In church history, the COVID-19 pandemic represents the fourth time in church history that missionaries were called home in great numbers or when the number of missionaries serving was limited. At no time yet, have all missionaries been called home.
First World War
During the first World War, missionaries in Europe were called home. Eventually, missionaries were also called home from Africa as fighting spread to the colonies of the central and allied powers. Missions in the United States, the Pacific, Australia and the Far East continued to operate, but the number of missionaries available was limited due to young men enlisting in the Armed Forces. After the war ended and the influenza pandemic ended, missionaries returned to the field in full force. The only mission that was extant at this time that was officially closed was the French Mission.
The Utah War, the Civil War and the fight over Utah Statehood and the Plural Marriage fight took its tool on the relationship between members of the church and US Government. Many non-Mormons in Utah accused their peers of being disloyal to the US once it became obvious that the United States would enter the war. Many were eager to prove otherwise. These young men were encouraged to forego missions and volunteer. For the first time in history, the LDS Church provided chaplains for the Army and Navy.
Ezra Taft Benson was 22 when he was called to serve his mission in Great Britain. Spencer W. Kimball was originally called to the German-Swiss-Austrian Mission, but reassigned to the Central States Mission when the war broke out. Harold B. Lee also waited until the end of the War before serving in the Central States Mission.
A great grandfather on my mother's side decided not to serve a mission and made himself available, at the age of 18, for conscription. I am researching the level of his service. Two of my other three great grandfathers were members of the church at this time. Both of them were in their late 20s with children and likely would not have been drafted, but both registered for the draft anyway.
Second World War
During the second world war, missionaries were again called home for safety reasons. There is, in fact, a harrowing story about getting all of the missionaries out of the German-Austrian mission before the war started. I was not able to link to it, as I was not able to find it. But it is in the Institute Manual, Church History in the Fullness of Times. Missionaries were first evacuated from Central Europe, then from all of Europe, but again, the only mission that was officially closed due to the war was the German-Austrian Mission.
In the United States and in other countries in North America, missionaries were not called home and released and missions were not closed. However, once the United States entered the war in December of 1941, young men were encouraged to enter the armed forces and no mission calls were issued. Missionaries that were serving in the United States were allowed to finish their missions and then encouraged to serve their country once they came home. From late 1943 to mid 1946, there were no young men serving full-time missions. Missions were not closed and mission presidents were still called.
Neither Russell M. Nelson nor Thomas S. Monson served missions because of the Second World War. President Monson only served a few months, when his naval reserve unit was deactivated. He finished his commitment to the reserves shortly before his call to be a bishop. President Nelson deferred his military service to attend medical school. After his residency, he had misfortune to serve as a doctor in the Korean War.
My grandfather, who was declared 4-F (not able to participate for health reasons) for partial deafness (which ran in his family...he two sisters that were also partially deaf), returned to Los Angeles after his mission. Near the end of his mission, he was offered a job once someone who he was teaching learned of his deafness, knowing that he would not be able to be a soldier. He came home to Lehi, borrowed $50 from his father, married grandma and was back in California two weeks after being released as a missionary.
My other grandfather, who wasn't exactly a model Latter-Day Saint and probably wouldn't have served a mission, was drafted early in 1943 and was serving in the Europe when my mother was born. He was one of five boys in the family, his oldest brother served in the Northwester States Mission and was, as I recall, studying to become a school teacher when war broke out. The other four boys were drafted. One died from natural causes, aplastic anemia, during training. One of my uncles also served in Europe, like my grandfather, while the youngest brother was in the Pacific. My great grandmother was a four-star mother. Three blue, one gold.
Vietnam
This were only a little different during the Vietnam era. My father was unable to serve a full time mission as a young man due to the Vietnam War, but was not drafted, either. During the 1960s, missions were open and in full operation, but many young men were not able to serve missions. There was a limit of two missionaries per ward. This was an agreement between the US Government and the Church. Although if you really wanted to serve, you could find a ward with mostly older people that had no young men and be sent from that ward. Most who could not serve missions because the allotment of missionaries from their ward was taken, chose not to go from a different ward. Those who did serve missions, like my Father-in-Law, found themselves returning home with a high probability of getting drafted. Word got out that volunteers got better assignments, with many avoiding the fighting in Vietnam. My wife's dad volunteered, as did many returned missionaries.
Missionary service like we no today wasn't in full force until the mid-1970s when President Spencer W. Kimball challenged the church to lengthen their stride. Every young man is to be worthy to serve a mission and every one of sound body and mind should serve. He also showed the world his vision where all countries in the world would eventually provide their own missionaries. Because of the current pandemic, most missionaries in the world are serving in the home countries. COVID-19 has made the necessary. Although some missions are down to 30 missionaries or fewer. However, once the pandemic ends, missionaries will be again called to countries where the supplemental force is needed.
When the missionaries are called home for good
In a sense, and probably in the only true sense, missionaries have never been called home. The final calling home will happen when ever member of the church can be safe in a Stake of Zion in their own land, hear the gospel in their own language and be taught by men and women from their own country. Likely, there will be a dedicated temple in every country. We are not yet at that point. We still have a lot of work to do.
First World War
During the first World War, missionaries in Europe were called home. Eventually, missionaries were also called home from Africa as fighting spread to the colonies of the central and allied powers. Missions in the United States, the Pacific, Australia and the Far East continued to operate, but the number of missionaries available was limited due to young men enlisting in the Armed Forces. After the war ended and the influenza pandemic ended, missionaries returned to the field in full force. The only mission that was extant at this time that was officially closed was the French Mission.
The Utah War, the Civil War and the fight over Utah Statehood and the Plural Marriage fight took its tool on the relationship between members of the church and US Government. Many non-Mormons in Utah accused their peers of being disloyal to the US once it became obvious that the United States would enter the war. Many were eager to prove otherwise. These young men were encouraged to forego missions and volunteer. For the first time in history, the LDS Church provided chaplains for the Army and Navy.
Ezra Taft Benson was 22 when he was called to serve his mission in Great Britain. Spencer W. Kimball was originally called to the German-Swiss-Austrian Mission, but reassigned to the Central States Mission when the war broke out. Harold B. Lee also waited until the end of the War before serving in the Central States Mission.
A great grandfather on my mother's side decided not to serve a mission and made himself available, at the age of 18, for conscription. I am researching the level of his service. Two of my other three great grandfathers were members of the church at this time. Both of them were in their late 20s with children and likely would not have been drafted, but both registered for the draft anyway.
Second World War
During the second world war, missionaries were again called home for safety reasons. There is, in fact, a harrowing story about getting all of the missionaries out of the German-Austrian mission before the war started. I was not able to link to it, as I was not able to find it. But it is in the Institute Manual, Church History in the Fullness of Times. Missionaries were first evacuated from Central Europe, then from all of Europe, but again, the only mission that was officially closed due to the war was the German-Austrian Mission.
In the United States and in other countries in North America, missionaries were not called home and released and missions were not closed. However, once the United States entered the war in December of 1941, young men were encouraged to enter the armed forces and no mission calls were issued. Missionaries that were serving in the United States were allowed to finish their missions and then encouraged to serve their country once they came home. From late 1943 to mid 1946, there were no young men serving full-time missions. Missions were not closed and mission presidents were still called.
Neither Russell M. Nelson nor Thomas S. Monson served missions because of the Second World War. President Monson only served a few months, when his naval reserve unit was deactivated. He finished his commitment to the reserves shortly before his call to be a bishop. President Nelson deferred his military service to attend medical school. After his residency, he had misfortune to serve as a doctor in the Korean War.
My grandfather, who was declared 4-F (not able to participate for health reasons) for partial deafness (which ran in his family...he two sisters that were also partially deaf), returned to Los Angeles after his mission. Near the end of his mission, he was offered a job once someone who he was teaching learned of his deafness, knowing that he would not be able to be a soldier. He came home to Lehi, borrowed $50 from his father, married grandma and was back in California two weeks after being released as a missionary.
My other grandfather, who wasn't exactly a model Latter-Day Saint and probably wouldn't have served a mission, was drafted early in 1943 and was serving in the Europe when my mother was born. He was one of five boys in the family, his oldest brother served in the Northwester States Mission and was, as I recall, studying to become a school teacher when war broke out. The other four boys were drafted. One died from natural causes, aplastic anemia, during training. One of my uncles also served in Europe, like my grandfather, while the youngest brother was in the Pacific. My great grandmother was a four-star mother. Three blue, one gold.
Vietnam
This were only a little different during the Vietnam era. My father was unable to serve a full time mission as a young man due to the Vietnam War, but was not drafted, either. During the 1960s, missions were open and in full operation, but many young men were not able to serve missions. There was a limit of two missionaries per ward. This was an agreement between the US Government and the Church. Although if you really wanted to serve, you could find a ward with mostly older people that had no young men and be sent from that ward. Most who could not serve missions because the allotment of missionaries from their ward was taken, chose not to go from a different ward. Those who did serve missions, like my Father-in-Law, found themselves returning home with a high probability of getting drafted. Word got out that volunteers got better assignments, with many avoiding the fighting in Vietnam. My wife's dad volunteered, as did many returned missionaries.
Missionary service like we no today wasn't in full force until the mid-1970s when President Spencer W. Kimball challenged the church to lengthen their stride. Every young man is to be worthy to serve a mission and every one of sound body and mind should serve. He also showed the world his vision where all countries in the world would eventually provide their own missionaries. Because of the current pandemic, most missionaries in the world are serving in the home countries. COVID-19 has made the necessary. Although some missions are down to 30 missionaries or fewer. However, once the pandemic ends, missionaries will be again called to countries where the supplemental force is needed.
When the missionaries are called home for good
In a sense, and probably in the only true sense, missionaries have never been called home. The final calling home will happen when ever member of the church can be safe in a Stake of Zion in their own land, hear the gospel in their own language and be taught by men and women from their own country. Likely, there will be a dedicated temple in every country. We are not yet at that point. We still have a lot of work to do.
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