President Thomas S. Monson lowered the age requirement for mission service more than two years ago, and the LDS community is starting to recognize resulting social changes in marriages and perceived role of women in the Church.
The number of missionaries in the field has grown exponentially since then. Current statistics indicate that the mission force is more than 88,000 strong.
Male and female missionaries are now serving and returning from missions around the same time, increasing the likelihood that couples who dated before going on missions will date once again after returning.