SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reached a historic milestone as more than 90,000 full-time missionaries are now serving worldwide, propelled by a record number of young women entering the mission field.
Church leaders announced that more than 30,000 sister missionaries are currently assigned across more than 500 missions globally, marking the largest cohort of female missionaries in the faith’s history. The surge follows a November 2025 First Presidency policy change that lowered the eligibility age for young women to serve from 19 to 18 following high school graduation.
The first wave of 18-year-old sister missionaries began entering service earlier this year, with the largest share originating from the United States. Speaking to new mission leaders in June, President Dallin H. Oaks highlighted the momentum, noting that missionary work was “soaring to new heights” as young women reinforced the missionary force. At the time of his remarks, active full-time missionaries numbered 87,000 before eclipsing the 90,000 threshold this week.
The missionary expansion parallels increased engagement among the church’s youth and young adults globally. Total enrollment in the church’s seminary and institute religious education programs reached a record 1.09 million students worldwide. The institute program, tailored for young adults, added more than 100,000 students over the past two years to reach a total enrollment of more than 450,000.
The rising youth participation aligns with broader global membership growth. Total church membership reached 17,887,212 in 2025, supported by more than 900,000 new converts who joined over the past three years. In the first six months of 2025, convert baptisms increased by more than 20% across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America, alongside a 17% increase in North America.
Church leadership framed the milestone as evidence of deepening faith rather than mere numerical expansion. President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, said growth accelerates when people discover hope through the gospel, while Oaks emphasized that the faith provides purpose, happiness, and resilience to navigate life’s difficulties.