MISSIONARY WORK AND GROWTH

The missionary emphasis of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most recognized characteristics of this worldwide faith.  The program is based on the biblical pattern of sending out missionaries two by two.  Over 61,600 Latter-day Saints are now serving missions in 162 countries and territories and using Book of Mormon translations in over 91 languages.

More than 700 missionaries serve in Germany, including many from countries throughout the world. There are four missions of the Church in Germany, with offices located in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich.

Most of the Church's missionaries are young men and women between the ages of 19 and 23, although substantial numbers of older couples also serve missions.  Missionaries are called to serve for a period of 18 months to two years, at their own expense.

Prospective missionaries may be asked to serve anywhere in the world and are frequently required to learn another language.  Other than perhaps two months in a language-training center, missionaries receive little prior formal training for their ministry.  Their knowledge has come, in most cases, from training in the home and from personal conviction developed over a period of years.

In the mission field, missionaries teach both from the Bible and from The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Members of the Church are called sometimes �?Mormons�? because of their beliefs and acceptance of this second book of scripture, which is regarded as a companion to the Bible.

Although missionaries will teach any person sincerely willing to listen, they prefer to teach family members together, since it is within the family that Latter-day Saint teachings and principles are best exemplified.