Missions are a mandate for Mormon Boys?

[_Polygamy-Porter]

This from the recent BS spewed forth from Hinckley's woody:

"We reaffirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty," President Monson said. "Young women are not under the same mandate to serve." But, he added, the young women missionaries "make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7656 ... rvice.html

[_Drifting]

In Christian theology, a mandate is an order given from God that must be obeyed without question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandate_(theology)

So, all young men who don't go on a mission cannot be worthy to hold a temple recommend...

[_Yoda]

It has always been a mandate for young men to go on missions unless there is a viable circumstance for why they can't go. There are always exceptions, but the "norm" is for a young man to go.

So, all young men who don't go on a mission cannot be worthy of a temple recommend.

That is dumb. Why did you draw that conclusion? That has never been the case, and it never will be.

In both the press release, and during coference, President Monson and the other brethren stated that all young men were expected to go unless there were health circumstances, or other circumstances determined between the young man and the bishop and family as to why he could not, or should not go.

[_Drifting]

It has always been a mandate for young men to go on missions unless there is a viable circumstance for why they can't go. There are always exceptions, but the "norm" is for a young man to go.

So, all young men who don't go on a mission cannot be worthy of a temple recommend.

That is dumb. Why did you draw that conclusion? That has never been the case, and it never will be.

In both the press release, and during coference, President Monson and the other brethren stated that all young men were expected to go unless there were health circumstances, or other circumstances determined between the young man and the bishop and family as to why he could not, or should not go.

"That is dumb"...

Well how can an otherwise healthy young man (I'm not refering to those who are physically/mentally unable to serve a mission) be worthy to hold a temple recommend but not worthy/willing to go on a mission. They can't because they cannot answer in the affirmative to the Temple Recommend question that asks if they sustain the Church leaders. And if there are worthiness problems with going on a mission then those would negate the recommend as well.

What is the difference in worthiness requirements between assessing a young mans eligibility for a mission and assessing a young man for a temple recommend?

[_DarkHelmet]

It has always been a mandate for young men to go on missions unless there is a viable circumstance for why they can't go. There are always exceptions, but the "norm" is for a young man to go.

I don't think it's a mandate. Maybe it is in Utah, but I've lived most of my life outside of Utah and it was more of a norm not to go. What is the punishment for choosing not to go on a mission? There is none. Tnere was no reason for me not to go on a mission, but I chose not to, and there was no punishment awaiting me. So how can it be a mandate?

[_zeezrom]

The pressure on a young man to serve a mission has nothing to do with whether he can be temple worthy for the rest of his life. It has everything to do with the present. Mormon society expects him to go. A 21-yr old without the "RM" stamp might as well walk right into a Hawthorne book and stamp a big letter "A" on his chest. It takes guts for a boy to stay home in that society.

[_bcspace]

The pressure on a young man to serve a mission has nothing to do with whether he can be temple worthy for the rest of his life. It has everything to do with the present. Mormon society expects him to go. A 21-yr old without the "RM" stamp might as well walk right into a Hawthorne book and stamp a big letter "A" on his chest. It takes guts for a boy to stay home in that society.

Yes. That's the function of society; to nudge individuals in the direction they should go. That's why there is a huge culture war today.

[_Tchild]

The pressure on a young man to serve a mission has nothing to do with whether he can be temple worthy for the rest of his life. It has everything to do with the present. Mormon society expects him to go. A 21-yr old without the "RM" stamp might as well walk right into a Hawthorne book and stamp a big letter "A" on his chest. It takes guts for a boy to stay home in that society.

Yes. That's the function of society; to nudge individuals in the direction they should go. That's why there is a huge culture war today.

If a person can be as totally "worthy" as any RM, hold a temple recommend and carry out his priesthood functions without going on a mission, then by the church's very own standards, that is the "right direction". Mission or no mission service is irrelevant.

[_lulu]

The pressure on a young man to serve a mission has nothing to do with whether he can be temple worthy for the rest of his life. It has everything to do with the present. Mormon society expects him to go. A 21-yr old without the "RM" stamp might as well walk right into a Hawthorne book and stamp a big letter "A" on his chest. It takes guts for a boy to stay home in that society.

Yes. That's the function of society; to nudge individuals in the direction they should go. That's why there is a huge culture war today.

Only bcspace could use the words "nudge" and "war" in the same thought.

[_ludwigm]

... to nudge individuals in the direction they should go ...

Only bcspace ...

watch Monty Python: Nudge Nudge