My daughter, Hermana Seright, is currently serving a mission in Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ. I thought this would be a great time to share a post that talks about what that means and what she does. Hopefully, your questions about what is a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ will be answered, but if I missed something, please leave a comment.

A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is someone who dedicates a period of their life (18 months for females and 24 months for males) to teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and serving others. They are sent all over the world to serve. Missionaries volunteer their time to help people learn about Jesus Christ, strengthen their faith, and find greater purpose and peace through His teachings.

Missionary work is centered on one purpose: to invite people to come unto Christ. Everything a missionary does—teaching, serving, studying, and living gospel principles—is focused on helping others feel the love of the Savior.

What Is a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ?

What Do Missionaries Do?

Missionaries follow a daily schedule that includes scripture study, prayer, teaching lessons, community service, and working with local church members. Their responsibilities include:

Teaching individuals and families about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
Serving in homes, communities, and local organizations.
Studying scriptures and church materials each day.
Praying for guidance and for the people they serve.
Strengthening local congregations and supporting church leaders.

Missionaries strive to live by high standards of faith, obedience, and charity. They represent Jesus Christ in both word and action.

Who Can Serve as a Missionary?

The Church offers several types of missionary service:

Young teaching missionaries (typically ages 18–25 for men and 18–29 for women) serve 18–24 months away from home.
Young service missionaries who serve locally while living at home.
Senior missionaries (usually age 40 and older) who serve in a variety of assignments such as teaching, humanitarian work, leadership support, and family history.
Senior service missionaries who serve in their own communities.

Missionary service is voluntary and considered a sacred opportunity to serve God and His children.

Why Missionaries Serve

Missionaries serve because they love Jesus Christ and want to share the peace, hope, and joy that come from living His gospel. They believe that the teachings of Jesus Christ can bless individuals and families, strengthen communities, and bring lasting happiness.

Missionaries also serve because they feel called to do so. The scriptures teach, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.” This desire to serve becomes a powerful motivation to dedicate time and effort to helping others.

Why I Would Send My Daughter on a Mission

Sending a daughter on a mission is not about letting her go—it is about letting her grow. There is something amazing about seeing them grow and develop spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. And yes, there are several ways for them to get that same growth and development – like college, military, etc. But being immersed in the Gospel creates a really great opportunity for them to grow and strengthen their personal testimonies as well.

A mission gives a young woman the chance to develop faith, independence, resilience, and a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. It teaches her how to work hard, love others, and rely on God in every circumstance. These are qualities that will bless her for the rest of her life.

I would send my daughter on a mission because I believe in the power of the gospel she will share. I believe in the goodness she will bring into the world. And I believe that serving others will shape her into the woman God intends her to become.

A mission is not just about teaching others. It is also about discovering who she is, who God is, and how He works in her life. It is an opportunity for her to step away from the noise of the world and focus on what matters most—faith, service, and becoming more like the Savior.

I trust that the Lord will watch over her, guide her, and bless her in ways that only He can. And I know that the experiences she has will strengthen her testimony, deepen her compassion, and prepare her for her future family, career, and lifelong discipleship.

A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is someone who chooses to serve God and His children. Their purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ and to share the hope and peace found in His gospel.