Missionaries and Emotional Manipulation

[_Fence Sitter]

You could always open a phone book, randomly pick a name and give it to the missionaries. Who knows, maybe that is what God wants?

[_LDSToronto]

Old game, new uniform, that's all that is. I've heard so many variants on the 'pick one/five/ten names' game over the years. It's ridiculous.

The way you described the setup, the story, and the punchline, the whole act sounded like a card trick, "And your card, the one the ward mission leader wrote down a week ago, is the...."

Tell the missionaries that an even more impressive trick would be for them to exercise even more faith and ask God to reveal who the 'one-in-five' friend is, and you will fill the font while they go visit him/her.

by the way, did they use their low, pause-filled, lilting voices to add to the dramatic effect?

H.

[_stemelbow]

They aren't coming up with this on their own. Leadership is encouraging these challenges and recipes and miracles. How do I , a NOM, tell them that what the ward mission leader and possibly area mission president is teaching them to do is manipulative and creepy?

I'm not sayin it should come from you, although it might not hurt. I just hate the sound of it all, knowing things like this are happening. I find these tactics disappointing.

I recall a few tactics used on my mission, I really felt I tried to steer clear of these types of tactics. I can't say I came out unscathed, but i tried. I guess its easy to think you can get away with it. too bad.

[_just me]

Real quick, Toronto, they kept saying how this was for us individually to get a miracle and stuff about agency and whatnot. So, it was implied that God could do it without us, but wanted us to have the opportunity to get personal revelation and be a part of the miracle.

Their manner of speech is something I am so used to I can't really say much about it. It was not over the top at all. It was very typical Mormon, though. I think the key to his speech was looking us in the face with his excited smile during the delivery.

[_stemelbow]

Sad thing is, Stem, sometimes it does work. I used a lot of tactics as a missionary that weren't quite honest, all in the name of the greater good. These kids are hungry to succeed, and generally well-meaning. I agree with you, though.

I generally avoid missionaries these days. shhhh...don't tell anyone that. I mean they are generally nice folks but I've seen enough idiots, as described by Just me, I just don't bother anymore, for the most part. I don't know if they're leaders are teaching them to be obnoxious and dishonest or what. If they are being taught to act that way, then that's a damn shame.

I was a mission leader, as my calling, in two wards. Back then when I had to deal with the missionaries daily, I simply don't recall any of them doing the types of things Just me described. Heck no. I related, generally, to them quite well.

[_Yoda]

Real quick, Toronto, they kept saying how this was for us individually to get a miracle and stuff about agency and whatnot. So, it was implied that God could do it without us, but wanted us to have the opportunity to get personal revelation and be a part of the miracle.

Their manner of speech is something I am so used to I can't really say much about it. It was not over the top at all. It was very typical Mormon, though. I think the key to his speech was looking us in the face with his excited smile during the delivery.

So...what happens if you don't come up with a name? Are you guys labeled as evil?

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

I generally avoid missionaries these days. shhhh...don't tell anyone that. I mean they are generally nice folks but I've seen enough idiots, as described by Just me, I just don't bother anymore, for the most part. I don't know if they're leaders are teaching them to be obnoxious and dishonest or what.

It's the MTC. The MTC is now stressing much more member work and member referrals. I guess it gives new meaning to the saying, "Every member a missionary".

If you really want to be on the missionaries hit list for life, then give them a referral. If you give them a referral, the missionaries will ride your ass to the grave for more.

[_stemelbow]

It's the MTC. The MTC is now stressing much more member work and member referrals. I guess it gives new meaning to the saying, "Every member a missionary".

If you really want to be on the missionaries hit list for life, then give them a referral. If you give them a referral, the missionaries will ride your ass to the grave for more.

Of course it depends on the missionaries. I've never encountered such a ride, luckily. And, i never tried to ride anyone's caboos myself, indeed, I tried to steer right clear of that kind of thing, back in my missionary days.

[_just me]

Real quick, Toronto, they kept saying how this was for us individually to get a miracle and stuff about agency and whatnot. So, it was implied that God could do it without us, but wanted us to have the opportunity to get personal revelation and be a part of the miracle.

Their manner of speech is something I am so used to I can't really say much about it. It was not over the top at all. It was very typical Mormon, though. I think the key to his speech was looking us in the face with his excited smile during the delivery.

So...what happens if you don't come up with a name? Are you guys labeled as evil?

I doubt it. Seeing as, like one pp said, this challenge has been around for years now. We have always been challenged to come up with names, pray for a name, promised the Lord will reveal a name to us, etc. This was just new packaging...and I felt very emotionally manipulated by it.

The "five name" program has been going on in our stake for about 2+ years now. Every auxilary has a person in the presidency assigned to the missionary program. Each auxilary is supposed to come up with 5 names/families per MONTH to give to the missionaries. These are typically less active and part member homes. The primary even has to do it, which is creepy because the primary works with children/minors.

Anyway, the missionaries have always given out challenges and promises, but I find that they very rarely follow up. Yay.

[_LDSToronto]

Real quick, Toronto, they kept saying how this was for us individually to get a miracle and stuff about agency and whatnot. So, it was implied that God could do it without us, but wanted us to have the opportunity to get personal revelation and be a part of the miracle.

Geez, so many things wrong with that... I mean, how do the missionaries know that you need this specific 'miracle' in your life? Or that you don't already get personal revelation?

I mean, honestly, aren't most members of the LDS church onto this racket? Why not go the honest route - Hey, we don't have anyone to teach, can you supply us with someone?

I've been on the inside - 'members need miracles' always seem to coincide with an empty teaching pool.

H.