California Bakersfield Mission
Mission leaders
Larry D. and Jennifer Monson
Began service ~July 2025 (three-year terms, “on or about July 1”) · estimated release 2028-07-01 estimate · source: Church Newsroom 2025 · as of October 8, 2026
Mission office
- Office address
- 1-661-589-8900
- Phone
- Not yet verified
- Not yet verified
- Source
- Unofficial third-party directory (latterdaymissions.com) — may be out of date unofficial — confirm before mailing as of October 8, 2026
Letters & packages
Domestic USPS/UPS/FedEx shipping usually works well; many missions prefer packages to the mission office, but ask whether to send to the missionary's apartment instead.
- Your missionary can email weekly on P-day; letters and packages are optional extras.
- Confirm the current mailing address with the mission office or the call packet before sending — offices move.
- Small, padded envelopes usually travel faster and cheaper than boxes; declare contents honestly and avoid restricted items.
- Mail-by dates for holidays and a calendar reminder are in the interactive guide.
Weather & climate
Profile: hot-summer · about 703 mm of rain a year · wettest months: Jan, Feb, Mar.
Monthly averages
| Avg high | Avg low | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F / 15°C | 43°F / 6°C | 85 mm |
| Feb | 61°F / 16°C | 44°F / 7°C | 104 mm |
| Mar | 64°F / 18°C | 47°F / 8°C | 107 mm |
| Apr | 74°F / 23°C | 53°F / 12°C | 43 mm |
| May | 82°F / 28°C | 59°F / 15°C | 20 mm |
| Jun | 92°F / 34°C | 69°F / 21°C | 2 mm |
| Jul | 99°F / 37°C | 76°F / 24°C | 0 mm |
| Aug | 97°F / 36°C | 74°F / 24°C | 8 mm |
| Sep | 90°F / 32°C | 68°F / 20°C | 4 mm |
| Oct | 79°F / 26°C | 59°F / 15°C | 17 mm |
| Nov | 66°F / 19°C | 49°F / 10°C | 42 mm |
| Dec | 59°F / 15°C | 44°F / 7°C | 76 mm |
Monthly averages computed from Open-Meteo historical weather data (2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis) for a ~1° grid cell near the mission city. Approximate; local altitude and coast effects vary.
Language
English, Spanish
English uses the Latin alphabet; spelling is irregular, so listen a lot. Accents vary widely by region (US South, Caribbean, Scottish, Australian, Nigerian, etc.).
Assignments can include other languages; your call letter states your language.
Nearby temples
- Bakersfield California Temple — Site announced (2 April 2023) · ~0 km
- Los Angeles California Temple — Operating (March 11, 1956) · ~156 km
- Fresno California Temple — Operating (April 9, 2000) · ~167 km
- Yorba Linda California Temple — Operating (7 June 2026) · ~199 km
The Church in California
- Church Membership
- 725,648
- Stakes
- 145
- Congregations
- 1,085
- FamilySearch Centers
- 228
- Temples
- 8
- Missions
- 16
Practical
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Currency
- USD
- Country code
- +1
- Organized
- 1 July 2013
Culture & food
- Greet with a handshake and a smile; first names are common.
- Be on time and keep appointments short and friendly.
- Respect "no soliciting" signs and private property.
- Regional cultures differ a lot: rural South, big cities, Mountain West, etc.
Foods: BBQ and regional comfort food, Tex-Mex / Mexican food, Casseroles at ward dinners, Fast food on a budget
Family groups
- California Bakersfield Missionary Moms Group
- California Bakersfield RMs Group
- Bakersfield California Mission Facebook Group
As listed by latterdaymissions.com (unofficial). Groups may be private, renamed, or inactive.
Next steps
Official: Missionary Portal · Missionary resources