Mormons Curb Fax Use by Missionaries

The Mormon Church says missionaries may not use e-mail and faxes to communicate with families and friends back home.

Communication with their families has always been controlled by the church in an effort to keep missionaries, usually young adults, focused on their work. They are allowed to phone home only on Christmas and Mother’s Day and are not to write more than once a week.

Don LeFevre, a church spokesman, said that with the convenience of e-mail, “some missionaries may be communicating more than once a week, and that would detract from missionary work.”

He said there were some exceptions to the ban, such as for missionaries living in areas where postal service is poor.