The Calling of a Missionary

 When a young man or woman decides to go on a mission, he/she must first be found spiritually, physically, and mentally worthy to do so.   

 The Savior taught, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  Church members consider it a privilege to show their love for other people and the Lord by sharing the gospel.

Missionaries generally begin serving when they are from 18 to 21 years old. Many retired seniors, men, women, and married couples also serve missions. Missionaries serve from 18 months to 2 years. Missions are voluntary, and missionaries are not paid for their service.  Missionaries come from around the world, and they serve wherever the Church calls them. While serving full-time, missionaries are official representatives of the Church.

As is done with every single perspective missionary, Sister Copeland first had to fill out her paperwork stating her desire to serve, with recommendations from her ecclesiastical leaders of her worthiness in order to serve a mission.  This paperwork was then sent to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The perspective missionary then waits for the special e-mail to come with the particulars of his/her "calling."  This calling and the place where the missionary will serve is done by revelation through the Lord's servants, the prophets. A member of the Quorum of the Twelve assigns prospective missionaries to one of over 400 missions of the Church throughout the world.

When Sister Copeland received her mission call on January 12, 2022, she was absolutely thrilled.  She would be serving in the Virginia Richmond Mission for a period of 18 months.  She was told that she would begin her missionary training at home for one week, then go to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, for the rest of the training, then travel to Virginia to begin her actual mission there.

Grandparents Robert and Marti Johns

Cousins, sister, and brother-in-law

Special friends who came to support Sister Copeland on this special day.