We have been in meetings
where it was suggested that there may come a time when missionaries may not be
able to tract door to door. So I thought it interesting that we received the
following in an email from our Mission President. Missionary work will likely
be done differently in the future.
At the recommendation of
the Presidency of the Seventy, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve
have approved the use of mobile devices in the Missouri Independence beginning
in May 2015.
Sister Vest and I will
participate in a special training entitled “Disciples of the Lord in the
Digital Age,” led by members of the Missionary Executive Council and the
Presidency of the Seventy to be held May 13, 2015, in Salt Lake City.
On May 28,
representatives from the Missionary Department will visit our mission to
provide additional instruction for all missionaries, including senior
missionaries. The desire is to have all missionaries at the
presentation. All younger missionaries and as many of the senior
missionaries as possible should attend.
Missionaries will use
Church-approved and owned mobile devices. Every device is part of the Apple Device
Enrollment Program (DEP), which allows the Church to enforce device
protections. All mobile devices are purchased by the Church and shipped to the
authorized missions.
Missionaries will be
asked to pay a technology use fee (about $380) if they are serving in the United
States or Canada, are from the United States and Canada, and are scheduled to
complete their mission on or after November 23, 2015. After their mission, the
DEP restrictions will be removed and the missionary will have the option to
keep the device. The technology use fee will be paid as outlined in notices
provided to stake presidents. Missionaries in the field don’t need to get
involved. The stake presidents will work with you parents or guardians.
Missionaries will not
pay a technology use fee and will not have the option to keep a device after
their mission if they are from outside the United States and Canada or
scheduled to complete their mission before November 23, 2015.
This is all the
information I have at this time so please don’t ask me questions. I will
keep you informed as more information is available.
Of course the young Elders and Sisters are excited about this, and it may be an opportunity for us
to improve our technology skills while doing missionary work at the same time.
