Rumors of 19 year old females going on missions

[Babs]

A 2L at school today was explaining to the class why most LDS won't vote for Romney. As evidence she offered the fact that Democrats in Utah tend to be Mormon.

I almost forgot: her other evidence was the fact that the "Utah Newspaper" endorsed Obama.

[BigPiney]

The letter of the law from the Church since raising the bar is that premarital sex disqualifies you from service. There are plenty of Bishops and SPs who ignore it, and plenty who don't.

I don't read it that way. If it was over an extended period of time or with multiple partners, you would be disqualified, but one or two times is not an automatic no go.

[RC Vikings]

Having a child and/or having or paying/consenting to an abortion have long been mission deal breakers. Though I did have a friend whose sister had a baby, put it up for adoption and served a mission. This was in the mid 80s. That is the only time I've heard of a parent serving (disregarding senior couples and sisters, obviously).

I know a guy in town that got married, had a kid, got divorced and then served a mission. This would have been the mid to late 70's. I'm not sure how he supported the kid or how he justified leaving his kid for two years but he did it.

[Uncle Ted]

I know a guy in town that got married, had a kid, got divorced and then served a mission. This would have been the mid to late 70's. I'm not sure how he supported the kid or how he justified leaving his kid for two years but he did it.

I am guessing he had family in high places (in the church) to pull this off.

[pellegrino]

I almost forgot: her other evidence was the fact that the "Utah Newspaper" endorsed Obama.

doesn't that make you wonder about the admissions process there?

[myboynoah]

Yes, but sadly, BYU wouldn't give me a scholarship.

That's our Mormon work ethic. Once Rmoney is president, no one will be getting scholarships in America, they'll work for it, and be happy for doing so.

It feels good to come out of the closet.

[Babs]

doesn't that make you wonder about the admissions process there?

Yeah, no, actually, they're pretty up front about that part. By statute they have to select 70% of each class from within the state.

[ricoson]

The letter of the law from the Church since raising the bar is that premarital sex disqualifies you from service. There are plenty of Bishops and SPs who ignore it, and plenty who don't.

Not so sure about this one... I had premarital sex before my mission and after a year and a half went on a mission (I returned two years ago so this is recent). Obviously this isn't something to go around advertising in the LDS church (and culture) but I figured I'd share. I had 3 Bishops through this process that knew about it and one of them was even at BYU. So no it does not automatically disqualify you.

I don't read it that way. If it was over an extended period of time or with multiple partners, you would be disqualified, but one or two times is not an automatic no go.

In my experience, this is true.

[BigPiney]

Nice story on NPR this morning about the change in mission ages.

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/31/163631875/mormon-church-women-missionariesch

[snowcat]

Nice story on NPR this morning about the change in mission ages.

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/31/163631...missionariesch

Nice article.

[SCcoug]

Sister in law says she's going.

She opened it today. She's going to Washington DC South, leaves Jan 9.

[Surfah]

She opened it today. She's going to Washington DC South, leaves Jan 9.

We have sisters down here in our stake. Maybe I'll get to see her.

[The Fourth Nephite]

In the 6 years I've lived in my ward, half the time we have had no missionaries out, the other half we've had one. Now within a few months we will have:

1 couple
3 sisters
2 (maybe 3) elders

[DrumNFeather]

We have sisters down here in our stake. Maybe I'll get to see her.

Same here! If what the mission prez here is purported to have said, we're gonna see a lot of calls come our way in the next few months.

[TexTechCoug]

I am guessing he had family in high places (in the church) to pull this off.

It is both amazing and disappointing how much differently you are treated in the Church, based purely off who knows you.

I had a companion for whom the bar was lowered significantly (drugs, multiple partners, etc). Actually one of my favorite companions and an excellent missionary. Got sick, went back to the States for surgery, and with connections made it back to abroad. Absolutely unheard of to return stateside for health reasons and go back abroad, but not in his case.

Getting in to BYU is possible with lousy grades and a 19 on your ACT if you are from well-known LDS family and your SP is well known and very wealthy.