Sending letters to missionaries just got easier for full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Until now, email correspondence for young, single missionaries (senior missionaries were excluded) was limited to families only. Friends were encouraged to send letters the more traditional way.
Church spokesman Scott Trotter said this week that missionaries now “can also communicate by email with friends, priesthood leaders and new converts.” However, before giving out email addresses and striking up communications with new converts and friends of the opposite gender made within the mission, missionaries should get permission from the mission president.
Other Missionary Handbook policies regarding missionaries and email remain in place, including:
Missionaries should only use MyLDSMail.net, the filtered service established by the church;
Email should only be used on the missionary’s preparation day;
Email should be accessed on computers in public places, and never in a place where the missionary’s companion can’t see the computer screen;
Missionaries should not use members’ computers.
“As your call letter states, you are ‘expected to devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs,” the Missionary Handbook indicates. “Do not become preoccupied with communicating with family and friends.”
LeoApril 19, 2013
The opportunity to communicate thru email with one's friends and families has dramatically improved. Gone are the days of hand writing a letter and hopefully getting a response a week later. Foreign missionaries were at a greater disadvantage. Lets hope that the new rules and technology will be honored so that the next generation of missionaries will be afforded the same convenience. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel of peace!