Missionary service is exciting for both missionaries and their families. The First Presidency stated: “To serve the Lord as a missionary is a glorious, sacred privilege that brings eternal blessings to the individual and those he or she serves.”

Family support can play a vital role in a missionary’s success.

The process of serving a mission begins with worthy young men and young women working with their bishops and stake presidents who recommend them as a missionary.

This recommendation is then reviewed by an Apostle who, acting with the authorization of the President of the Church and with the influence of the Holy Ghost,

assigns the missionary to a particular mission.

The call to be a missionary comes from the Lord’s prophet.

Every missionary receives his or her call in the form of a letter stating: “You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.” And the letter is signed by the prophet.

As Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught,

“The assignment to labor in a specific place is secondary to a call to the work. Likewise, the assignment to service or teaching is secondary to the call. Both are missionaries who represent Jesus Christ.” According to the First Presidency: “A service mission is an acceptable offering to the Lord.”

Therefore, referring to a proselyting mission as a “real mission” or a “normal mission” or “traditional mission” is inaccurate and should be avoided. All missionaries represent the Lord and carry out His work,

and various methods of serving are consistent with Church history dating back to the Restoration. It was not uncommon that missionaries’ assignments

were changed due to political circumstances, individual safety,

visa issues, and missionary’s health, or other needs and demands.

Just like a teaching assignment,

a service assignment is a way to help your son or daughter fulfill their desire to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.

A helpful resource for this is “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ— Service Mission.” Approved as the guide for service missionaries by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,

I invite and encourage you to become familiar with this publication.

It discusses the purpose, guidelines, principles, and rules for young service missionaries.

It answers questions about missionary organization and activities,

standards for missionary conduct, and physical and emotional well-being for service missions. It can be found in the Gospel Library app on your smartphone or tablet under Handbooks and Callings,

Mission Callings, Service Missionary.

Service and teaching missions are similar in purpose in that both are intended to invite and help others to come unto Christ,

the distinction being that service missionaries help others come unto Christ by serving as the Savior would. These missionaries serve voluntarily in charitable organizations, Church functions, and within communities.

Expressing His loving kindness,

they minister in His name to the one just as He did.

Some service missionaries have been known to refer to teaching missionaries as “the mouth of the Lord” while seeing themselves as “the hands of the Lord.”

Service missions are customized to the unique talents and capabilities of the missionary. Service sites are selected in collaboration with service mission leaders and approved by priesthood leaders. While service missionaries have a schedule of days and times to serve at various sites, they are also invited to fill their time with meaningful activities focused on spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth.

This can also include service within the home and family.

It is common for service missionaries to live at home.

For some service missionaries, this allows them to receive the necessary emotional support and medical care or counseling help they need.

Living at home also allows family members to witness and participate firsthand in the experiences of their missionary.

Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ—Service Missions Section 3.5.1 advises that you and your family will need to make some sacrifices to ensure you have the most meaningful and productive mission experience possible.

A missionary’s service brings countless blessings, including the influence of the Spirit upon all family members as they strive to improve and support their missionary.

If you have a son between the ages of 18 and 25 or a daughter between the ages of 19 and 29, and they have the sacred blessing of being called as a missionary and may be assigned as a service missionary,

you will be greatly blessed as you learn about the program and encourage your missionary to give their heart, might, mind, and strength to this assignment.

They will have the choice opportunity to serve the Lord and become more like Him as they learn to minister in His name to the one.

For those missionaries who start their missions with a teaching assignment and transfer to a service assignment,

we are learning that the most successful path through most of the challenges they face is in serving Heavenly Father as a service missionary.

As one transferring missionary exclaimed after being a service missionary for two months, “I have found my place. I belong here. And I get to let His light shine through me as I serve others. I search each day for the ones who will be blessed by my service.”

Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “Your mission will be a sacred opportunity to bring others to Christ and help prepare for the second coming of the Savior.”

Service and teaching missionaries are both crucial to the gathering of Israel,

and missionaries and their families will be blessed as they engage in this the Lord's work.