Olympic Gymnastic Gold Medalist called as Mission President

[pam]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865643591/Olympic-gold-medalist-Peter-Vidmar-called-as-LDS-mission-president.html

 

 

Olympic gymnast Peter Vidmar won two gold medals in the 1984 Olympic Games. Now he's been called as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

Vidmar was elected as the chairman of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors in 2008. He announced in a board meeting Dec. 11 that he would be leaving that position to accept a calling from the LDS Church with his wife, Donna, USA Gymnastics reported Friday. They will begin their service in July 2016, but where they will be going is not yet known, the article stated.

 

[Vort]

I remember when Brother Vidmar spoke at the Priesthood Session of the spring General Conference in 1985. (That was the General Conference when Elder McConkie gave his moving final testimony.) At the time, I thought it was unusual that a Church member with no other obvious qualifications except an Olympic gold medal would address the Saints. Today, 30 years later -- I still think it was unusual. But it is good to see that his inner Olympic drive has not gone to waste and that his leadership abilities are building the kingdom.

[Guest]

He's pretty young to be a mission president isn't he?

[Palerider]

Pretty awesome stuff

[pam]

He's pretty young to be a mission president isn't he?

 

He's 54.

[Guest]

Exactly.

[Anddenex]

I met Peter Vidmar when I was 13. I believe he was the Speaker for our youth conference.  I was happy to meet him because I was a gymnast myself.

[Anddenex]

He's pretty young to be a mission president isn't he?

 

Sure if you think 55 years old is young for an Apostle to be called.  

 

-- Elder Bednar

[Guest]

Yes, I do.

 

I'm not saying this in a judgmental way.  I'm just saying it is pretty rare.  Just like finding a bishop in his 20s.

Edited December 13, 2015 by Guest

[Vort]

I had three mission presidents. The last was in his mid-30s, and the other two were probably mid-50s. My previous stake president was released in order to serve as a mission president in Brazil, and I don't think he was much (if any) older than 50 when that happened. Based on my experience, I don't consider a 55-year-old mission president to be unusual in the least, though I don't really have global insight into the question.It seems the norm.

[Guest]

As a practical matter, I'm wondering how a person can be financially independent enough to take three years off of life to serve as a mission president by their 40s.  I suppose 50s is doable.  And I'm guessing Vidmar was wise in parlaying his olympic fame into financial well-being.

 

Another requirement for mission presidents is that they cannot have any dependents still living at home.  So, unless someone had no kids, it would be rare for a person in their 40s, much less their 30s to satisfy that requirement.

 

I'm going to have kids in the house until I'm in my 60s.  But I had a late start and I've got a big family.  I guess I just don't consider how small families are nowadays.  I suppose it is fairly common for those in their 50s to be empty nesters.

[Vort]

Another requirement for mission presidents is that they cannot have any dependents still living at home.  So, unless someone had no kids, it would be rare for a person in their 40s, much less their 30s to satisfy that requirement.

 

My 34-year-old mission president and his wife had seven children, with an eighth born in Rome. Maybe they've changed the rules.

[pam]

 

Another requirement for mission presidents is that they cannot have any dependents still living at home.  So, unless someone had no kids, it would be rare for a person in their 40s, much less their 30s to satisfy that requirement.

 

 

 

I don't think this is true.

[LeSellers]

Another requirement for mission presidents is that they cannot have any dependents still living at home.  So, unless someone had no kids, it would be rare for a person in their 40s, much less their 30s to satisfy that requirement.

Joseph Fielding Nelson, grandson of Joseph Fielding Smith and nephew of Bruce R. M^cConkie, and his wife Carolyn had seven children in Geneva from 1967 to 1972. One learned to speak English, French, and German in the Mission Home.

I suppose the requirements could have changed, but I haven't heard anything about it. ('Course, the Brethren don't run all of their decisions past me for approval.)

Lehi

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

I don't think this is true.

You're right Pam. My mission president and his wife brought two kids under the age of 18 with them. They also brought their daughter who was preparing for a mission but wasn't quite 21. She was allowed to do splits with the sisters.

[Guest]

Sorry, you're right.  I got that mixed up with senior missionaries.

[mordorbund]

I suppose the requirements could have changed, but I haven't heard anything about it. ('Course, the Brethren don't run all of their decisions past me for approval.)

Lehi

 

When did this change?

[LeSellers]

I suppose the requirements could have changed, but I haven't heard anything about it. ('Course, the Brethren don't run all of their decisions past me for approval.)

When did this change?

Sorry. What's the antecedent of "this"?

Lehi

[mordorbund]

Sorry. What's the antecedent of "this"?

Lehi

 

('Course, the Brethren don't run all of their decisions past me for approval.) :)

[LeSellers]

I suppose the requirements could have changed, but I haven't heard anything about it. ('Course, the Brethren don't run all of their decisions past me for approval.)

When did this change?

Unfortunately, it hasn't changed. I've never been in the loop.

Heck, I had to hear about the revocation of the Priesthood ban on Armed Forces Radio one Saturday afternoon.

Lehi

[mordorbund]

Unfortunately, it hasn't changed. I've never been in the loop.

Heck, I had to hear about the revocation of the Priesthood ban on Armed Forces Radio one Saturday afternoon.

Lehi

 

I'd like to hear that story. Would you mind posting it here: http://lds.net/forums/topic/55489-where-were-you-when-the-ban-was-lifted/

[cdowis]

I suppose the requirements could have changed, but I haven't heard anything about it. ('Course, the Brethren don't run all of their decisions past me for approval.)

 

 

I'm guessing they have the wrong phone number and couldn't reach you.

Edited December 17, 2015 by cdowis

[Just_A_Guy]

I remember when Brother Vidmar spoke at the Priesthood Session of the spring General Conference in 1985. (That was the General Conference when Elder McConkie gave his moving final testimony.) At the time, I thought it was unusual that a Church member with no other obvious qualifications except an Olympic gold medal would address the Saints. Today, 30 years later -- I still think it was unusual. But it is good to see that his inner Olympic drive has not gone to waste and that his leadership abilities are building the kingdom.

 

Then again,LaVell Edwards had just spoken in the previous conference following BYU's national championship.

 

FWIW, my first mission president was Carlos Godoy, and he was 36 or 37 when he was called as an MP (was called to the First Quorum of Seventy at 47).  During my mission he had four children, ranging from mid-teens to maybe five or so.

Edited December 18, 2015 by Just_A_Guy

[Vort]

Then again,LaVell Edwards had just spoken in the previous conference following BYU's national championship.

 

That's right -- I had forgotten. I remember now wondering if General Conference addresses were more commonly going to be offered by notable members who did not hold general leadership positions. We debated, half-jokingly, whether Donny Osmond would address us at the next Conference. But no, it was just a blip right there at the end of President Kimball's ministry.

[askandanswer]

One of the Assistants to the Mission President when I arrived on my mission was called as a Mission President only ten years after finishing his mission. He was a really dynamic Assistant to the President, but I was still greatly surprised that he was called to be a Mission President only ten years later.