Growing Role for Mormon Women

Young Mormon women can now become missionaries when they turn 19. Until October 2012, they had to be 21. According to this fascinating story in the New York Times, this is one of the biggest changes in the Church of Latter Day Saints in many years.

The change in age has tripled the number of young Mormon women who have signed up to become missionaries. According to the New York Times, "these women are expected to fundamentally alter this most American of churches, whose ruling patriarchs not long ago excommunicated feminist scholars and warned women not to hold jobs while raising children."

Like their male counterparts, these young missionaries must comport themselves conservatively with knee length skirts and modest make-up, patterned in styles along guidelines like this.

The Times story includes graphs showing the number of male and female missionaries, photographs and video clips and offers a great glimpse in the Mormon church today. Did you know, for example, that there are two unmarried Mormon men for every ten unmarried Mormon women.