Raising the Bar

[BigPiney]

5'10 and 290 is too fat, according to the chart.

According to this:

The Missionary Department requires that missionaries have a body mass index no higher than 37. This is actually on the border between obesity and morbid obesity. Prospective missionaries should strive to keep their weight in the normal range, thereby avoiding obesity-related health problems. Being markedly under normal weight can also have serious health consequences.

I do believe they will make exceptions if the prospective missionary can demonstrate they they are physically up to the challenge.

[Soccermom]

The best and worst missionaries I knew in the mission field were wild as hell in high school. The thing that always bothered me about raising the bar was that it seemed to say "the atonement isn't for you."

That is what bothers me about the whole raising the bar thing too. A few of my friends from high school who ended up being extraordinary missionaries probably wouldn't have had the chance to go had they been a few years younger. I mean, look at Alma the younger for crying out loud!

[cowboy]

That is what bothers me about the whole raising the bar thing too. A few of my friends from high school who ended up being extraordinary missionaries probably wouldn't have had the chance to go had they been a few years younger. I mean, look at Alma the younger for crying out loud!

To be fair, I think the church (at least my stake) has backed off on that. I know some kids who've gone out recently that had some serious repenting to do. They've done well on their missions, and I believe one is serving as an AP (not that that makes him more righteous, just an indicator that he has demonstrated a commendable level of commitment.)

[snowcat]

I am not a fan of a strict height/weight limit, but I think I understand why this has become an issue. It seems tlike there are a lot of missionaries that are returning early for medical issues. Many of the current generation of missionaries are soft and not up to the physical demands of missionary service. I am not sure a height/weight chart is the best measure for this, but I understand why they are trying to do something.

We have youth leadership who have decided to try and physically push the young men during camps and activities. Perhaps this will help.

[RC Vikings]

I wonder why after raising the bar it seems like more and more kids come home early. One of the mothers keep track of all the missionaries in our graduating class (70 of them) and none of them came home early. It didn't even seem like an option at the time. Today I hear of kids coming home early often.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wonder why after raising the bar it seems like more and more kids come home early. One of the mothers keep track of all the missionaries in our graduating class (70 of them) and none of them came home early. It didn't even seem like an option at the time. Today I hear of kids coming home early often.

It certainly seems to be more common. When my son was in the MTC recently, there was a spanish-speaking district of 11 missionaries. 9 of them went home and never made it out of the MTC.

[byu71]

I wonder why after raising the bar it seems like more and more kids come home early. One of the mothers keep track of all the missionaries in our graduating class (70 of them) and none of them came home early. It didn't even seem like an option at the time. Today I hear of kids coming home early often.

It wasn't acceptable. Like I have said before, a buddy of mine and I had only one option if we had chosen to leave the mission field. Join the army. If you got killed in action, the folks back home may have forgiven you.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

The best and worst missionaries I knew in the mission field were wild as hell in high school. The thing that always bothered me about raising the bar was that it seemed to say "the atonement isn't for you."

This is true. I can't for the life of me understand this policy. It seems like a kid could get laid once or do it a few times with a girlfriend in high school and after awhile get past it and repent. I feel having been there and back gives a kid some perspective others don't have and these guys, as long as they've cleaned up (after they've already...umm...cleaned up) they can turn into good and great missionaries.

There also has to be some strong correlation in the church today between serving a mission and maintaining activity throughout life. "Raising the Bar" is a condemnation for acts that you did when you were 16 that may greatly inhibit your future activity in the church. Simply put, people do judge and will wonder why some of these kids didn't go on missions. Church activity is difficult enough without this hanging over your head.

[JohnnyLingo]

I think mission presidents should be less loathe to send missionaries home from the field. The point has been made that past performance is no guarantee of future results, but if an elder (or sister) is in the field and sucking it up to the detriment of their companion and the work, boot them after a few weeks.

[Indy Coug]

I think people would be amazed how much of a mission president's time and energy is consumed with dealing with rogue missionaries and various health issues, particularly mental issues.

[il Padrino Ute]

According to the current height/weight requirements, I would've not been allowed to serve a mission.

I would've left the Church had I not been allowed to serve because I was 15 lbs over the "limit."

Why can't the church just put an "X" on a kid's forehead?

[JohnnyLingo]

I think people would be amazed how much of a mission president's time and energy is consumed with dealing with rogue missionaries and various health issues, particularly mental issues.

Not me. I wouldn't be amazed.

Toughest calling in the Church, IMO.

[byu71]

Why can't the church just put an "X" on a kid's forehead?

LOL, that was a good one.

[il Padrino Ute]

I think people would be amazed how much of a mission president's time and energy is consumed with dealing with rogue missionaries and various health issues, particularly mental issues.

I agree completely. After seeing what my mission president did for the time I spent in the office, I would never want that calling.

[cowboy]

I feel having been there and back gives a kid some perspective others don't have and these guys, as long as they've cleaned up (after they've already...umm...cleaned up) they can turn into good and great missionaries.

True story:

I was in Spartanburg teaching a guy who worked at some factory there. The had been teaching him for a while, but I was new to the area so we stopped for an introduction. We started talking and the conversation turned to the atonement. He stopped my companion and said, "You know, I've heard this before. You kids always talk about it and I always wonder what you know about sin and forgiveness." Then he looks at me, "But this kid...he's raised some hell. It means something to him, and when he talks I pay attention."

I was actually a little ashamed that my past still showed in my countenance, but at the same time, I was glad that I could relate with him.