Minimum physical requirements for serving a mission

[BoylenOver]

I'm completely unfamiliar with the requirements necessary for serving a mission.

If a member of the LDS church is willing to serve, can they?

Two examples that have my highest curiosity: high-functioning people with a mental disability, and little people.

[Uncle Ted]

I'm completely unfamiliar with the requirements necessary for serving a mission.

If a member of the LDS church is willing to serve, can they?

Two examples that have my highest curiosity: high-functioning people with a mental disability, and little people.

I don't know the exact details but there is a weight (BMI) restriction.

[Jacob]

I'm completely unfamiliar with the requirements necessary for serving a mission.

If a member of the LDS church is willing to serve, can they?

Two examples that have my highest curiosity: high-functioning people with a mental disability, and little people.

They could all serve in some capacity, but not as a regular proselytizing mission. I don't know of any restrictions on little people. But I know of autistic missionaries serving in some capacity in Salt Lake. Also, I think they don't allow the morbidly obese anymore.

[jay santos]

There's a great story about Harvey working out with his little brother Greg/Victor for a summer to get his weight down to where he could turn his papers in. I think he was north of 350 when he started.

[smokymountainrain]

I'd say it depends on how "High" functioning and what the disability might be. With regard to the little people question, I would imagine if healthy and if they could get around pretty well, they could do a normal mission. In both cases, the bishop/SP, would simply have to make a judgement call. FTR, this is just my best guess.

[TripletDaddy]

There's a great story about Harvey working out with his little brother Greg/Victor for a summer to get his weight down to where he could turn his papers in. I think he was north of 350 when he started.

V Unga is one of my all time players. junkie can attest. That dude had some back that made Kim Kardashian blush.

[Mr. Mcgibblets]

High functioning people with mental disabilities can serve. They often work in food canneries or even alongside regular full time employees at church headquarters doing office jobs, etc. I have known some who basically shadow full time workers and work with senior missionaries. My cousin worked at a cannery, had a badge, was set apart, etc. He still played video games and went home to his family each night. He did not have a companion though. I also think it was only 20-30 hours a week.

From what I understand, if someone wants to be a missionary but has some disabilities then they will work hard to find a situation that works for the individual. The church also seems very flexible in handling the situations.

As for little people...I have no idea and would guess they would be eligible to serve just like any other missionary worldwide.

[wuapinmon]

I don't know the exact details but there is a weight (BMI) restriction.

There is. I saw the chart in 2008. I would not have been allowed to serve. It really really really pissed me off given the text of D&C 4.

[TripletDaddy]

There is. I saw the chart in 2008. I would not have been allowed to serve. It really really really pissed me off given the text of D&C 4.

You would not have been allowed to serve at all? How so? D&C 4 simply says that you will be called to the work. It doesn't specify capacity.

[wuapinmon]

You would not have been allowed to serve at all? How so? D&C 4 simply says that you will be called to the work. It doesn't say in what capacity.

The height/weight guidelines apply to full-time missionary service IIRC. As a recent convert, I would not have done any other kind of mission--the zeal of spreading the gospel I had just embraced was the end-all be-all of why I wanted to serve, and any kind of service mission would have had zero appeal to me at age 19.

The guidelines are very specific and unlike physical handicaps, since people can lose weight, I would doubt that they would be willing to allow someone to serve nowadays who was outside their parameters. However, I believe that the final say goes to the stake president, and not to Church HQ.