In 1975, I was 20 years old and the "old maid" of the ward. I could tell because men old enough to be my father would say, "Why isn't a nice girl like you married?" The bishop talked to me about serving a mission, and my mom was furious, because serving a mission was a guarantee of being an old maid. Why? Because the return missionaries were 21 years old and encouraged to marry within six months of their return. A return sister missionary would be 22 1/2, and not a candidate for the available single men.
I love it that sisters can serve missions at the same age as the brothers. Not only are even pretty girls eligible to serve missions, but when they return and marry, we don't have the husband saying, "When I served my mission" and the wife not having that experience. Now they can BOTH say it. I've noticed that the sisters in the church who have served missions have more spiritual confidence and experience than those of us who haven't. This leads to healthier, more equal marriages. What a blessing for everyone!
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LoraDecember 18, 2025
In 1975, I was 20 years old and the "old maid" of the ward. I could tell because men old enough to be my father would say, "Why isn't a nice girl like you married?" The bishop talked to me about serving a mission, and my mom was furious, because serving a mission was a guarantee of being an old maid. Why? Because the return missionaries were 21 years old and encouraged to marry within six months of their return. A return sister missionary would be 22 1/2, and not a candidate for the available single men. I love it that sisters can serve missions at the same age as the brothers. Not only are even pretty girls eligible to serve missions, but when they return and marry, we don't have the husband saying, "When I served my mission" and the wife not having that experience. Now they can BOTH say it. I've noticed that the sisters in the church who have served missions have more spiritual confidence and experience than those of us who haven't. This leads to healthier, more equal marriages. What a blessing for everyone!
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