The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a significant policy shift, allowing women to embark on missions from the age of 18, aligning the minimum age requirement with that of their male counterparts. This change, revealed on Friday, reduces the previous minimum age for female missionaries by one year.
Heralded as one of the initial major decisions under the leadership of new church President Dallin H. Oaks, the move is set to equalise opportunities within the Utah-based faith, which boasts 17.5 million members globally. It also appears to be a direct response to the growing engagement of young women in the church’s worldwide missionary efforts. These missions are considered pivotal rites of passage for young adherents, serving to recruit new members, disseminate the church's beliefs, strengthen individual faith, broaden global perspectives, and prepare many for future leadership roles within congregations.
