18 year old missionary boys. Bring em on!

[_Yoda]

Saying a kid has made no progress in maturity or other preparation after adding another 6% to his lifespan is just not believable.

Actually, Krose, I think that is what they are unwittingly saying.

Actually, no, that is not, at least, what I was "unwittingly" saying. You lawyers just love to twist things. I'm just not going to let you get away with it.

What I was saying was that BC recognized that his son had sufficient maturity to go on a mission at age 18. Was his son likely a little more mature, and a little more learned at 19? Of course! However, the fact remains that, in BC's assessment of his son as a parent, his son would have been just as capable of serving a mission at 18 as 19.

And, I think that could be said about a lot of the youth at this age that I have associated with. I have two nephews who are 18, and seniors in High School. They are both very sharp, very committed to the gospel, and have been excited about going on a mission, and doing the things they need to prepare to go. I think that these two young men will do great in the mission field, whether they go at 18 or 19. I think they are definitely ready for a mission at 18. And, that may be part of what the brethren have noticed with the young men in other countries who are going earlier.

[_bcspace]

They seem to be getting married earlier too. I was 21 and my wife 20. My two married daughters were 20 and 19.

[_Darth J]

He was far more prepared spiritually at 18 than I was at 19. However, I was a consummate basher by then. He's not, but he'll learn and I'll be helping him.

You know, nothing says "spiritual" like an adolescent boy trading quote-mined Bible verses with Christian fundamentalists to prove that Mormon God can beat up Christian God.

[_Darth J]

What I was saying was that BC recognized that his son had sufficient maturity to go on a mission at age 18.

And what I'm saying is that asserting that an 18 or 19 year-old has sufficiently matured to peddle a gigantic lifestyle change and commitment to adults is on a similar level to using the first couple of chapters of Genesis to study biology and geology.

[_Yoda]

They seem to be getting married earlier too. I was 21 and my wife 20. My two married daughters were 20 and 19.

Our kids are about the same age, BC.

In my situation, my younger daughter got married at 19. My older daughter, though is more focused on school. She is 23, and although she has a steady boyfriend, I really don't see her getting married until she graduates from college next year. So, I think it just depends on the individual.

[_Yoda]

What I was saying was that BC recognized that his son had sufficient maturity to go on a mission at age 18.

And what I'm saying is that asserting that an 18 or 19 year-old has sufficiently matured to peddle a gigantic lifestyle change and commitment to adults is on a similar level to using the first couple of chapters of Genesis to study biology and geology.

I get it, Darth.

We ALL get the fact that you think the LDS religion is hogwash, and a big waste of time.

I was simply not going to let you get away with putting words in my mouth, or BC's.

[_bcspace]

And what I'm saying is that asserting that an 18 or 19 year-old has sufficiently matured to peddle a gigantic lifestyle change and commitment to adults

Being raised with consistent Church attendance, family prayer, and FHE puts one well on the way to accomplishing this.

is on a similar level to using the first couple of chapters of Genesis to study biology and geology.

Several of my children have astounded their Sunday School teachers with an acceptance of evolution. I received blowback in several such instances and it gave me more opportunity to teach such acceptance. Understanding how science and LDS doctrine don't conflict as my children do makes one eminently qualified to teach these things and reach a broader variety of people.

[_Darth J]

I get it, Darth.

We ALL get the fact that you think the LDS religion is hogwash, and a big waste of time.

I was simply not going to let you get away with putting words in my mouth, or BC's.

Speaking of putting words in someone's mouth, what I said about adolescents is irrespective of what particular ideology they are touting.

And you are perfectly welcome to specify how I was putting words in anyone's mouth instead of substantive disagreement.

[_Darth J]

And what I'm saying is that asserting that an 18 or 19 year-old has sufficiently matured to peddle a gigantic lifestyle change and commitment to adults

Being raised with consistent Church attendance, family prayer, and FHE puts one well on the way to accomplishing this.

A naïve, indoctrinated worldview inculcated in childhood does not make an adolescent a less ridiculous candidate to pontificate how the world works to adults with families, lives, and careers.

is on a similar level to using the first couple of chapters of Genesis to study biology and geology.

Several of my children have astounded their Sunday School teachers with an acceptance of evolution. I received blowback in several such instances and it gave me more opportunity to teach such acceptance.

Probably that has something to do with the fact that the LDS Church officially teaches that evolution is not compatible with the plan of salvation, and the numerous claims the Church makes about the origins of life on Earth that are totally incongruent with evolution.

Understanding how science and LDS doctrine don't conflict as my children do makes one eminently qualified to teach these things and reach a broader variety of people.

Speaking of missionaries, how I wish that you and Why Me could somehow be companions. There are your continuous, demonstrably false assertions about evolution and LDS cosmology being harmonious, and his insistence that unmarried people dry-humping in their underwear is perfectly consistent with the law of chastity. I'm sure the two of you together would have many choice experiences in sharing the restored gospel with credulous strangers.

[_Yoda]

Speaking of missionaries, how I wish that you and Why Me could somehow be companions. There are your continuous, demonstrably false assertions about evolution and LDS cosmology being harmonious, and his insistence that unmarried people dry-humping in their underwear is perfectly consistent with the law of chastity. I'm sure the two of you together would have many choice experiences in sharing the restored gospel with credulous strangers.

OK...this is another one of those jokes where I know I really shouldn't be laughing, but I can't help it. LOL Good one, Darth!