Thoughts on this..?

[prisonchaplain]

I do know I was never afraid of the people that attended other churches regularly, it was the people that belonged to a church but didn't bother to go and learn what the Lord taught in the Bible.

Your intuition is born out not only spiritually but sociologically as well. There's an old statistic that gets bantied about, suggesting that conservatives Christians are more likely to abuse their wives and children than the general public. I remember hearing this in college. A few years ago a Catholic sociologist decided to dig into this. What he discovered was:

1. The statistic was true if the Christian did NOT attend church regularly.

2. The statistics were opposite--the Christians was LESS LIKELY than the general public to abuse his spouse or children if he DID attend church regularly.

[bmy-]

Your intuition is born out not only spiritually but sociologically as well. There's an old statistic that gets bantied about, suggesting that conservatives Christians are more likely to abuse their wives and children than the general public. I remember hearing this in college. A few years ago a Catholic sociologist decided to dig into this. What he discovered was:

1. The statistic was true if the Christian did NOT attend church regularly.

2. The statistics were opposite--the Christians was LESS LIKELY than the general public to abuse his spouse or children if he DID attend church regularly.

Good information. Thanks for the nugget about collars. I grew up in a catholic church so I made an incorrect assumption it appears.

delio32, i'm in no way discouraging the missionaries. I started this thread to gauge reactions and decide if I should bring up my problem with the bishop.

[Moksha]

As FYI, I'm not Catholic. Other church clergy use the collar, though, frankly, it's not common in my own church. I use it because, at a jail, it's a quick way to let the inmates know that I am a chaplain, and not a psychologist, caseworker, etc.

You could create an extra aura of mystery if you wore a Star of David necklace as well.

[Guest bren1975]

My apologies if this point has already been said . . . What would we think if missionaries from a non-LDS church did the same to us? I'd think we'd welcome them as visitors, but not if they were there for any other purpose. I doubt we'd stand for it.

But I also believe mission presidents are entitled to the inspiration needed to direct their mission. As a missionary, I'd express my concerns, then be obedient.

[delio32]

Of course we would welcome them and I think it would be a great idea for them to come. They could then see that the Spirit is in our church just as it is in their own.

I don't believe that missionaries should be out trying to teach the Gospel at other churches. If a member has a person to teach, the mission president will say go teach. I think little good comes from spending hours at a members house, which usually ends up happening. I also believe the mission president would be just as happy with the missionaries going door to door on Sunday's instead of visiting members. I believe they are being asked to be out where there are opportunities to teach.

If the missionaries want to teach the members how to discuss the gospel with their friends, set up a fireside and invite many members. Again, I believe this is more about how a missionary spends his/her time, then going to another church.

[Guest TheLutheran]

Our youngest daughter's LDS boyfriend has been attending services with us and then she attends Sacrament meeting with him. Both have learned a great deal about each other's faiths in the process.

Maybe I'm old school (or just old) but during the summer months a group of men wear casual attire to church -- they call themselves the "Shorts Club for Men" and it makes me chuckle every Sunday since I was raised with suits for men and hats/gloves for ladies. When the LDS boyfriend attends wearing his spiffy white shirt, black trousers and dress shoes everyone knows he's LDS even without a golden nametag. He's been warmly welcomed by our congregation (but maybe that's because he's with us and he's not on active duty for The Church.) To experience another faith tradition is valuable for all of us.

[candyprpl]

(a little off topic) We do missionary meals in our homes, but they are limited to how long they can stay, unless of course we have someone for them to teach. I usually have dinner ready the minute the missionaries walk in the door so we can be a little relaxed and enjoy the company. The best part is when they leave us with a spiritual message.

I personally think it's important for the missionaries to have contact with the members. Of course, it should not be their main focus. They keep me on my toes, to be member missionaries, LOL!

[georgia2]

Well, the post says that the missionaries can't go to members houses on Sunday, instead to other churches. I would assume this is AFTER or BEFORE their own services?

I also think it would be weird, to have missionaries at other churches unless invited to tell what hey believe and why it is different, (as if that would ever happen). I also think it is beneficial for them to be knowledgeable of the other doctrines, but that isn't the way to achieve that. SOme congregations actually preach anti in their services. If they would go to one of those churches the people would be very upset I would imagine.

I think a better way for them to endear themselves to other denominations is to serve them. Serving always shows true concern and value to others without pushing yourself on anyone.

[color="Black"BUT< a mission president is entitled to direction and revelation to his calling and responsibility. Maybe there is a whole congregation including the pastor who is prepared and ready for the fullness of the Gospel. It is always hard to second guess someone elses stewardship.

[Maya]

My opinion of this is a bit mixed. some congrigations can take LDS visiters some dont. Some people would think it would be almost blasmony (? you knowwhat I mean). Anyway i think the missionaries atttending should really have their antennas out to feel the spirit in teh Church. If they feel unwelcome or bad about it they should not go!

In some places this really can be a good way to meet people of other faiths, even to learn about those faiths. But one has to always remember how fast the actions of our missionaries may be tolked wrong... remember the pictureas a year or so ago where some missionaries did, what many other had done before them... took a picture of them on a graveyard, with a loose head of a statue.... These gys are still young and cant always make the differnce between fun and what is blasmony for others. It is dangerous I think, IF not been asked to visit by some members. Even a smile in a wrong place....

IF asked by someone they SHOULD go! But for a week missionary visting may be fatal and he may get funny ideas.

Once we had some evengelists visiting our meeting. They were more or less acting arrogant. Since they were sitting right in front of me, I offered a song book to the lady, she gave me a very tight smile. Then when we were ready they suddenly got up and began to preach and tell that we all are going to hell. Some kids began to cry and I moved between them and my kids and held teh kids on their seats. One of them was yelling. Ofcourse the presthood made a circle around then fast and leaded them kindly out of the house by asking them to leave. That was pretty scarry to many.

[countrygirl66]

I am in utah and haven't heard about this program so I don't know the details. I hope it works out in the long run for the good. My thoughts were along these lines though. In my biological family there are 8 siblings and only 2 are members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. I love my brothers and sisters even though our beleifs differ. One thing I have learned over the years is that we even though our religions may be different we have more in common than apart when it comes to beleif. We worship the same god, we want our families to be happy and we want to leave the part of the world we live in better than we found it. Maybe the missionaries will be able to grow and find more common ground with those they wish to serve. thanks