This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The LDS Church's full-time missionary force has settled at 75,000 after topping out at nearly 89,000 sometime last year, according to a leading Mormon official.

The higher number "stretched our resources," Brent H. Nielson said in a video interview released this week, adding that the current number "is where we think we'll stay for a period of time as that gradually increases."

Nielson, head of the LDS Missionary Department, said the biggest change that has taken place since the historic 2012 age-lowering move has been the dramatic rise in young women serving.

When the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shifted the minimum missionary age for young men from 19 to 18 and for young women from 21 to 19, there were about 8,000 "sisters" being called to full-time missions or about 13 percent of the total 58,000.

Today, Nielson said, about 20,000 young women are in the missionary force, or nearly 27 percent.

"These sister missionaries are really quite incredible," the Mormon official said. "We are so grateful to have the large numbers that have come."

In one mission Nielson and his wife toured, he said, "the majority of missionaries in a zone conference were sisters."

In the immediate aftermath of the age change, the number of missionary applications skyrocketed and the corresponding proselytizing ranks swelled. That climb continued for a couple of years until those tallies began dropping.

Today, the LDS missionary force is about 29 percent higher than before the lowered ages.

In 87 of the church's 419 — soon to be 421 — missions across the globe, the proselytizers are given "digital devices" such as iPads to help them teach Mormon principles, show church videos, read and study scriptures, find people to teach, and connect with members, Nielson said. "They are learning to do missionary work in new ways."

In the past five years, some 230,000 missionaries have returned from their service — two years for men, 18 months for women.

"Many times they wonder, " Nielson said, " 'How do I take this experience and translate that into my life?'"

So missionary officials at church headquarters came up with "My Plan," a six-week online course to be completed during the final months of missionary service.

It helps the returning young adults develop goals for service, scripture study, temple attendance, education and dating, Nielson said. Then the goals are shared with the person's mission president and, later, with local lay leaders at home.

Whether missionaries serve their full terms or come home early, Nielson said, "we love them and care for them."

Peggy Fletcher Stack