Should I Serve a Mission?

In 2012, President Thomas S. Monson lowered the missionary service age for women from 21 to 19, making missionary service more feasible for many young women and the decision about whether to serve more imminent.

Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21.

We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we encourage all young men who are worthy and who are physically able and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service. –Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2012

Preparing to Serve

Show the video: Missionary Service: A Priesthood Duty. Before sharing the video, it may be useful to note that the  segment of the video about preparation for a mission is illustrated with photos of elders, but the same preparations apply to women.

• What are some of the ways you can prepare if you choose to serve a mission?

Ask the class to read D&C 4. 

1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

— Doctrine & Covenants 4

• What are some of the qualities they should strive to develop in order to become worthy to serve as missionaries? 
• How might they develop these qualities?

Making the Decision

Ask each young woman to read one of the five testimonials in the article, Young Women and the Mission Decision, Ensign, January 2013 and then explain to her classmates how the woman they read about made her decision about missionary service. What are some of the different ways women might approach this decision-making process? What are some of the different ways the Spirit might confirm the decision?

Guest Panel

Invite one or more returned missionaries to attend the class and respond to questions from the young women about the mission experience.

Live What We Are Learning

Invite the young women to consider how they will live by what they have learned today. For example, they could:

• Talk to a returned missionary about his/her mission experience.
• Read a chapter from Preach My Gospel.
• Write a letter or email to a relative or ward member who is serving a mission.

This lesson plan was originally written in 2013 as Young Women Lesson: Should I serve a mission? Originally, it was attached to a lesson on the priesthood, which is now available here: https://exponentii.org/blog/young-women-lesson-priesthood-and-priesthood-keys-how-do-i-honor-and-uphold-the-priesthood-plus-bonus-lesson-should-i-serve-a-mission/ and a lesson on sustaining priesthood leaders based on the book of Exodus, which is now available here: https://exponentii.org/blog/come-follow-me-exodus-14-17-stand-still-and-see-the-salvation-of-the-lord-and-exodus-18-20-all-that-the-lord-hath-spoken-we-will-do/

Author’s Note: This lesson was adapted from an Aaronic Priesthood lesson in the Priesthood and Priesthood Keys unit called Why Should I Serve a Mission?  There was no corresponding lesson about missionary work in the Young Women curriculum at the time but this topic may be of interest to many Young Women, especially given the 2012 change in missionary policy which lowered the age of service for Young Women from 21 to 19.