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SALT LAKE CITY — The results from an LDS Church survey sent to 62,000 Mormon missionaries, that was intended to gauge safety conditions in missions, were announced Friday.
The confidential online survey, sent to missionaries throughout the world in June 2017, was the first of its kind issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The survey’s purpose was to help church officials better understand missionaries’ day-to-day experiences and thoughts regarding physical safety.
The results from the survey "painted a picture of overall safety among missionaries and highlighted areas for improvement," according to a statement from church spokesman Daniel Woodruff.
“We were pleased to learn that an overwhelming majority of missionaries reported feeling safe within their missions,” Woodruff said. He added that incidents reported were low in comparison to the amount of LDS missionaries serving.
The LDS Church did not release details about the incidents in areas where safety was reported to be an issue.
The feedback church officials received from the survey will influence changes to the Missionary Handbook, and has already affected the following:
- A committee that is dedicated to the safety of sister missionaries regularly meets. The committee uses survey results to see how they can improve sister missionaries' safety.
- There is a follow-up process in place so those who experience a breach of safety are better cared for and supported.
- Results "heavily influenced" the current production of "a significant health, safety and security training program," according to Woodruff. The LDS Church also announced it will send a second survey to missionaries who are serving in missions that reported multiple safety concerns. These survey results will be given to mission presidents so they can be aware of possible risks in their areas, and better know where to station missionaries, Woodruff added. "Missionaries throughout the world are known for their goodness and selfless service. We greatly value their safety," Woodruff said. "We are committed to doing all we can to understand and improve, where needed, the circumstances of all missionaries."
As of April 2018, there were 421 operating LDS missions in the world.
