Senior Citizen Mormon Missionaries: How to Volunteer

The common image of Mormon missionaries is that of two young men wearing suits and going door-to-door, but senior citizens also have many missionary opportunities. Senior citizen missionary work allows older parishioners to stay busy in retirement while helping the church. Full-time missions are an option for those who are financially and physically able, but there are also ways to volunteer time at home and satisfy the missionary requirements. Here are a few ways senior citizen Mormons are choosing to perform missionary work.

Senior citizen Mormon missionaries: Full-time missions

As with young people, retired Mormon couples are encouraged to go on missions to spread the church's teachings. These older missionaries, sometimes called Elders, are expected to pay all of their own mission expenses if they are financially able. If not, they may accept assistance from their family members. Senior citizen missionaries are usually given more options in the type and location of their upcoming mission. This is practical as well as a show of respect. These older missionaries often have a lifetime of work experience that may be more useful in one location than in another. For example, a dentist may choose to go to a country with poor healthcare rather than a more-developed area that is not in as much need of his expertise.

Senior citizen Mormon missionaries: Volunteering at home

Missionary work does not have to take place in a foreign country. Senior citizen Mormon missionaries with physical or monetary limitations can also serve the church by volunteering their time at home. Each temple needs a certain amount of support staff to keep its daily operations running. Volunteering for temple work is common for senior citizen Mormon couples who wish to spend time together while assisting the church. Some other missionary options for senior citizens include volunteering with the Church Educational System or Church Welfare System. There may also be other specific ways for seniors to help their temple, such as managing the choir or playing a musical instrument for the congregation.

Senior citizen Mormon missionaries: Keeping the roll

Another common task for senior citizen Mormon missionaries is locating members who have moved and not left a forwarding address. Each branch, ward, or stake of the Mormon church maintains its own roll of members, which can be difficult to keep up with as people move. Tracking these people down allows senior citizens who have limited mobility to help their church without having to leave the house. While this may seem a bit odd to non-Mormons, this keeping in touch is an important part of the Mormon faith. It is looked at as giving inactive members an opportunity to reconnect with the church.