Hello Just Me,
Can you explain what mormons have to do in a mission?. As a Mexican, I am very familiar with young white (and very handsome
) mormons coming to Mexico to preach. The whole thing is quite bizarre, we look at them with curiousity.
I wonder if you know why or who decides to send these young white mormons to preach and convert people in a completely different country, with little knowledge of the language and with the hostility towards their religion.
Can you explain what mormons have to do in a mission?. As a Mexican, I am very familiar with young white (and very handsome
) mormons coming to Mexico to preach. The whole thing is quite bizarre, we look at them with curiousity. I wonder if you know why or who decides to send these young white mormons to preach and convert people in a completely different country, with little knowledge of the language and with the hostility towards their religion.
thaiboxerken
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2001
- Messages
- 34,537
Because Mormons want maids too.
Q,
David O. Mckay, former prophet of the church, said, "Every member a missionary." http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/conferences/97_oct/scott_why.htm
This was the "Call to Arms" for all to serve spread the gospel particulary young men. Mormons believe this is talked about in New Test., Daniel 2:44-45
44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Missionary work is the "stone" the will cover earth.
To be a missionary you have to follow the Word of Wisdom (no alcohol/smoking/coffee) have faith the church is true, not have had sex in the past year (personal gratification is frowned upon) and be a law abiding citizen, etc.
If the person feels they fit the requirements they will have a meeting w/ the bishop, then the stake pres. just to make sure you are ready. The stake pres. will also ask you to tell him ALL your sexual sins, regardless if you have repented of them.
Once that's done, paperwork is filled out and sent to church headquarters located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The church claims every missionary is sent where God has inspired them to be sent, but more than likely they send the kid wherever an extra body is needed.
If a new language is to learned the kid goes to Missionary Training Center (there are a handful throughout the word) where they are surrounded by other missionaries and all day long are bombarded with the language and the proper customs and how to teach the lessons.
Recently Hinckley has relaxed the Every member a missionary thing because a high amount of pressure was being placed on these young kids. He preaches that only those who fully feel prepared should go.
It is common in the city where I grew up that all young men went on missions. Quite a few went becuase the parents would buy brand new cars for them on ther return.
Such is life.
David O. Mckay, former prophet of the church, said, "Every member a missionary." http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/conferences/97_oct/scott_why.htm
This was the "Call to Arms" for all to serve spread the gospel particulary young men. Mormons believe this is talked about in New Test., Daniel 2:44-45
44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Missionary work is the "stone" the will cover earth.
To be a missionary you have to follow the Word of Wisdom (no alcohol/smoking/coffee) have faith the church is true, not have had sex in the past year (personal gratification is frowned upon) and be a law abiding citizen, etc.
If the person feels they fit the requirements they will have a meeting w/ the bishop, then the stake pres. just to make sure you are ready. The stake pres. will also ask you to tell him ALL your sexual sins, regardless if you have repented of them.
Once that's done, paperwork is filled out and sent to church headquarters located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The church claims every missionary is sent where God has inspired them to be sent, but more than likely they send the kid wherever an extra body is needed.
If a new language is to learned the kid goes to Missionary Training Center (there are a handful throughout the word) where they are surrounded by other missionaries and all day long are bombarded with the language and the proper customs and how to teach the lessons.
Recently Hinckley has relaxed the Every member a missionary thing because a high amount of pressure was being placed on these young kids. He preaches that only those who fully feel prepared should go.
It is common in the city where I grew up that all young men went on missions. Quite a few went becuase the parents would buy brand new cars for them on ther return.
Such is life.
Do they always wear white shirts and black slacks? I ask because I thought I had a couple of them come by once or twice. (I didn't answer the door.)
An interesting side note, they said some un-Mormon-like things about my house, obviously thinking I wasn't home.
BlackCat
An interesting side note, they said some un-Mormon-like things about my house, obviously thinking I wasn't home.
BlackCat
What is the point of being celibate?. Does it make you a better person?
ImaginalDisc
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2005
- Messages
- 10,219
You're missing the point of an oligarchy. The older, established men get the young women, while the young men go off and waste their time somewhere far away.
RSLancastr
www.StopSylvia.com
Just Me, welcome to the forums!
All: One thing to remember when you hear that Mormons believe this or that:
There is LDS doctrine, and there is the LDS culture. There are many things which some (uninformed) Mormons will tell you are doctrine, which are not. This is particularly true in places (such as Salt Lake) where a community has a high concentration of Mormons.
One example: Many Mormons would tell you that drinking Coke or Pepsi is forbidden by the church, when in fact it is not. In fact, IIRC, the church owns or owned a Coca-Cola bottling plant.
It's all confusion over a rather vague "word of wisdom" which states that Mormons are to avoid "hot drinks." Did this mean they were to avoid coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Cuppa Soup?
Eventually, one of the prophets declared that "hot drinks" referred to coffee and tea. Period.
Some Mormons decided that this translated to "caffeintated beverages," and so avoid Coke, Pepsi, chocolate, etc. They are scandalized if they see a fellow mormon drinking a Coke. But this is not official church doctrine.
I've wondered if "hot drinks" only refers to hot coffee/tea, and so iced coffee/tea are allowed. Dunno.
I learned the above (and so far, everything else in this thread!) from a good friend who is a Mormon, and indeed is one of those rare Mormons in my experience who will discuss his religion with you without trying to push it on you.
If you google "mormon lost boys" you should find out more about this.
All: One thing to remember when you hear that Mormons believe this or that:
There is LDS doctrine, and there is the LDS culture. There are many things which some (uninformed) Mormons will tell you are doctrine, which are not. This is particularly true in places (such as Salt Lake) where a community has a high concentration of Mormons.
One example: Many Mormons would tell you that drinking Coke or Pepsi is forbidden by the church, when in fact it is not. In fact, IIRC, the church owns or owned a Coca-Cola bottling plant.
It's all confusion over a rather vague "word of wisdom" which states that Mormons are to avoid "hot drinks." Did this mean they were to avoid coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Cuppa Soup?
Eventually, one of the prophets declared that "hot drinks" referred to coffee and tea. Period.
Some Mormons decided that this translated to "caffeintated beverages," and so avoid Coke, Pepsi, chocolate, etc. They are scandalized if they see a fellow mormon drinking a Coke. But this is not official church doctrine.
I've wondered if "hot drinks" only refers to hot coffee/tea, and so iced coffee/tea are allowed. Dunno.
I learned the above (and so far, everything else in this thread!) from a good friend who is a Mormon, and indeed is one of those rare Mormons in my experience who will discuss his religion with you without trying to push it on you.
The head of the LDS offshoot in Arizona (mentioned earlier) is evidently taking this a step further, and is trumping up charges to excommunicate young men from the group, leaving more and more young women available for him and the other elders.
If you google "mormon lost boys" you should find out more about this.
money
Muse
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2005
- Messages
- 577
Hello Just Me,
Can you explain what mormons have to do in a mission?. As a Mexican, I am very familiar with young white (and very handsome
I wonder if you know why or who decides to send these young white mormons to preach and convert people in a completely different country, with little knowledge of the language and with the hostility towards their religion.
This is funny, my brother is on his mission in Mexico right now. He is having a difficult time, as there are certain things a person must do before getting baptized into the LDS church. One of these is that a person may not be cohabitating, they have to be married. Of course some people would like to convert, but cannot due to family pressure.
Mormons send missionaries to many 3rd world countries. They do pretty well, though I think part of it is the natives just wanting to hang out with clean, young American men. Missionaries stateside take quite a bit of abuse.
As far as the language goes, they go to the MTC (mission training center?) for up to 8 weeks in order to learn the language. Of course this is an insufficient amount of time to master it, which is why they generally pair a newbie with someone who has been in-country for quite some time.
epepke
Philosopher
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2003
- Messages
- 9,264
OK, I have a question, which even the folks at Hatrack River failed to answer.
In the Church of Latter-Day Saints, who are the saints?
Are all (male) members of the religion saints, as were the people on the Mayflower?
Or are only certain alpha males saints?
In the Church of Latter-Day Saints, who are the saints?
Are all (male) members of the religion saints, as were the people on the Mayflower?
Or are only certain alpha males saints?
Wheezebucket
Master Cylinder
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2006
- Messages
- 1,491
I might have missed it, but just incase nobody mentioned - supercorgi, Big Love is about Fundamentalist Mormons (well, ex in the case of the family, for the most part), not the main LDS church. The Fundamentalist church mormons are the ones who still practice polygamy, which the LDS church frowns upon. It's one of the bigger offshoots of the LDS peeps, and the main LDS church can't stands em.
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Disco
Critical Thinker
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2003
- Messages
- 442
thaiboxerken
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2001
- Messages
- 34,537
Probably because they practice the religion the way Smith did and it embarrasses them.
Just MeA question of authority. No doubt a Mormon considers himself to be a Christian, yes?
With the advent of latter day saints, what is the authorative word on any aspect, the book of Mormon or the Bible? What is the process?
Do Mormons expect further saints to come along like Smith and Young?
With the advent of latter day saints, what is the authorative word on any aspect, the book of Mormon or the Bible? What is the process?
Do Mormons expect further saints to come along like Smith and Young?
Sorry, been busy the past few days.
Yes, that is the "uniform" for males. Female wear dresses that go below the knees.
These guys are about 20 yrs old and at that maturity level. Most of these kids are from middle to upper class families and are not used to the rest of the world and typical houses. When they think they are alone some things slip out , like people's dressing and houses. Even though I am no longer a part of that religion and they do not represent me in any way, I want to say sorry for the disrespect.
Image disc is right in a way.
Joseph Smith (1st prophet) and (2nd prophet) Brigham Young had about 50 wives between them.
BUT, the mormons believe God gave us the power to procreate/sex only within the bounds of marriage. Once you're married you're free to have sex w/ your husband/wife.
For more information on mormons sexual beliefs read the "proclamation to the Church and to the World".
http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFamDecl.shtml
Hi,
I completely agree with you on the culture v. doctrine.
Growing up I was not llowed Pepsi or Coke etc. even though my siblings and I had the same arguements over the "hot beverage" with our parents.-CULTURE.
The caffiene thing is still somewhat strong in Mesa, Arizona. The high school I went to had the largest seminary outside of Utah, or so we were told.
Back in '96 or so, om the 20/20 special on Mormons, Hinckley was asked about caffieneated drinks and he replied that mormons do not drink them.-Possible Doctrine? If so it was ignored.
Oddly enough I was never asked about caffiene during any bishop or stake pres. interviews. Ever.