SMART PHONES:

Upcoming Missionary Dept. Phone Policy Changes:

  • “All new missionaries who begin their MTC experience on or after July 1, 2023 will be provided with Church-owned smartphones. From that date forward, missionaries will receive a Church-owned smartphone at the MTC and will travel with a device to their missions.”

    Those who will be receiving a Church-owned smartphone should not bring any other personal phones with them to the mission.

  • Until July 1, the current expectation of missionaries bringing one phone with them to the mission will continue. See below for information regarding which phones are recommended.

Which smartphone models are approved?

All smartphones (whether previously owned, even by another missionary, or newly purchased) must meet the following requirements:

  • Brand: Samsung

  • Carrier: Factory unlocked

  • Knox version: 3.2.1 or above. Follow these steps to verify that your phone model has Knox version 3.2.1 or above:

  1. Visit https://www.samsungknox.com/en/knox-platform/supported-devices.

  2. Apply the following filter on the Samsung website: Under the “Other Tools” heading, select “Knox Service Plugin.”

  3. Find your phone’s model code/number. Your phone’s model code/number (such as SM-A515F) can usually be verified in the product description when purchasing the phone or in the “About phone” section of the phone settings.

  4. Confirm that the Knox version is listed as 3.2.1 or higher. Phones with a Knox version listed as 3.2, below 3.2, or “N/A” are not approved.

On the website listed above, the Knox version is listed next to the model code (also known as the model number). If the exact model is not listed, then that phone is not compatible.

Note: Rooted or jailbroken devices cannot be used.

  • Operating system: Android 10 or higher. The operating system can be verified in the product description or in the “About phone” section of the smartphone’s settings.

If you depend on a medical-related app, email mmnurses@dmba.com as soon as possible to request permission to use the app on your missionary smartphone. (App access cannot be guaranteed, but requests will be accommodated if possible.)

Please ensure that the phone model you intend to bring is compatible with the requested app. (Phone compatibility information is available on the Google Play Store or app developer’s website.)

 DO NOT BRING AN EXTRA PHONE WITH YOU TO THE MISSION. Missionaries should only have one phone with them in the mission field. Extra phones will be sent home or kept in the mission office until the end of your mission.