
Senior service missionary callings are for Church members who live and work at home for their assignment. They are open only to members over 25 years old, or to returned missionaries (See General Handbook 24.2.4). However, the Nauvoo Performing Missionary program has an exception that allows young people ages 18-25 to serve, and to serve away from home for 14 weeks of their service. This exception also allows young people to serve a full-time mission after their service as a performing missionary.
Can I serve as a performing missionary in addition to a full-time mission?
Yes. Like other senior service assignments, this performing mission is open to anyone who has already served a full-time mission for any length of time. If you are over 18 and still plan to serve a full-time mission, you are also eligible to serve as a performing missionary.
I served as a performing missionary in the past. Can I apply again?
Yes. You are welcome to apply again. You must still meet all of the qualifications, including age and temple worthiness.
What are the qualifications to serve?
Applicants must be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, single, 18 to 25 years old, in good health, and temple worthy.
Missionaries are on their feet and involved in rigorous work for more than eight hours a day in hot temperatures and high humidity. Applicants need to be physically able to serve in this capacity prior to receiving their call.
Is this service opportunity available to anyone in the world?
No. For health and travel reasons, only missionaries from the United States and Canada may serve at this time.
Do I need to be endowed to serve in this program?
No. Performing missionaries must be temple worthy, but they do not need to be endowed in order to serve.
Can I apply if I’m a senior in high school?
Yes. However, if you are applying during your senior year of high school, you must be 18 years old before arriving in Nauvoo for your assignment. Also, keep in mind that you need to have completed graduation requirements before you travel to Illinois.
How long do missionaries serve?
Once selected, missionaries serve for 12 months, during that time, they spend 14 weeks in Illinois:
• Summer Cast: May 1–August 7 • Fall Cast: June 26–October 9
Once you receive and accept your call to serve as a senior service missionary, it is expected you will spend an average of four hours each week preparing for your time in Nauvoo. This will involve physical preparation, learning scripts and music, intellectual preparation studying the gospel and the history of the Church in 1840s Illinois, emotional self-reliance preparation, and spiritual preparation. Before departing for Nauvoo, you will be set apart by your stake president. After you complete your service in Nauvoo and return home, it's anticipated you'll spend time sharing your experiences using social media and helping to recruit, prepare, and encourage the next group of performing missionaries.
What would I do as a performing missionary when I’m not in Nauvoo?
When not in Nauvoo, you will spend about four hours a week on mission assignments. Before traveling, this includes physical exercise, learning music, scripts, and other materials. After returning, it includes helping to recruit and mentor others in the program. You are otherwise free to attend school, work, date, and socialize as you normally would.
As a performing missionary, do I have to obey mission rules?
During your 14 weeks of service in Nauvoo, your conduct will generally follow what is outlined in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, including traveling with a companion. Some accommodations for performances are allowed. During the rest of your year of service, you are free to work, go to school, and socialize as you normally would. You do not need to travel with a companion as you go about your normal life routines.
How much money does it cost to serve as a performing missionary?
Unlike other full-time missions, performing missionaries do not pay a monthly fee into the Church’s Missionary Support Fund. Instead, they pay a one-time program fee to cover housing, airfare, ground transportation, costumes, and other program-related expenses. The fee for 2024 is $1,000, due on March 1, 2024.
In addition to the program fee, missionaries use personal funds to cover all meals and personal items during their service. Most missionaries end up spending between $400 and $800 during their 14 weeks in Nauvoo.
How do I apply?
Applications for 2024 will be accepted until October 15, 2023. The online application includes uploading an audition video where you explain why you want to serve as a performing missionary and where you demonstrate your abilities related to the role you are applying for. Here is a preview of the prompts for the audition video:
Band Member
Why do you want to serve as a performing missionary? (1 minute or less)
Demonstrate a slow and legato technique. For percussionists, specifically kit drummers, demonstrate several tempo-steady groove styles in medium and slow tempos. (1 minute or less)
Play a fast-tempo passage demonstrating facility. For percussionists, specifically kit drummers, demonstrate several tempo-steady groove styles in fast and medium tempos. (1 minute or less)
Perform a full range of chromatic scale, tonguing up and slurring down.
Play a short selection that shows your skill and favorite style of playing (jazz, classical, pop, and so forth) and demonstrates your connection to an audience when you play. For percussionists, include swing, shuffle, Latin, rock, and country style variations.
OPTIONAL: Provide a sample of your skill on another musical instrument. (2 minutes or less)
Actor
Why do you want to serve as a young performing missionary? (1 minute or less)
Sing an up-tempo ‘Broadway style’ or high-energy song. (2 minutes or less)
Sing a hymn or ballad. (2 minutes or less)
Present a dramatic or comic reading of your choice. (1 minute or less)
Provide an example of a dance routine. (2 minutes or less)
OPTIONAL: We are looking for performers that also play guitar, violin, fiddle, mandolin, flute, and piano. If you play any of these instruments, please include a video demonstration of your skills. For guitar, please demonstrate your ability with both strumming and picking patterns. For violin, please demonstrate both classical and fiddling styles. (2 minutes or less)
Production Technician
Why do you want to serve as a performing missionary? (1 minute or less)
Tell us about some of your experiences with sound, lighting, wardrobe, props, or stage management. (2 minutes or less)
OPTIONAL: If you play a musical instrument, please demonstrate your skill. (2 minutes or less)
What is the missionary calling process?
Applications are due by October 15, 2023. All applicants will receive notification about callbacks by mid-November.
Callbacks will take place on January 13, 2024. For those who live less than 3 hours away from Salt Lake City, you may attend callbacks in-person at a church building to be announced. If you live farther than 3 hours away, your callback will be held virtually.
Notification will be sent to callback candidates about their acceptance status by late January 2024. At that time, accepted candidates will receive instructions on how to complete a senior service missionary application. They will then be issued a call by their stake president and be set apart as early as February 1, 2024 to begin their 12 months of service.
I served as a performing missionary in the past. How can I help spread the word about the program?
If you have previously served as a performing missionary and would like to assist with an upcoming fireside, please contact nauvooperformances@churchofjesuschrist.org. You may be asked to greet visitors, participate in a musical number, or share your experiences as a performing missionary.