Missionary retailers see business boom

Missionary retail stores in eastern Idaho are reporting an uptick in business.

Employees from Missionary Mall in Idaho Falls and Ferrell’s in Rexburg said ever since Mormon Church President Thomas S. Monson lowered the missionary age requirement for young men and women in October, they’ve reported bigger and bigger sales each month.

“Tons of people have been coming in,” said Garrett Whalen, who works at Missionary Mall. “Most of the business we have — a lot of the missionaries that come in — has been affected by that change. It’s been awesome.”

Young men can now serve missions at age 18. Young women can go at 19.