Michigan Lansing Mission

Free resources about the Michigan Lansing 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: Michigan Detroit Mission.

Michigan Lansing Mission Address

Here’s a recent address for the Lansing 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.

Michigan Lansing Mission Map

Here’s a link to the mission map for the Michigan Lansing Mission (LDS). To access the official LDS.org map for the Lansing Mission:

1. Log into your LDS account here.
2. Click here.

Videos with Lansing RMs

Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Lansing Mission.  We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.

LDS-Friendly Videos about Michigan

Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Michigan. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Michigan, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.

Michigan Lansing Missionary Blogs

Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Michigan Lansing Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.

*Send your missionary a gift (mission-specific shirts, ties, Christmas stockings/ornaments, pillowcases, etc.)

Michigan Lansing Mission Groups

Here are Michigan Lansing Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Lansing Mission.

1. Michigan Lansing Mission Facebook Group (287 members)
2. Michigan Lansing Mission 1999-02 Group (200 members)
3. Michigan Lansing Mission Mommas Group (96 members)
4. Lansing Mission (Pres. Edwards, 2005-08) Group (76 members)
5. Michigan Lansing Mission Moms (LDS) Group (14 members)
6. Lansing Mission (President Taylor) Group (12 members)
7. Lansing Mission – Pres. Glenn T. Baird Group (3 members)

Michigan Lansing Mission T-Shirts

Here are T-shirts for the Michigan Lansing Mission!

Shirt designs include Lansing 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: Lansing missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.

*Click here to browse Lansing Mission gifts

Michigan Lansing Mission Presidents

Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Lansing Mission.

1. 2017-2020, Sterling A. Brennan
2. 2014-2017, Michael V. Jacobsen
3. 2008-2011, Marc D. Jones
4. 2011-2014, Stephen H. Hess
5. 1993-1996, C. Erwin Waite
6. 1990-1993, James Calvin Taylor

Michigan LDS Statistics (2015)

• Church Membership: 43,748
• Missions: 2
• Temples: 1
• Congregations: 94
• Family History Centers: 41

Helpful Articles about Michigan

Coming soon..

Michigan Lansing Missionary Survey

Here are survey responses from Michigan Lansing 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?

• 2015-2016 (Jessica)
• May 2013-December 2014 (Sami)
• 2010 (Sister)
• 2008-2010 (Tanya)
• 1992-1994 (Jeremy)
• 1990-1992 (Elder)
• 1990-1991 (Teresa)
• 1988-1990 (Chris)
• 2007-2009 (Calista)
• 2006-2008 (Jared)
• 1988-1990 (Dave)
• 1974-1976 (Alan)

What areas did you serve in?

• Battle Creek, Bay City, Saginaw. (Jessica)
• Grand Ledge, Bay City, Holt, Kalamazoo, Holland, Petoskey. (Sami)
• Jonesville, Alegan, and Hart. (Sister)
• Wyoming, Williamston Ward, Grand Rapids Central, Kalamazoo, Cadillac, Western State University. (Tanya)
• Kalamazoo, Plainwell, Albion, Grand Rapids, Sturgis, Battle Creek, Clare, Traverse City. (Elder)
• Mason, Battle Creek, Marshall, St. Johns, Mt. Pleasant, Holland. (Teresa)
• Grand Haven, Jackson, East Lansing, South Haven, Traverse City, Midland, Lowell, Lansing. (Chris)
• Wyoming, Holland, Cadillac, Traverse City, and Okemos. (Calista)
• Saginaw, Oscoda, East Lansing, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, St. Johns, Hastings. (Jared)
• Flint, South Haven, Richmond, Toledo(Ohio), SouthField. (Alan)

What were some favorite foods?

• Breakfast! I also really loved potatoes and pasta. Getting those things was a treat! (Jessica)
• Baclava, pot roast. They have pasty pies, which I never got to try, but I heard are pretty tasty. (Sister)
• Mashed Potatoes. Everyone knew that was my favorite. (Tanya)
• What wasn’t a favorite was I took a dare to eat an entire long skinny green hot pepper about the size of my pinky down to the stem in one bite! Wow was that hot! It was at the Zone Conference lunch in Kalamazoo! Thankfully I had left my gallon of milk in the fridge. Downed half of it & my face was still on fire, eyes watering, face flushed, and nose running. Whew! (Jeremy)
• Pizza, sushi, Indian food. Oh and Steak. My drink of choice on my mission was Faygo Rock and Rye, it is in the same price range as Shasta but ten times better. (Elder)
• Mackinac fudge. (Teresa)
• The Dare to be Great in Jackson and the Rax chain. (Chris)
• Anything besides pizza….too much. (Calista)
• Venison, fish, fudge, maple syrup. (Jared)
• All that were prepared by Members who gave us the best of all they had! (Dave)

What was a funny experience?

• My companion and I were tracting one day in a more run down area. One house had the owner standing outside, and so we stopped and talked to him. He rejected the offer to learn more, but as we were walking away, he called out to me, “do you have a boyfriend?” I immediately said no, curious to see where this was going. “Can I be your boyfriend?” Obviously, I said no, and went on to explain that I was on a mission for my church. He blankly looked at me and then said, “Well, I’m on a mission too. Could I be your new mission?” At this point, both my companion and I were trying not to bust up laughing. I declined his kind offer and we walked away talking about how we should have left him with a law of chastity pamphlet. (Jessica)
• One time I got a bit of stage fright and I ran away from a person I was talking to, and my companion…Actually it happened twice. (Sister)
• In Grand Rapids my companion and I were delivering a media request. We walked up to the house and there was a dog on the porch in a crate barking like mad at us. We knocked on the porch door cause we weren’t about to step into the enclosed porch with that dog. Of course they never heard the knock so we wrote a little note to go with the item. Just as we were about to leave it and go out comes this very tough and ripped black woman looking like she was ready to pound someone. I think she might have even had a bat. But once she saw it was just two girls preaching about Jesus she softened. (Tanya)
• The different festivals. (Teresa)
• So many! I was on trade offs tracting and there was a house with a very mean dog under the porch which scared us pretty bad. I took my companion back the next day and when the dog barked my companion ran about 2 blocks before his feet ever hit the ground. (Chris)
• When my companion’s skirt got caught in the chain of her bike in the middle of the intersection. She fell over and we both laughed. (Calista)
• Being in the most northern part of the Mission which was a part of the “Heavy Snow Belt” and we’re snowed in so deep, we opened our front door of the apartment to begin our work for the day and we’re met with a 10 foot deep wall of snow that was a drift. Our car was 200 feet from the from door and we could not reach it because our snow shovel was buried beneath the layers of snow. The great Members ” Up North” brought us lunch and rescued us at the second story bedroom window later after 3 passes of a snowplow on the Main Street in town… that was where our apartment was. (Dave)

What was a crazy experience?

• One woman we were teaching wanted to feed us dinner, and we had been having a hard time actually teaching her, so we quickly agreed. Once we got over to her house, she started making dinner, and everything started out normal, then she started talking about how she knew what was going to happen with Armageddon, and how we were going to be there with her. Sadly, it didn’t stop there, she talked about how she was Michael the Archangel, and that she had powers, and if that weren’t enough, that we had powers to. A lot more happened after that that I won’t go into, but needless to say, the Spirit was not there. I have never, until that moment, realized the power that Satan has. When we got back to our apartment, we immediately got on our knees, and asked the spirit to return. That was the most shook up I have ever been, but we got through it and never went back to that house. (Jessica)
• We drove into a tornado. That sounds hard to do, but when you can’t see more then 5 feet it is a bit more difficult. (Sister)
• Several times while serving in Grand Rapids we were told it wasn’t safe for two girls to be walking around. But we never encountered any dangerous situations. (Tanya)
• Delivering a video to a home in the countryside my greenie & I were scared by an angry dog. It came running up to the porch barking & snarling at us! My greenie Elder Larsen held his backpack between he & the dog & he got back up on the porch. I remember worrying we’d get attacked, but then thought to whistle as loudly as I could & the dog went back to the side of the house where we thought he was tied up all along! Glad I practice d whistling at a job at Reagan’s printing & learned finally how to do it! We were highly protected in this experience. No one was home at this farm house out in the stocks near Sturgis, MI.! (Jeremy)
• I never felt threaten on my mission…even in the really bad areas of the mission. Although during the time of the LA riots over the police beating of Rodney King, I was driving in Battle Creek along with my companion and the other two Elders from my district. When a young, drunk and disaffected African-American man approached our vehicle while we were driving past his house and proceeded to toss an empty beer bottle at our car. Needless to say, he failed miserable due to the state he was in. The bottle sailed harmless over our vehicle and dashed upon the ground. We all had a good laugh on the way back to the apartment. (Elder)
• Men addicted to porn and not interested in learning anything. Evil influences on those we were teaching. (Teresa)
• Someone in Midland pointed a shotgun at us. Having a driver lose control of our car on black ice on Christmas night in Traverse City where three Missionaries were killed just 3 years prior in the same area. (Chris)
• Knocking on doors and a lady came out with a shotgun. (Calista)
• A mentally unstable and angry former member who threatened at gun- point to take us hostage until he was able to receive an apology from the prophet for his apparent excommunication years before, which troubled him. We had divine protection. (Dave)

What was a spiritual experience?

• We were teaching a woman in my second area, and she was getting baptized fairly soon, but there was one issue; she was a Celtic Wiccan, and she actively practiced and had a strong connection with her “powers”. That night we were planning to have a lesson telling her that she had to give up a very large portion of her life. We fasted and prayed beforehand, and we knew that this lesson was going to go how God wanted it to go. We started in, and told her that what she was practicing was influenced by Satan, and if she wanted to be baptized ,she needed to stop. She sat quietly for a second, and then she started to say she was going to have to pray about this, and of course she was hesitant. All of a sudden she stopped and got this really confused look on her face. Suddenly she looked us in the eyes and said, ” The Holy Ghost just confirmed to me that what you are saying is true. I need to stop because I need to be baptized.” The spirit filled the room so strongly, and I knew that she had felt the truth. She was baptized two weeks later and is still going strong. (Jessica)
• We car fasted, which means that one day a week we wouldn’t use the car. This was rather difficult some times. Also, we were only permitted so many miles in the car each month. One month we had one day left, and were pretty well out of miles, and had meetings planned 40 miles away-which was a problem. We recounted the miles we had already used (which we did every night), and we magically had 100 more miles! Very simply, but cool miracle. (Sister)
• I can’t remember any specific times but I do remember a few different times I didn’t know. exactly what I was going to say in a lesson but as I opened my mouth the most perfect words would come out and I knew it was the spirit saying those things those people needed to hear. (Tanya)
• I remember praying w/ Johnny Vice and Randy Gilmore & having the Holy Spirit confirm that they should be baptized! Each of us would pray on our knees and receive confirmation of what God wanted the investigator to do! Powerful stuff! (Jeremy)
• I remember one time a member took us to a Catholic hospital to give a blessing to a non-member man who was sick. The man was the members Junior High physical education coach and the member who was in his late fifties hadn’t seen his coach since Junior High ask him if we could give him a priesthood blessing. A little background information is needed here. I grew up in a very strong LDS home. My father served faithfully in many callings, including Bishop, 1st and 2nd councilor, ward clerk as well as gospel doctrine teacher. He would give us “Father’s blessings” each year at the start school and I’m confident that he did give priesthood blessings, but I had never seen a priesthood blessing perform with the Consecration part. So back to the P.E. coach. We went into his room presented ourselves and exchange awkward pleasantries. The member introduced himself explained who he was and why we were there and then asked if he wanted a priesthood blessing. Now I can’t recall what this gentleman was in the hospital for but I vaguely remember cancer being bandied about. He said yes but his eyes were telling an entirely different story. My companion ( who happened to be my brother, yes that’s right I was called to the same mission as my older brother) said he would do the blessing and I would consecrate first. So I proceeded to put the oil on this man’s head guessing not knowing where specifically it was supposed to go, I just picked a spot and went with it. I then shut my eyes and start saying the words that I sparsely knew to be the correct way of doing the consecration blessing. The one thing I omitted was to lay my hands on his head. I was informed by my companion (Brother) that I had to do it all over again only this time with my hands on his head. I can’t know what was going through this gentleman’s mind and soul, but I’m pretty sure it was the Spirit. (Elder)
• Testifying of the truths of the gospel. Hearing and feeling the Spirit teach. (Teresa)
• So many! A blessing we gave an investigator who was a student at Michigan State University. I sure hope she got baptized. Teaching Neal Barncard in Jackson and watching him be baptized. Teaching the Huffman family in South Haven and watching them be baptized. (Chris)
• There is too many to put here but no matter what seeing someone come straight out of the water is breathtaking. (Calista)

What are some interesting facts about the Lansing Mission?

• Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state. Because Michigan is shaped like a mitten, everyone there uses their hand as a map to tell you where they’re from. (Sami)
• It is the cereal capital of the USA. It has more light houses then any other state. In the city Hell missionaries get free ice cream. There are really neat stones called Petolsky stones. If ever your board you should go look up King Strang of the Mormons. People who live in the Upper Peninsula (Or the UP) are called Upers (pronounced youpers), and people who live below the bridge are called Trolls. Everyone really does use their hand as a map. Lastly, in church they don’t call leading the music leading, they call it Waggling. (Sister)
• Wayne Mays has studied anthropology and the lands of the Book of Mormon & believes the Great Lakes region is where Zarahemla and lands mentioned R in Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, etc. Fascinating stuff! He’s excavating across the Mississippi river from the Nauvoo Temple presently! (Jeremy)
• The state of Michigan is shaped like a mitten so if you ask someone where they live, they will point on their hand where they live. (Elder)
• Most anti-Mormon literature comes from Michigan. There are a lot of schools that produce ministers. They love their sports! Tons of festivals and little towns representing so many immigrants that came from all over the world. Cereal capitol for Post and Kelloggs. (Teresa)
• It was interesting that people mowed their lawns diagonally. (Chris)
• The different dynamics in the mission. You meet so many different people of all cultures. (Calista)
• There is a festival in every little town in Michigan. They are great opportunities for work. Petoskey stones are unique to Michigan, so collect a few as souvenirs. (Jared)

What was the weather like?

• (Coming from someone who grew up in the desert) In the summer, humid and hot with lots of mosquitoes. Around August there are great rolling thunderstorms accompanied by torrents of rain- bring an umbrella! In the winter it’s COLD. Sisters, prepare to wear multiple layers of leggings and tights under your skirts, and don’t worry about looking funny wearing good boots because you don’t want to go without. (Sami)
• Humid. Very humid. Hot without high temperatures in summer. Cold with very low temperatures and more snow that most folks can imagine in winter. It rains and pours a great amount of water. And there are tornadoes. (Sister)
• Cold in the winter. And I mean cold. Thanks to the humidity the cold seemed to chill you to the bone. Autumn is sooo beautiful and spring is too unless you have allergies. I also enjoyed summer which i spent in the north. (Tanya)
• First winter they said was very mild, but 2nd one was pretty severe! They called us the frozen chosen! (Jeremy)
• Cold and wet in the winter. The wind would blow off of the Lakes and cut through any protection you had on. The summers were humid and hot. (Elder)
• Extreme. (Teresa)
• Winters were very cold. Loved the spring and fall there…it’s such a beautiful place. (Chris)
• You really never knew….it’s the weather. (Calista)
• It snows a lot in the winter and it rains a lot in the summer. There are a lot of overcast days, which can feel depressing at times. (Jared)
• Humid in the summer and cold in the winter. (Alan)

Any things you really like about the area/people?

• It is beautiful! My second area was a historical area, so most of the houses were extremely ornate. (Jessica)
• People are generally very kind and friendly to missionaries. Michiganders are very talkative once you get them going (this is sometimes referred to by missionaries and others as the “Gander rant”). The members of the church are AWESOME. Some of the best people I have ever met, and very willing to help out the missionaries. (Sami)
• When they take you in, you are a part of the family. (Sister)
• Loved them! They are a special kind of people. Not always the most educated But they know how to love. If they can see how much you care for them then they will love you forever. (Tanya)
• Amazing loving people members! Ward family unity! Great opportunities to serve, get out of our comfort zones, build friendships, green countryside, humble & very faithful members! Seeing the joy that fills someone who is coming unto Christ through baptism! (Jeremy)
• Everything was green and trees as far as you could see. The people were kind and welcoming. Every time I hear something about Michigan, I have a warm spot in my heart. (Elder)
• They were church going people already. Real down to earth. (Teresa)
• I loved the trees and the weather. I loved Lake Michigan. (Chris)
• You just have to love the people. They will always be there for you. (Calista)
• They are very kind and they seem to stay positive in the face of trial. (Jared)

Any packing/clothing advice?

• Take mittens, they will save your life. Also, don’t bring Payless shoes. You will walk a ton, and if you skimp on those, you will be in pain. (Jessica)
• Cool summer clothes, and very warm winter clothes- that’s about it! Plus a poncho/umbrella for those summer storms. (Sami)
• Bring a golf ball for knocking doors in the winter so you don’t have to take your hands out of your gloves. Also in winter use layers; other wise you will be fine while outside, step inside a home, and suddenly be stuck melting to death. (Sister)
• Need both heavy warm clothes and light cool clothes. Your summer clothes should breathe easy to help with the humidity. (Tanya)
• Gore-tex, humid cold and strong winds can really freeze you. Good gloves & thermos. Boots. (Jeremy)
• Pack for every extreme season. Freezing to hot and humid. (Teresa)
• Spend the money for durable, waterproof shoes and luggage. Pack extra clothes in your carry on in the event your luggage is lost. (Chris)
• Pack light, you really don’t need as much as you think. (Calista)
• Dress warm, the winters are very long and very cold. Pack wool socks and avoid Dr. Scholl’s brand shoes. Also, bring hand warmers for your gloves, I almost lost some fingers a couple of times to the cold. (Jared)

What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?

• I was blessed to receive the ability to ask for help. Surprisingly, I don’t have to go through everything alone. I was blessed to gain confidence in my worth, and I saw God’s love for me. (Jessica)
• I learned how to love people I didn’t get along with, my family at home grew much closer, I saw people make changes in their lives to bring them closer to the Savior. (Sami)
• I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that God has a plan for me. I don’t think I like that plan very much, but it’s okay. God knows what He is doing. (Sister)
• It helped to prepare me to be a better mother, wife, person. And the people met. I’m still friends with so many of them on Facebook and still feel so close to them even though its been 5 years.  (Tanya)
• Understanding how vital serving others is to being a true disciple of Christ & developing charity for all mankind. How all blessings are predicated on our obedience and how eager God & Christ are to bless us! Golden investigators are ready to hear the word! The list continues to grow even today! (Jeremy)
• I met some really good friends on my mission that have blessed my life. (Elder)
• Friends, experiences, love, hope. (Teresa)
• A firm testimony that I can never deny. I saw miracles that only the Lord could accomplish. (Chris)
• The blessing of knowing without a doubt that the gospel is true and it is worth everything to me. (Calista)
• Deep rooted faith in the gospel and a testimony of the Savior. (Jared)
• More than I can list. President C Russell Hansen and Sister Doris Hansen made a lasting influence on me. (Alan)

What are some skills you gained?

• Making conversation with new people, teaching at a very basic level, communication, making the most of my time. (Sami)
• I learned how to cry, which really is a great blessing in my life. (Sister)
• I learned how to better understand and study the scriptures. I’m still not great (still shy) but I’m better at opening my mouth to share the gospel when prompted. I learned how to stand on My own two feet without my family being right there to carry my burdens for me. (Tanya)
• Closeness & recognition of the Holy Spirit! Eternal friendships and life lessons! Increased faith, fortitude, & gratitude for my mother and family. She wrote me every week! Communication, doctrinal understanding of eternal truth and principles! Love of the scriptures & phenomenal companions! (Jeremy)
• Public speaking. (Elder)
• Love. (Teresa)
• I learned the Gospel and how to teach it. I learned how to take scriptural passages and explain them in plain, easy to understand language. (Chris)
• Being able to talk to random people and having a schedule. (Calista)
• Deep knowledge of the scriptures. Your faith is constantly tested by others beliefs and questions. (Jared)
• Determination, attitude, faith. (Alan)

What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?

• There is no such thing as a perfectly obedient missionary. We all have a level at which we are capable of performing. Yes, this level can go up, but we have to be willing to accept our shortcomings. You will influence someone as long as you’re trying. (Jessica)
• That it’s okay to make mistakes and to take care of yourself. You need to take care of you (spiritually, emotionally, and physically) before you can take care of others. (Sami)
• I wish I had researched the various common religions in the area, and what they believe in. (Methodist, Catholic, and in the back of the woods worshipers were the most common for me). (Sister)
• Its hard but so worth it. The time goes so fast. And exact obedience is very important and what you should be striving for but don’t forget to listen, to the spirit, to the people you are teaching. Sometimes they need you and it’s already 9:01pm but helping to answer their questions is what they need more. The people themselves are more important than them as numbers. (Tanya)
• Kept my temper better w/ my trainer and companions! Stood up for service projects & CTR more boldly when tempted to disobey or slacken my efforts! (Jeremy)
• When it comes down to it, numbers, lessons, investigators, etc… Heavenly Father knows how hard you are trying, so don’t worry about what others think. Just do your best! (Teresa)
• That some Missionaries didn’t follow the rules and I wish I knew what was not appropriate behavior. (Chris)
• The rules are important but building relationships is why you are there. (Calista)
• You will knock on a lot of doors, just get used to it. (Jared)
• The scriptures better. (Alan)

Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Lansing?

• You are making the right decision, you will struggle, you will fall, and you will want to give up, but you can do it. This is the hardest best thing you will ever do for your lives. Learn to admit when you don’t something, carry on until you do. (Jessica)
• I wish I had prepared emotionally for my mission. Most of my coping mechanisms weren’t allowed/possible on the mission, so I had some emotional issues. (Sister)
• Love. Just love them. Disney always tells us how the most powerful magic is true love. And I believe love is. You can do wonders just by loving the people. They can tell if you don’t or are forcing it. And you probably will still have successful mission without loving them but it will be so much more, to you and them, if you learn to truly love them. (Tanya)
• Think for yourself and always go with your conscience. You’re 18/19 you don’t know anything and people will tell you this and that, just use your gut feeling. (Elder)
• Have a personal testimony of the Book of Mormon & the restoration! Never give up & always keep a prayer of faith in your heart for your desired goals! (Jeremy)
• Know how to talk to people about anything! (Teresa)
• Read The Articles of Faith and Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. Memorize as many scripture passages as you can. These will prepare you for just about everything. (Chris)

What was a funny language mistake?