David Achuleta will not follow the counsel of the prophet

[_Polygamy-Porter]

No mission for this money making kid.

Unless you count his paid appearance with the Mo'Tab:

http://beta-newsroom.LDS.org/article/da ... as-concert

[_Simon Belmont]

No mission for this money making kid.

Unless you count his paid appearance with the Mo'Tab:

http://beta-newsroom.LDS.org/article/da ... as-concert

And how, pray tell, do you expect a thread like this to generate interesting conversation?

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Hello,

Is it a commandment that all young Mormon men who are able-bodied serve a mission?

V/R
Dr. Cam

[_SoHo]

No mission for this money making kid.

Unless you count his paid appearance with the Mo'Tab:

http://beta-newsroom.LDS.org/article/da ... as-concert

And how, pray tell, do you expect a thread like this to generate interesting conversation?

This thread could generate quite a lot of interesting conversation, actually. I recall going to firesides as a kid where famous sports figures would speak about how the church influenced their success. These sports figures routinely played on Sunday. I also recall stories of people being blessed for their refusal to participate in sports on Sunday, and how they had chosen the correct path. Why the double standard? Why provide a forum for those clearly in violation of the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy?

In the case of David Archuleta, why would the same "call" that I received not apply to him? Is there a "fame" out for members otherwise required to keep the Sabbath holy and called to serve missions?

I remember a cynical young men's leader reacting to Chariots of Fire years ago with something like: "If he were LDS, he would have run and the missionaries would run around telling everyone he was Mormon."

[_Wisdom Seeker]

His mission is to be an entertainer just like Donny and just like Steve Young. Their callings are to be an example to the world at how being LDS equals being successful.

[_cinepro]

Let's see...he can either tour the world, and do his best to "promote" the Church in interviews, firesides and through his public example, or serve a conventional mission.

I would imagine that his firesides attract a lot of non-member friends of teenage girls, so he would get to speak to attentive non-members who especially want to hear his message.

Or, he could go and serve two years and engage in the least effective missionary cold-calling practices known to mankind: talking to people on the street and knocking on doors.

And even then, it would be hard to direct a conversation towards the gospel with anyone who recognized him ("Yes, I'm that guy...Thank you, thank you very much. Yes, American Idol was a great experience. Very stressful. Simon was actually nice in person. No, I don't talk to him every day. Paula is very sweet. Randy is like a second father to me. No, I haven't been watching the current season, as a missionary I can't watch TV. I'm glad you enjoyed the album. No, I didn't mind losing to David Cook; he's a great guy. Very talented, and it was great to get to perform with him. Thanks. So...I'm on a mission for my Church, and would like to share a brief message...No? Ok. Thanks.")

Repeat that x100 each day, and that's what his mission would be like.

And imagine his poor companions having to listen to the same conversation over and over. Ugh!

[_Joseph]

That's right. Donny and Steve Young did not go on Missions. Shawn Bradley did.

Ever hear of Shawn after his inglorious pro basketball career? Not likely, but you hear of Donny & Steve incessantly through lds-inc blathering.

[_SoHo]

David could make a big splash by going. Shawn Bradley was highly effective as a PR missionary for the church precisely for having delayed his career to go. It actually helped that the world had not yet seen how ineffectual he would be in the NBA. But, I suppose, there is a "fame" out after all.

[_Willy Law]

And imagine his poor companions having to listen to the same conversation over and over. Ugh!

Not to mention his poor companions having to listen to his horrible music over and over.

[_Joseph]

Maybe he can go on tour with Gladys Knight. He and Orrin Hatch can be two of her new Pimps.