Mission (LDS Church)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for their efforts to contact the public through proselyting activities. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints use the word mission in relation to these activities. It has 2 related yet distinct meanings.

• the administrative area, often based on a geographic region, to which missionaries are assigned.
• a proselyting or service assignment of limited duration fulfilled by individuals or married couples acting as LDS missionaries.

This article deals with the former, and all references to "missionary" specifically refer to a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Administrative structure

Geographically, a mission may be a city, a city and surrounding areas, a state, or perhaps an entire country or multiple countries. Essentially, all parts of the world where missionaries are permitted to serve are divided into missions. In addition, there are a number of "special missions," generally within the area of a regular mission, which are designated for a specific purpose such as service to the homeless. Special missions have their own Presidencies (see below), separate from that of the larger missions in whose territory they are formed.

The mission with the smallest geographic area is the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission, in which "sister" missionaries from around the world serve as tourguides, often to visitors from their own homelands. These sisters will serve approximately 6 months on Temple Square, then serve "in the field" for 6 months in another mission in another part of the United States, then return to Temple Square for the final 6 months of their 18-month mission call.

Typically the name of the mission is the name of the country (or state in the United States), and then the city (usually a large city) where the mission headquarters office is located.

Mission President

All missionaries serve in a mission under the direction of a Mission president, who, like individual missionaries, is assigned by the President of the Church. He is a High Priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood. His wife serves alongside him. He is typically middle age or older, and usally has the financial means to devote his full time to the responsiblity, as they leave their employment for the usual 3 year assignment. The church provides a minimal living allowance for the mission presidents but it normally requires them to supplement it with their own funds to make "ends meet". Often, the president must learn the local language, as the missionaries do.

The Mission President has at least two counselors, who sometimes are from the local area and who keep their regular employment. The role of the counselors varies by mission, but they are typically liaisons between the mission and the stakes.

Mission Organization

A mission may be organized two different ways, depending on the situation. The first is the organization of the missionaries. There are two or more missionaries who serve as "Assistants to the President" (not to be confused with the counselors in the mission presidency). They carry out the direction of the Mission President in the organization of the mission, the assigning of companions and proselyting areas, and oversee the welfare and training of the missionaries. The missionaries are divided into zones, each led by a missionary assigned as a zone leader. The zones may be geographically large or small depending on the mission. The zones are divided into districts, each being led by a missionary assigned as a district leader. A district usually has two to four missionary companionships. The zone leaders and district leaders train the missionaries, see after their welfare, conduct interviews, proselyte together, and share successes.

Each missionary companionship has a geographical area which may include part of a ward or branch, one ward or branch, or several wards or branches. They are responsible for preaching to the people in their own area.

The other type of mission organization exists where there are no organized church stakes. This may be case where the church is relatively new and there are few members. The mission president is the presiding church authority in such areas, and he is responsible for all the members, not just the missionaries. The mission is divided into districts (not to be confused with the other type of district) which serve much the same role as stakes do. Each district has a District President and his counselors who are usually local residents and report directly to the mission presidency. The districts are composed of branches. In these cases the Mission President oversees all the affairs of the church in the mission. After the membership has grown typically the districts are turned into stakes and the stake presidents do not report to the mission president. The Mission President is then only responsible for the proselyting missionaries.

In a mission, the ecclesiastical line of authority is from the mission president down to the missionaries. The missionaries answer to the mission president directly, as opposed to the local branch president, bishop, stake president.

According to the explanations of the church, the mission president will receive divine inspiration while making decisions about the mission, including which missionaries will serve together, and in which areas.

Mission Reunions

Many missionaries working together build strong bonds of friendship, and for a few years after their missions are over, a former mission president will host reunions of missionaries who served with him. As the missionaries come from many different parts of the world, it is common that the reunions are held in Utah, especially during general conference weekends, as it provides for the probability of the largest number of attendees. Several web sites have been created by church members with the express purpose of allowing mission alumni to keep in contact, one of the most notable being the LDS Mission Network[1].

List of Missions

These are the names of the missions. Their actual area of responsibility may be much larger than the name may indicate.

United States
Alabama Birmingham Mission Alaska Anchorage Mission Arizona Mesa Mission Arizona Phoenix Mission Arizona Tempe Mission Arizona Tucson Mission Arkansas Little Rock Mission California Anaheim Mission California Arcadia Mission California Carlsbad Mission California Fresno Mission California Long Beach Mission California Los Angeles Mission California Oakland Mission California Riverside Mission California Roseville Mission California Sacramento Mission California San Bernardino Mission California San Diego Mission California San Fernando Mission California San Francisco Mission California San Jose Mission California Santa Rosa Mission California Ventura Mission Colorado Denver North Mission Colorado Denver South Mission Colorado Colorado Springs Mission Florida Ft Lauderdale Mission Florida Jacksonville Mission Florida Orlando Mission Florida Tallahassee Mission Florida Tampa Mission Georgia Atlanta Mission Georgia Atlanta North Mission Georgia Macon Mission Hawaii Honolulu Mission Idaho Boise Mission	Idaho Pocatello Mission Illinois Chicago Mission Illinois Chicago North Mission Illinois Nauvoo Mission Illinois Peoria Mission Indianapolis Indiana Mission Kentucky Louisville Mission Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission Maryland Baltimore Mission Massachusetts Boston Mission Michigan Detroit Mission Michigan Lansing Mission Minnesota Minneapolis Mission Mississippi Jackson Mission Missouri Independence Mission Missouri St. Louis Mission Montana Billings Mission Nebraska Omaha Mission Nevada Las Vegas Mission Nevada Las Vegas West Mission New Hampshire Manchester Mission New Jersey Cherry Hill Mission New Jersey Morristown Mission New Mexico Albuquerque Mission New York New York North Mission New York New York South Mission New York Rochester Mission New York Utica Mission North Carolina Charlotte Mission North Carolina Raleigh Mission Ohio Cincinnati Mission Ohio Cleveland Mission Ohio Columbus Mission Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission Oklahoma Tulsa Mission	Oregon Eugene Mission Oregon Portland Mission Pennsylvania Harrisburg Mission Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission Puerto Rico San Juan Mission South Carolina Columbia Mission South Dakota Rapid City Mission Tennessee Knoxville Mission Tennessee Nashville Mission Texas Dallas Mission Texas Fort Worth Mission Texas Houston Mission Texas Houston East Mission Texas Houston South Mission Texas Lubbock Mission Texas McAllen Mission Texas San Antonio Mission Utah Ogden Mission Utah Provo Mission Utah Salt Lake City Mission Utah Salt Lake City South Mission Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission Virginia Richmond Mission Washington D.C. North Mission Washington D.C. South Mission Washington Everett Mission Washington Kennewick Mission Washington Seattle Mission Washington Spokane Mission Washington Tacoma Mission West Virginia Charleston Mission Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission
Canada
Canada Calgary Mission Canada Edmonton Mission Canada Halifax Mission Canada Montreal Mission	Canada Toronto East Mission Canada Toronto West Mission Canada Vancouver Mission Canada Winnipeg Mission
Mexico
Mexico Chihuahua Mission Mexico Cuernavaca Mission Mexico Culiacan Mission Mexico Guadalajara Mission Mexico Guadalajara South Mission Mexico Hermosillo Mission Mexico Leon Mission Mexico Merida Mission	Mexico Mexico City East Mission Mexico Mexico City North Mission Mexico Mexico City South Mission Mexico Mexico City West Mission Mexico Monterrey East Mission Mexico Monterrey West Mission	Mexico Oaxaca Mission Mexico Puebla Mission Mexico Tijuana Mission Mexico Torreon Mission Mexico Tuxtla Gutierrez Mission Mexico Veracruz Mission
Central America and The Caribbean
Costa Rica San Jose Mission Dominican Republic Santiago Mission Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission El Salvador San Salvador East Mission El Salvador San Salvador West Mission	Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission Guatemala Guatemala City North Mission Guatemala Guatemala City South Mission Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission Haiti Port-Au-Prince Mission Honduras Comayaguela Mission	Honduras San Pedro Sula Mission Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission Jamaica Kingston Mission Nicaragua Managua Mission Panama Panama City Mission West Indies Mission
South America
Argentina Bahia Blanca Mission Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission Argentina Cordoba Mission Argentina Mendoza Mission Argentina Neuquen Mission Argentina Resistencia Mission Argentina Rosario Mission Argentina Salta Mission Bolivia Cochabamba Mission Bolivia La Paz Mission Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission Brazil Belém Mission Brazil Belo Horizonte Mission Brazil Belo Horizonte East Mission Brazil Brasília Mission Brazil Campinas Mission Brazil Cuiaba Mission Brazil Curitiba Mission Brazil Florianópolis Mission Brazil Fortaleza Mission Brazil Goiânia Mission Brazil João Pessoa Mission Brazil Londrina Mission	Brazil Maceió Mission Brazil Manaus Mission Brazil Porto Alegre North Mission Brazil Porto Alegre South Mission Brazil Recife Mission Brazil Ribeirão Preto Mission Brazil Rio De Janeiro Mission Brazil Rio De Janeiro North Mission Brazil Salvador Mission Brazil Salvador South Mission Brazil Santa Maria Mission Brazil São Paulo East Mission Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission Brazil São Paulo North Mission Brazil São Paulo South Mission Chile Antofagasta Mission Chile Concepcion Mission Chile Concepcion South Mission Chile Osorno Mission Chile Rancagua Mission Chile Santiago East Mission Chile Santiago North Mission Chile Santiago West Mission Chile Vina Del Mar Mission	Colombia Barranquilla Mission Colombia Bogota North Mission Colombia Bogota South Mission Colombia Cali Mission Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission Ecuador Quito Mission Paraguay Asuncion Mission Paraguay Asuncion North Mission Peru Arequipa Mission Peru Chiclayo Mission Peru Lima Central Mission Peru Lima East Mission Peru Lima North Mission Peru Lima South Mission Peru Trujillo Mission Uruguay Montevideo Mission Uruguay Montevideo West Mission Venezuela Barcelona Mission Venezuela Caracas Mission Venezuela Maracaibo Mission Venezuela Valencia Mission
Europe and Russia
Albania Tirana Mission Armenia Yerevan Mission Baltic Mission Belgium Brussels Mission Bulgaria Sofia Mission Czech Prague Mission Czech Republic Prague Mission Denmark Copenhagen Mission England Birmingham Mission England Leeds Mission England London Mission England London South Mission England Manchester Mission Finland Helsinki Mission France Paris Mission France Toulouse Mission Germany Berlin Mission Germany Frankfurt Mission Germany Hamburg Mission	Germany Munich Mission Greece Athens Mission Hungary Budapest Mission Ireland Dublin Mission Italy Catania Mission Italy Milan Mission Italy Rome Mission Norway Oslo Mission Poland Warsaw Mission Portugal Lisbon Mission Portugal Porto Mission Romania Bucharest Mission Russia Moscow Mission Russia Moscow West Mission Russia Novosibirsk Mission	Russia Rostov Mission Russia Saint Petersburg Mission Russia Samara Mission Russia Vladivostok Mission Russia Yekaterinburg Mission Scotland Edinburgh Mission Slovenia Ljubljana Mission Spain Barcelona Mission Spain Bilbao Mission Spain Las Palmas Mission (Now part of Spain Malaga Mission) Spain Madrid Mission Spain Malaga Mission Sweden Stockholm Mission Switzerland Geneva Mission Switzerland Zürich Mission Ukraine Donetsk Mission Ukraine Kiev Mission
Africa
Cape Verde Praia Mission Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission Ghana Accra Mission Ghana Cape Coast Mission Ivory Coast Abidjan Mission Kenya Nairobi Mission	Madagascar Antananarivo Mission Mozambique Maputo Mission Nigeria Enugu Mission Nigeria Ibadan Mission Nigeria Lagos Mission Nigeria Port Harcourt Mission	Nigeria Uyo Mission South Africa Cape Town Mission South Africa Durban Mission South Africa Johannesburg Mission Uganda Kampala Mission Zimbabwe Harare Mission
Asia
Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission China Hong Kong Mission India Bangalore Mission Indonesia Jakarta Mission Japan Fukuoka Mission Japan Hiroshima Mission Japan Kobe Mission Japan Nagoya Mission Japan Sapporo Mission Japan Sendai Mission Japan Tokyo Mission Korea Pusan Mission	Korea Seoul Mission Korea Seoul West Mission Korea Taejon Mission Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission Philippines Angeles Mission Philippines Bacolod Mission Philippines Baguio Mission Philippines Cagayan De Oro Mission Philippines Cebu Mission Philippines Davao Mission Philippines Ilagan Mission Philippines Laoag Mission	Philippines Manila Mission Philippines Naga Mission Philippines Olongapo Mission Philippines Quezon City Philippines San Pablo Mission Philippines Tacloban Mission Singapore Mission Taiwan Kaohsiung Mission Taiwan Taichung Mission Taiwan Taipei Mission Thailand Bangkok Mission
Pacific
Australia Adelaide Mission Australia Brisbane Mission Australia Melbourne Mission Australia Melbourne West Mission Australia Perth Mission	Australia Sydney North Mission Australia Sydney South Mission Fiji Suva Mission Marshall Islands, Majuro Mission Micronesia Guam Mission New Zealand Auckland Mission	New Zealand Wellington Mission Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission Samoa Apia Mission Tahiti Papeete Mission Tonga Nukualofa Mission

References

• ----. 2001-2002 Deseret News Church Almanac (2000). Salt Lake City: Deseret News.

External Links

• mission.net - list of mission websites