The reduction in age requirements has significantly impacted the Mormon missionary efforts states an article published yesterday in the Houston Chronicle. Applications to serve for the global church soared following the announcement. Previously, Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, typically received 700 applications per week. Two weeks following the announcement, that number soared to over 4000. Although that number has since leveled off, Church leaders state that volume has not dipped below double the previous average since that time. New missionaries Hunstman and Ruiz are examples of what is happening in the nearly 15 million member church.