Sending our children on a Mormon mission #mormon #ldsmissionary #lds

The Mission Question: When Should LDS Parents Disclose Church History to Their Children?

For millions of Latter-day Saint families, the decision to send a child on a two-year missionary service represents a defining moment. Yet beneath the celebratory missionary farewell parties lies a question few discuss openly: How much should parents tell their children about Church history, the difficult parts, before they commit to representing the faith to the world?

This tension between institutional expectations and parental transparency has become increasingly urgent as more LDS families access historical information previously unavailable or discouraged. The question is no longer whether problematic chapters exist in Mormon history; it's whether parents have an obligation to discuss them before children make one of the most consequential decisions of their lives.

The Historical Context of Mormon Missions

The LDS missionary program has evolved dramatically since the early days of the Church. What began as urgent evangelism in the 1830s transformed into a standardized, formalized system emphasizing youth participation. Today, approximately 58,000 missionaries serve at any given time, with most between 18 and 21 years old.

The modern emphasis on youth missions intensified in the 1960s and accelerated after President Gordon B. Hinckley's 1997 call for increased missionary participation. The cultural expectation, particularly for young men, became nearly mandatory in many communities. Missing a mission carried social consequences: reduced dating prospects, questions about worthiness, and subtle messaging that one's commitment to the faith was questionable.