"Direct from Cradle to MTC" Blog Entry

[_Willy Law]

I bet every mission president in the world face palmed when they heard the announcement. As if 19 year old boys were not immature enough, they are now going to be babysitting 18 year olds that are surrounded by 19 and 20 year old girls.

[_Willy Law]

I would also bet my life that the college graduation rate for females goes way down over the next five years.
That was probably listed under the "pros" when the 15 were figuring out whether to implement the "revelation" or not.

[_just me]

I would also bet my life that the college graduation rate for females goes way down over the next five years.
That was probably listed under the "pros" when the 15 were figuring out whether to implement the "revelation" or not.

Oh god, please no.

[_Madison54]

I would also bet my life that the college graduation rate for females goes way down over the next five years.
That was probably listed under the "pros" when the 15 were figuring out whether to implement the "revelation" or not.

Oh wow....I hadn't thought of this. I am still processing the affect this announcement will have on the boys. But, if girls feel more pressure to serve now that the age has been lowered, they will interrupt their college education and then many will marry when they get home from their missions. Ugh!

I think it will be very interesting to see the results of this change. We probably won't know for a few years down the road though.

[Guest]

Just realized the way this will change Mormon culture:

It won't, hardly at all. Experience has it we tend to overanalyze and exaggerate any changes or news and extrapolate its effect on changing the entire landscape of mormondom. The reality is probably not much is going to change, never does. The only thing about Mormonism that changes is our talking points about how it will.

The only thing that will ever change Mormonism is $. Once it starts hurting there, you'll see changes so fast it'll blow your mind. Won't happen anytime soon. Especially with the fact they've invested heavily in real estate in recent years. Buy low sell high later, and they're mostly tax-free right? Everything is staffed for free.

As long as the Mormon church has enough money to swim in, they won't be doing any changing any time soon.

[_Racer]

According to Russell M. Nelson, Mission Presidents want 18 year olds because they are sweeter, purer, and smarter? So why on God's green earth haven't they been sending 18 year olds all along? If the 18 year olds are smarter, why did God hold off on using using the smarter missionaries until now? Think of how big the church would be if the smarter missionaries were sent out over the last several decades. What does this mean for those current missionaries who left at 19. Are they chopped liver? Are they not as pure and smart?

[_Willy Law]

According to Russell M. Nelson, Mission Presidents want 18 year olds because they are sweeter, purer, and smarter?

What exactly happens between the age of 18 and 19 that makes one dumber?

[_zeezrom]

According to Russell M. Nelson, Mission Presidents want 18 year olds because they are sweeter, purer, and smarter? So why on God's green earth haven't they been sending 18 year olds all along? If the 18 year olds are smarter, why did God hold off on using using the smarter missionaries until now? Think of how big the church would be if the smarter missionaries were sent out over the last several decades. What does this mean for those current missionaries who left at 19. Are they chopped liver? Are they not as pure and smart?

What? You think a perfected church just emerges out of a box? :)

[_Harold Lee]

You don't have to be 18+ to do keg stands, a lot of high school parties have those. ;)