yes and yes. Retaining youth as they move from the YM/YW program to YSA has been a big issue for some time. I think this move is to help with just that.
why me wrote:Not quite. It makes it easier in countries where youth are required to do other commitments without having to cause a problem.
Why me do you hold a calling? I do. I serve on our stake HC. Have since I was released from being a bishop. I cannot tell you how many meetings I have sat through the past 10 years, many that have included GAs, where retaining YSAs, especially boys, has been discussed. Sure lowering the age for YM and YW will help with other commitments such as military is some countries, school, even marriage. More YW are serving. Letting them go at 19 rather than 21 means a YW who wants to go is not putting off marriage as long. But I can tell you letting YM go at 18 is a smart move and I have no doubt retaining YM was a large part of this change.
Jason Bourne wrote: But I can tell you letting YM go at 18 is a smart move and I have no doubt retaining YM was a large part of this change.
This can also be true. But he did begin his talk with a statement about how it is done in certain countries at the age of 18. But in many countries that require a military service the age was still 19. Some young men serve after military service and they are 21 when they start a mission and return when they are 23. And then they start school. This can be a problem for some young men.
I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world. Joseph Smith We are “to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other, or in no church at all…” Joseph Smith
Speaking as a relatively young person, the 1 year gap is a bit of a pain to deal with in terms of coordinating schooling/mission especially if you already have money saved to leave.
I think lowering the age to leave for sisters is a good idea too. Let's face it, not that many people marry before they are 21 now. Maybe a handful of women I know out of hundreds in the LDS church married before they turned 21. So if women want to serve a mission it's probably better to let them get it done early, if they so choose.
The earlier age offers a lot more flexibility which, from my experience, is vital when trying to organize your life after high school. For people who are prepared the mission can essentially turn into a sacrifice of 3 years when you factor in the in between times. I imagine it is worse for the sisters who leave at 21 or 22.
Also, this creates some symmetry in the way the males and females progress. As it is now I find a lack of parity. If the guys want to date women of the same age then the woman is usually much farther ahead in her education path. If the guys want to date women of similar education levels then they typically have to look at younger age ranges.
As a spin off benefit I hope the disruptive aspect of missionary service (speaking of their life plans outside of church) makes it easier for people to decide to go. I know it would have made my decision easier.
Last edited by Guest on Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Did I misunderstand? I thought the age for girls was lowered to 19?
I wonder if this announcement qualifies as revelation?
"Any over-ritualized religion since the dawn of time can make its priests say yes, we know, it is rotten, and hard luck, but just do as we say, keep at the ritual, stick it out, give us your money and you'll end up with the angels in heaven for evermore."
Jason Bourne wrote: But I can tell you letting YM go at 18 is a smart move and I have no doubt retaining YM was a large part of this change.
This can also be true. But he did begin his talk with a statement about how it is done in certain countries at the age of 18. But in many countries that require a military service the age was still 19. Some young men serve after military service and they are 21 when they start a mission and return when they are 23. And then they start school. This can be a problem for some young men.
I think that Jason and myself are simply tired, Why Me, of you being so set to ride your high horse, and assuming the worst about all posters here. Also, you have posted here long enough to know who Jason is, and what his current and past positions in the Church has been. You are a little too "holier than thou" for someone who is admittedly a part time member.
sock puppet wrote:Wonder how that would help a 19 year old decide he should go?
Does this signify that the Church has been losing too many young men during that year between high school and age 19?
yes and yes. Retaining youth as they move from the YM/YW program to YSA has been a big issue for some time. I think this move is to help with just that.
I have to ask when do Mormon youth have time to make their own decisions? Now they'll be living with their parents being pushed to serve a mission right after graduation. Perhaps they should have dealt with why the youth were leaving instead of taking away the opportunity to make the choice.
liz3564 wrote:I think that Jason and myself are simply tired, Why Me, of you being so set to ride your high horse, and assuming the worst about all posters here. Also, you have posted here long enough to know who Jason is, and what his current and past positions in the Church has been. You are a little too "holier than thou" for someone who is admittedly a part time member.
On MDD, I posted something similiar to quaker here. Why do you assume that I am riding a high horse? I know the problems in europe where many need to serve in the military and in other parts of the world, like Russia. I can also throw it back at you. Why assume a negative in ym retention?
I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world. Joseph Smith We are “to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other, or in no church at all…” Joseph Smith
Leaving the sisters to one side for the moment, I am dazed by the idea that if you want to convert people to a new religion, the best thing to do is to send them a kid of 18. The younger they get, the more risible they will seem. I mean "Jesus has a message for me, and he sent you? What the hell do you know about life, 'elder'?"
This decision makes it nakedly clear that missions are not really about growing the church: instead, they are about retaining the membership.
Zadok: I did not have a faith crisis. I discovered that the Church was having a truth crisis. Maksutov: That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Stormy Waters wrote: I have to ask when do Mormon youth have time to make their own decisions? Now they'll be living with their parents being pushed to serve a mission right after graduation. Perhaps they should have dealt with why the youth were leaving instead of taking away the opportunity to make the choice.
Hardly. In russia the youth must serve in the military. It is not easy to serve a mission at 19. It creates problems where at such an age, a military service, then mission can get one off to a slow start. Lowering the age, gives a young man a foot up on life and school.
I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world. Joseph Smith We are “to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other, or in no church at all…” Joseph Smith