New temples in Tucson Arizona and Arequipa Peru announced. All young men can go on their missions at 18 years old now. Its an option, not a requirement. Young women may now serve as early as age 19. This is going to have huge ramifications. I don’t foresee this change being reversed later but it seems to be the kind of policy change that could reasonably be changed later after the effects are experienced.
For some time the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have allowed young men from certain countries to serve at the age of 18 when they are worthy, able, have graduated from high school, and have expressed a sincere desire to serve. This has been a country-specific policy and has allowed thousands of young men to serve honorable missions and also fulfill required military obligations and educational opportunities.
Our experience with these 18-year-old missionaries has been positive. Their mission presidents report that they are obedient, faithful, mature, and serve just as competently as do the older missionaries who serve in the same missions. Their faithfulness, obedience, and maturity have caused us to desire the same option of earlier missionary service for all young men, regardless of the country from which they come.
I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19. I am not suggesting that all young men will—or should—serve at this earlier age. Rather, based on individual circumstances as well as upon a determination by priesthood leaders, this option is now available.
As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. 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.
By the time he said that they had received positive reports about the 18 year old missionaries who had served I knee that they were going to lower the age for young men.
Even in the vast conference center the intake of breath was audible when he officially announced the expansion. The gap was even louder when he announced the new age for young women – possibly because it was loitered further so that the age difference between sisters and elders was cut in half.
I realized as I was listening to the talk after conference that the 18 year-old missionaries had been called from select countries but had been called to missions outside those select countries so that the reports they had received were more generally applicable than I has initially thought.
When I listened live I considered the potential for this to be reversed later but after further consideration and seeing the effect this has had on many of the youth I can’t imagine the policy being reversed in the future.
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