Is Mopologetics Equivalent to a Church Calling?

[Doctor Scratch]

Peddling.

LOL. Indeed. Score another one for the "Hitchens File"!

[Doctor Scratch]

Interesting. How much time per day is really going to Interpreter? Seems to me the bulk of the time is going to travel and fun. It's almost as if Interpreter was devised as a "shield" to avoid a real calling, such that merriment might flow forth uninterrupted.

Exactly. Just prior to the collapse of "Classic FARMS," I was getting a lot of "intel" from an insider who knew what was going on behind the scenes, and one of the things this person told me was that things like METI and ISPART were basically "window dressing" so that DCP could claim that he was "doing scholarship" when what he really wanted to be doing was Mopologetics. And you're right: how much time does he actually devote to Interpreter? It seems like the thing is basically on autopilot, with Wyatt and Lindsay doing the blog posts on the regular.

The crazy thing is if Mopologetic arguments are so great and literally being the most accomplished Mopologist in the world; why wouldn't you want to go on a mission and show everyone how it's done?

Also true. And thinking that making propaganda films is really the same as a mission is totally delusional.

[Doctor Scratch]

I think in fairness it should be mentioned that older couples are not called out of the blue, at least not last I heard. Like the boys and girls, older couples have to put in paperwork to be considered. Petersen is apparently saying he and his wife just decided not to start the process leading to a calling.

That's a fair point, but this wouldn't be "out of the blue"--the exhortation from the Brethren was right there in General Conference. Dr. Peterson heard it and has decided that he's got better things to do.

[Doctor Scratch]

LOL!! Check this out from the "Comments Section":

On Friday I retired from the health department. On Saturday, I started the paperwork.

Congratulations! This is exciting news. On a side note, my family was so excited to hear Elder Rasband's talk, knowing that my wife and I are actively pursuing the day when we fully retire and serve our mission papers, that they immediately brought our "hoped for" mission up. In fact, one daughter was so excited that she called and suggested that I retire immediately!

I think that we'll start our service hopefully beginning this month by entering a "service mission," and then like you start our paperwork for a full-time mission the day after I retire sometime in the next nine months!

Thank you for being a good example for the rest of us! I sincerely hope to follow your example soon!

And this one:

I loved the call by Elder Rasband for more Senior Missionaries! My wife and I just began serving our fifth year as Senior Missionaries in the Salt Lake Inner City Mission in an Hispanic Ward. I can't express adequately the joy we have felt serving! When asked by the members, "When does your mission end?", I reply, "When we die!" We have no intention of ending our mission and feel useful to the many immigrants in our Ward who come from Mexico, Spain, and every country in South America. We live at home and I can still practice law while reaping the benefits of being a Senior Missionary. When we submitted our papers to serve, I had a few doubts about what we would experience, but, later, one of the most powerful experiences with the Spirit I've ever had confirmed that our mission is where the Lord wants us to be. And, our command of Spanish is progressing nicely!

So what is Dr. Peterson's excuse? His own commenters on his own blog are making him look lazy.

[Philo Sofee]

Interesting. How much time per day is really going to Interpreter? Seems to me the bulk of the time is going to travel and fun. It's almost as if Interpreter was devised as a "shield" to avoid a real calling, such that merriment might flow forth uninterrupted.

The crazy thing is if Mopologetic arguments are so great and literally being the most accomplished Mopologist in the world; why wouldn't you want to go on a mission and show everyone how it's done?

A fascinating point here, as usual. My guess, and it's just off the top of my head, is that it is for his ego, instead of the church that he does what he does. HIM is much more important to him than HE, the one he is supposedly trying to lead people to. He doesn't want to do that. He wants to show how smart he is and how he can endure persecution (people who disagree with him) more than anyone else. And he loves the image of being in control of a long standing skolarlee website where oh so many contribute skolarshit skolarship demonstrating he is the reason for it all, so glory to me......TO ME!!!!!! TO MEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! I am so great!

[Doctor Scratch]

Both Loveridge and Teneva have said that the mission still allowed them enough time to pursue other things. I think the Dean is right, and that Dr. Peterson won’t sign up for a mission—as the Brethren told him to—because he’s afraid it will eat into his travel plans.

[Philo Sofee]

Both Loveridge and Teneva have said that the mission still allowed them enough time to pursue other things. I think the Dean is right, and that Dr. Peterson won’t sign up for a mission—as the Brethren told him to—because he’s afraid it will eat into his travel plans.

He also won't get baptisms, or converts, or even other Mormons who end up agreeing with his interpretations as he would share them if he did go on a mission.

[Marcus]

So many of my elderly relatives sacrificed money, income, time with family, pursuits of interest, in order to serve Senior missions. Their loss added to the Mormon hoard.

The fact that Peterson refuses to do so tells me he doesn't really believe in the Mormon myth. He wants to enjoy his life, his money, his time now, because he knows this is all there is.

[Doctor Scratch]

So many of my elderly relatives sacrificed money, income, time with family, pursuits of interest, in order to serve Senior missions. Their loss added to the Mormon hoard.

The fact that Peterson refuses to do so tells me he doesn't really believe in the Mormon myth. He wants to enjoy his life, his money, his time now, because he knows this is all there is.

Well said, Marcus, and this helps to sum up so many of the issues I have with DCP. I mean, who does this sort of thing? Actively encouraging others to throw themselves into the fire while he stands off to the side, stuffing cheese fondue and date milkshakes down his gullet? This is *worse* than any kind of priestcraft that the Mopologists have attacked people over. Full-blown priestcraft seems downright honest next to this.

[Gadianton]

What if instead of going on a service mission, you could go on a mission "giving the bird" to drivers who cut you off in traffic, or hunt down people with opinions you don't like and give them a piece of your mind? What if there was a mission based on expressing your anger? Didn't we also learn that the apologists don't listen in Sacrament Meeting, and instead read scholarly books? I mean, it just seems to me that Mopologetics has enough superficial connections to church, that essentially the apologists have been able to live in their own fantasy world under the guise of worship while in reality, avoiding the real gospel living expected of everyone else.

I would have a hard time believing that Lou didn't consider his trip to New Zealand a "mission" of sorts, that would be evaluated by God similar to formal couple missions.