Here are the New Interview Questions for Prospective Missionaries

October 24, 2017

On October 20, 2017, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced upcoming changes to the missionary program. One of the changes mentioned was a new standard set of interview questions to be asked to each prospective missionary uniformly around the world. Those questions are now available to the public via a letter from the First Presidency to local Church leaders. The full letter and packet can be viewed here.

You can view all of the questions below. The Church emphasized in the release that no standards for missionary service has been changed and no bar has been figuratively raised. Rather, the goal is to ensure all prospective missionaries are adequately prepared, worthy, and healthy for the rigors of missionary service.

The introduction to the packet states, “The enclosed interview questions are intended to guide these conversations with missionary candidates…Interviewing a prospective missionary should be a sacred experience for the individual and their priesthood leader, characterized by great love and the guidance of the Holy Ghost.”

Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?
Do you have a testimony that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and the Savior and Redeemer of the world? Please share your testimony with me. How has the Atonement of Jesus Christ influenced your life?
What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have fully repented of past transgressions?
Will you share your testimony with me that the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that [current Church President] is a prophet of God?
Full-time missionary service requires living gospel standards. What do you understand about the following standards?
1. The law of chastity. In reference to the law of chastity, have you always lived in accordance with what has been discussed? if not, how long ago did the transgression(s) occur? What have you done to repent?
2. Avoiding pornography
3. The law of tithing
4. The Word of Wisdom, including the use of drugs or the abuse of prescribed medications
5. Keeping the Sabbath day holy
6. Being honest in all you say and do
Have you lived in accordance with all of these standards? Are you now living in accordance with them? Will you live in accordance with them as a full-time missionary?
Do you have any legal actions pending against you? (If yes, ask the candidate to explain in detail possible legal or financial obligations.)
Have you ever committed a serious violation of criminal law, regardless of whether or not you were arrested, you were convicted, or the record was expunged? (If yes, ask the missionary candidate to explain in detail what happened, the outcome of any criminal charges, whether there are criminal or other legal requirements that have not been completed, and what he or she has done to repent.)
Have you ever sexually abused a child in any way, regardless of whether or not you were charged, were convicted, or the record was expunged? (If yes, and the abuse has not been reported, see Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops [2010], 17.3.2, for instructions. If the abuse was previously resolved, see Handbook 1, 4.4, for direction.)
Have you ever committed any other serious transgression or misdeed that should be resolved before your mission? (If yes, ask the candidate to explain in detail what happened, the outcome of any criminal charges, whether there are criminal or other legal requirements that have not been completed, and what he or she had done to repent.)
Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Do you have any unpaid debts? How will these debts be paid off before your mission or managed while you serve a mission?
Do you currently have or have you ever had any physical, mental, or emotional condition that would make it difficult for you to maintain a normal missionary schedule, which requires that you work for 12-15 hours a day, including studying for 2-4 hours a day, walking or biking for up to 8-10 hours a day, and so forth?
Have you ever been diagnosed with or received treatment for dyslexia or other reading disorder? If so, are you comfortable reading the scriptures and other documents aloud? Do you believe that you could memorize appropriate scriptures and other information with the assistance of your companion? In what ways do you now compensate for this disorder?
Have you ever been diagnosed with or received treatment for a speech disorder? If so, you are you comfortable speaking in front of others? Do you feel that you have adequate tools to help you learn, teach, and communicate?
Have you ever been on medication or otherwise treated for any of the following conditions: attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or autism spectrum disorder (including Asperger’s)? If yes, please explain.
If you were being treated for one of these conditions and discontinued treatment, did you do so under a doctor’s supervision? If not, why did you stop? How well have you been functioning without treatment or medication? When was the last time you were on medication for these issues?