Why would a missionary in the Mormon Church be taken away from working in the field to working in the mission office?

Question

Dear Gramps,

What is a mission financier. If a missionary is called to serve in the mission office as the financier, what are his responsibilities and why would he be taken away from the “field” to work in the mission office.

Becky

Answer

Dear Becky,

The proselyting missions in the Mormon Church are normally comprised of between 150 and 200 missionaries, and there are currently 339 missions in operation. Each mission has certain operating expenses that must be accounted for. The mission president calls from the qualified missionaries that are sent to his mission an office staff. The office staff varies according to the needs of the mission, but would normally include a financial secretary, an office secretary, in certain cases someone responsible for transportation, including the assignment of automobiles, and perhaps several other functions as well. When missionaries are called to such office responsibilities they are not normally released from their proselyting responsibilities, but devote something like half time to each. When Gramps was a mission president he had an office staff of eight missionaries. They spent half time in the office and half time proselyting. The interesting thing is that with only half time to proselyte, they nevertheless produced about the same number of missionary discussions and baptisms as did the other districts in the mission.

The Lord is in charge of and directs his work. The mission president works under direct inspiration and revelation from God, and the missionaries, subject to that same inspiration and revelation, are directed specifically to those who are honest in heart and who are searching for the truth. So your son is where the Lord wants him to be, doing the work that the Lord wants him to do, and will be the recipient of great blessings that are in store for those who love the Lord, who serve him and who keep his commandments.

Gramps