This Was Supposed to be Me....

[_Craig Paxton]

My best friend and best man at my temple wedding has just been called as a new Mission President. He is a good person and the church is lucky to have him represent them....but I have to admit that I always thought that this would be my life path rather than his. He was the kid that messed around with the girls in HS while I remained morally clean. He drank at the parties and got drunk, I never drank alcohol. He smoked weed, I refused it when it was passed my way. I was a dedicated, rule keeping, tracting missionary serving as DL, ZL and AP, he liked to go to the museums and take pictures. I was EQ and YM President...while he served in supporting positions. I was on the High Council while he was a counselor in the bishopric. I asked tough questions and doubted, he doubled down and became more devout and unwavering. We both came to a fork in the road I went right while he turned left. He is now a Mission President while I'm a damned apostate...

[_Bazooka]

You got the better deal.

[_Sanctorian]

My best friend and best man at my temple wedding has just been called as a new Mission President. He is a good person and the church is lucky to have him represent them....but I have to admit that I always thought that this would be my life path rather than his. He was the kid that messed around with the girls in HS while I remained morally clean. He drank at the parties and got drunk, I never drank alcohol. He smoked weed, I refused it when it was passed my way. I was a dedicated, rule keeping, tracting missionary serving as DL, ZL and AP, he liked to go to the museums and take pictures. I was EQ and YM President...while he served in supporting positions. I was on the High Council while he was a counselor in the bishopric. I asked tough questions and doubted, he doubled down and became more devout and unwavering. We both came to a fork in the road I went right while he turned left. He is now a Mission President while I'm a f*****g apostate...

Can you imagine anything worse in life than being a mission president? As a side note, maybe this is a signal of the church losing the best and brightest. Had you stayed and the many like you, you would be a mission president over this guy. Just a thought.

[_Some Schmo]

This mirrors my experience with my sister. When I was going to church, I was a good mo. My sister smoked and drank, swore, etc etc. It wouldn't surprise me to find out she wasn't a virgin when she first married either (I don't know this; I'm saying it based on the kind of mo she's always been). She's still an active mo. I haven't been to church in almost 30 years.

I'm of the solid opinion that the reason people become apostates is that they are the only ones who really take the truth claims (and all the rules) seriously.

[_Enzo the Baker]

Craig, I think you left out some important information about your friend and his qualifications for MP. Such as his career and probable six figure per year tithing donations and or family connections. Would/could you provide that information? I think that might speak volumes about the matter.

[Guest]

You got the better deal.

What this drives home to me is just how different my life has turned out from what I always thought it would be when I was in my youth. While I am successful in many aspects of my life such as my career path and family...my one glaring failure (from a TBM perspective) is my apostasy and inability to believe in the truth claims of Mormonism. I have to admit that there is a part of me that is jealous of his ability to maintain belief and thus reach this goal from our youth. This is the second close friend that has been called as a mission president. My former second councilor was also called to serve as a MP. His experience was difficult yet for him and his family very faith promoting.

I don’t want to give the impression that had I been able to maintain belief that I would have been called as a MP…more than likely not, but nor would I have ever predicted that either of my friends would have done so either. But as a youth our priest quorum adviser would look across our quorum and say…” sitting in this room are the future Bishops, Stake Presidents, Mission Presidents and General Authorities of the Church”…In my mind, his gazed just seemed to always linger a little longer on me as he said these words.

[_Bazooka]

You got the better deal.

What this drives home to me is just how different my life has turned out from what I always thought it would be when I was in my youth. While I am successful in many aspects of my life such as my career path and family...my one glaring failure (from a TBM perspective) is my apostasy and inability to believe in the truth claims of Mormonism. I have to admit that there is a part of me that is jealous of his ability to maintain belief and thus reach this from our youth. This is the second close friend that has been called as a mission president. My former second councilor was also called to serve as a MP. His experience was difficult yet for him and his family very faith promoting.

I don’t want to give the impression that had I been able to maintain belief that I would have been called as a MP…more than likely not, but nor would I have ever predicted that either of my friends would have done so either. But as a young our priest quorum adviser would look across our quorum and say…” sitting in this room are the future Bishops, Stake Presidents, Mission Presidents and General Authorities of the Church”…In my mind, his gazed just seemed to always linger a little longer on me as he said these words.

You sound a little melancholy.
Are you feeling some envy for the Church status you perceive your friend to have achieved?

[_Craig Paxton]

Craig, I think you left out some important information about your friend and his qualifications for MP. Such as his career and probable six figure per year tithing donations and or family connections. Would/could you provide that information? I think that might speak volumes about the matter.

LOL...Yes, he's a very successful business owner...with a annual income not in the 6 figure but 7 figure range. Were that the only qulification however, there are a lot of guys who wouldn't be called. I personally know of several who were mid managment income guys who sacrificed their careers for the church to serve as MP only to come home to nothing, no job, no income etc. That is not the case with my friend however...he's very successful

[_Craig Paxton]

You sound a little melancholy.
Are you feeling some envy for the Church status you perceive your friend to have achieved?

As Yoda once said..."The mind “F” is strong with this one"

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Do you think your business man friend is being groomed for a GA position? Also, would that require him signing over any of his assets to the church if he takes it?

- Doc