Mormon church to open 58 new missions, including 2 in Idaho

The Mormon church is creating 58 new missions around the world to accommodate an influx of missionaries triggered by the lowering of the minimum age.

Two of the new missions are in the Gem State: Idaho Nampa and Idaho Twin Falls.

Church leaders said in an announcement Friday that the missions redistribute missionaries within states and countries where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is already proselytizing.

Each mission usually has 150 to 250 missionaries. There are now 405 missions worldwide.

The list of new missions includes eight in Mexico and seven in Brazil. There are two in Arizona: in Gilbert and Scottsdale. There is on in Salt Lake City.

LDS leaders lowered of the minimum age for missionaries in October: from 21 to 19 for women; and from 19 to 18 for men.

Applications for new missions are up two-fold as older missionaries already planning to go are joining the line alongside new, younger missionaries.

For a list of new missions, see http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/list-of-58-additional-missions-created.