Has the raised bar been beneficial to missionary work?

[Sizzle]

Because rejection by someone in your own church is the exact same thing as being rejected by someone outside of your faith. And, let him have the hard time. If he fails, fine, but let him fail. Don't have him fail before he gets to take the test. If he has desires to serve, he is called to the work.

If he truly has desires to do the work, he'll do the work required to put himself in a position to meet those requirements. You can say "I want to serve a mission" but if you are unwilling to make the efforts asked by your leaders, do you really have desires?

[wuapinmon]

If he truly has desires to do the work, he'll do the work required to put himself in a position to meet those requirements.

Catch 22, Major Major.

[cougjunkie]

When a football player commits to BYU, he is given a workout plan from the strength and conditioning coach so they can get in shape heading in to fall camp. Maybe they should send one with mission call of every obese missionary.

"You have been called to serve in the Santa Ana, El Salvador mission....assuming you can complete the following: 1. lose 13 pounds 2. complete 30 pool-side chin-ups and push-ups 3. Run 1 mile in under 12 minutes. If you complete these tasks we would be happy to have. If you fail to complete any of these tasks, a mission is not for you"

[cougjunkie]

Catch 22, Major Major.

How is asking a kid to lose weight, any different than asking him to complete a myriad of other tasks such as studying the book of Mormon, keeping the law of chastity, attending all of his meetings, etc.? I serve in the YM organization and all of the kids in my ward who have served or are currently serving have been asked to complete certain tasks before they are even allowed to put in their papers. Whether it be saving money, attending mission prep (not two years but 6 weeks), attend YM activities (this is a huge one for my bishop, he wants them at quorum activities).

I don't see the difference, they are asked to make sacrifices in order to receive blessings. Whether that be time, money or a piece of chocolate cake after dinner, the principle is the same.

[Sizzle]

Catch 22, Major Major.

How is asking a kid to lose weight different than asking a kid to stop his pornography addiction?

[wuapinmon]

How is asking a kid to lose weight different than asking a kid to stop his pornography addiction?

It's the only "sin" that is readily apparent to all.

[Northwestcoug]

How is asking a kid to lose weight different than asking a kid to stop his pornography addiction treat his pornography infection?

FIFY

[Jeff Lebowski]

Consistency would be to let everyone try to serve and deal with the consequences of their failure. Let everyone serve that has desires. Anything else goes against the Scriptures.

Yes of course. Any kind of guidelines that attempt to deal with the realities of overseeing 80,000 young missionaries goes against the scriptures.

[Sizzle]

Yes of course. Any kind of guidelines that attempt to deal with the realities of overseeing 80,000 young missionaries goes against the scriptures.

If ye have desires to serve, it's your given right to be able to do so! No matter your level of personal preparation (spiritual/physical/mental/emotional)!

[Sizzle]

It's the only "sin" that is readily apparent to all.

You obviously do not have the gift of discernment, or you would know that this clearly isn't the case.

[wuapinmon]

Yes of course. Any kind of guidelines that attempt to deal with the realities of overseeing 80,000 young missionaries goes against the scriptures.

This is the kind of thinking that perplexes me. Rather than dealing with the consequences of failure amid the unique learning experience that is someone willing to give 10% of their then life over to an organization that says it's the Lord's human-led arm on the earth, we try to make everyone fit a certain mold. Rather than treating them as humans with desires to serve, we tell them they can't go if they've made a mistake or two or twenty. We place restrictions on the body types that can serve, an age difference on the genders, and worry about how to administrate rather than minister.

In doing so, we ignore the enormous toll that rejection carries, psychologically, emotionally, spritually, and socially (especially in Washing County, Utah--in this case). We might pay lip service to it, but then we admonish and tell people to buck up and make themselves ready and other rhetoric. Far be it from me to speak for God, so I'll just let him say it himself:

1 Now behold, a ^amarvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.
2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the ^aservice of God, see that ye ^bserve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand ^cblameless before God at the last day.
3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are ^acalledto the work;
4 For behold the ^afield is white already to ^bharvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in ^cstore that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;
5 And ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity and ^dlove, with an ^eeye single to the ^fglory of God, ^gqualify him for the work.
6 Remember faith, ^avirtue, knowledge, ^btemperance,^cpatience, ^dbrotherly ^ekindness, ^fgodliness, charity,^ghumility, ^hdiligence.
7 ^aAsk, and ye shall receive; ^bknock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

[Coach McGuirk]

We review...all the fears and anxiety...which are so inherently symptomatic......of a PUSS. The mind is a strange thing, men. We must begin by asking it......"What is a PUSS?"

[Art Vandelay]

I have a niece that would really like to serve a mission. She can't at this time, she is at least 75-100 pounds overweight (I think she only needs to lose 15-20). Like most morbidly obese young people she has the deadly combination of genetics, and terrible dietary habits. I think she would be a great missionary, and I think it would change her life. However, I know if she is able to develop better eating habits, and learn how to effectively exercise, it will definitely improve, and most likely extend her life. Should the church be in the body coaching business? I don't know. However, if we really believe what we are asking these kids to preach, then I don't disagree with helping them learn at a young age they have the ability to change themselves for the better.

An anecdote: we generally feed the missionaries 1-2x/month. My wife is fantastic cook, and even a better baker. The missionaries all love whatever she makes for dessert. My kids all-time favorite elder was Elder Jackson from VA. They were surprised when he turned down strawberry pie. Of course my youngest asks why. He proceeds to take a picture from his wallet of a much, much heavier kid. He tells them that was him a year ago. He was told he needed to lose weight. He had tried several times in HS, but was always unsuccessful. He asked his bishop for a blessing, where he was promised if he did his part, he would be able to serve. He decided right then and there he wasn't going to drink soda, and would exercise daily (at first he could barely walk around the block). He then began to cut back on portions, as was able to start jogging a little, then eventually running. His take was because he had a "desire to serve God" he did what he had to do to "be called to the work:

[Color Me Badd Fan]

There's no excuse (well, hardly ever an excuse) for being morbidly obese when you're 18 or 19. It limits where you can call the super-duper fat kids within the mission. I was in an area with a bike that required me to sometimes ride 20-25 miles a day. I can't imagine someone that's 5'10 weighing 260 lbs, unless you look like Zac Stacy, being able to pull that off.

Though I do admit it would be hilarious to see them try.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Unintelligent people also struggle on a mission.

True, I was eventually sent home.