Missionary

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Cover image via Gospel Media Library.

A friend called me today regarding the announcement about the cost of a mission increasing from $400 per month, per missionary, to $500 per month, beginning in 2020. He wanted to know what I thought about the increase, knowing I had served as a mission president in the U.S.

After logging on to the church website to confirm the story, my first response was, “It could have been much higher given the true cost of a mission”.

My wife, Sara, and I, presided over a mission in Virginia from 2010-2013. Back then, I remember being in awe that the cost of housing missionaries alone was higher than the cost of a mission per missionary. My mind often wondered how much was spent on missionary housing in missions like, New York, Japan, San Francisco and Seattle. I knew they were double or quadruple the price of the housing we were paying out each month.

I do not speak for the church but my guess is the actual price of a mission, per missionary, is still  more than $500 per month, even if you average the cost worldwide. Housing is only one expense in a mission. Other common expenses include, food, vehicles, fuel, car repairs and maintenance, training materials, copies of the Book of Mormon and the Bible in multiple languages, medical bills, and lots of small items, like toll fees, etc. This is the short list, there is not enough space to cover them all.

The last time the cost of the mission was raised was back in 2003. Seventeen years without an increase is impressive!

I know that $400 or $500 a month is still steep for many families, especially if they have more than one missionary out at a time. We were in this boat once and our budget was very tight even though our children saved some or much of their mission funds. Looking back however, I think we saved money from one son who could consume $400 a month in milk alone, let alone the savings on shoes, clothing and more food for an average 19-year-old.

So, how can the church keep the price to $500 when the cost is most likely higher and what can we do to help support families with the increasing expenses?

I learned years ago while serving as a stake president, that the contributions to the “General Missionary Fund”, helps keep the cost of serving under control. I was always in awe of the numerous, small missionary donations made by many individuals and families in our stake and especially, the widow’s mite. I learned quickly the principle,“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass (Alma 37:6). I could see firsthand; these small donations add up quickly and have an immediate impact on the cost of a mission.

Additionally, each ward keeps three months of reserves for each missionary serving from their ward and the difference is sent to church headquarters where this surplus is used to reduce missionary expenses.

My second thought and response to my inquiring friend was, “the best thing we can do right now, individually and collectively, to keep the cost of missions down is to contribute something each month, no matter how small, to a missionary serving in our respective branches or wards, or to the “General Missionary Fund”.  

My two cents.