LDS Missionary Experience Spin

[_krose]

I was the travel secretary in my mission, and we were sending home this huge group of missionaries—there were like 18 of them. And some of those guys weren’t good missionaries and they weren’t really good Mormons, either. And I remember thinking to myself, “These guys are going to go home, they’re going to give their homecoming talk, and as far as everybody in their ward is concerned, all those 18 missionaries were all the same kind of great missionary.” And when I was working for the church, I saw an article in the Ensign where some guy was talking about being on a mission in Bolivia, and this miraculous event that happened, and I looked down at the name and … this guy was not a good missionary; I’m surprised he’s still in the church. But you go home and everybody says the same thing, and people say, “Oh, you’ve just changed so much and grown up so much.” And … maybe not

Well now!

John couldn't have been much of a missionary himself. Imagine, calling missionaries "guys." That was a capital offense when I was serving my time, both in country and in the LTM. The only acceptable term was "Elders."

Saying something such as, "I really love the guys in my branch," would bring on dirty looks and a stern lecture about respect.

[_krose]

Back in Mikunigaoaka...

Is that Mikunigaoka in Fukuoka, or the area in Osaka? If the former, that had to be one hot and humid experience. It was way too hot for me even in the Chubu region.

I definitely know what you mean about the rarity of families. I only taught (and ultimately baptized) one -- a nice, but very poor couple with three kids. Most 'guys' never taught any families, more than once anyway. It was mostly teenagers and housewives.

[_Stormy Waters]

It's a terrific book. It brought back a lot of memories. For those who haven't served a mission it's probably one of the best ways to see what it's like to be a LDS missionary.

[_selek]

I'm a returned missionary, as were many of my friends.

My younger cousin was contemplating a mission. In from of my RM friends, I'd make comments to him that "missions aren't for everyone" and "if you go, go for the right reasons".

Visibly anxious, my RM friends would try to repair the damage I'd caused. They would only emphasize the positive aspects of missions, mention how girls would only date RMs, etc., in an effort to pursuade him to go.

He ended up not going.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

You're average Darrell

Posted // July 25,2012 at 16:28

So many of you return missionaries and exmo's on here are a bunch of pussies.

So it was hard. So it was demanding. So it was stretching. So the church furthers a historical narrative that's not truly forthcoming. So Joseph Smith had a bunch of wives other than Emma of which nary a one bore him a child. So the church has a lot of money and has private corporations (that are taxed). So what? Y'all are grasping.

I could go on. I'm just as cognizant of the historical incongruities as anyone and yet i remain faithful. . . why?

Because none of that really matters. So much of it is conjecture anyhow.

Christ does matter though and so does the doctrine. When you deny the church, once you've known it and and been in it, you are denying Christ. Pure and simple. Someone has got to say it. So I will.

What it comes down to is that you wilted when it got hot. You couldn't stand the intellectual persectuion that is all around.

I was 22 when I left on my mission. Prior to, I was living in a tent, surfing 4 hours a day, studying acupuncture and eastern philosophy to no end, and I was empty. The gospel filled me.

I served stateside and I would leave whatever money I had home and rely on the goodness of the people. And I loved it. The powerful bursts of the spirit sustained me and fed me. The mission changed me because it was hard. Remaining faithful to the church changed me because it is hard.

Stop complaining. Pussies.

[_Bob Loblaw]

The presentation of this topic yesterday at Sunstone was excellent. Both the presenter and the responder made some great points and the emphasis was on positive ways to allow missionaries to process their missionary experiences.