RabidTurtle

I see a lot of young women especially who do feel a lot of pressure to serve missions, but maybe that is a good thing. Let me disambiguate my thoughts because I do not intend to offend those who chose not to serve. I'll separate my thought based on lines I hear all the time. 1. "I prayed and was told not to go! You can't receive revelation for me."- while it is true that personal revelation is private, I find it hard to believe that the 50% of young women not going on missions are all receiving strong answers NOT TO GO! I think most of them realize and are reassured that it is OKAY if they choose not to go and that things will work out. 2."missions are good but they aren't for everybody!"-wait how do you know that, you have never been? I believe the lessons a hard working, faithful missionary learns in his/her service can't be learned to the same measure elsewhere. People who don't serve don't get how hard missions really are. And I do think everyone can benefit from a mission and can help the Lord's work. I do acknowledge that many people can't physically, mentally, or emotionally serve. But wait for it.... 3. "I don't desire to serve" or "I've never wanted to serve!"-how sad is that? You've been blessed with the gospel in your life and have had so many good things happen because of that, yet you've never wanted to show the Lord your appreciation through a mission?