SALT LAKE CITY -- There are more Mormon missionaries proselytizing around the globe than ever before.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lowered the minimum age for missionaries in October from 21 to 19 for women, and from 19 to 18 for men.
That's lead to a double dose of outgoing missionaries with new, younger church members joining older ones already planning on going.
New church estimates show 29,000 missionaries are expected to report for missions in the coming months, bringing the worldwide total to about 85,000 by the fall.
That's 38 percent more at any other time in history.
Church scholars say the historic number of missionaries could lead to a higher number of converts. It may also allow the church to do a better job of keeping current members active.
