Free resources about the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
*Other Mission Pages: Florida LDS Missions.
Fort Lauderdale Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Fort Lauderdale Mission. We try to keep this info up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission
7951 SW 6th St Ste 110
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33324-3211
United States
7951 SW 6th St Ste 110
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33324-3211
United States
Phone Number: 1-954-452-6960
Mission President: President Jerryl L. Garns
Mission President: President Jerryl L. Garns
Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission (LDS). To access the official LDS.org map for the Fort Lauderdale Mission:
Videos with Fort Lauderdale RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
LDS-Friendly Videos about Florida
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Florida. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Florida, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Fort Lauderdale Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Fort Lauderdale Mission Groups
Here are Fort Lauderdale Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Fort Lauderdale Mission.
- Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission Facebook Group (287 members)
- Fort Lauderdale Mission/ President Anderson Group (238 members)
- Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission Facebook Group (230 members)
- Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission Facebook Group (120 members)
- Florida Ft. Lauderdale Pres. Coates Missionaries Group (99 members)
- Fort Lauderdale Pres. Hemmert (2002-05) Group (99 members)
- Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission/ Pres. Coates Group (33 members)
- Ft. Lauderdale Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (18 members)
Fort Lauderdale Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission!
Shirt designs include Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Florida Fort Lauderdale missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Fort Lauderdale Mission gifts
Fort Lauderdale Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Fort Lauderdale LDS Mission.
- 2017-2020, Jerryl L. Garns
- 2014-2017, Douglas M. Richardson
- 2011-2014, Donald E. Anderson
- 2008-2011, J. Nathan Hale
- 2005-2008, Noel Reynolds
- 2002-2005, Wynn H. Hemmert
- 1999-2002, Floyd E. Warren
- 1996-1999, Gary Craig Potter
- 1993-1996, Jerry L. McCleary
- 1990-1993, M. Garfield Cook
- 1987-1990, Robert E. Coates
- 1984-1987, Claud D. Magnum
- 1982-1983, Kenneth L. Zabriskie
- 1979-1982, Glen E. Stringham
- 1977-1979, Richard L. Millett
- 1975-1977, Von R. Nielsen
- 1972-1975, Arden Hutchings
- 1972, William H. Bennett
- 1969-1972, Murray Rawson
- 1966-1969, Glen L. Rudd
- 1963-1966, Ned Winder
- 1960-1963, Karl R. Lyman
Florida LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 149,355
- Missions: 5
- Temples: 2
- Congregations: 241
- Family History Centers: 69
Helpful Articles about Florida
Fort Lauderdale Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Florida Fort Lauderdale RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
When did you serve?
- 2015-2017 (Lars)
- 2014-2016 (Sergio)
- Jan 2013 – July 2014 (Samantha)
- February 2013-2015 (Andrew)
- 2013-2015 (Spencer)
- 1984-1986 (Jonathan)
- 1991-1993 (Austin)
- 1988-90 (Timothy)
- 1977-1979 (Mitchell)
- 1973-1975 (Rickey)
What cities/areas did you serve in?
- Boca raton, Miami, tamarac, fort Myers, Jupiter. (Lars)
- Miami Dade County as: Doral, Fountaine Bleu, Flagler, Hialeah / Marathon Key / Hollywood. (Sergio)
- Coconut Creek (Spencer)
- Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Sweetwater, Homestead. (Austin)
- Ft. Pierce, Miami, Ft. Laud, Lakeworth, Nassau. (Timothy)
- Miami, Florida; Caguas, San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Mitchell)
- Rio Piedras, Santurce, and Carolina. Spanish speaking. (Rickey)
What were some favorite foods?
- Coxinha, pão de queijo, I love pizza. (Lars)
- Pollo Tropical (fast food restaurant), Taco Bell, Ropa Vieja (Cuban food). (Sergio)
- Beans and rice. Baleadas!!! Anything Latin really! (Samantha)
- Arroz congri, baleadas, pupusas, carne asada, pollo asado, Restaurants:Pollo Tropical, La Granja, Palacio de los Jugos. (Andrew)
- I loved any Haitian food. My favorite meal was deep fried pork with fried plantains with their version of sauerkraut, its very spicy. Also any Nicaraguan food was delicious. (Spencer)
- Conch stew, beef patties. (Jonathan)
- Arroz con pollo, Ceviche, Taquitos, Arroz con leche. (Austin)
- Griot, banan-peze, legume, Chaka. (Timothy)
- Plantanos maduros, moros y christanos arroz con pollos, bistek. (Mitchell)
- Anything with rice. mangoes, plantains. (Rickey)
What was a funny experience?
- Sleeping 8 missionaries in a house because of a hurricane. (Lars)
- First day as a missionary… (Sergio)
- Watching my new companion freak out as I walked up to a fence and stuck my hand over it to play with the Pitbull on the other side. She was new to the area and the dog belonged to a member I knew really well. (Samantha)
- Knocking on doors before/after the Jehovah Witnesses. (Andrew)
- One night my companion and I were biking home and a car cut us off so I gracefully crashed with minimal damage, my companion wasn’t as lucky. He supermanned off his bike and landed on mine. I thought it was pretty funny, he didn’t find it funny for a couple days. In the end my bike received more damage than I did. (Spencer)
- Tracking in a mobile home area. I knocked on the door and an elderly lady says “come in.” I try opening the door and call out that the door is locked. The voice says doors open come in. I tried opening the door and it was still locked. This went on for a while until I looked through the window and found out that it was an African grey parrot. (Jonathan)
- One Sunday we discovered that all the water in the church meetinghouse had been somehow shut off. In order to fill the font for a baptism that day, we used the emergency fire hose in the cultural hall (which still had a supply of water). The water was freezing cold and a little bit orange in color, due to some accumulated oxidation in the hose! (Austin)
- When I was new in the Tamiami area, we baptized a 14 year old,. Before the week was out, he had stolen our bikes. (Mitchell)
- A Rat crawled up through sewer and got trapped in the toilet. He got flushed. (Rickey)
What was a crazy/dangerous experience?
- A hurricane. (Lars)
- Biking around all the Miami Traffic. (Sergio)
- We had a guy with a gun walk up to us and ask us to leave because there was going to be some shooting. He didn’t want “God’s girls” getting hurt. As we drove away the shooting started. (Samantha)
- My bike was set on fire. (Andrew)
- Lightning strikes like rain falling during summer. I biked during one of my summers and had many close encounters with lightning strikes. (Spencer)
- Being on our bikes trying to get home while a hurricane was approaching. A large tree fell next to our bedroom. (Jonathan)
- One night we had to ride our bikes through a notoriously “rough” part of Miami on the way home from an appointment. We rode as fast as humanly possible right down the center line of the street to avoid the jeering and menacing young men who lined the street on both sides for several blocks, as they threw bottles, cans and rocks at us while shouting profanities, etc. I know we were protected that night, as we were on the Lord’s errand. (Austin)
- Almost struck by lightening in Miami… was blinded for 15 min. (Timothy)
- We were driving the very crowded Tamiami Trail on a very rainy night, parallel to traffic. A kid reached a text book out the window to knock me off my bike and into canal. (Mitchell)
- Going to the good tracking areas, we had to pass through the bad area’s. Groups of hoods would gather and throw rocks, bricks, and beer bottles at us as we zoomed by. This happened almost every day. Sometimes twice. (We were never hit). (Rickey)
What was a spiritual experience?
- Being able to go multiple times to the temple to watch concerts get endowed and sealed. (Lars)
- Every day could be a spiritual experience. (Sergio)
- The day one of my investigators got baptized. He had been a drug dealer and drug lord before we met him. But watching him change and gain that light especially after baptism was a miracle. (Samantha)
- I learned that I could be an instrument in the Lord’s hand, as I baptized my convert. (Andrew)
- My companion and I somehow found our way into a gated community while looking for a less-active member. While there we knocked on the wrong door and found a couple who had been looking for more. They later told us that earlier that week they had been house shopping on the cross roads of Bailey and Woodard street (Bailey and Woodard are my last name and my companion’s last name). Later that week we knocked on their door and it was a sign that God had sent us to them. While they told the story the Spirit was very strong. (Spencer)
- Tracking out a 78 year old lady and baptizing within a week. How much sin can you commit being baptized at 78? (Jonathan)
- On more than one occasion I felt the strong guidance of the Holy Ghost as we taught families and individuals about the Plan of Salvation in Spanish (not our native language). My companions and I were truly given the gift of tongues so we could testify of and teach the truths of the restored gospel! (Austin)
- My companion and I were able to complete a family in baptism. (Timothy)
- Funny part continued: The Spirit told me to reach back over my shoulder, though I didn’t know they or the book were there. Based on the Spirit, I reached over my shoulder and grabbed the book. I through in into the canal. (Mitchell)
- Seeing people’s lives change for the better. (Rickey)
What are some interesting facts about your mission?
- There are tons of old white people. There are tons of people from countries you’ve never heard of. Some of the places labeled the most dangerous have some of the friendliest people in the world. (Lars)
- We have alligators, therefore a nickname for our investigators are “Gators”. Doral Area is the best area ever #Doral4Life. We have the Florida Keys as part of our mission. 90% of the population is Cuban in Miami. (Sergio)
- You have to always carry your rain jacket or umbrella. There were 3 languages the missionaries had to learn to speak. We were not allowed to touch the sand, not even with our hands. The Harvest door approach started there…the approach where you pray with the person or family when you first meet them. (Samantha)
- In 2012, we were the highest baptizing mission in the United States and Canada. We invited people to baptism during the door contact. We were required to proselyte on holidays…IT DOESN’T WORK. (Andrew)
- Southern Florida is very unique. It’s in the “south” but it’s nothing like the south. It has it’s own culture. Everyone loves Jesus and wants “peace and blessings.” It’s a very diverse area, one huge melting pot of every culture you could think of. (Spencer)
- It was one month old when I came and all of us were new. (Jonathan)
- Reached from Ft. Pierce to Key West and to the Bahamas … where I spent the last 6 months of my mission… At the time we had a total of only 14 Haitian Creole speaking missionaries. (Timothy)
- When Florida Fort Lauderdale split Puerto Rico off from it, there was just one missionary who was moved at that time. I was in Puerto Rico, and sent to Miami on the day the mission divided. (Mitchell)
- I used to save money by washing my clothes daily on a wooden wash board I bought at the Plaza. (Rickey)
What was the weather like?
- Hot and sweat 99% of the time. (Lars)
- Really hot- humid. (Sergio)
- HUMID!!!!!!! Really hot in the summer with regular down pours that just made it hotter. Cold in the 2 months that could be considered winter. Always has at least a slight breeze. (Samantha)
- Tropical. 50 weeks of summer, 2 weeks of spring. Rainy frequently, sun and rain trading off frequently. Highs typically in the 80s-90s. Lows usually in the 70s-80s. (Andrew)
- EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMID. Put in all caps to emphasize just how hot and humid it is. Winters are awesome, nice and sunny around 70-80 degrees. Summers are lovely, 95-100 degrees with 100% humidity. During hurricane season, May-October, it rains about every single day around the same time. Over time you get used to being soaking wet either with sweat or rain. Those summer days were some of the best days. (Spencer)
- Like Hawaii where I am from, except more humid. (Jonathan)
- Mainly hot and humid, with the strong chance of at least one brief, passing shower each day. One hurricane season brought us the infamous Hurricane Andrew. (Austin)
- Hot and rainy very humid. (Timothy)
- Lots and lots of rain and some wind and sand, Big mosquitoes. Lots of beautiful days. Lots of humidity. (Mitchell)
- 95* in the summer, 85* in the winter. Humid always. (Rickey)
What do you like about the place/people you served?
- The people I served with and the opportunity to be somewhere where I never had to wear a coat. (Lars)
- Cubans are mostly open and have great food. (Sergio)
- I was Spanish speaking and I loved how family-oriented Latins are. That and how giving they are, they would give you the shirt off their back if they thought you needed it more. (Samantha)
- The culture is wonderful. Learning about the heritage of people/members was a great way to build relationships. I loved serving the Cubans. (Andrew)
- The people are so unique. At first you find them very strange because southern Florida attracts a lot of different people. They aren’t the friendliest of people, but warm up over time. I love how loving they are of Jesus and how willing they are to listen to us preach the Gospel. (Spencer)
- Friendly. (Jonathan)
- I enjoyed learning the rich culture and language of the Spanish-speaking people among whom we labored. For the most part, the people were very faithful and eager to learn and embrace the gospel. (Austin)
- I served the most humble and loving people I had ever known. (Timothy)
- Some were very friendly, and did great work in the church. I loved the areas and people I worked with. (Mitchell)
- I liked everything about the island and people, even the hard things I now relish and smile about. (Rickey)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Bring a raincoat. (Lars)
- Wear “Drylex” garments instead of cotton or mesh. (the most comfortable ones if you are biking). (Sergio)
- Breathable fabric and anything that won’t show the sweat marks as much… You will have lots of sweat marks. A light weight rain jacket that has some sort of vent for airflow. Shoes you can bike in and skirts if you are a sister. (Samantha)
- During the two weeks of spring, make sure you have two long sleeve shirts and at least two jackets, so the wet one can dry while you’re wearing the other. (Andrew)
- Pack light. And only pack dark slacks, it hides the sweat and rain. Rain jacket isn’t necessary, it’s too hot and humid, and working in the rain is the best! It cools you off nicely. (Spencer)
- Spend the extra money on a couple of durable pairs of shoes that have rubber (NOT leather) soles. Also spend a little extra for some dress socks that have good toes (Goldtoe is a good brand). (Austin)
- Short sleeve shirts at least 12… sometimes you have to use 2 in one day … from bike back splatter…. something waterproof to carry your scriptures in. (Timothy)
- Use regular suitcases. I used a big white leather suit back. It blew apart at Puerto Rico airport. Important: Realize it will be hot and humid. Get suits that can breathe. (Mitchell)
- Pack light by mailing all your souvenirs home. It’s like Christmas when you get home. (Rickey)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- Served along side the woman I’m going to marry. (Lars)
- Studying at BYU-Idaho. Learning English. (Sergio)
- An amazing husband that served the Lord worthily. A healthy baby on the way. An increased testimony that I love to share. And an outgoing personality, I was super shy before my mission. A little brother that decided to serve and is serving a mission. Three little sisters that are already planning on serving the Lord as well. A much better relationship with my parents especially my mom. These are just a few. (Samantha)
- Confidence, patience. (Andrew)
- Many. While on the mission I got a job offer to be a manager for the BYU mens basketball team. That’s one that I can think of off the top of my head. There are many other blessings that I can trace directly back to my full-time service as a missionary. (Spencer)
- We were new and called to leadership positions quickly. We relied a lot upon our father in heaven. (Jonathan)
- My understanding of gospel principles was vastly improved, my testimony of the scriptures as holy writ was strengthened and the hearts of many of my non-member family members (I’m the only one in the Church) were softened somewhat to the message of the restored gospel. (Austin)
- I can trace all of my current blessings back to serving faithfully on my mission…the hand of God is more than evident. (Timothy)
- More knowledge, how to work with people, some of them very had to get along with. More spirituality. Wider food palate. (Mitchell)
- The value of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And what a Great Country we live in. America. (Rickey)
What are some skills you gained on your mission?
- Speaking another language, leadership skills, communication skills, hard work. (Lars)
- Second language, communication skills, planning skills. (Sergio)
- The ability to plan and organize. Being able to talk to anyone without being afraid. I have amazing listening skills and a really good ability to read people’s body language. Strong work ethic. (Samantha)
- I improved my communication skills and also became more outgoing. (Andrew)
- The ability to study, it’s been helping a ton for college. The skill of talking to people. The skill of hard work. The skill of self-control, just to name a few. (Spencer)
- Leadership and a stronger testimony. (Jonathan)
- Above all, the ability to communicate in Spanish! I already knew how to cook, clean, iron clothes, shop, manage money, etc. due to having lived on my own for a few years prior to the mission, but those are definitely skills that many missionaries will learn well. (Austin)
- Learning a 2nd language and a 3rd after I came home. Organization, Powerful faith, Importance of Obedience. (Timothy)
- Walking, biking…both long distances; getting along, how to cook a little. (Mitchell)
- To eat Lizards when my funds were late. (Rickey)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- Make the choice now to choose the harder right than the easier wrong. (Lars)
- Follow your trainer/obey him no matter how. (Sergio)
- You can’t do everything at once so just take it a day at a time. (Samantha)
- How to work hard. It actually would have improved my mission. (Andrew)
- Not every missionary is perfect, in fact most every missionary will fall short many times during the course of the mission. I went into the mission field with the false mindset that 100% of missionaries were 100% obedient and perfect in every way. That hindered my ability to love others and progress myself. After overcoming that mindset is when I grew the most. (Spencer)
- How fast the time would go by and making the most of that moment in my life. (Jonathan)
- I wish I had more familiarity with the scriptures, so I could have used/referenced them to a greater extent when trying to help others find solace or answers to their sincere questions and doubts. (Austin)
- An idea of how my trainer would be. (Mitchell)
- Really the directions on how to get to it. (Rickey)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to your mission?
- Choose the harder right. It will always pay off. (Lars)
- Charity first. (Sergio)
- Obedience brings blessings, EXACT obedience brings miracles. In the mission field you need those miracles every minute of everyday so you have to be worthy of them every minute of everyday. But don’t think all is lost if you slip up that is when you can learn the most and that is where the Savior can help you the most. (Samantha)
- Seek for families, and work with members. Build relationships with the members, and they will let you teach their friends. (Andrew)
- Have fun!!! Missionary work is hard and somedays it downright stinks. But it is the best thing I’ve done for my life so far. Never give up. There are many days when you want to throw in the towel and quit. Other times you don’t feel like being obedient or you don’t feel like working hard. Never give in to living less than your potential. God asks us to give our all, and if that’s not enough He covers what’s needed. There were many days when I was “carried” by the Spirit because I personally didn’t have the energy or strength to continue. But I can honestly say that for the overall part of my mission I gave my all and strived to be exactly obedient. I testify that exact obedience and hard work produce miracles, never doubt that. And this is God’s work, trust in Him and know that we are assisting Him in bringing His children home to Him. That is why it’s important to remember our purpose as missionaries and give it all we have for 2 years, there is no other time when we can devote ourselves 24/7 to God’s work. Take advantage of that privilege. I know this gospel and that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. (Spencer)
- Be prayerful about your scripture study, and in all the decisions you make, so when the time comes to depart you’ll feel well prepared and excited (as opposed to incapable and nervous/scared). (Austin)
- Make sure you have a “stand alone testimony” so you don’t waste your companion’s mission…. too many missionaries come out not wanting to work … and that ruins opportunities for other missionaries to enjoy their missions. (Timothy)
- Start out enthusiastic and go from there. Have a sense of humor. (Mitchell)
- Pay attention, Study. (Rickey)
What was a funny language mistake your or another missionary made? (if applicable)
- Mistaking the word airplane for bird in Portuguese. (Lars)
- The word for embarrassed in Spanish sounds nothing like the English word. In Spanish embarazada means pregnant not embarrassed 🙂 also make sure you say hunger not man (tengo hambre is I’m hungry tengo hombre is I have man). 😉 (Samantha)
- When having meals with members, you ask your companion if he wants more food. If he says no, but doesn’t know how to say it kindly, or properly, play the joke on him by coaching him into saying, “(Sí), ¿como no?” It means, “(yes), why not?”. (Andrew)
- On the first day in the mission field, some other missionaries tricked me into telling a group of people (mostly women) that I was “embarazado” about something. I was told that it meant I was “embarrassed”, but it actually meant that I was “pregnant”. Beware of false cognates like this in Spanish! (Austin)
- Confusing bless with hurt and love for death…. so in a prayer …. my companion during a prayer said ” blese-yo ak lamou.” Instead of beni-yo ak amou.” The 1st hurt them with death…. the 2nd bless them with love….Lol (Timothy)
- At Zone conference, the Mission President, his Family and visitors needed translators. Each visitor had a missionary seated behind them. As luck would have it, I got the Mission President. We translated fine through all the talks. Then one of the speakers told a joke, it didn’t translate into English. Everyone laughed, including me.The Mission President turned and gave me that annoyed look that says “What is going on Elder?” I wish I had the presence of mind to just say ” Smile”. (Rickey)