PROVO — The LDS missionary surge dramatically altered the demographics of the student body at BYU, university President Kevin Worthen said Monday.
Today, more than half of all students at Brigham Young University have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The most stirring change has been the increase in the number of women students who are returned missionaries 42 months after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lowered the eligibility ages for serving missions.
Today, 33 percent of all BYU women students are returned missionaries, up from 10 percent in October 2012, Worthen said.
The percentage of male returned missionaries on campus increased to 88 percent from 79 percent.
Overall, Worthen said, 63 percent of all BYU students are returned missionaries, up from 46 percent in 2012.
Worthen provided the statistics Monday morning in opening remarks for the 27th Annual Conference of the LDS International Society at the Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center.
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