Couples missionary work...

[RachelleDrew]

Hello!

My fiance and I were having a discussion the other day about the prospect of couples missionary work. Our situation is a bit difficult because he missed his opportunity to go on a mission, and now we have a child so it would be very difficult for him to go on one now.

As of right now, we are anxiously awaiting our wedding date, then shortly after that is my scheduled baptism. He really wanted to go on a mission, but now that isn't really an option. But we've heard little bits and pieces about couples missionary work, mostly in the field of humanitarian aid.

Does anybody know anything about this? We've asked around the ward, but we live in a small area and nobody we know has done something like that. Even our bishop wasn't sure where to start. Has anybody else done couples mission work for the church?

Our child is a newborn, and we are still growing in the church and i'm not even baptized yet. So obviously this is something that isn't going to happen right away, but we wanted to ask anyway just to get an idea.

[BenRaines]

Most couples missionaries are after retirement. There are still lots of opportunities to serve as missionaries in the ward or branch. You can see all the missionary opportunities at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Just search missionary opportunities.

Ben Raines

[RachelleDrew]

That's kind of what I figured, but are there any that serve before retirement? I guess what i'm asking is... even if it's not common, is it permissible?

I would just tell him go on a mission now, he's still only 20 years old. But he is the sole provider right now for our family. Once i've got my degree there will be more options, but i'm afraid my schooling is going to take longer now that i've got a baby.

We would just like very much to serve, but i'm losing hope that there are options for us in which either one of us won't be separated from our child.

I used to do lots of mission work when I was involved with my old church in high school, I went to Mexico two summers in a row when I was a teen for mission work. But I feel bad for him because he never got a chance to serve any mission in any way. Even if mine was with a different church, it was still something.

This is something that we both really enjoy and would like to do for people. We are both avid talkers, so we like spreading the gospel. Lol.

[BenRaines]

I believe that for a couple to serve a full time mission they have to not have any children living at home. The only ones that I know who have gone on a mission with children at home are mission presidents and they have to be 40 or 45 I think

Ben Raines

[mmiles]

Rachelle,

For couples to serve a mission they must not have any dependent children and they must financially pay for the mission. You and your husband can plan for this when you retire. Their are lots of couples who serve in many different places and do many different things serving.

Ben,

There is not an age requirement to be a mission president. If I am not mistaken, President Monson was 32 when he was mission president.

[WANDERER]

I was reading about mini-missions the other day...not sure if they are a possibility.

[RachelleDrew]

Thank you all very much for your answers. This helps us make a decision easier concerning our future.

One thing that is an option for us if this didn't work out was a service job in Mexico. My fiance and I are both majoring in Social Work, and one option that he was presented with was a job working as a director for a secular/non-denominational missionary group. While as a director he would be receiving payment, this really appealed to us as it's a field of mission work and we've been looking for an opportunity like this.

However, we wanted to check and see if the church offered anything for us first. While this is a great opportunity, we'd much rather serve the church if possible. Of course this job doesn't open up for another year so we've still got time to look into other options.

Thank you all so much for your answers.

[omega0401]

Rachelle, here is a more specific link straight to the church's missionary couple web site. You can click on the button for full time or part time missionary opportunities and it has a listing of what the expenses are throughout the world.

My wife and I plan to serve a mission when we retire and we are looking forward to it. It also happens to be a great example to set for your grandchildren too when they see their grandparents serving a mission.

Mission and Service Opportunities for Senior Adults and Recommended Young Adults

[justamere10]

That's kind of what I figured, but are there any that serve before retirement? I guess what i'm asking is... even if it's not common, is it permissible?

I would just tell him go on a mission now, he's still only 20 years old. But he is the sole provider right now for our family. Once i've got my degree there will be more options, but i'm afraid my schooling is going to take longer now that i've got a baby.

We would just like very much to serve, but i'm losing hope that there are options for us in which either one of us won't be separated from our child.

I used to do lots of mission work when I was involved with my old church in high school, I went to Mexico two summers in a row when I was a teen for mission work. But I feel bad for him because he never got a chance to serve any mission in any way. Even if mine was with a different church, it was still something.

This is something that we both really enjoy and would like to do for people. We are both avid talkers, so we like spreading the gospel. Lol.

There are wonderful opportunities right now for LDS couples to serve as unofficial CYBER Missionaries. You can read about it at the Mormon Sites forum: http://www.ldscybermissionaries.org

.

[NateHowe]

That's kind of what I figured, but are there any that serve before retirement? I guess what i'm asking is... even if it's not common, is it permissible?

I know of a dentist who, under the direction of the Church, took his wife and young children to Tonga for a time to work in a dental clinic. It was a humanitarian mission for him, and his children attended school there.

That does not commonly happen, but for those with special skills that are badly needed, the Church may make special arrangements.

You can also serve where you are. Once you have gone through the Temple, you can serve as a volunteer worker there. You can look forward to a mission after your children are grown and save for that expense. You can make family goals to place copies of the Book of Mormon and have neighbors and friends taught by missionaries in your home.

Missionary work is not limited to full-time service. An effective member missionary can often have a greater impact in an area than a full-time missionary who is only in the ward for a few months.

[Maya]

I SOOO much wanted to go on mission... I was lutheran then... to my great dissapointment I noticed that to go on mission I needed to become something that could be used on mission field. I could not understand why someone who just had a burning wish to tell about Jesus to everyome could not go. I was then around 14. So I gave up the idea. Later at 30 I met the missionaries... I wish I had met them at 20 or 21! Then I for sure had gone on a mission!

My advice is : Enjoy your babtisement and then your Temple marriage. Consentrate both on your family. It is NOT easy to rise kids these days. Too much evil that they meet too much temptations! They will need you every day from now on!

I can understand you beeing sorry now, that your husband did not go on mission or that he really did want to go and on top of all the disapointment of his family, that wanted, expected for him to go... after all it is a status symbol... It will hurt when everyone else talks about their mission experiences and he cant tell them any. But sorry, sometimes on the road you two made a choise, that wont allow you your missions now. I am NOT saying your choise was bad. Maybe it even is better this way??!

Like I said enjoy your little family. Be a lifelong missionary instead! Try to live the gospel so that you shine. Look around you... is everyone there lds?? There are so many people waiting to be found. Let your light shine and be sensitive to the whispers of the HG so you know when to open your mouth and open it anywhere you feel the Spirit. Maybe you become ward missionaries then you are doing the work from home!

Let bygones be bygones and focus on the life together and getting YOUR family to the HF ask for forgiveness and forgive and forgive yourselves! Life is not easy and it was never supposed to be either. Let the mission come later!

[Rico]

You can also serve where you are. Once you have gone through the Temple, you can serve as a volunteer worker there. You can look forward to a mission after your children are grown and save for that expense. You can make family goals to place copies of the Book of Mormon and have neighbors and friends taught by missionaries in your home.

Missionary work is not limited to full-time service. An effective member missionary can often have a greater impact in an area than a full-time missionary who is only in the ward for a few months.

Great advice! My wife and I are very appreciative of what the missionaries have done for us. That's why we do our best to support the missionaries in our ward. That means we invite them over for a dinner from time to time, we make ourselves available to go out with them, and we offer any assistance that they may need. It's not our time to be full time missionaries, instead I think our role is to help the full time missionaries as much as possible.

From the sounds of the OP, it sounds like you and your husband really want to get out there and see the world. There are many English teaching out there in other countries. If you chose to work in a place with an existing branch or ward, you could be an incredible resource to the full time missionaries assigned to the branch or ward.