In January 2022, the new Hawaii Laie Mission was created, a separation from the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. The new mission includes the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors' Center, three young single adult stakes near BYU–Hawaii and two stakes in the Laie area. Since the creation of the mission, only sisters have been called as young full-time missionaries, with the exception of some elders who were assigned from the Honolulu Hawaii Mission to serve in Laie for nine months. The mission also includes senior missionaries serving in the area at the Polynesian Cultural Center and BYUH.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has created a second mission in Laie, Hawaii, which gives the faith 408 missions worldwide.
The Hawaii Laie Mission will include the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center, three young single adult stakes near BYU–Hawaii, and two stakes in the Laie area.
Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos
Although she would have loved to have an in-person experience at the Missionary Training Center, Sister Tess Jones said Heavenly Father had a different plan for her as a missionary serving during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was difficult to miss out on traditional missionary experiences, she said, but she could see the miracles accomplished despite the changes.
“I totally see why Heavenly Father needed that to happen. . I wouldn’t take that back, knowing what Heavenly Father needed.”
After she completed the MTC online, she said she was released for a month while she was preparing to go out and serve. “There was certain family members I got to build really good relationships with who lived far away but came for that month.”