Mormons launch first-ever survey to gauge missionary safety

The Mormon church for the first time ever is sending out a survey to the religion’s 62,000 missionaries to gauge safety conditions for young men and women serving proselytizing missions around the world.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman Eric Hawkins said Monday that the online survey isn’t being done because of one particular incident or decrease in missionary safety.

Hawkins says it is an attempt to determine conditions for missionaries amid a changing world landscape. Results from the confidential survey will be used to potentially modify safety guidelines or mission assignments.

Church figures show that one missionary has died this year. Four died in 2016 and six in 2015.

Men serve two-year missions, while women serve for 18 months.

Below is the full statement –

The safety of missionaries is of great importance to the Church. Missionaries are taught principles to keep themselves safe, and in areas where missionary safety may be at risk, we may alter assignments or provide them with more specific guidelines to enhance their safety.

This survey is to help us better understand the day-to-day experiences and perceptions of missionaries around the world related to physical safety. The questions from this confidential survey are detailed and specific. It is being sent to each of our young missionaries around the world. We want to understand the risks to safety our missionaries experience or perceive.

The data from this survey will help us identify areas or circumstances where missionary safety may be at the greatest risk. We intend to use the results to review and modify, as needed, missionary safety guidelines and instructions.

Missionaries are divinely watched over in the work they perform. However, we believe it’s important to understand their circumstances and make appropriate adjustments when needed.