Missionaries public behavior

[carlimac]

Here's a story for you!! A non-LDS friend of mine emailed me to ask if our missionaries carried laptops with them. I answered NO as far as I know. The only electronics my son is allowed is a camera and a CD player with no earphones. When I asked her "why" she answered that another Non-LDS friend of hers had seen some clean cut looking young men in McDonalds and assumed the were LDS missionaries. They proceded to pull out a laptop and seemed very engrossed in what they were looking at. When she walked by their table she noticed that it was porn.

I assured her that it was highly unlikely that would ever happen. Was I right?Sometimes I prefer to live in a little bubble and so I'm not aware of or don't want to acknowledge all the icky stuff in the world. I've heard all kinds of ugly stories of missionaries breaking rules but this one sounds over the top.

I'm almost completely sure it wouldn't have been LDS missionaries blatantly breaking rules in public like that. I don't want to start any rumors. But at the same time, could this possibly have happened?

[Guest]

Carli, our mission president sent us all emails last month that stated:

"We are now starting a missionary program on facebook."

I am not kidding. They now have 2 full-time missionaries (companions) assigned to answer questions of faith and do some missionary work through facebook. We were encouraged to add them to our friends list.

[MarginOfError]

I've heard and read of worse things. It's possible, but I don't imagine it happens often.

[Dravin]

Is it possible? Sure. It's also possible that it was a secret conspiracy by Antis to dress up like missionaries and break the rules in public to diminish confidence in LDS missionaries. It's also possible that your friend mistook two buisnessmen (or someone else keeping similar to missionary standards) taking advantage of a McDonald's Hotspot during a meal break (or even after/before/not even on the day of) work. There are a lot of possiblities out there, the first (rule breaking) and third (mistaken identity) are probably the most likely.

I just gotta say if it was missionaries breaking the rules they are idiots from a don't get caught angle, at the very least dress down first.

[HoosierGuy]

I see from time to time young men who could be Missionaries but I always look for the name tag. No name tag, no LDS Missionary.

[Maureen]

Another question would be, what is this person's definition of porn?

If she didn't notice any name tags then chances are she's got the wrong people.

M.

[Backroads]

It very well could be missionaries, but just as easily or even more easily have been anyone.

[Jamie123]

Yep there are a lot of young men who have short hair, shave and wear business suits who are not LDS missionaries. I daresay many of them also look at porn.

On the other hand I'm sure there are some LDS missionaries who look at porn. But I very much doubt they do it in the middle of McDonalds

[Blackmarch]

Here's a story for you!! A non-LDS friend of mine emailed me to ask if our missionaries carried laptops with them. I answered NO as far as I know. The only electronics my son is allowed is a camera and a CD player with no earphones. When I asked her "why" she answered that another Non-LDS friend of hers had seen some clean cut looking young men in McDonalds and assumed the were LDS missionaries. They proceded to pull out a laptop and seemed very engrossed in what they were looking at. When she walked by their table she noticed that it was porn.

I assured her that it was highly unlikely that would ever happen. Was I right?Sometimes I prefer to live in a little bubble and so I'm not aware of or don't want to acknowledge all the icky stuff in the world. I've heard all kinds of ugly stories of missionaries breaking rules but this one sounds over the top.

I'm almost completely sure it wouldn't have been LDS missionaries blatantly breaking rules in public like that. I don't want to start any rumors. But at the same time, could this possibly have happened?

what paraphanelia that missionaries are allowed to use is mainly set by the mission president. Some are more lenient some are more strict. While i doubt there would be many if any that would permit laptops for general use among the missionaries.

As for breaking rules i've heard worse horror stories., and have known missionaries that have been sent home for "less".

IF it was an actual case of LDS missionaries my heart breaks for them.

[Blackmarch]

Another question would be, what is this person's definition of porn?

If she didn't notice any name tags then chances are she's got the wrong people.

M.

well if it's anything approaching the LDS standards it would be a very conservative person to say the least.

[MichaelCraig]

I agree. No name tag=Non-LDS. Not long after my son left for his mission I had a serious tugging on my heart to become as close as the rules allowed to our local missionaries. Mainly being there for support of any kind, 24/7-365 and for the last year and 1/2 they've called me an average of once a week to come save them when they had bike troubles on the far side of town. (I have a truck) To give them rides to where ever they needed to go when mileage on the mission car was approaching the limit, many different reasons...I even took my enclosed trailer and helped both companionships move from thier appartment to another appartment across town on thier preperation day (P-day). I've been with these guys during thier high and low times and I have never seen them, including thier P-day, when they were not at LEAST with dark slacks/white shirt and tie WITH NAME TAG. Most of the time they wore the dark jacket also. I've been around them long enough that we are comfortable around each other. Who knows who those guys were but I find it VERY hard to believe they were LDS. Think I'm saying all of this because I'm trying to cover for them? Here's a shocker...I'm not a member. I've been with them when we were cutting up and may have taken it a wee too far on some subjects but it was a VERY far cry from porn or anything that is against church or missionary rules. The ones that I am aware of anyway which are a good many due to both my son being a missionary and from me being around our companionships so long. Yes, missionaries are human too and they make mistakes but by the time young men/women make it through MTC and the other very sacred steps to become a missionary they are a well oiled Gospel teaching machine and #1 are too focused and too busy to do something like you are talking about, especially a group of them???? Ah, somethings wrong with that picture right off the bat. Who ever it was staging that to look like LDS, (if that's what they were doing) IMHO did a lowsy job impersonating them. No name tag, NON-LDS. Just my 2 cents. :)

[Wingnut]

no name tag = not LDS

OR

no name tag = LDS, but trying not to look it

[carlimac]

I agree. No name tag=Non-LDS. Not long after my son left for his mission I had a serious tugging on my heart to become as close as the rules allowed to our local missionaries. Mainly being there for support of any kind, 24/7-365 and for the last year and 1/2 they've called me an average of once a week to come save them when they had bike troubles on the far side of town. (I have a truck) To give them rides to where ever they needed to go when mileage on the mission car was approaching the limit, many different reasons...I even took my enclosed trailer and helped both companionships move from thier appartment to another appartment across town on thier preperation day (P-day). I've been with these guys during thier high and low times and I have never seen them, including thier P-day, when they were not at LEAST with dark slacks/white shirt and tie WITH NAME TAG. Most of the time they wore the dark jacket also. I've been around them long enough that we are comfortable around each other. Who knows who those guys were but I find it VERY hard to believe they were LDS. Think I'm saying all of this because I'm trying to cover for them? Here's a shocker...I'm not a member. I've been with them when we were cutting up and may have taken it a wee too far on some subjects but it was a VERY far cry from porn or anything that is against church or missionary rules. The ones that I am aware of anyway which are a good many due to both my son being a missionary and from me being around our companionships so long. Yes, missionaries are human too and they make mistakes but by the time young men/women make it through MTC and the other very sacred steps to become a missionary they are a well oiled Gospel teaching machine and #1 are too focused and too busy to do something like you are talking about, especially a group of them???? Ah, somethings wrong with that picture right off the bat. Who ever it was staging that to look like LDS, (if that's what they were doing) IMHO did a lowsy job impersonating them. No name tag, NON-LDS. Just my 2 cents. :)

A hardy thanks to you!! It means the world to parents of missionaries to have people like you looking out for them. I'd hug you if I could.

[MichaelCraig]

I feel the hug Calimac and thanks. What first inspired me was there is an American couple on the south pacific island of Fiji where my son is that are part of the mission staff in some way who see our young men and women a good bit. They invited a group of missionaries over to eat and asked if they had any requests. They all put in for some good old American food, Speghetti, Tacos etc (yeah-ok) and those kids enjoyed that so very much. From that it hit me and hit me strong to stop these crazy guys on the bikes the next time I see them which wasn't long so I could get to know them. The first time I tried they ran, guess they've had other crazy people my town scream at them from the vehicle, not sure, so I backed off and what do you know! Within one week guess who knocks on my front door! I was so excited I know they probably thought I was high on dope or something but I invited them in and now you know the rest of the story. There has been 4 or 5 blatant right in your face Heavenly Father inspired situations that have come about since I started supporting them. Things that happened that wouldn't have if a chain of events, all perfectly falling where they had to for this to happen, 1)because they would not have been in that particular part of town if it hadn't been I just dropped them all 4 off at our local bike shop because one just broke a spoke that day, and I was able to do that during my work hours because I had already taken off early for another appointment I had which had just finished and on thier way back to thier appartment they took a short cut, on a road out of the arranged/scheduled area two people saw them, started talking to them and are now members! That's when I knew that what I was doing was His Will and to keep on doing it no matter what crazy things people I know think about it. It is my personal feeling that EVERYONE, members especially should support these missionaries, shower them with love, feed them, support them in any way humanly possible. I believe that it is our JOB and DUTY to support these kids who are a million miles from home, in a VERY strange land, but they've committed thier lives for two complete years for the soul, yes soul purpose of spreading the Gospel, the Plan of Salvation, getting people to church, Baptized...is that not THE most awesome thing a 19 yr old kid or ANYONE could ever do in thier lives???? I just cannot understand why others don't feel the same way I do about this. If only they knew what I feel when I'm with them. We have had some of the most Holy Spirit filled conversations while traveling back and forth across town than I've ever had with anyone in my life. We spill our guts, share our testimony, we laugh, we cry, we fellowship and every time when I drop them off we pray. They usually ask, "brother Peak, what can we do for you?" Every time of course my reply is "You know the answer to that question...PRAY!" Most of the time they pray but I've even done it myself on several occasions and it is awesome! Missionaries are a very special group of people. A different breed. One that leaves home a young woman or man and returns full of wisdom from the life lessons learned, being around different cultures of the world, learing the scriptures getting closer to HF through His Word by way of reading AND teaching, they learn lanquages they never would learn on thier own, they earn a serious sized tool belt of things learned while on mission that will not only benefit them, thier wife and family but trickle down to grandchildren and even great-grands. You can tell I'm a little partial to missionaries, huh? :) If we who are not on mission could do 1/4 of what they do spreading the Gospel imagine how the world will be effected?

[Nathan6329]

I know there are some missionairies that carry around ipods and mp3 players and some who spend a lot mroe time on the internet than they should. The reason being that mission presidents aren't like drill sargeants who make you do things but you are just supposed to be on a mission for a reason and if you don't want to do the work you are free to leave. Now if other missionaries are ratting out their companions the mission president might tell them they need to send their crap home or get their act together or whatever the situation is. I know this from other missionaries but I personally chose not to serve a mission because I didn't have any desire to give my life to the church for 2 years but rather to keep religion a part of my life and not my whole life. I understand that I had to take the chance that I may regret it in the long run, but I would rather take that risk and explain to God that I just didn't wanna go instead of having to explain that I went when I didn't want to just because I was afraid of what would happen if I didn't go.

[carlimac]

I know there are some missionairies that carry around ipods and mp3 players and some who spend a lot mroe time on the internet than they should. The reason being that mission presidents aren't like drill sargeants who make you do things but you are just supposed to be on a mission for a reason and if you don't want to do the work you are free to leave. Now if other missionaries are ratting out their companions the mission president might tell them they need to send their crap home or get their act together or whatever the situation is. I know this from other missionaries but I personally chose not to serve a mission because I didn't have any desire to give my life to the church for 2 years but rather to keep religion a part of my life and not my whole life. I understand that I had to take the chance that I may regret it in the long run, but I would rather take that risk and explain to God that I just didn't wanna go instead of having to explain that I went when I didn't want to just because I was afraid of what would happen if I didn't go.

Well good for you for being completely honest, but I have a suspicion you would have thought differently after getting out there and serving. What you have the potential to gain from the experience far surpasses what you give. When you're on a mission you might have the chance to baptize people. You might not. But the opportunity to learn (not just church stuff) and to interact with so many people is a huge blessing. I hope you do have a chance to serve a mission at some point.

[Nathan6329]

I do still hold the aaronic priesthood and I did baptize someone when I was 16 years old. I'm 23 now going on 24 in June and I'm too old now. One of the reasons I refused to go is when I was talking to the missionaries in my area about their experiences and planning on talking to the bishop about what I needed to do to get my papers in I was actully hoping that I would get rejected just so I wouldn't have the obligation to serve anymore. The experiences I have heard about at the MTC are not really positive ones and the problem is I know that I would end up quitting or becoming a problem because I get kind of rebellious at times so I would rather just stay out of it because if I did something to get myself kicked out of my mission it would have a harmful effect on my membership and faith, and I have heard that a good number of missionaries quit before the training is even done.

I have too much going in my life right now and even though it would be kind of nice to serve a mission I just feel it wasn't meant for me. For a long time I have felt like something was missing but now that I got out of a dead end sales job and I am going to college to be a elementary-middle school teacher and have switched my goals around a bit and I have a path to which I am trying to get I realized that was the answer and I am going to save the missions for the people who are worthy of serving them and serve my mission in the church in another way.

[Guest DeborahC]

The bottom line is that the Leaders of the Church can't watch every missionary every second s/he's on a mission... can't see everything they do or don't do...but the Lord can! :)

[Dravin]

I'm 23 now going on 24 in June and I'm too old now.

No you aren't. I'm not telling you to go, that's your own decision, but your age doesn't prevent you at your age. I can't recall if you can go until you are 27, or until you would be older than 27 when you get back (it may be something else). But I left at 22, 23 years old is not older than what is allowed (I know at least one missionary who left at 24).

[Nathan6329]

I didn't mean that I'm too old technically according to all the regulations, but I just believe that I'm too far into the next stage of my life to serve and I'm trying to speed up my plans and not push them back for two more years.

[ADoyle90815]

The way I see it, not everyone who is LDS is able to serve a mission at 19 or 21. As far as those individuals with that laptop, if they didn't have nametags, chances are they weren't LDS missionaries. I sincerely doubt some "anti" would dress like a missionary in an attempt to discredit missionaries, as I've posted in another thread, most who leave the LDS church do leave it alone, but they often resign or have their names removed so the church would leave THEM alone. I've met people who I had no idea were LDS because they never once said anything remotely negative about the church.

[Nathan6329]

I just wish the church would stop giving men the impression that they are required by God to serve a full time mission. That makes a mission seem like an obligation and not an opportunity to help and serve others.

There are other ways to be a missionary besides serving a full time mission at 19 and I feel obsession over religion and not taking a few days or even a few weeks to put it aside and focus on other important things in my life would hinder my faith in God which is why at 11 when I joined the church I chose not to serve a mission and at 23 my mind hasn't changed. I have gone through periods of time where I had considered it but I never took the next step of talking to my bishop to talk about what I need to do before I turned the papers in pretty much out of fear and lack of desire.

[SeattleTruthSeeker]

The way I see it, not everyone who is LDS is able to serve a mission at 19 or 21. As far as those individuals with that laptop, if they didn't have nametags, chances are they weren't LDS missionaries. I sincerely doubt some "anti" would dress like a missionary in an attempt to discredit missionaries, as I've posted in another thread, most who leave the LDS church do leave it alone, but they often resign or have their names removed so the church would leave THEM alone. I've met people who I had no idea were LDS because they never once said anything remotely negative about the church.

I have actually seen some anti's in play here. Prior to me coming back to church, I would see missionaries everywhere I went. Morning, Noon, night. I started getting paranoid a bit because I thought they were out secretly to find me.

Anyway, here are a couple of instances where I have seen anti's at work:

1) Waiting for the bus. It was cold, wet, and windy, and it was about 8 in the morning. A couple of missionaries pulled up on their bikes to catch the bus (I used to live in Seattle so you would see several sets of missionaries on the bus, bikes, walking, et all).

These two young boys started talking with people waiting at the bus stop. I listened but kept to myself (at that time I was smoking so I had to stand out in the cold lol). As they were getting ready to hand a Book of Mormon out, a couple approached and took the Book of Mormon, then, proceeded to "witness" to the person the Missionaries were just talking to and the Missionaries. Catching the young men off guard with the typical "shot gun" questioning. Flipping through their bibles, and such. The bus came and we all got on the bus except for the one couple who prevented the gentleman the missionaries were just talking with, from getting on the bus.

2) I was sitting down some place and having something to eat. Missionaries walked in and sat down a couple tables from where I was sitting. Within about 5 minutes a group of young men and women, with an older gentleman came into the place and they were carrying some Book of Mormon's. They dropped them off at the table where the Missionaries were sitting and began to preach to the Missionaries about how the Book of Mormon is the product of Satan and Occultic means. They left, leaving the missionaries bewildered.

3) (and the most appalling I have ever seen) where a group of people actually had made up their own "Elder" and "Sister" placard name tags. They looked like the real deal and walked around handing out tracts that were anti-mormon, asking people if they had ever been approached by LDS missionaries?

4) evangelical Christians tracting behind the Missionaries, knocking on every door that missionaries knocked on.

[NeuroTypical]

I just wish the church would stop giving men the impression that they are required by God to serve a full time mission. That makes a mission seem like an obligation and not an opportunity to help and serve others.

Well, this statement came out in 2002, and was pretty much what was told to me in the late '80's when I was considering a mission:

“Full-time missionary service is a privilege for those who are called through inspiration by the President of the Church. Bishops and stake presidents have the serious responsibility to identify worthy, qualified members who are spiritually, physically, and emotionally prepared for this sacred service and who can be recommended without reservation. Those individuals not able to meet the physical, mental, and emotional demands of full-time missionary work are honorably excused and should not be recommended. They may be called to serve in other rewarding capacities.”

[Nathan6329]

The reason I have never been taken in by anti-Mormon crap over the missionaries is mostly because their theories are about stupid stuff. Like how the religion at one time practiced plural marriage, how they didn't allow blacks in the priesthood for a period of time, how they don't permit gays into the religion, how they turned people away who were in a relationship as a significant other and not married to them, how they make you quit coffee and tea and other stuff before you get baptized.

It is all unimportant crap but the people who live their lives by doing those things find other excuses not to be involved.