Rumors of 19 year old females going on missions

[The_Douger]

Just go for a year then defer, seems like the easy solution.

It doesn't seem like they have said you have to go at 18. Just that you can, and it didn't seem like everyone would be "required" to do so either.

[byu71]

A concern I have as a parent of several YM is how will universities not familar with LDS students deal with college admissions. Usually, a student can obtain a leave of absence from a university if he is in good academic standing. So taking a break after the Freshman year usually works out. But how will college admissions deal with a student who gains acceptence to a competitive university? Will they allow for a deferral? I see a potential porblem when a student works hard for 4+ years to get accepted at an excellent university only to put that on hold and go on a mission instead.

Also, I have concerns that if a male student elects to enroll at a university and attend college 1-2 years before serving a mission; his home ward or LDS circle of family friends will assume he opted to go to college instead of serving a mission.

Overall, I think it's good that an 18-year old HS graduate is given more flexibility. I worry about how State U (non-Mormon west universities) accommodate it and how attending college pre-mission will be viewed by LDS culture at large.

On a personal level, one of my son's is already starting to worry about this. His goal is to attend Rice U. or Carnegie Mellon U. and he's already worrying that his Bishop will tell him to go on a mission right after graduation. If those universites don't allow for an enrollment deferral, he might feel guilty for attending school pre-mission.

But the 19-year age would continue to work well with femal missionaries. Maybe the COB is just better accommodating YW college education

I have no answers, but you hit on one of the things that bug me the most about my membership in this church. The real and anticipated guilt trips and how we all make decisions based on them.

Yesterday, I took a son and two grandsons golfing for nine holes. I don't get to see them much and I am perfectly fine with it. However, if neither of these boys end up going on a mission, it is probably my fault for setting such a bad example yesterday.

[Donuthole]

Also, I have concerns that if a male student elects to enroll at a university and attend college 1-2 years before serving a mission; his home ward or LDS circle of family friends will assume he opted to go to college instead of serving a mission.

Yeah, so? The kid knows his intent, right? Who gives a rat's ass what his home ward or LDS circle of family friends think?

On a personal level, one of my son's is already starting to worry about this. His goal is to attend Rice U. or Carnegie Mellon U. and he's already worrying that his Bishop will tell him to go on a mission right after graduation. If those universites don't allow for an enrollment deferral, he might feel guilty for attending school pre-mission.

Uh, so nip it in the bud. You're his parent. Tell him if he wants to serve a mission, going to school for a year first is completely acceptable. Tell him if his bishop tells him otherwise, to ignore it. If the bishop persists, talk to the bishop yourself.

In sum, these seem like really tiny concerns which are easily addressable by you and/or your son.

[clackamascoug]

But the 19-year age would continue to work well with femal missionaries. Maybe the COB is just better accommodating YW college education

I think you meant to say feral missionaries. Good points though. I agree.

[Art Vandelay]

Yeah, so? The kid knows his intent, right? Who gives a rat's ass what his home ward or LDS circle of family friends think?


Uh, so nip it in the bud. You're his parent. Tell him if he wants to serve a mission, going to school for a year first is completely acceptable. Tell him if his bishop tells him otherwise, to ignore it. If the bishop persists, talk to the bishop yourself.

In sum, these seem like really tiny concerns which are easily addressable by you and/or your son.

I agree. Or just have your son, and his bishop, read the exact wording President Monson used.

[wuapinmon]

A concern I have as a parent of several YM is how will universities not familar with LDS students deal with college admissions. Usually, a student can obtain a leave of absence from a university if he is in good academic standing. So taking a break after the Freshman year usually works out. But how will college admissions deal with a student who gains acceptence to a competitive university? Will they allow for a deferral? I see a potential porblem when a student works hard for 4+ years to get accepted at an excellent university only to put that on hold and go on a mission instead.

Also, I have concerns that if a male student elects to enroll at a university and attend college 1-2 years before serving a mission; his home ward or LDS circle of family friends will assume he opted to go to college instead of serving a mission.

Overall, I think it's good that an 18-year old HS graduate is given more flexibility. I worry about how State U (non-Mormon west universities) accommodate it and how attending college pre-mission will be viewed by LDS culture at large.

On a personal level, one of my son's is already starting to worry about this. His goal is to attend Rice U. or Carnegie Mellon U. and he's already worrying that his Bishop will tell him to go on a mission right after graduation. If those universites don't allow for an enrollment deferral, he might feel guilty for attending school pre-mission.

But the 19-year age would continue to work well with femal missionaries. Maybe the COB is just better accommodating YW college education

In February 1992, I applied to Georgia Tech for the Fall 1995 semester. I included a letter in my application explaining that I would be serving a mission and if accepted, I would need them to defer it for me. My acceptance letter acknowledged my mission plans and granted me a deferral until Fall 1995. They were cool with it 20 years ago. I imagine that it shouldn't be a problem at most places if a Top 40 university is willing to do it for little ole me.

[thesaint258]

I agree. Or just have your son, and his bishop, read the exact wording President Monson used.

It's nice when a prophet's words work for you.

[Paperback Writer]

In February 1992, I applied to Georgia Tech for the Fall 1995 semester. I included a letter in my application explaining that I would be serving a mission and if accepted, I would need them to defer it for me. My acceptance letter acknowledged my mission plans and granted me a deferral until Fall 1995. They were cool with it 20 years ago. I imagine that it shouldn't be a problem at most places if a Top 40 university is willing to do it for little ole me.

Thanks for the reply. That is good to know that a university like GT is willing to work with these situations. I wonder if stating one's intentions up front would make it more or less difficult to get admitted to a top school like Georgia Tech.

Yeah, so? The kid knows his intent, right? Who gives a rat's ass what his home ward or LDS circle of family friends think?

Um...how about the HS senior wanting to please his Bishop, Seminary teacher, YM advisor, his LDS HS buddies, girlfriend, etc. YM are impressionable at 18.

Uh, so nip it in the bud. You're his parent. Tell him if he wants to serve a mission, going to school for a year first is completely acceptable. Tell him if his bishop tells him otherwise, to ignore it. If the bishop persists, talk to the bishop yourself.

If only I'd thought of that myself. The problem is a parent counseling their kid one direction and a Bishop being "inspired" to counsel a kid differently. It's not a good situation to not have the parents and Bishop/LDS leaders on the same page. And it's already occurred in my ward with a YM who joined the Marines (like his father) fresh out of HS rather than serve a mission. Of course I would discuss with the Bishop and have already done so with something slightly different where a Bishop didn't agree with my son deciding not to attend BYU because he was accepted to a better school for his major. The Bishop's counsel was to attend BYU because he thought there was a better chance of him going on a mission if he did so. Consequently, I can see the same counsel occurring to not attend college after HS out of concern that a YM will not serve a mission once he goes to school.

In sum, these seem like really tiny concerns which are easily addressable by you and/or your son.

Being the recipient of a "guilt trip" by a Bishop can be more than a "tiny concern".

I have no answers, but you hit on one of the things that bug me the most about my membership in this church. The real and anticipated guilt trips and how we all make decisions based on them.

You stated my concern better than I. Sometimes I feel too many LDS have made a bad habit of trying to "out Mormon" each other.

Yesterday, I took a son and two grandsons golfing for nine holes. I don't get to see them much and I am perfectly fine with it. However, if neither of these boys end up going on a mission, it is probably my fault for setting such a bad example yesterday.

It could have been worse; you could have taken them fishing. Although the order might have changed from my youth. Is golfing on the Sabbath a greater sin than fishing? I've lost track; such is the state of the wicked.

I agree. Or just have your son, and his bishop, read the exact wording President Monson used.

But as you know better than I (perhaps not, don't want to make assumptions) that a Bishop's counsel/inspiraton can be a wild card. In the future, I can see local LDS leadership making serving a mission at 18-years-old the new standard. I can also see the COB doing nothing to change this. And once there, it will be interpreted by the rank-and-file that junior went off to college (especially if he's not attending BYU) instead of serving a mission. It already happens now with YM who wait a couple of years before serving. This happened with me many years ago when I was almost 20 when I served a mission. There was a rumor in my former ward that I was going to stay in school and continue to play football instead of going on a mission because all my LDS peers were already in the mission field and I wasn't.

[Idon'tgnawonmywife]

Just a thought...I know that many have said here that the announcement will not really effect the men, but just the women. It would have made a big difference for me.

At 18 I was ready to go. I graduated at 17 and had a good full year to go to school before the mission. Well, that summer I broke up with a girl and then all my friends moved away to college. I went to the local school and failed nearly every single class. I got deep into porn and word of wisdom issues. I fell into a deep depression that lasted until I was 20.

Luckily I was able to pull out of it and got myself on a mission. If I could have gone at 18, I can only imagine how much further in life I would be now. I would have been able to start school at 20 without having to retake all of the failed classes instead of at 22 with a full year of retakes. That's 3 years down the shitter not to mention the sin I dealt with.

I can't say I would have been free from issues if I had gone at 18, but I think they would have been less.

Well, at the least, you don't have to wash your socks as often now.

[Omaha 680]

Well, at the least, you don't have to wash your socks as often now.

Moose!

[Solon]

In the SLC Temple Square mission, sisters serve as DL's, so it isn't a priesthood calling. I guess it is one of those things that women can do if there aren't any men around to do it at the time, kind of like being in the WNBA, or the partner of Anne Heche.
.

I want to be sure that Clark receives due recognition for this gem.

I'm with PBW. In a year or two when the dust has settled, I think there's going to be some kind of stigma for men who wait until they're 19 to go, just like there's currently. some kind of stigma for men who wait until they're 20. It will either be an assumption that the kid chose college over mission or that the kid was busy repenting.

I also agree with donuthole. Who gives a rip if that's the case?

[wuapinmon]

Well, at the least, you don't have to wash your socks as often now.

I feel bad for your wife.

[Idon'tgnawonmywife]

I feel bad for your wife.

For the socks or lack of gnawledge?

[doctorcoug]

I've got a 19 year old female on the schedule today for a missionary physical.

via a galaxy s3 far far away

First hand report... wouldn't have served if she had to wait until 21. Absolutely giddy about the idea of serving.

via a galaxy s3 far far away

[Omaha 680]

I want to be sure that Clark receives due recognition for this gem.

I'm with PBW. In a year or two when the dust has settled, I think there's going to be some kind of stigma for men who wait until they're 19 to go, just like there's currently. some kind of stigma for men who wait until they're 20. It will either be an assumption that the kid chose college over mission or that the kid was busy repenting.

I also agree with donuthole. Who gives a rip if that's the case?

I think the change will reduce the stigma. Leaving at 18 was clearly presented as an option, not the age for everyone. With options, there will be less stigma for not serving at a given age. There may be some overzealous local leaders who teach 18 is the age to serve for everyone, but hopefully that will be limited.