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Missionary Program

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' missionary program is one of its most recognized characteristics. Mormon missionaries can be seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities in the world as well as in thousands of smaller communities.

The missionary effort is based on the New Testament pattern of missionaries serving in pairs, teaching the gospel and baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ (see, for example, the work of Peter and John in the book of Acts).

More than 88,000 missionaries are serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at any one time. Most are young people under the age of 25, serving in more than 400 missions throughout the world.

Missionaries can be single men between the ages of 18 and 25, single women over the age of 19 or retired couples. Missionaries work with a companion of the same gender during their mission, with the exception of couples, who work with their spouse. Single men serve missions for two years and single women serve missions for 18 months.

Sister Missionaries

Missionaries receive their assignment from Church headquarters and are sent only to countries where governments allow the Church to operate. Missionaries do not request their area of assignment and do not know beforehand whether they will be required to learn a language.

Prior to going to their assigned area, missionaries spend a short period of time at one of 15 missionary training centers throughout the world. There they learn how to teach the gospel in an orderly and clear way and, if necessary, they begin to learn the language of the people they will be teaching. The largest training center is in Provo, Utah, with additional centers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa and Spain.

Male missionaries are addressed with the title “Elder” and women are addressed with the title “Sister.”

A typical missionary day begins by waking at 6:30 a.m. for personal study. The day is spent proselytizing by following up on appointments, visiting homes or meeting people in the street or other public places. Missionaries end their day by 10:30 p.m.

In some parts of the world, missionaries are sent only to serve humanitarian or other specialized missions. Those missionaries do not proselytize.

Missionary work is voluntary. Missionaries fund their own missions — except for their transportation to and from their field of labor — and are not paid for their services.

Contacts with family and friends during this time of service are limited to letters and occasional phone calls to family at special times. Missionaries avoid entertainment, parties or other activities common to this age-group as long as they are on their missions, so they can focus entirely on the work of serving and of teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources

Related topics, church welfare.

Aliquip ex ea commodo cons. Duis autem vel eum iriure ...

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Picking Up Missionaries

Typical Missionary Return Travel

A missionary’s travel to return home after their mission is coordinated by the Missionary Travel Office and the cost of it is already included in the missionary’s monthly payments . When the mission president assigns the release date he advises the Church travel office who then arranges the missionary’s flight home. Parents will then be notified of the travel plans.

Missionaries generally travel directly home from their missions. Any other travel is permitted only when the missionary is accompanied by at least one parent or guardian. While traveling, missionaries should continue to dress and conduct themselves according to missionary standards . Remember, missionaries are not released from their missions until they report to their stake presidents back home.

When missionaries arrive home, usually at an airport, it is recommended that only immediate family members go to pick up them up. The stake president is also advised of missionary travel plans. He usually makes plans with the parents to meet with the missionary soon after he gets home to release him.

If the parents or guardians of a missionary want to travel to pick up their son or daughter, the Church asks that they:

• Inform the mission president and Missionary Travel Office at least three months in advance of the plans.
• Make travel plans based on the release date established by the mission president.
• Do not request a change in the missionary’s release date to accommodate travel plans.
• Make and pay for their own travel arrangements, including lodging and meals.

The  missionary travel information  on LDS.org has lots of details and answers to questions about picking up missionaries. Here is what they say there:

“Parents should contact the mission office where their missionary is serving to find out the release date and visa requirements, if applicable. Then parents should contact the Missionary Travel Office to obtain the travel allowance amount. This will assist parents as they move forward with their travel plans. Parents will need to make travel arrangements for themselves and their missionary and inform the mission and the Missionary Travel Office of these plans. Missionary Travel will mail parents a reimbursement check in the amount that Missionary Travel quoted, or if the ticket the parents purchase is less, Missionary Travel will reimburse the lesser amount, approximately four weeks prior to the release date.”

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Is it limited to parents? Can a non-,e,ber sister go with her mother to pick up her sister Sister?

I don’t know the answer to that question. I would call your missionary’s mission president and ask him. My guess is that it would be discouraged but you could probably still do it. The fact that the missionary’s sister is a non-member probably wouldn’t be a factor one way or the other.

Thanks for the advice, that is what my sister Sister is going to do.

could my grandparents fly with my family to pick up my Sister but then stay at the hotel while we go pick her up from the mission home?

It seems that the Church is attempting to “command in all things”.

Can a missionary be released prior to coming home? We are going to pick up our missionary and site see prior to returning home.

In theory, it would be possible, but typically the home stake president releases the missionary once he/she returns home. So when you’re out site seeing with your missionary, he/she will still technically be a missionary.

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ERS Operations Guide

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Standard Services
• 3. The LDSJobs Website
• 4. Resource Development
• 5. Center Staffing
• 6. Working with Stake and Ward Leaders
• 7. Serving on the Agent Stake Operating Committee
• 8. Teaching in the ERC
• 9. Staff Training
• 10. Performance Measures & Submitting Reports
• 11. Establishing, Relocating, or Closing an ERC
• 12. Daily ERC Operation
• 13. Account Representative Program
• 14. Computers at the ERC
• 15. Supervising the Safety Program
• 16. Dealing with Emergencies in the ERC
• 17. Handling Records
• 18. Preparing Budgets
• 19. Spending and Reimbursement
• 21. Materials
• 22. Subpoenas
• 23. ERS Terminology List
• 24. Forms and Additional Training
• 25. Technical Updates
• 26. Selected ERS Policies
• Provident Living
• Welfare Operations
• Operations Guide

20.1 Introduction

ERC funds come from sacred donations of Church members. The Church will pay appropriate travel costs for staff traveling on ERS business. Travelers should be conservative and spend travel funds prudently. Personal credit cards should not be used to pay for travel. 

For more information on travel, refer to your local HR policy (the  U.S. Human Resource Policies and Code of Business Conduct manual  can be found on the intranet) and to  Policy Point , under Policies: Materials and Products: Travel.

20.2 Areas of Travel

Travel within geographic area.

Travel within the assigned geographic area is funded through local center budgets and approved locally by  the  ERS manager.

Travel outside of Geographic Area

With MFO approval, i t is appropriate for paid staff to attend external conferences, seminars, or workshops to enhance and update their knowledge of economic trends and technical coaching skills in job placement, career development, and small business management.

Travel outside assigned areas is approved by the MFO in consultation with headquarters staff. Center managers interested in attending or sending their staff to participate in professional development training should send their requests to their MFO and MFO for approval. Personnel attending such training seminars and conferences will prepare a brief report summarizing the sessions they attended.

20.3 Making Travel Arrangements

Coordinate with your immediate supervisor and MFO before making travel arrangements outside of your assigned geographic service area. Supervisors should approve travel requests only when the trip is required to conduct the business or meet the training needs of ERS and when the business or training cannot be completed by telephone, written communication, or other less-expensive options. Before approving travel, the supervisor should be sure there are funds available to cover the cost of the trip. Supervisors should not approve a trip until the staff member's previous expense reports have been completed and submitted.

All missionaries and volunteers should get permission from the ERC manager before renting a vehicle, purchasing an airline ticket, or paying for any other long-distance travel.

Keeping in mind safety, schedule, and price, use  eTravel  (where available) to select reasonable travel arrangements. Church Travel Services or the area administration office makes air, lodging, and rental car arrangements at negotiated or lowest reasonable rates. Airfare for all Church employees is restricted to coach fares; however, you may upgrade your flight using personal frequent flyer miles, if desired.

20.4 Authorized Travel Expenses

Staff will be reimbursed for the following reasonable business travel costs:

• Airfare, hotel, car rental, and meals.
• Ground transportation, taxi, airport shuttle, and similar expenses, paid at the most economical rate.
• Transportation to and from the airport, paid at the approved mileage-reimbursement rate.
• Business telephone calls.
• Personal telephone calls to immediate family. Normally, employees should limit these calls to 5–10 minutes per day. To help reduce costs, consider using Skype, e-mail, or other less expensive means.
• Laundry expenses when required on trips lasting over six days. Dry cleaning costs are excluded.
• Tips, if appropriate, at the customary rate.
• Passports, visas, and immunizations if required for international business trips.

Employer will not pay costs for personal items. These include:

• Newspapers, magazines, or other reading materials.
• Movies, events, or other personal entertainment.
• Haircuts or personal grooming items.
• Additional travel insurance.
• Parking tickets or moving violations.
• Babysitting or caretaking.
• Membership fees for frequent-traveler bonus programs.
• Exercise facilities.
• Credit card late payments or interest expense.
• Lodging and meal reimbursement when staying in a relative’s or friend’s home.
• Other personal costs.

Meal Reimbursements

Because meal reimbursements for employees who do not have overnight travel are a taxable fringe benefit, employee meals for single-day trips are not reimbursable. Unless the employee travel requires an overnight stay, the employee will pay for the cost of his/her own meals.

Note: Business meals with two or more individuals, for which there is a justified business purpose, do not require an overnight stay to be reimbursable.

Meals for Business Guests

Occasionally, a staff member may have to pay for meals of business guests. In such cases, staff will be paid for the actual (reasonable) meal costs for the business guests. Get a receipt and write on it the names of the guests, the date, and the business purpose. Generally, it is not appropriate to buy meals for Church ecclesiastical leaders or other employees, unless there is a legitimate business purpose.

Combined Business and Personal Travel

Staff will be reimbursed for their portion of authorized and required trip costs. They will not be reimbursed for the costs of spouses or other family members. If you choose to drive rather than fly (or vice versa), you will be reimbursed for the less expensive option. You will not be reimbursed for lodging, meals, and other costs incurred during the additional time you spend traveling if you choose transportation other than air. Also, you must take annual leave for any additional time away from work.

Expense Reports

Expense reports are due within one week after the trip ends. Frequent travelers and travelers working away from Church Travel Services or the area administration office may get special permission to submit the reports monthly. Church Travel Services or the area administration office will reimburse travelers for authorized travel expenses as soon as possible after receiving the expense report. Provide receipts for all reimbursable expenses. 

20.5 Vehicles

Under normal circumstances, ERC staff should use their own personal vehicles and receive mileage reimbursement or use public transportation to fulfill their professional responsibilities.

In the following cases, it is appropriate for an ERC manager to request vehicles for paid and volunteer ERCs:

• If the MFO agrees. Personal safety, insurance coverage restrictions, tax laws, or other considerations may preclude the use of private vehicles or public transportation.
• If the expected travel mileage exceeds 1,500 miles per month or 18,000 miles per year.
• If another Church-owned pool vehicle is not available on a consistent basis.

If the ERC meets these stipulations, the ERC manager may request a vehicle through the MFO. The request should be a memo stating the need and justification. The mfo prepares and submits requests.

Personal Vehicle Expenses

Where feasible, it is recommended that paid staff use their personal vehicles and receive mileage reimbursement from the ERC or use public transportation to fulfill their responsibilities. ERS will not pay for accident damage, mechanical repair, service, or insurance of  personally- owned vehicles used for business. The mileage reimbursement rate includes incremental costs for these types of expenses.

Rental Vehicles

Rental vehicles may also be used  for  business travel. When determining how to travel, remember funds come from sacred donations of Church members.  In some cases, using a rental vehicle is more economical than paying for personal mileage.

See  section  20 .3, “Making Travel Arrangements,”  for information  on booking rental vehicles.

Assigned Church Vehicles

In order to be considered to re ceive a Church vehicle , the ERC manager must  seek approval from the AWM and MFO . Fleet vehicles may be assigned  when an employee’s normal job  duties require  business  travel in excess of 15,000 miles per year.

The ERC will pay for the purchase, licensing, title, insurance, maintenance,  fuel,  repair, and servicing of all fleet vehicles.  Follow p rev entative maintenance schedules  for both time and mileage. Violations ( such as  tickets, fines,  and  tows) are the responsibi lity of the driver. Resolve t raffic and pa rking tickets  immediately.

Accidents should be reported to Church Fleet  Administration within 24 hours.

Vehicles may not be  used for personal use. Only  the authorized driver may operate the vehicle.

Commuting with a Church-Owned Vehicle

If you regularly use a Church-owned vehicle for commuting, please contact Kimberly Hintze at [email protected]   to ensure that your account in Global HR accurately reflects this. If you use a Church-owned vehicle for commuting, you are to report any non-commuting days as exceptions on your time sheet on the Global HR website for the corresponding pay period.

Similarly, if you do not regularly commute with a Church-owned vehicle but  occasionally  do, you are required to report any commuting days as exceptions on your time sheet on the Global HR website for the corresponding pay period.

All employees should read, understand, and comply with the Church Vehicle-Use Policy , which is found on the Intranet in Policy Point.

Following are a few important reminders from this policy:

• Church-owned vehicles may  not  be used for personal use.
• Approval from senior management is required prior to using the Church-owned vehicle for commuting; this approval must be submitted through your MFO.
• You must record and report the number of commutes taken annually, the value of which will be included as part of your taxable income .

Replacing Church Vehicles

To replace a Church vehicle, contact the Fleet Administration Division when  the  vehicle reaches 40,000 miles (vehicles are replaced at 55,000 miles).  You can find the New Vehicle Application form in  Policy Point  on the intranet by searching for “new vehicle application” in the Tools section.

Monthly Mileage Report

Each month, fill out the  Department Driver Monthly Mileage Report  and email it to  [email protected] . You can find the report in  Policy Point  on the intranet by searching for “monthly mileage report” in the Tools section.

Practice Examples

• Missionary Travel Resources
• Our Mission

Mission Travel is Here to Serve You

Missionary travel - mission travel is here to serve you.

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About Mission Travel

Mission Travel is a full-service Christian-owned & operated missionary travel agency, serving thousands of inspirational travelers each year. Our goal is to provide you with an exceptional value and customer service experience while saving you time, money and hassle in mission trip planning. available international airfare and travel for mission groups. We truly exist out of obedience to Jesus’ call in Matthew 28:18-20. We're here to serve missionaries, churches, mission groups, humanitarian and mission organizations in their Christian stewardship of money and time - offering the best available international airfare and travel for mission groups. As a full-service travel agency, we also arrange cruises, vacation packages, honeymoons, tours, all-inclusive resorts & more. available international airfare and travel for mission groups. Mission Travel was founded in 2006 by Chris & Alicia Niemeyer. Their passion for travel, missions and entrepreneurship culminated with the idea of MissionTravel.org - serve the international missionary travel needs of those involved in missions.  They are passionate senders and give generously to missions all over the world.

OUR QUALIFIED TEAM IS HERE TO GUIDE YOU.

CHRIS NIEMEYER

Founder/ceo.

CARY BOSTER

Director of client services.

KAREN CEISNER

Director of operations.

MARIA BARONE

Travel advisor.

HOWARD HICKS

KRANTHI KOOVOR

KAROL FLEMING

SHANNON SUMRALL

CATHERINE ROMANOV

+1 888 849 8850

[email protected]

Reassigned Missionaries Travel to New Missions

Training administered online during covid-19 pandemic.

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Thousands of reassigned missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are heading out to new assignments in their home countries following disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Downloadable  B-roll  &  SOTs

• Tracie's Missionary Story - March 22, 2020 - Airport
• Tracie's Missionary Story - March 25, 2020 - Airport

Reassigned Missionaries

Tracie's missionary story - bags stuck at area office - airport, tracie's missionary story - may 20, 2020, tracie's missionary story - may 20, 2020 - mtc.

• Tracie's Missionary Story - Bags Stuck at Area Office

Young missionaries across the world returned home from their international assignments in waves this spring, when Church leaders became concerned for their health and safety when the pandemic hit.

“We have moved about 26,000 missionaries, all of them to their home countries,” said Elder Brent Nielson , a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Missionary Department.

Church travel employees around the globe spent sleepless nights in their offices booking flights and chartering planes to bring the elders and sisters home. Many missionaries were not given much notice before having to pack their belongings and head to the nearest airport. Some left their missions without their luggage.

“This involved many weeks of very little sleep as we coordinated flights, whether those be commercial or charter flights, wherever the missionaries needed to go,” said Nanette Sorensen, Global Travel Services manager for the Church’s Materials Management Department (MMD). “Between our staff here and the staff in the area offices, we saw miracles happen as borders opened up and we all worked together for this common good.”

“In addition to the sacrifice and the dedication, it was amazing how unified we were as a team,” said Russell Harrington, missionary travel manager for Global Travel Services, who slept by his desk some nights while working to help bring all of the missionaries home. “And if that took staying up for 36 hours and working at our desk the entire time, we did it. And everyone did it. The unity that played into that was pretty phenomenal.”

Thank-you notes from the families of missionaries and others hang in the Travel office in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City.

In Utah, where many neighborhoods are predominantly Latter-day Saint, congregations organized drive-by parades to welcome home the missionaries whose missions were cut short. “I was so happy. That made me feel so loved. That was so sweet,” expressed Sister Katie Telford, who returned to her South Jordan home following 15 months of service in the Philippines.

Missions Make Room for Reassigned Missionaries

Those missionaries who had just a few months left to serve were released. Those with more time on their missions were given two options: depart for new assignments as soon as possible or delay for 12 to 18 months. Most missionaries opted to leave right away.

“That was a great moment for me to see how many of them wanted to go back,” remarked Elder Nielson. In the United States, reassigned missionaries are going to nearly every mission in the country, except “where the virus seems to be hot right now,” according to Elder Nielson, including locations such as New York and New Jersey.

“Every missionary who’s assigned either to their permanent assignment or to a temporary assignment is made by a member of the [Quorum of the] Twelve [Apostles], so they’ve been very busy lately as they reassigned missionaries,” said Elder Nielson.

There are many opportunities to serve, but not enough apartments in some locations to house the influx of additional missionaries. In high-demand areas such as the United States, Church housing staff contacted hotel chains to help solve the apartment shortage. Many of the hotel properties had available rooms, as occupancy decreased when business and leisure travel dropped during the pandemic.

“We decided to reach out to hotels to see if they might be able to help us,” said Brent Elliott, a purchasing manager for MMD. “And since there aren’t a lot of people traveling, it was a good time to do that. And so hotels reached out and they’re helping us.”

“It is a privilege for the Materials Management Department to support the Missionary Department in helping our beloved missionaries,” said Peggy Cowherd, managing director of the Materials Management Department. “We are grateful for the wonderful collaboration with the Missionary Department, the dedicated teamwork around the world and the countless miracles that have made all of this possible.”

Virtual Missionary Training Centers

When the Church’s 10 missionary training centers (MTCs) closed due to the pandemic, several thousand newly called missionaries found themselves online in a virtual classroom. The missionaries spend six hours a day online in a teleconference with a trainer and their class, including about 500 missionaries who are learning a new language.

“We teach them the same things, we practice the same things with them, and hopefully they’re just as prepared as the ones that come [to the center],” said Bryce Tripp, an MTC instructor from Mesa, Arizona.

Brother Tripp spends several weeks with each class of missionaries who are assigned to English-speaking missions.

“As long as the missionaries are there to learn and the teacher is here to teach, I think the same learning occurs,” he said.

“I was worried the feeling would be different, but it’s not,” said Maegan Hendrix, an MTC instructor who teaches missionaries going to Mandarin-speaking missions. “In regard to things like the language, there’s a lot more responsibility on them, obviously, to be practicing at home.”

Elder Nielson says the families of missionaries also benefit from virtual MTCs. “I think we’ve learned some great lessons about the Spirit that brings to a home when there’s a child there who’s actually studying how to be a missionary and learning a new language.”

Sister Sydney Leiseth, a Mandarin-speaking missionary called to serve in the England Leeds Mission, has enjoyed being with her family in Herriman, Utah, during her training.

“It’s been really cool to be able to share those experiences with them every single day as those experiences are happening,” said Sister Leiseth, who will begin her mission this summer in the Florida Tampa Mission until it is safe to travel to England. “They’ve been so great about keeping the Spirit in our home and following along with my mission protocols and the procedures that can help me be the best missionary here.”

Sister Leiseth and Sister Azoa Price of Midvale, Utah, have both been in Sister Hendrix’s Mandarin-speaking virtual classroom.

“This is a really cool experience,” shared Sister Price, who will serve in the Canada Vancouver Mission. “I don’t regret it. And despite some of the hiccups that happened because of internet, it works.”

Sister Price spends time with her mother practicing her Chinese vocabulary. “My mom is actually really cool. She’s willing to help me learn my language.”

Senior Missionaries Also Impacted

Most of the 4,000 senior missionaries who are at higher risk for COVID-19 returned home. A few did stay in the mission field and are in self-isolation.

“We have some that are serving from home,” said Elder Nielson. “They had an office assignment in their mission, but they can still do it at home and we’ll gradually begin to start having them go out if they can be safe.”

The Missionary Department reports that senior couples are still applying to serve missions.

“We still have some that are ready to go whenever we can send them,” added Elder Nielson, who said senior couples serving on a Church farm can leave now. “It just depends on what the assignment is. … They can social distance, they can wear masks and they can serve in an office.”

Technology in the Field

Despite the pandemic, full-time missionaries are still teaching thousands of lessons every week from their apartments using technology. They are also allowed to leave their apartments at certain times and provide meaningful community service in ways that are safe, which includes wearing masks and social distancing around others.

Two sisters who were serving in Brazil have been reassigned to a Portuguese-speaking congregation in Salt Lake City.

“I knew I’d be with Brazilian people again. I would be speaking Portuguese and that would add this element of familiarity,” said Sister Mauri Dobbs, a native of Santa Clarita, California, who served for a year in Brazil.

“And here it’s so nice because we have smartphones and we can text people and … there’s Facebook that we can use,” said her companion, Sister Hannah Davidson of Sandpoint, Idaho.

“We’re learning new ways to do missionary work. And I think people are actually more receptive online than they are with someone knocking on their door or trying to stop them on the street,” said Elder Nielson.

“We teach from our home or sometimes we go to the church and teach, but we can do it from the apartment just the same,” said Sister Dobbs.

“We hear from almost every mission that they have a really long list of people who are waiting to be baptized as soon as the chapel can open,” concluded Elder Nielson. “We’re excited for that moment to happen, and it’s starting to happen right now.”

Style Guide Note: When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide .

To download media files, please first review and agree to the Terms of Use . Download a photo or video by clicking or tapping on it. To download all photos or videos related to this article, select the links at the bottom of each section.

Matthew Bowman: Exploring the LDS spin on near-death experiences, the apocalypse and Chad Daybell

There’s a reason these writings about the afterlife and the end times gained traction among a number of latter-day saints..

(Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Let’s say you’re not a regular follower of the paranormal. You don’t know who (or what) Mothman is. You’ve never heard of the Akashic Records . You probably, though, have heard about near-death experiences .

What the “near-death experience” actually is depends on whom you ask. Neuroscientists describe it as the product of neurons firing in particular ways under particular stress — subjective, existing within the brain of the experiencer. Many religious believers understand them as objective, actually occurring in space and time. Psychologists and scholars of religion emphasize that the stories people tell about their experiences tend to reflect their contexts; they see the divine beings they expect to see and hear messages already meaningful to them.

The term became popular in the mid-1970s to describe a cluster of experiences surrounding dire medical or life-threatening conditions. In 1975, psychiatrist Raymond Moody interviewed more than a hundred people for his book “ Life After Life ” and cataloged nine elements of the “near death experience”— from a feeling of peace to a sensing of ascension toward a light to encountering other intelligent beings. He argued that humans had been reporting things like this for as far back as records went. Moody’s book broke through, as media types say. Moody appeared on “Oprah.” His book sold in numbers comparable to, say, John Grisham or Stephen King. And people began using the term.

Including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By the 1980s and ‘90s, Latter-day Saint writers and publishers were putting out book after book describing how near-death experiences affirmed Latter-day Saint understandings of the afterlife. These days, the term is indexed in the church’s official history “ Saints ,” referring to the dramatic moment when Wilford Woodruff’s wife Phebe stopped breathing, and then returned to life to tell her husband that she had left her body and encountered her messengers who guided her back to it. Glenn Pace, then a general authority, used the term in 2005 to describe what had happened to him when his heart stopped beating on an operating table. He claimed he found himself hovering out of his body, only to be directed back to life with the command that “Your work is not yet finished.”

Latter-day Saints have thus put near-death experiences to work to elaborate on and confirm their ideas about the afterlife. More recently, they have done other sorts of work, too. They have become a rhetorical space where church members tell stories that weave their faith together with other forms of spirituality, sometimes accepted and sometimes rejected by the mainstream church.

Betty Eadie and New Age Mormonism

(Amazon) The bestselling "Embraced by the Light," by Betty Eadie.

The night of Feb. 8, 1993, I was in the eighth grade. When my parents bundled my sister and I into the car headed to Woods Cross High School, only a mile or two from our house, I was mostly annoyed. Increasingly so when it turned out that — according to the Davis County Clipper — 5,000 to 7,000 other folks from northern Utah had the same idea, and the freeway exits, roads and high school parking lot were so jammed that the event was 40 minutes late. I was cold and grumpy and unhappy that we ended up having to sit in the gymnasium instead of the auditorium, waiting to hear the event piped in over speakers.

Then Betty Eadie showed up and started talking about what happened when she died in 1973.

Her 1992 book, “ Embraced by the Light ,” was the most successful product on the booming interest in near-death experiences that followed Moody’s book. It got her on national television and sold millions of copies.

Eadie describes how, while recovering from surgery, she briefly entered a state of clinical death. She found herself hovering in midair, then seeing three men who guided her down a tunnel. There she encountered members of her family, some already dead and one, a small girl, yet to be born. She said she also met Jesus, visited a vast “library of the mind,” and toured a gorgeous heavenly garden. Jesus eventually persuaded her to return to life with new knowledge about the workings of heaven and earth.

Eadie joined the LDS Church before she wrote the book, but she doesn’t explicitly reference it in the text. Back in the bleachers at Woods Cross High, though, I perked up when I heard some ideas I recognized. She talked about remembering her life in the spirit world before her birth, about God as her literal father, and told of a spirit trying to get his future parents to fall in love, a story that echoed the then-popular Latter-day Saint musical “ Saturday’s Warrior .” These things appear in the book too.

It also struck me that those ideas were mixed with others I didn’t, at the time, recognize. For instance, Eadie spends a lot of time talking about energy and auras. According to the book, everybody radiates energy, and those energy fields are affected by our words, our moods and how others treat us. We must work to project positive energy — “good vibrations,” as the saying goes — and as we do so we can influence others, the course of events, even the material world. Certain people are gifted to see the energy auras around others and wield energy on behalf of themselves and others.

These ideas are rooted in the 19th-century New Thought and spiritualist movements, which taught that one’s thoughts could impact reality in measurable ways — through energy and fluids (the “ luminiferous ether ”) that our scientific tools simply cannot yet detect. The concept is influential across the New Age movement — “energy work” finds adherents from neopaganism to astrology.

‘Visions of Glory’ and the apocalypse

(Amazon) "Visions of Glory," by John Pontius.

The combination of cultural influences in Eadie’s book set the stage for what followed: a veritable tidal wave of Latter-day Saint near-death narratives that, like “Embraced by the Light,” blend Latter-day Saint language and motifs with those of other groups.

Most famous is John Pontius’ “Visions of Glory: One Man’s Astonishing Account of the Last Days.”

In his introduction, Pontius explains that the book recounts the experiences of another man whom he called “Spencer.” (Since Pontius never identified Spencer, I won’t here, though it is clear Spencer was not simply a fictional authorial tool for Pontius and nor was he Pontius himself.)

The volume’s structure and framing resemble Eadie’s book, but Pontius’ version of the near-death experience takes a radical turn from Eadie’s gentle New Age reconciliation with the universe toward a grimmer and more apocalyptic end.

In “Visions of Glory,” Spencer dies on an operating table. He sees his body as though he was hovering above it. His entire life passes before him. He then recovers. So far, not so different from Eadie. But Spencer keeps having visions, often in similar dire, life-threatening situations.

The book’s second half documents a tremendously long vision. Massive earthquakes strike Salt Lake City. Foreign troops invade the United States. Plagues and floods wreck the nation’s infrastructure. Latter-day Saints build Zion communities in the wilderness, and eventually a temple in the New Jerusalem in Missouri. There is a “mark of the beast” that separates the wicked from the righteous. A holy people return from the North, where they have been living in a cavern under the earth with prophets and scriptures of their own. A red planet passes through the sky. And Christ returns to govern the globe.

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Harry Anderson's "The Second Coming." The book "Visions of Glory" describes Jesus' return to the Earth.

In some respects, Spencer’s story resembles the end-times narratives popular among conservative evangelicals in the Cold War tumults of the 1960s and ‘70s — identifying obscure symbols from the Bible’s Book of Revelation with nuclear wars and attack helicopters, fears of global war and international organizations, and so on.

But the book’s apocalypse is more distinctly Mormon than it is evangelical. It contains an accumulation of virtually every end-times legend, scriptural reference to the apocalypse, and Scout camp story that circulated among Latter-day Saints throughout the faith’s history. It delves into the “ White Horse Prophecy ” and seemingly every other statement attributed to church founder Joseph Smith — but written down decades after his death — that circulated on faded Xerox copies and in self-published books of prophecy across the 20th century. It places all the action in the United States. It centers the concept of priesthood and presents various priesthood-holding men as playing critical roles in the building of a new righteous society. While its take on Mormonism is more esoteric than the gauzy divine family of Betty Eadie, it is equally distinctive.

While Eadie draws on the New Age, “Visions of Glory” uses language drawn from the “spiritual warfare” movement popular among some American evangelicals. These groups describe virtually all negativity, evil or crime in the world as the consequence of demonic spirits, tempting and directing humans. They take the notion of spirit possession seriously, and warn that humans, being sinful and spiritually weak, are often under the domination of some spirit or another. Pontius describes a similar state of affairs. Individuals, he writes, are always surrounded by evil spirits capable of pushing, prodding and even possessing us. The apocalypse, he explains, is in part a process of priesthood driving dark spirits from the earth.

Chad Daybell and the apocalypse

(John Roark | The Idaho Post-Register via AP, Pool, File) Chad Daybell appears during a court hearing in 2020.

Chad Daybell, the Latter-day Saint writer who, with his second wife, Lori Vallow, is accused of slaying family members they believed to be possessed by dark spirits and black energy, is perhaps the best known of Latter-day Saint near-death experiencers of the past 10 years, and he is also the most successful at blending the impulses of Eadie and Pontius.

Like Spencer, Daybell described a series of visions after a near-death experience that illustrated a coming turbulent Armageddon, complete with wars and the mark of the beast. Like Eadie, Daybell also embraced the world of New Age energy work; his books speak of energy healing and auras. But he joined that system to the language of spiritual warfare. The world his visions opened him to was one full of spiritual energy; of dark spirits who sent out negative vibrations that could overwhelm and possess humans, and of light spirits (like himself, he believed, and Vallow) sent to earth with the ability to see those dark spirits and command and control them. Near-death experiences, for Daybell, were a way to see the coming end times and to prepare for them spiritually as well as materially.

It’s telling that writers like Eadie, Pontius and Daybell all gained a tremendous following, and it’s not a sign of credulity or ignorance. Rather, these people sell books because of their ability to blend a variety of cultural languages, to offer answers and explanations for suffering and uncertainty, and, ultimately, to offer the possibility of power and control in a world that often seems out of our own hands. Dismissing them as silly or marginal is to ignore why they are appealing — and that makes it hard to solve the problems they point to in other ways.

Matthew Bowman is Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University.

Matthew Bowman is the Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University and the author of 2023′s “ The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill : Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America” and 2012′s “ The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith .”

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Turn Your Curiosity Into Discovery

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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