Free resources about the Nevada Reno 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: Nevada LDS Missions.
Nevada Reno Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Reno Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Nevada Reno Mission
1146 Prater Way
Sparks, NV 89431-4437
Phone Number: 1-775-737-4220
Mission President: President Bruce W. Chesnut
Nevada Reno Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Nevada Reno Mission (LDS). To access the official LDS.org map for the Reno Mission:
Videos with Reno RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Reno Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
Videos about Nevada
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Nevada. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Nevada, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Nevada Reno Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Nevada Reno Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Nevada Reno Mission Groups
Here are Nevada Reno Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Reno Mission.
- Reno Mission Family and Friends Group (152 members)
- Nevada Reno Mission Facebook Group (130 members)
- Nevada Reno Mission (2012-) Facebook Group (17 members)
- Las Vegas and Reno Mission Moms (LDS) Group (6 members)
- Nevada Reno Mission Moms (LDS) Group (2 members)
Nevada Reno Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Nevada Reno Mission!
Shirt designs include Nevada Reno 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: Reno missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Reno Mission gifts
Nevada Reno Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Nevada Reno Mission.
- 2015-2018, Bruce W. Chesnut
- 2012-2015, David Nephi Hermansen
Nevada LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 182,072
- Missions: 3
- Temples: 2
- Congregations: 330
- Family History Centers: 29
Helpful Articles about Nevada
Nevada Reno Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Nevada Reno RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.
When did you serve?
- 2013-2015 (Katrina)
- July 2013-October 2014 (Heather)
- 2013-2014 (Carlie)
- 1998-2000 (Dennis)
Which areas did you serve in?
- Elko, Wells, Sparks, Reno. (Katrina)
- Reno, Carson City, Tahoe. (Carlie)
- Las Vegas ghetto, Reno, Sparks, and South Lake Tahoe. (At the time, my mission included Las Vegas all these areas.) (Dennis)
What were some favorite foods?
- Pasta and steak. We had too much pizza though! (Katrina)
- Steak! So much steak in the rural areas. And of course in Reno and Sparks, you can eat at the casinos (with permission from the mission president, of course!) (Heather)
- Steak, homemade pizza, and requests of what our moms would make. (Carlie)
- Mac and cheese, cheeseburgers, corn dogs, pizza, cereal, milk, sandwhiches, spaghetti, lasagna, some Chinese food, Mexican food. (Dennis)
What was a funny experience?
- My companions and I would constantly play small and harmless pranks on each other. It kept things fun while doing the work. (Katrina)
- When my companion and I were helping our investigator get ready to be baptized, and her service dog ran away, and she couldn’t get baptized until we found it. So my companion and I were literally running down the big streets of Sparks, NV trying to catch her dog. (Heather)
- We had a talent show as an activity with our district one time and everyone had to participate. So funny! Out district leader made up a rap about us. (Carlie)
- When I was serving in Reno, a family in the ward I was serving in celebrated my birthday and the birthday song they sang me went something like this, “I Don’t Know, But I’ve Been Told Someone Here Is Growing Old! Happy Birthday!” It went like a military cadence. It was hilarious! Hahah! (Dennis)
What was a crazy experience?
- We got a call from a man who wanted to be baptized and we were so excited but I remember feeling very distinctly that we needed to bring 2 priesthood leaders with us. It turns out he was a registered sex offender. He never wanted us to come back. I’m so thankful we listened to the Spirit and we kept safe. (Katrina)
- There were many instances when my companion and I were in potentially dangerous situations and we had to get out. Most commonly with men following us, and people not letting us leave their houses. Make sure you listen to the Spirit, and when visiting someone of the opposite sex, you have someone else with you. (Heather)
- There was a street in my first area that was all trailer homes and almost every house had a fence with dogs. I was super scared to try to go in a gate to knock on a door with a dog! (Carlie)
- One of my dangerous experiences was when I was serving in the ghetto of Las Vegas. A lesson with a black man and a black woman was interrupted by gunfight that was taking place between gang members. My companion, the investigators, and I were inside when it was happening. (Dennis)
What was a spiritual experience?
- We once taught this fantastic woman who was ready for the Gospel, but it was how we met her that made her so special. She lived about 2 hours away from us in a little valley that had just over 30 people in it. We met her through some “neighbors” that lived an hour away and she just had some simple questions about our beliefs. She loved everything but she couldn’t find what the big deal was with Christ. She thought He was a great man but she just didn’t get it. We sang the primary song; ‘He Sent His Son.’ The Spirit was so powerful as it testified of the importance of our Savior. (Katrina)
- SO MANY! I remember so many lessons and people that I shared very sacred experiences with. One lesson in particular, we were teaching the first lesson, introducing God, apostasy, prophets, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. I started giving the account of the first vision, and the Spirit was the strongest I’ve ever felt. I felt as if we were in the presence of angels and spiritual beings and being taught. Tears were in everyone’s eyes, and our investigator was so full of joy that after we were done teaching, we offered him a Book of Mormon and he fell to his knees, and started sobbing. After a few minutes, he then bore his testimony to us, of the truthfulness of what we had taught, and what he had learned, and all who were present at the lesson were so excited! It was truly sacred, and a lesson I will never forget! (Heather)
- What isn’t spiritual? My favorite is when you’re in a lesson and something just clicks with your investigator and they know this is what they want in their life. (Carlie)
- Lots of them. I had an awesome experience where when I was serving in South Lake Tahoe and Elder Hales had visited the South Lake Ward and he got to stand in the confirmation of two recently baptized families. It was awesome! (Dennis)
What are some interesting facts about the Reno Mission?
- It is the driest state in the country. Prostitution is legal. Gambling is huge. (Katrina)
- The landscape and culture is so diverse! The mission is so big that you can start out in a cattle ranching community with a population of 100 people, then go to a big thriving city. You can be in the driest desert of Nevada, then go to the Sierra mountains at Lake Tahoe, and onto the huge pine trees and billowing hills in California. In one ward you can find some of the poorest people, and some of the wealthiest! Nevada is home to some of the most humble and interesting people in the world! It’s truly amazing! (Heather)
- We have parts of California, Idaho and Utah in our mission. (Carlie)
- My mission was the west of where my oldest sister lived. (Dennis)
What was the weather like?
- Dry, but overall it was nice in spring, summer, and fall with a medium winter. (Katrina)
- It is dry, always! If you’re on the eastern side of the mission (i.e. Elko, Ely, Spring Creek, etc.) you get a lot of snow, and it gets COLD. The western side of the mission gets less snow, but also gets pretty cold. The summers are beautiful and can reach temperatures as high as 105 degrees. It’s great because you really do experience every season, and everything that comes with it…snow, rain, heat, ice, everything. (Heather)
- Summers are HOT. I think the highest was 115 and the winters aren’t bad. It only snowed once and rained a handful of times. It was usually in the 50s. (Carlie)
- In Vegas in got dry and hot during the summer, but in Sparks, Reno, and South Lake Tahoe it was a comfortable warm temperature during the warmer months. (Dennis)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- Each person was very unique and came with their own story and background. I was able to love them and see them the way God sees them. (Katrina)
- I love it because there’s no place like it! People come from all walks of life, and I met so many people from different countries! I taught people from Poland, France, India, Brazil, Africa, Holland, and more! As well as lots of people from out of state, there are SO MANY true Nevadans, born and raised! There are lots of farmers and ranchers, and nearly everyone in the rural areas (outside of Reno and Sparks) is religious. (Heather)
- They aren’t as high maintenance or into social trends as Utah which is where I’m from. (Carlie)
- The weather. I love the fact that it hardly ever rained in Nevada when I was there. I think the weather’s the same there now. It was awesome in my mission to work with all the Pacific Islanders. They are very spiritual people, although other people on my mission were very spiritual as well. (Dennis)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- It’s an all-season mission so, unfortunately, you have to pack for all seasons, which can be hard. Basic skirts with lots of funky shirts can change up your style along with layering with cardigans and jewelry. If you think you might want it during the 18 months just bring it! It’s better than just missing it. Also, pack as light as possible because you accumulate a lot. Sisters will swap clothes. Thrift store shopping is available. You’ll have a better idea of what you want once you get in your area. (Katrina)
- Sisters, don’t spend too much money on expensive “sister missionary” walking shoes! I got by my ENTIRE mission with ballet flats from Walmart and Target. Nearly every companionship has a car…I rode my bike twice. I also served when there was a rainy season, and I wish I had brought rain boots! It’s kind of hit and miss with stuff like that, but it’s better to be prepared! (Heather)
- Bring leggings and tights for winter; it gets cold outside all day and later into the night. It’s not about being cute, it’s about being comfortable; Shoes especially. (Carlie)
- Bring along dress short sleeve and and long sleeve shirts with casual short sleeve shirts and long sleeve casual shirts. Bring your suits, trench coats, ties, and dress pants. But don’t over-pack your suitcases or suitcases. They might be hard to close and too heavy to carry. (Dennis)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I’m financially stable. I married a wonderful man. My life has just been smoother. I have more faith and I’m a new person who is led by Christ. Everything about my life can be traced back to my mission. (Katrina)
- I can’t begin to count the blessings that have come from serving a mission. The greatest blessing is that I have become truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and have come to know Heavenly Father and my Savior personally. My family has been blessed immensely, and I learned so many life skills that have since helped me so much! I made life long friends (most of which I consider family) and have witnessed the redeeming power of the atonement in the lives of my investigators, converts, members, companions, and my own! (Heather)
- The windows of heaven opened and poured out blessings upon me. Too many to number. Clarity on my future. A loving eternal companion. A successful business. Happy and healthy friends for a lifetime: other missionaries. (Carlie)
- I received greater patience in working with other people, greater love for Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement, other people, and greater ability to feel the Spirit. (Dennis)
What are some skills you gained?
- Teaching, speaking, maturity, humility, thinking of others, empathy. (Katrina)
- Definitely communication skills! How to interact with people you’re teaching, how to approach people on the streets, and most of all, how to communicate with a companion! I also learned how a lot of the auxiliaries of the church work, and the best way to have a fully functioning ward! I think the 2 greatest skills I learned were how to set goals, and manage my time! (Heather)
- Timeliness, integrity, perseverance, gratitude, interviewing skills for jobs, understanding of others, and a love for everyone. (Carlie)
- Interpersonal skills, public speaking, and planning skills. (Dennis)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- I don’t have any regrets. If I would have been more humble and relied on the Lord more things would have been easier at the beginning. Give your will to him. (Katrina)
- Your mission is what you make it. You will not learn or gain as much as you can from your mission if you haven’t made the decision beforehand to be obedient, or set goals for what you want to become! Make a list of the attributes you want to cultivate, and make those a priority! (Heather)
- That I shouldn’t be so uptight. I was so focused on meeting goals and being the hardest working missionary I think I missed out on some fun and memories. (Carlie)
- I wish at the beginning of the mission I wasn’t so obsessed with not making mistakes. I learned mistakes are part of growing. As my mission went on, I was a little more relaxed with that. (Dennis)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Reno?
- Pray, read, and spiritually prepare. Remember you are called there for a reason. Your particular personality and experiences are what brought you there. the Lord called you for you. Be yourself and have fun! Nothing can really prepare you for a mission except your relationship with the Lord and your personal experiences. (Katrina)
- Give it your all! You only have a short amount of time to devote ALL your time and attention to the Lord. Make it count, be obedient to the core! Be bold like a Lion, love yourself, your companions, mission president, and everyone you come in contact with! Pray earnestly, and seek out miracles. (Heather)
- Just do it. (Carlie)
- Definitely study your scriptures, study church history as well, follow the Savior and the Spirit in your life, and learn to question what you learn as much as possible. That will help you grow spiritually. (Dennis)
What was a funny language mistake?