Missionaries and Pressure in the Church

[_Yahoo Bot]

All in all, this experience just this week has given me a perspective on missions. And even though the church says men don't have to go on a mission, the pressure from church members, family, and even the occasional girlfriend who overlooks his feelings, is so immense, that he serves is so massive, that in all reality, he is forced to anyway. From now on, I'm going to tell young men not to go unless they want to, without any pressure affecting their decision. I'm sick of this feeling that I sent off someone to something they weren't ready for, didn't want to go on, and shouldn't have gone on.

Oddly, this statement seems to assume that young men don't have free will.

When I was a bishop, and I'm sure many bishops are the same, I'd tell a young man not to go unless he felt the Spirit pulling him that direction. Then I'd urge him to get the Spirit.

But, in the end, a 19-year-old has the free will to go or not to go, to lie or not to lie. Nobody is forcing him. If we were on a Catholic or Jewish board, we'd be having a similar conversation about the guilt imposed by family and religion to adhere to societal norms.

When a friend of mine wanted to come home from the MTC, I was put on the phone with the MTC president who told me that "a Mission is not a prison. We invite them to stay and tough it out, but beyond that we don't try to persuade them to stay. He is free to go as he chooses."

[_moksha]

If some young men are being unduly pressured into going on a mission, they should present their parents with the very workable alternative of being a part time missionary on the LDS Forum at Beliefnet. Touching their iPad is much safer than peddling around the streets of Ojo Buena and much easier on their parents pocketbook.

[_ZelphtheGreat]

Ah the pressure of society. Heaven forbid someone should be influenced to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ for two years but it's okay to encourage someone to act on whatever they feel like doing whether it be pre marital sex or homosexual acts or drugs and alcohol, etc. etc.

Maybe Mormon leadership would be better served encouraging the youth to serve their Country wherever they live? Military service, peace corps, public service of some sort. Much more good is done this way than through two years trying to convince people they are wrong and you are right.

Utah still has one of the lowest enlistment rates for military service in the US. Not sure about other countries.

If it is Baptisms the leaders want the members in the military do pretty well.

[_Mittens]

This film is about a group of Mormon Missionarys


http://www.unveilinggrace.com/video/unv ... e_full.htm


Another testimony

http://mormonthink.com/itstartedwithscience.htm

[_Albion]

If only Mormon "missionaries" did teach t he Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[_Tobin]

If only Mormon "missionaries" did teach t he Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It isn't that hard to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It consists of believing in Jesus Christ and following him.

[_Albion]

Very true but I suspect we would disagree as to whether or not Mormon "missionaries" actually do that.

[_Mittens]

If only Mormon "missionaries" did teach t he Gospel of Jesus Christ.

These are former Missionarys who parents were Bishops and Relief Presidents who left Mormonism

[_Tobin]

If only Mormon "missionaries" did teach t he Gospel of Jesus Christ.

These are former Missionarys who parents were Bishops and Relief Presidents who left Mormonism

People deny their faiths all the time. Being a fallible human being comes with the territory. It doesn't make them correct at all just because they believed something and then denied it.

[_Mittens]

Mormonism, on the other hand, exalts the pride of man. Joseph H. Weston, who joined the Mormon church three days after completing his book, exclaimed:

Mormons don't grovel before God, prating their unworthiness and imploring mercy. They are not slaves! They are men, made in the image of God! They proudly stand, hold their heads high, and put out their hands to shake that of God in greeting, as any worthy son would be expected to respectfully but proudly stand before a wise and good father (These Amazing Mormons! p. 82).

This along with what Jesus was compelling reason why these Missionary's left Mormonism

Matthew 23:
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.