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N/T

I would consider these a bare minimum:

-Worthy and spiritually attenuated
-Firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of the Church's claims.
-Physically fit
-Socially stable
-Knowledgeable about the doctrines, teachings, policies and history of the Church
-Financially prepared
-Mentally prepared for two years of constant rejection, really hard work, and no gentile TV, movies, video games or books other than the approved missionary library.

cinepro wrote:I would consider these a bare minimum:

-Worthy and spiritually attenuated..

Additionally, I would not allow a kid to go on the mission if he had not read the Book of Mormon at least twice.

But I digress. Missionaries should be forbidden to commit to a mission until they have at least read Emma Smith, Mormon enigma, and spent two weeks writing a 15 page research paper using only legitimate sources cited via the internet about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

Remembering John W's missionary experience, being prepared for harsh conditions that may adversely affect your health should also be of help.

Inconceivable wrote:

cinepro wrote:I would consider these a bare minimum:

-Worthy and spiritually attenuated..

Additionally, I would not allow a kid to go on the mission if he had not read the Book of Mormon at least twice.

But I digress. Missionaries should be forbidden to commit to a mission until they have at least read Emma Smith, Mormon enigma, and spent two weeks writing a 15 page research paper using only legitimate sources cited via the internet about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

I did include:

Knowledgeable about the doctrines, teachings, policies and history of the Church

Granted, they're not teaching religion at the college level, so I would just say they should be a little more knowledgeable than the average member. Some of the missionaries on my mission knew almost nothing about Church history or the scriptures.

cinepro wrote:

Inconceivable wrote:Additionally, I would not allow a kid to go on the mission if he had not read the Book of Mormon at least twice.

I did include:

Knowledgeable about the doctrines, teachings, policies and history of the Church

I understand, Cinepro.

For as much as it might be ok for some just to take the Mormon God's word for it, I'd still recommend being good at the basics first.

One of my peeves is that most Mormons I've conversed with don't even know the Book of Mormon at all - outside the Dramatized Scriptures and the same old rehash from Sunday School.

Like Smith, I seriously doubt many of the apologists have even cracked the book open for years. They have forgotten what the church actually claims to believe about Christ.

Can you all help me? I think I am emotionally ok. My health is much better. However I may not be scripturally or doctrinally prepared and I do have a bad habit of being controversial at church. Also since I expressed to bishop that I would like to prepare I have had temptations to do things I know I shouldn't. Normally I do wrong things because I want to but I don't want to anymore and I was ok for a while but lately it has been aghhhh. Haha. Perhaps coincidence.

Sure, I'll help you. Haven't you expressed the opinion, in the past, that some days you believe in God and other days you don't?

I'd say that a firm belief in God is the absolute starting point to missionary service.

JonasS wrote:Can you all help me? I think I am emotionally ok. My health is much better. However I may not be scripturally or doctrinally prepared and I do have a bad habit of being controversial at church. Also since I expressed to bishop that I would like to prepare I have had temptations to do things I know I shouldn't. Normally I do wrong things because I want to but I don't want to anymore and I was ok for a while but lately it has been aghhhh. Haha. Perhaps coincidence.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you think you might want to serve a mission? What would you hope to get out of it, or accomplish?

As the Church has finally realized (and implemented), missions aren't for everyone.

Haven't you noticed I haven't been around much? Why do you think that is? I have been working on several things. Such things involving my health, both Physically and Mentally and my Spiritual beliefs. People change and just because I haven't openly expressed what I have been doing and where I am standing doesn't mean I don't know what I am doing. I don't want to be attacked and told otherwise. Hense why I put this in the Celestial forum. I don't want to have to defend my faith in a place where I know I don't have a chance. This place destroyed my faith in pretty much everything and I made a decision last year having become tired of feeling low and confused, that I was no longer going to seek answers from antimormon sites and the internet and instead seek answers in primary sources. And I can tell you that I am far more happy and at peace when I trust in God.