LDS Church Expands Missions

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church is creating 58 new missions around the world to accommodate an influx of missionaries triggered by the lowering of the minimum age. Church leaders said in an announcement Friday that the missions redistribute missionaries within states and countries where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is already proselytizing.

Each mission usually has 150-250 missionaries. There are now 405 missions worldwide. The list of new missions includes eight in Mexico and seven in Brazil. There will be one in Twin Falls. LDS leaders lowered of the minimum age for missionaries in October: from 21 to 19 for women; and from 19 to 18 for men.

Applications for new missions are up two-fold since, with older missionaries already planning to go joining the line alongside new, younger missionaries.