The missionary emphasis of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most recognized characteristics of this worldwide faith. The program is based on the biblical pattern of sending out missionaries two by two. More than 60,000 Latter-day Saints serve missions in 165 countries and territories.

Nearly 1,000 missionaries from throughout the world serve in Australia, over a quarter of whom are from Australia and New Zealand. Missionary work in Australia is divided into seven missions. Mission headquarters are in Sydney North, Sydney South, Brisbane, Melbourne, Melbourne West, Adelaide and Perth. Most of the Church's missionaries are young men and women between the ages of 19 and 23, although substantial numbers of older couples also serve missions. It took more than 100 years from the arrival in Australia of the first Latter-day Saint missionaries in the mid-1800's to see Church membership rise to 3,000.

This was partially due to an organised emigration program of new converts to Utah. By 1960, there were nearly 10,000. Two decades later, numbers had soared past 50,000 and, in 1988, membership stood at 70,000.

It took more than 100 years from the arrival in Australia of the first Latter-day Saint missionaries in the mid-1800's to see Church membership rise to 3,000. This was partially due to an organised emigration program of new converts to Utah. By 1960, there were nearly 10,000. Two decades later, numbers had soared past 50,000 and, in 1988, membership stood at 70,000. At present it has topped 100,000. This accelerating growth pattern, shown on the graph in tens of thousands since 1905, has become a feature of the Church worldwide.

All missionaries serve without pay, most relying on their own savings or family support during the mission period of 18 months to 2 years. Prospective missionaries may be asked to serve anywhere in the world and are frequently required to learn another language. Other than perhaps three weeks to two months in a missionary training center, missionaries receive little formal training prior to their ministry. Their knowledge has come, in most cases, from training in the home, from attendance at worship services and gospel study classes, and from personal conviction developed over a period of years. In the mission field, they preach from the Holy Bible and from the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, translated into nearly 90 languages (from the Book of Mormon is derived the common but improper nickname "Mormon", applied to members of the Church). The Book of Mormon is regarded as a companion volume of scripture to the Bible.