Begging for missionaries

[_Thama]

Actually couple missionaries can have a fairly normal life in their off time. What he described is pretty accurate.

Since when does missionary work involve "off time?"

For senior missionaries it often does. My mission (California Long Beach, 2004-2006) had a senior couple who ran the mission office from 8-5, Monday through Friday. Besides that, they made occasional visits with the mission president and wife and had the rest of their time off.

[_The Nehor]

Couple Missionaries usually work about 10-12 hours a day and are supposed to take some time off. They're supposed to go on dates and see movies and do whatever in their off time.

The regular missionaries would benefit greatly from equivalent privileges.

I disagree.

[_karl61]

It seems to me that most senior mission callings are just jobs without the paycheck. Here's an example of a mission call on the church's website of available "missions."

9B Natural Resources.
Duties:
1. Energy. Evaluate energy lease offers, identify and map properties proposed for
leasing, edit energy leases and surface agreements, administer interaction
between Church land stewards and oil and gas companies operating on Church
properties.
2. Water. Resolve at-risk water rights, process newly acquired water rights, and
secure, prove, inventory, and process water rights. Resolve conflicts with other
11
Church water right entities, and complete drinking water source protection
applications.
3. Engineering. Survey and map Church properties and locate key landmarks.
Provide hydrogeology expertise in the development of water wells.
4. Minerals. Survey Church properties for mineral potential and write reports about
such potential for Church property files. Prepare plans for the development of
minerals, and evaluate economic value of Church mineral rights.
5. Forestry. Inventory timber assets, administer logging contracts, evaluate forestry
health at recreation camps, and develop forestry management plans.

That looks like job postings for experienced professionals. Shouldn't the church hire people for that work? How is any of that considered a "mission?" In this economic climate, there are probably plenty of professionals in that line of work that need a job. Can the church not afford to hire people to do that kind of work?

I would have loved to do that job as a missionary.

[_truth dancer]

Is it ethical to pay tithing when one owes another money and is not keeping their contract to pay up? When funds are limited should paying the church take precedence over paying a mortgage? During times of crisis should a family go into debt so they can keep paying tithing?

I don't think it is honest or ethical to rip off someone so you can pay tithing.

In our community there are several members out of work who may lose their homes; is it really good advice to suggest they pay tithing on their unemployment rather than try to keep their homes?

Yes, most personal development gurus offer the suggestion to give to charity, often a figure of 10% is given, but I hardly think they would suggest going into debt to pay ones church, or not paying what they owe (cheating) so you can keep up with tithes.

~td~

[_cinepro]

Is it ethical to pay tithing when one owes another money and is not keeping their contract to pay up? When funds are limited should paying the church take precedence over paying a mortgage? During times of crisis should a family go into debt so they can keep paying tithing?
~td~

I think the LDS framing of tithing as a "debt" to God answers this question. It isn't a question of whether or not to pay a debtor, it's a question of which debtor you're going to pay first.

[_truth dancer]

Hi Cinepro,

Yeah, I suppose you are right.

Years ago, my father owned some duplexes in Orem and about 75% of the time renters would not pay for often many months at a time, then pay a few hundred dollars, then again not pay for months and months. These same folks were paying their tithing and going to the temple as if they were honest and upright members. Most renters moved owning large sums of money.

I thought it was wrong, but hey they were full tithe payers so they are good to go.

Oh well...

[_The Nehor]

Hi Cinepro,

Yeah, I suppose you are right.

Years ago, my father owned some duplexes in Orem and about 75% of the time renters would not pay for often many months at a time, then pay a few hundred dollars, then again not pay for months and months. These same folks were paying their tithing and going to the temple as if they were honest and upright members. Most renters moved owning large sums of money.

I thought it was wrong, but hey they were full tithe payers so they are good to go.

Oh well...

Well, since they lied to get into the Temple they're probably not good to go.

[_krose]

I think the LDS framing of tithing as a "debt" to God answers this question. It isn't a question of whether or not to pay a debtor, it's a question of which debtor you're going to pay first.

Damn. The wife and I have racked up a HUGE debt to God over the past few decades. I wonder how long we'll be condemned to Spirit Debtor's Prison for the unpaid debt.

Or perhaps the penalty will be forced servitude until the debt is paid, cleaning out the heavenly stables (or harems) for a couple of millennia.

[_The Nehor]

I think the LDS framing of tithing as a "debt" to God answers this question. It isn't a question of whether or not to pay a debtor, it's a question of which debtor you're going to pay first.

Damn. The wife and I have racked up a HUGE debt to God over the past few decades. I wonder how long we'll be condemned to Spirit Debtor's Prison for the unpaid debt.

Or perhaps the penalty will be forced servitude until the debt is paid, cleaning out the heavenly stables (or harems) for a couple of millennia.

I advise repentance, gets the penalty removed.

[_Rollo Tomasi]

Actually couple missionaries can have a fairly normal life in their off time. What he described is pretty accurate.

Since when does missionary work involve "off time?"

Senior couples that do "local" missions have plenty of "off time." It really is like a part-time job. Given the bad economy and its effect on senior couples' leaving home for missions, I could see the "local" gig become the norm for senior couples (at least in a lot of locations), and I bet most would find that more palatable than going somewhere else.