Abstract
Purpose. This study was conducted to identify and describe the elements of the mission program from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that support the learning of leadership characteristics, specifically; vision, communication, integrity, and self-awareness and to determine if these former missionaries continued practicing the four characteristics: vision, communication, integrity, and self-awareness after the mission. Methodology. The subjects in this study were 136 return missionaries who served in the Chile, Concepcion Mission between January of 1996 and January of 1998. Subjects responded to two research instruments: (a) an 18-item survey assessing their perceptions of learning leadership in the mission, (b) an interview utilizing six semistructured interview questions that delved deeper into specific experiences involving the learning and practicing of leadership during and after the mission. Findings. Examination of quantitative and qualitative data from the survey and interviews indicated that the mission program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does support the learning of leadership and that return missionaries continue to use the skills learned in the mission in their communities, careers, and families. This study also identified key elements of the mission that can be used as a model in the development of new leadership training programs that incorporate the modeling, coaching, and practice of leadership skills. Conclusions. The study data support the conclusion that return missionaries are likely to become leaders in their community, career, and family, and that leadership programs that provide modeling, coaching, and practice of leadership skills are effective in teaching sustainable leadership skills. Recommendations. Further research is advised: descriptive studies of the Peace Corps, mission programs from other denominations, and the military to discover if common elements exists that support the learning of leadership. Also, it is recommended that a study be conducted to discover other elements or structures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that support the learning of leadership during the entire lifespan or segments of the life span of its members.