"Hold my root beer" - the Russell M. Nelson thread

[falafel]

Sounds nice in theory, but that would be impractical. How would new missionaries be trained? The senior companion would be in the proselyting phase of the mission, not the service phase. Pair the new missionaries together? Terrible idea. They need to be learning language for starters.

Missionaries already dedicate a portion of their time for service.

Plus can you imagine the dread when your service portion ends and you have to start knocking doors full time? Blech.

[creekster]

Sounds nice in theory, but that would be impractical. How would new missionaries be trained? The senior companion would be in the proselyting phase of the mission, not the service phase. Pair the new missionaries together? Terrible idea. They need to be learning language for starters.

Missionaries already dedicate a portion of their time for service.

Agree, especially about the language skills. Those develop when you are forced to speak and understand. Thats less likely to happen when working along with other missionaries in service.

[jay santos]

I would send missionaries out for 2 years each (men and women alike), but instead of proselyting full-time, the first six months would be dedicated primarily to service and the remaining eighteen to proselyting. (Which isn't to say they wouldn't do any proselyting during the first six, or any service during the last eighteen; just that the bulk of the day-to-day work would be directed to service and proselyting, respectively.) Doing that will direct hundreds of thousands of man-hours from the least productive months of missionary service, especially in foreign-language missions, toward building good relationships with our friends and neighbors and doing a significant amount of good in the world. It would probably make for a better experience for missionaries too.

I wouldn't split it up in terms of six months and 18 months, but I think it would be a really good idea to put a split like 50-50 on service and proselyting and work hard and spend some $ and set up a structure to make the service hours really effective and well organized. I don't think convert baptisms would go down at all. Missionaries probably spend 70% of their time doing finding activities or non-teaching at least. I doubt if time spent in service would be much less effective than what they're doing now regarding developing a teaching pool. ie spend four hours door knocking and you might find one person half way interested. Spend four hours in service and you casually send out the message you want to teach them and you probably get one that says "tell me what you guys are about".

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wouldn't split it up in terms of six months and 18 months, but I think it would be a really good idea to put a split like 50-50 on service and proselyting and work hard and spend some $ and set up a structure to make the service hours really effective and well organized. I don't think convert baptisms would go down at all. Missionaries probably spend 70% of their time doing finding activities or non-teaching at least. I doubt if time spent in service would be much less effective than what they're doing now regarding developing a teaching pool. ie spend four hours door knocking and you might find one person half way interested. Spend four hours in service and you casually send out the message you want to teach them and you probably get one that says "tell me what you guys are about".

Seems funny to me that people assume that the missionary department/mission presidents/etc haven't thought of things like this or that it currently isn't being used.

[jay santos]

Seems funny to me that people assume that the missionary department/mission presidents/etc haven't thought of things like this or that it currently isn't being used.

I'm sure they're thinking about it. As for currently doing it? I've had three missionaries come and go the last few years, and none of them did service in a way that was any different that I did 20 ouch 30 years ago, four hours a week that was disorganized and pretty half assed.

[Pelado]

I'm sure they're thinking about it. As for currently doing it? I've had three missionaries come and go the last few years, and none of them did service in a way that was any different that I did 20 ouch 30 years ago, four hours a week that was disorganized and pretty half assed.

The service activities were some of the best times on my mission. Way better than knocking clapping at the same doors we'd already gone to month after month.

[BigPiney]

Seems funny to me that people assume that the missionary department/mission presidents/etc haven't thought of things like this or that it currently isn't being used.

Well the missionary department didn't think of doing a post mission survey for senior couples till my dad contacted them and asked them to do that. They may have been trying to improve things, but they certainly weren't inviting any feedback.

[All-American]

Sounds nice in theory, but that would be impractical. How would new missionaries be trained? The senior companion would be in the proselyting phase of the mission, not the service phase. Pair the new missionaries together? Terrible idea. They need to be learning language for starters.

Missionaries already dedicate a portion of their time for service.

Yes, I remember spending monday mornings picking up garbage on the side of the road.

There would be logistical difficulties but nothing we could not figure out if we wanted.

[Northwestcoug]

Seems funny to me that people assume that the missionary department/mission presidents/etc haven't thought of things like this or that it currently isn't being used.

I referenced Martinich (the lds growth blog guy) in another thread. He has publicly advocated for significant changes in the missionary program. When PFS interviewed the head lds missionary guy and talked about Martinich's proposals, he sounded open to change, but nothing specific.

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2019/04/01/with-church-growth/

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm sure they're thinking about it. As for currently doing it? I've had three missionaries come and go the last few years, and none of them did service in a way that was any different that I did 20 ouch 30 years ago, four hours a week that was disorganized and pretty half assed.

My kids all did substantial service. All US missions.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I referenced Martinich (the lds growth blog guy) in another thread. He has publicly advocated for significant changes in the missionary program. When PFS interviewed the head lds missionary guy and talked about Martinich's proposals, he sounded open to change, but nothing specific.

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2019...church-growth/

That doesn't disprove my point at all.

Gary Crittenden, managing director of the church’s missionary department, is well aware of the Utah-based faith’s sliding growth rate — a trend plaguing many denominations — and has read Martinich’s critique and suggestions with interest.

“I want to make sure that I’m consuming ideas that people have for us,” Crittenden told The Salt Lake Tribune. “I don't think there’s anybody here that thinks we’ve got every great idea. We can learn from others and the experience of others. And we have tried to react to what we’re hearing from people, to listen and learn and try and be better as a result of that.”

What more would you expect him to say in such a circumstance?

I know for a fact that the missionary department routinely tests new ideas. The age change thing was tested in a limited fashion and was thoroughly discussed with mission presidents prior to application. They have done tests with varying levels of social media integration. They recently did a test (in the Pacific NW) where missionaries wear normal clothing and no name tags. And yes, they have tested various levels of service hours in selected missions.

[Northwestcoug]

That doesn't disprove my point at all.



What more would you expect him to say in such a circumstance?

I know for a fact that the missionary department routinely tests new ideas. The age change thing was tested in a limited fashion and was thoroughly discussed with mission presidents prior to application. They have done tests with varying levels of social media integration. They recently did a test (in the Pacific NW) where missionaries wear normal clothing and no name tags. And yes, they have tested various levels of service hours in selected missions.

Not trying to disprove your point at all, bro. I'm just adding a data point to the conversation. I'm sure that there is extensive discussion within the missionary department that goes on all the time. I expect serious changes have also been discussed, now that growth has lagged for awhile. I think that Martinich's proposals are fairly interesting, though I doubt the church would implement some of the more 'radical' ones.

I think I've seen the elders in Oregon who are wearing clothing. They looked sharp, though in a Gap catalog kind of way

[MartyFunkhouser]

I predict minor administrative changes will occur at conference. I also predict that the minor administrative changes will be presented as major changes brought about by revelation from God.

[wuapinmon]

I predict minor administrative changes will occur at conference. I also predict that the minor administrative changes will be presented as major changes brought about by revelation from God.

That's hardly a prediction. That's how it's gone down ever since I joined the Church.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Prediction: ex-mos and prog-mos will mock members for exhibiting some faith in changes and will downplay the significance of any change.