You see them everywhere. White shirts, dark ties, black name tags, and those ubiquitous bicycles. Or maybe it’s the sister missionaries in long skirts and sensible shoes walking through a suburban neighborhood. People usually have questions. Is it a cult? Do they pay for that? But the most common question—the one that usually leads to a bit of a "wait, really?" moment—is always about the clock. How long is a mormon mission, exactly?
It isn't a summer internship. It’s a massive chunk of a young person’s life.
If you’re looking for the short answer: it depends on who is wearing the name tag. For the young men, it’s 24 months. Two years. For the young women, it’s 18 months. But that’s just the surface. If you dig into the actual mechanics of how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) handles these assignments, the timeline gets a lot more nuanced. It’s not just a start date and an end date. It’s a series of transfers, training phases, and sometimes, unexpected "early releases" that change the math entirely.
The Two-Year Standard and the Gender Gap
Why the difference? Honestly, there isn't a deep theological reason that most people can point to. Historically, it’s just how the policy evolved. For decades, young men (elders) have served for 24 months. Young women (sisters) served for 18. Back in the day, the age requirements were different, too. You used to have to be 19 for men and 21 for women. In 2012, Thomas S. Monson, then-president of the church, lowered those ages to 18 and 19.
The surge was insane.
Suddenly, high school graduations became mission send-offs. But the duration stayed the same. A young man hits that two-year mark and he's done. He’s "trunky"—missionary slang for someone who has their trunk packed and is mentally already back home eating a cheeseburger. For the sisters, that year-and-a-half flies by even faster.
The MTC Phase: Where the Clock Starts
The mission doesn’t actually start when you arrive in a foreign country. It starts at the Missionary Training Center (MTC). Most people think of the big one in Provo, Utah, but there are others in places like Brazil, the Philippines, and England.
How long you spend there depends on your tongue.
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If you’re just learning how to teach in your native language, you’re usually out of there in three weeks. You learn the basics of the "Preach My Gospel" manual, get your shots, and you're gone. But if you’re learning Mandarin, Cantonese, or Russian? You’re hunkered down for six to nine weeks. You’re dreaming in foreign verbs. You’re exhausted. And yes, those weeks count toward your total 18 or 24-month tally.
It Isn't Always a Straight Line
Life happens. Even on a mission.
While the standard answer to how long is a mormon mission is a fixed number of months, the "Service Mission" has changed the game. These are for young people who might have physical or mental health challenges that make a traditional 24/7 proselyting mission impossible. Service missionaries live at home. They work at food banks, temples, or charities. Their duration can vary. Sometimes it’s shorter; sometimes it’s the full two years. It’s customized.
Then you have the senior couples. These are the retired folks who have finally gotten their kids out of the house and decided to go to Africa or Europe to handle church finances or humanitarian aid. They get to pick their timeline. They can choose 6 months, 12 months, 18, or 24. They have the leverage of age.
The "Early Release" Reality
We have to talk about the "Early Release." It’s a bit of a stigma in the culture, though the church is trying to change that. Sometimes a missionary comes home after three months. Why? Medical issues are huge. Anxiety and depression are even bigger.
The church's official stance, often reiterated in General Conference addresses by leaders like Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, is that all service is honorable. But on the ground? Coming home "early" feels heavy for a lot of kids. If a missionary is injured, they might go home for surgery, heal for three months, and then "re-enter" the field to finish their remaining time. The clock pauses. It’s like a sports injury timeout.
Breaking Down the "Transfer" Cycle
Missionaries don’t stay in one city for two years. That would be boring.
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The mission is broken into six-week chunks called "transfers." Every six weeks, the Mission President moves people around. You might stay in a city (an "area") for two transfers (12 weeks) or maybe six transfers (nearly half a year).
- Greenies: The brand new missionaries.
- Trainers: The "vets" who have been out for at least six months.
- Companions: You are never, ever alone.
This six-week cycle is the heartbeat of the mission. It makes the two years feel like a series of short sprints rather than one long marathon. You’re always looking toward the next "Transfer Day" to see if you’re moving to a new town or getting a new partner.
The Cost of the Clock
You’d think the church pays for this, right? Nope.
As of 2026, the monthly cost for a mission is roughly $500 USD per month. It’s a flat rate, regardless of whether you are in expensive Tokyo or more affordable parts of South America. If you do the math on how long is a mormon mission, a two-year stint costs a young person (or their family) about $12,000.
That’s a lot of money for an 18-year-old. They save up from their first jobs. They have paper routes. They mow lawns. It’s an investment in their own faith, which is why the duration matters so much to them. Every month represents a sacrifice of both time and money.
The Cultural Impact of the Timeline
When a missionary returns, they aren't the same. Two years is a long time to be away from TikTok, dating, movies, and family. They miss weddings. They miss funerals.
This "time out of time" creates a unique social dynamic in Utah, Idaho, and Arizona. You have 20-year-old men who have lived in the slums of Brazil and speak fluent Portuguese, but they don't know how to use the latest iPhone features. They are "behind" their peers in college, but they are "ahead" in terms of life experience and leadership.
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The length of the mission is specifically designed to be "consecrated." It’s meant to be long enough to break your old habits and build new ones. If it were only six months, it would feel like a trip. At two years, it’s a transformation.
Why Some People Stay Longer (Or Shorter)
Sometimes, the government gets involved. Visa issues are the bane of mission offices. A missionary might be assigned to Brazil but spend four months in Ohio waiting for their papers to clear. Does their 24-month clock start in Ohio or Brazil? It starts the day they hit the MTC.
If their visa never comes, they might just finish their mission in Ohio.
There’s also the rare "extension." Some missionaries love it so much (or have a specific leadership role) that they request to stay for an extra transfer. This usually only happens around Christmas. Nobody wants to go home on December 20th and miss the holiday with their companions, so they stay until January.
Is the Length Changing?
Rumors fly every year. "I heard they’re making everyone serve for 18 months!" or "I heard it’s going up to three years for leaders!"
Ignore the "Mormon Corridor" rumor mill. The Church hasn't signaled any major shifts in the standard 18/24-month model recently. It works. It fits into the academic calendar reasonably well—even if it does mean starting college as a "freshman" at age 20 or 21.
Making the Decision
If you’re actually planning on serving, or you’re a parent of someone who is, don’t obsess over the 730 days. Focus on the first 12 weeks. That’s the "adjustment period" where most people want to quit. Once you hit the six-month mark, the momentum takes over.
Actionable Next Steps for Prospective Missionaries:
- Check the age requirements: Ensure you are 18 (for men) or 19 (for women) and have graduated from high school or its equivalent.
- Talk to your Bishop: The application process (the "papers") takes months. Start early.
- Physical Prep: You will walk. A lot. Start walking 3-5 miles a day now so your feet don't give out in week two.
- Financial Planning: Start a dedicated savings account. If you're aiming for the $12k total, you need a plan.
- Mental Health Check: Be honest in your applications. The church has more resources than ever for missionaries, but they need to know what you’re dealing with before they send you 5,000 miles away.
The mission is a marathon, not a sprint. Whether it's 18 or 24 months, it’s a defining era. It's the longest "short time" you'll ever experience. It's exhausting, weird, frustrating, and for many, the most pivotal thing they've ever done. Now you know the timeline—the rest is just showing up.