The Calling of a Missionary

When a young man or woman decides to go on a mission, he/she must first be found spiritually, physically, and mentally worthy to do so.   

  The Savior taught, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  Church members consider it a privilege to show their love for other people and the Lord by sharing the gospel.

Missionaries generally begin serving when they are from 18 to 21 years old. Many retired seniors, men, women, and married couples also serve missions. Missionaries serve from 18 months to 2 years. Missions are voluntary, and missionaries are not paid for their service.  Missionaries come from around the world, and they serve wherever the Church calls them. While serving full-time, missionaries are official representatives of the Church.

As is done with every single perspective missionary, Sister Copeland first had to fill out her paperwork stating her desire to serve with recommendations from her ecclesiastical leaders of her worthiness in order to serve a mission.  This paperwork was then sent to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The perspective missionary then waits for the special letter to come with the particulars of his/her "calling."  This calling and the place where the missionary will serve is done by revelation through the Lord's servants, the prophets. A member of the Quorum of the Twelve assigns prospective missionaries to one of nearly 400 missions of the Church throughout the world.

When Sister Copeland received her mission call on July 16, 2019, she was absolutely thrilled.  She would be serving in the Florida Jacksonville Mission for a period of 18 months.  This is the area that most all of her Copeland ancestors were born and raised, including her Grandpa Copeland.  And four years ago, her Grandpa and Grandma Copeland moved from that area after living there for 22 years.  She was told that she would be reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on September 25, 2019.