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David O. McKay (ninth prophet):
I plead with you bishops and presidents of the stakes to be more careful in your inquiries unto the worthiness of the missionaries whom you recommend. Will you, before calling them or interviewing them, just look over the missionary recommendation which you are going to sign? Do not just put it in the hand of the missionary and let him fill the blanks, but you note the significance of these questions. If he is married, please inquire into the condition of his family. Is he divorced or is she divorced? Please state why and see whether or not he or she is worthy to go out and preach the sacredness of the marriage covenant and the ideals of the Church in regard to home building.
Under morality, answer sincerely before you put this in the hands of the member of the Council of the Twelve. Are you satisfied, after thorough investigation, that he or she conforms to Church standards, aye, in chastity. The world has difficulty in believing that young men in our Church grow to manhood as chaste and pure as virgins. I have had them say they did not believe it; they did not believe that any young men could do that. But I tell them such is the fact, and that it is the standard of the Church for young men as well as for young women, to keep themselves unspotted from the world. In the Church there is but the single standard of morality and that applies to young men as well as to young women. See to it that prospective missionaries realize what this means, no matter what false teaching they have had in psychology or in other classes about "inhibitions," and so on. The standard of the Church is right; it is divine; it contributes to manhood and virtuous womanhood, happy homes, perpetuity of the nation.
Are you satisfied through investigation that he or she conforms to the Church in the observance of the Word of Wisdom? And note this, in integrity. Is there anybody in the ward who will say: "Well, he has cheated me. He is not worthy. If that is the kind of men they have to send out, well then, I am done with the Church."
These pointed questions are put in the recommend purposely, and they mean something, because those who go out to represent the Church are chosen. They are set apart. They are leaders. They are teachers. They are ambassadors of truth. Please, when you bring these young men and young women to the members of the Council of the Twelve and place in the hands of the Council of the Twelve this written recommendation with your signature, be sure that you have made a thorough investigation, because it is embarrassing, very embarrassing, to the young man to be rejected as a representative.
Source: McKay, David O. Selections From the Discourses of David O. McKay: Ninth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1991. 124 - 125.