My Adventures as an LDS Missionary

[downtown]

If I was a LDS, I would not go on those kinds of missionaries if I am in a relationship due because I don't want to get one of thoes Dear John letters.

Then again, I am a Catholic anyway and thankfully dont do those kinds of missionary work.

bwahaha, did Eran tell you about those?
I was lucky, and beat the odds. I didnt get one

 

[Katheryn]

Good Question.

First, I'm not selling anything. Joining the LDS church is free. Getting a Bible or a Book of Mormon is free. While some people arent interested, there are thousands of people who are looking for a church, or have deep questions that we can help with. Few are sitting in their home thinking "the thing that would complete my soul would be a new home security system. I hope somebody knocks on my door and offers me one." It happens with Religion ALL the time.

Plus, there are some parts, even in my mission, which was pretty nice, that are really bad. South Sacramento and Stockton are rough areas. I was helping people turn their lives around, giving job training, and doing real community service as well. I feel pretty good about what I did out there

I still don't understand why you guys are different from Evangelical Christians. What is up with that?

 

[downtown]

Doesnt seem to me like Gods playing his part of the Bargain.

How can you keep such faith.. going seriously out of your way to spread your Gods word, when he then pretty much dumps on you from a great height.

Also, while the word of God is great, it doesnt feed people. Would not your time be better spent helping people out of poverty?

You know, when all this started to happen, I felt the exact same way.

But crap happens, and its supposed to be that way. Its through those sufferings that we are made stronger. I havent lost faith that God is looking out for me and my family. Money has been coming in from everywhere, and in abundance...we didnt have to cook dinners for almost a month after my dad died. The church is paying for most of my medical procedures. We still have our friends, the rest of our family, and our senses of humor.

I dont worry for my mother. she has faced everything in her life by totally kicking its butt. Cancer doesnt stand a chance.

If we look in the scriptures, we find that men of God, even Jesus himself, werent exactly spared from suffering. The point is that the gospel gives that perspective, so that we can actually face these problems.

Can you imagine losing your father, without the knowledge that there is an afterlife? how could you possibily recover?

I am aware that the scriptures alone do not feed people. However, missionaries, and the church, certainly do. I didnt just hang out Book of Mormons after all.

 

[downtown]

I still don't understand why you guys are different from Evangelical Christians. What is up with that?

Mormonism and Evangelical Christianity differ on various theological points, depending on the denomination.

 

[Xanikk999]

Can you imagine losing your father, without the knowledge that there is an afterlife? how could you possibily recover?

It really didnt affect me in that way when my grandmother and grandfather died.

Knowing that there is an afterlife for them or not is the least of my concerns. After all even if there isnt they are dead and emotionless so it really wouldnt affect them or me.

I would be concerned with my own grief.

 

[downtown]

Oh, and as far as the LDS community is concerned, returned missionaries are MAJOR chick magnets. THis wasnt a real issue for me, since there arent many mormon girls where I live, but if you live in Utah or Idaho or something, that does play into the equation somewhat

 

[Abaddon]

MB, remarkably good balanced answer. While i obviously dont share your religious views, it obviously does you good, and noone harm so all the best with it, and i hope the next fork in the road takes you and your family in a better direction!

 

[GenMarshall]

Oh, and as far as the LDS community is concerned, returned missionaries are MAJOR chick magnets. THis wasnt a real issue for me, since there arent many mormon girls where I live, but if you live in Utah or Idaho or something, that does play into the equation somewhat

What about older single converts who are too old to go on these missionary missions? Are they at a disadvantage because since they did not gone on a missionary and thus are not a chick magnet?

 

[downtown]

What about older single converts who are too old to go on these missionary missions? Are they at a disadvantage because since they did not gone on a missionary and thus are not a chick magnet?

Naaaaah. My older sister is about to marry one of those converts. Worked out okay for him. My dad didnt serve a mission either, he did ok .

 

[GenMarshall]

Well it seems to me that LDS girls place a big deal on young men going to these missionary works and I thought that since older converts who are too old to serve in a missionary that they would be at a disadvantage because they came in late and missed out. Is there an exception that LDS woman have for older converts that are too old to serve the missionary?

 

[downtown]

There are like, 13 million Mormons. Its pretty difficult to make a broad generalization about the issue. I would say that converts would be at no disadvantage. There might be a slight one for longtime members that dont go, but its nothing that cant be overcome.

 

[GenMarshall]

Thats good to hear . However, it does not matter to me now since I am on the road to becoming a Catholic (Receive First Communion and Confirmation). But its good to know just incase some event the Catholic Church does something that turns me off and makes me search for a different church.

 

[Abaddon]

Wait a seconds.. i thought Mormons were against electricity.. or is that another religion.. if so what are you doing on the devils machine?

 

[downtown]

Wait a seconds.. i thought Mormons were against electricity.. or is that another religion.. if so what are you doing on the devils machine?

Sssshhh, dont tell anybody, you'll blow my secret.

I have what, almost 4,000 posts now? Ive been here for like 3 years. You got us confused with the Amish

 

[GenMarshall]

Wait a seconds.. i thought Mormons were against electricity.. or is that another religion.. if so what are you doing on the devils machine?

You're thinking of the Amish

 

[Xanikk999]

Wait a seconds.. i thought Mormons were against electricity.. or is that another religion.. if so what are you doing on the devils machine?

Just a guess but maybe your thinking of this.

 

[Abaddon]

Ah, that clears up a small cloud forming.. it is 2.48am right now for me though...

 

[Methos]

My condolences for your father and I wish your family well. I'm also sorry you were hurt and unable to finish your mission. Hopefully you get better soon. Just a thought, but have you thought about the fact that maybe the mission wasn't God's plan for you?

Just my two cents.

Nice to have you back.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Yeah, just thought I would stick my head in.

I only spent a few hours at the mission office my first day in the field, I didn't see the mission home at all until my last night. Of course, that was because my mission is so small that even though our plane got in in the early afternnon, we could all be in our areas by supper. In a larger mission, it would make sense to spend the night at the mission home and go to your area the next morning, but I was tracting my first night. My mission had rather more tracting than I liked, but I dealt with it.

Anyways, welcome back. I hope you make it back out, but if not, I can show you how to stretch three months of mission stories to sound like two years, and you will be good.

For all you non Mormons, mission stories are like currency, almost. RMs love to tell them.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

And now, the questions that no one else would even know to ask . . .

You were out 2 transfers, it sounds like? One in your first area, then about a half of one in your next? Glad to hear you had a good trainer. That is always important.