Latter-day Saint Missionary Name Tags
The name tag or badge worn by missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of their most recognizable visual features. On the one hand, it is simply a name tag, while on the other hand, it is symbolic of the work missionaries have been called to do. It is a symbol of the Church they have been called the represent and of the Savior whose messengers they are.
Full-time missionaries of the Church are required to wear the name tag at all times in public. The mission rules given to service missionaries says this: “It is an honor and a privilege to wear the missionary badge. Always wear it while you are traveling to or from your missionary assignment, at your missionary assignment, and at Church meetings.”
Preach My Gospel, the manual that serves as a guide to missionaries in their service, invites missionaries pay close attention to the name tag. “Note that the two most prominent parts are your name and the Savior’s name.” The name tag is a reminder to always “represent the Savior as one of His disciples” and to behave in such a way that “people to associate your name with the Savior’s in a positive way.”
An Outward Sign of Identity
Here is a reminder about the importance of the missionary name tag from Sister Susan W. Tanner’s talk in the May 2007 Ensign Magazine titled Daughters of Heavenly Father.
“Has your mother or father ever reminded you as you were leaving the house to ‘remember who you are’? What do they mean by that? ‘Remember that you are part of this family, with a reputation to uphold.’ And, even more importantly, ‘remember that you are a child of God and must act accordingly.’ Missionaries wear a badge as a constant reminder that they are representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This reminds missionaries to dress modestly and comely, to treat people with politeness, and to strive to have Christ’s image in their countenances. They must do these things because they wear that name tag, an outward sign of their identity.”
A Sister Missionary’s Name Tag
The following story from Elder Robert L. Simpson’s talk in the May 1984 Ensign Magazine called The Simplicity of Gospel Truths.
“Few are aware of the pure Christian service being administered at refugee camps in Thailand and in the Philippines by our missionary sisters. Basically, these sisters are restricted to teaching the English language and Western culture, but there is a deeper teaching that takes place through their pure love and sweet attitude toward these displaced people.
The story is told of a young camp refugee from Cambodia who was relocated in California. He found his way into one of our Church meetinghouses because the name of the Church on the sign out front corresponded with the one he used to look at each day on the name tag of the wonderful missionary sister who taught him at the camp. People don’t soon forget acts of simple kindness. Pure love can transcend all differences.”
The Tag as Statement of Your Missionary Commission
Many people also see the tag as a sign of the commission missionaries have been given. Elder Bruce R. McConkie famously spoke of the Missionary Commission when he said, as a missionary, “My Commission is to do what He wants done, to say what He wants said, to be a living modern witness in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous latter-day work. How great is my calling!” (see more info on Elder McConkie’s My Missionary Commission)
Hi, friends. I m a retorned missionary of the church, Argentina buenos aires north mission ( 1994 – 1996 ) but right now I m 40 yrs old and I was born in santiago, Chile.
my mission presidents weres : pte. Bentley and pte. Udall.
I wanna know where can I obtain again mines missionary tags, because 8 yrs ago living in Chile, I was renting a home with my wife and the home was burnt in a fire.
so my missionary tags was burnt. so this way I wanna know How can I obtain again mines tags, I want them ONLY for remember my mission, and show them to my only daughter. please I wanna some reply. actually I m living since 2006 in Spain. Tell me who can help me.
You might check with your bishop to see if there is a way to replace your old ones. Our bishop is working on getting a service mission name tag for my disabled daughter who is serving in the family history center.
I have a strange question, and I have no idea who to ask. In the near future, I intend to be legally adopted by my stepdad, which would change my last name. I hope to have this name while on my mission, but I want to leave soon, and adoption and name change would cost more than I can currently afford, and would take a long time. My church records and birth certificate all say my old last name currently. Can I choose what name goes on my missionary name tag? Is there any other way to use my new last name on my tag on my mission?? What do I have to do to have my nametag and mission call say my future last name instead of my legal name??
Getting a name tag with your preferred last name shouldn’t be a problem. When you get to the MTC, they will have a name tag for you with the last name from your Church records. But they do have a procedure, at the MTC and once you get to your mission, to order additional name tags. I’m not sure what the exact process is that you’ll need to follow, but there should be a way to request that your preferred last name be printed on the name tags you order. Good luck and God bless.
Is doing a legal name change before the adoption an option and less expensive? If so then you can present your new legal name to the ward clerk and he would update the records accordingly.
Yes be elder
Do Senior Couple Missionaries need to order their own name tags? Where? We are to be at the Provo MTC in two weeks!! please reply quickly!
I’m pretty sure that Senior Couple Missionaries do not need to order their own name tags. A couple of badges will be provided to you when you arrive at the MTC. If you would like to order an extra name tag, the MTC staff will give you instructions on how to do that.
Is there a correct way to wear the missionary name tag? On the right or left side or are both correct?
Patrice, You may wear the name tag on either side. I recommend, if possible, to wear it on the right side so it remains more visible when you shake people’s hands. But most men wear it on the left side because men’s clothing usually has the shirt pocket on that side, and that’s fine.
Can ward missionary wear a name tag?
Denise, Missionary name tags are reserved for full-time missionaries, senior missionaries, and church service missionaries. I don’t know of any exceptions to that rule. Ward missionaries usually do not wear name tags.
I too am a RM from 82-84 and would love to obtain a nametag like I had on my mission. Is this possible?
Hello Jimmy,
I have a question that I have not been able to get an authoritative answer to. Indeed no one has been able to answer it even among my Stake Priesthood leaders. Earlier in my life during Priesthood Leadership Training, (circa 1984) Elder Boyd K. Packer taught me that the Title of -Elder- was reserved for only 1- General Authorities of the Church and 2- Full Time Missionaries. Soon after this training I was called to be Stake Mission President. I supervised about 50 Church Service missionary couples and we also utilized the services of four sets of full time missionaries. All wore the same official name badges of the Church. However the Church Service Missionary Badges said BROTHER BROWN on them – and the full time missionary young men badges had the title ELDER BROWN imprinted. My badge contained the title of President. All the women’s badges said SISTER BROWN.
I thought that as I was instructed by Elder Packer, this was official church policy.( if not actual doctrine!)
The past several years every badge in Northern Utah is printed as ELDER even when the man is not a full time missionary and when they are certainly not a General Authority. And unfortunately some of these men do not maintain the dress standards, grooming and demeanor of the General Authority. Can you tell me if the church protocol (or courtesy of title) has been officially changed as directed by the Brethren, or has this distinction of title just fallen through the cracks at the level of the badge pressmen? Thank you!
What will be my mission name if my full name is Beneeta Vinolin Henry Samuel
So Im a service missionary and I’m trying to order new tags but I have no idea how to put service missionary underneath my name. can anyone help me? It would be much appricated.
I am try to get my missionary name tag because I am a senior service commissioner and I don’t have a name tag. How can I get it?