The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has reached an all-time high of approximately 88,500 full-time missionaries serving worldwide, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced in a social media post on Tuesday, July 14.
The figure surpasses the previous record of just over 88,000, set in 2014. The Church credited the surge to the first wave of 18-year-old sister missionaries beginning their service after a late-2025 policy change lowered women's eligibility from 19 to 18.
"This remarkable moment reflects the faith and devotion of a rising generation of disciples of Jesus Christ," Rasband said.
Why the numbers jumped
The pattern echoes 2014. That year's record followed a 2012 policy change lowering the minimum age for young men from 19 to 18 and young women from 21 to 19. The 2026 record follows the same playbook: bring the sister missionary age in line with the elders, and a wave of new volunteers follows.
To accommodate the growth, the Church created 55 new missions effective July 1, 2026, bringing the worldwide total to more than 500.
At the Seminar for New Mission Leaders on June 20, Church President Dallin H. Oaks told incoming leaders that missionary work was "soaring to new heights" and predicted the Church would reach a record count in the coming weeks. That prediction proved accurate less than a month later.
The 88,500 figure includes young teaching missionaries, service missionaries, and senior missionaries, according to Gephardt Daily.
Local connection
The Church lists at least 17 meetinghouse locations in Cottonwood Heights alone. The record means many local families have young adults among the largest missionary force the Church has ever fielded. Rasband, who chairs the Missionary Executive Council, expressed gratitude for the families and friends supporting missionaries worldwide.
Upcoming community events
- Butlerville Days: Thursday, July 16, through Saturday, July 18, at Butler Park, 7500 South 2700 East, Cottonwood Heights. Events begin at 9 a.m. daily. Theme: "Celebrate America 250."
- Holladay City Council: Thursday, July 16, 6 p.m., Temp City Hall, 3330 S 1300 E, Holladay.
- Holladay Planning Commission: Tuesday, July 21, 6 p.m.
