Just little thought & some inquiries on LDS community and Mormon church (investigator's perspective)?

Question

I was raised in calvinist protestantism but had unofficially renounced it - mainly affected by post-cold war's most changing watershed event : 9-11 attack- So today i don't have any religious belief. Nevertheless, i've been investigating mormonism and LDS church for over 6 months and i have posted a couple of mormon-related questions too in here. I originally come from southeast asia but currently stay in the netherlands for study purpose.

Now, i have a few off-topic questions (by all means, it is not BOM-related questions but it's about mormon church and it's policies) and this would be slightly longer so, take your time :) :

1. I know that the missionary president is running a tight ship in order to keep track of things, particularly for missionary-related works. I do realise too why it is important that all missionaries must always toe the line but i find many of the rules are quite disturbing and too constraining. Why are they so fussy about it?

Well,i believe all mormons want to build a positive image for their church and always have a sort of obligation to "protect" it from "misdeed" that can come from it's own members, including missionaries. I assume that they are afraid of such 'bad apples' going to drum up 'anti-mormon' sentiment and hostility.. but, in my opinion, anti-mormonism had existed long time ago.. waaay before they sent first young missionary to go out and convert the world. It might be as old as the church itself - although, i can't pin down the difference between anti-mormonism in the old time and today -

So, why bother to try so hard about "keeping on the right track"?

2. Why LDS authority do not send missionaries to countries, such as north korea or those in middle east? Is it not possible that the holy spirit could also exist in those places? :D :D Well, at least they could find out where all their parent's tax money for US government have gone to : drop bombs in third worlds. Yeah, right... speaking of being sinless and "purged" from transgression to prepare the salvation... technically americans won't be able to get away from it!

3. in far more light issue : two sets of missionaries have taught me and the last one who just left a month ago, is my favourite. He is from Utah and we got along like real friend more than with other elders. Anyway, before he took off, we exchanged e-mail address and said that he really wished that i would write to him. Within less than 3 weeks, he sent e-mail first and wrote how's thing going on, how much he loved and missed me,etc.

Anyway, just curious cause, i heard that only converts who are allowed to stay in touch with their missionaries once they left the area. I even once said that because of situation, there is possibility i can't join the church but he said it doesn't matter and don't care.
He also asked me a couple times to go to the same university next year in southern utah so, that we will see each other everyday (i was telling him that i might have plan to go study in america in the future). I might go there if situation allows it :) So, is this formally accepted?

Well,I have to admit that i do have a man crush with him. I'm a bisexual guy who currently have a girlfriend but i believe that missionary is a straight guy - in his facebook, is written "single and interested in woman". But that's beside the point. I just think that it will be great if we could hang out like a real friend rather than have "lawyer-client"-like friendship..hahaha :D

Allright, waiting for anyone's respond and thanks in advance!

p.s.excuse my english, it is not my first language :)

Answer 1

1. Yes, the Church is concerned that our missionaries in particular live a life that is beyond reproach. Our leaders and visible emissaries, must be shining examples of a Christlike life. Errors can creep in so easily and we must guard against those errors on a daily basis.

2. Yes, there are areas of the world where the Church is not allowed to send missionaries. The governments will not allow entry to our missionaries. We send scientists, educators and entertainers as cultural representatives to "break the ice" so to speak. When the countries see our good will, then they can soften their hearts and allow the missionaries to come in because they see our members as good citizens and a benefit to their countries.

3. It is common for missionaries to keep in touch with their former investigators. Don't worry about any breach of etiquette on that score. Communicate all you desire.

Answer 2

The rules for missionaries have changed a bit in the past 20 years. Sometimes the reason for tightening the rules was because of something bad happening. The bad can range from just failing to do the job to serious accidents. The missionaries once visited women who were home alone. Now they can only talk outside unless someone else is there. There must have been an accusation against a missionary, and the only way to avoid even false charges is to take extra caution.



President Hinckley once said that we will only go into a country through the front door. If the country is closed to us, we will not send in missionaries. That is not to say a member in that country could not share their faith. The Church has sent food and supplies in time of need to countries like North Korea or Pakistan that will not permit missionaries. Eastern Europe was once closed to us. We had a small membership in East Germany. They found the Church did not agitate against the government of get people to spy. They eventually let the Church build a temple there. They were amazed with the quality of the building compared to their own.



A transfered missionary has so much to do in a new area, that he can't spend much time in the prior one. I was rather lucky with my missionary. He was in our ward as a greenie and came back as his last assignment. The ward missionaries are supposed to take over and fill the gap when the full time missionaries leave. I hope you are able to build some lasting friendships there.

Answer 3

1) Missionaries have very tight rules. I don't know what the reasons for all of them are. But if you want God to bless your work you have to follow the rules that have been set out by the general authorities of the church. I found that sticking to a companion like glue drove me crazy, but one day my zone leader got called into a murder investigation. Seems after they left their investigator's boyfriend didn't like that she was getting baptized, so she shot him. They were really glad to have an alibi. But that's an extreme example.



Lot's of these rules are very specific to missionaries because they formally represent the church. Regular members don't carry around a white rule book. You are correct, anti-Mormonism existed long before 1830.



2) Missionaries aren't sent to North Korea because it's against the law. And it's hard to preach the gospel when your in a prison camp. Besides there are people all over the world who need missionaries and there's only 60,000 to go around. So we focus on the countries the Lord has blessed to be open to the message of Christ.



3) You don't have to join the church to stay in contact with a missionary. And he might have permission to contact you, their rulebook is written on paper not stone. Sounds like you made a friend.



I know of very little that can prevent someone from joining the church.

Answer 4

Some comments on questions 1 and 2:



1. The title "Elder" is both a priesthood office and a sacred title used for the 12 apostles. Apostles are called by God to establish the gospel in all the world. Young missionaries represent the quorum of the 12 apostles and are actually called to serve by an apostle. They are given the sacred title "Elder" because they are also called to establish the gospel in the world. Thus, they are temporarily expected to live the highest standards and live as Christ would live.



2. The LDS church sends missionaries to all countries that are relatively safe and that will allow them in. North Korea and many countries in the middle east are not among them. Some countries would put the missionaries to death for preaching there.

Answer 5

As a missionary, I woke up early every morning, prayed and read my scriptures. Without that prayer and scripture study, I would not have been prepared to teach the gospel. As a missionary, it was my job to share the spirit of the Holy Ghost with others. When people felt that spirit, they often cried. The spirit would bear witness to them of the truthfulness of the gospel, at which point they would desire to be baptized. If a missionary does not have the Holy Ghost, then how can he help others to feel it? If he treats his duty with capriciousness or lightheartedness, then how can anyone else know its gravity? There is no failure so great as a faithless mission, and no joy as sweet as the conversion of the soul.



The LDS church is in 98% of the countries of the world. There are a few that still will not allow missionaries to come into their country to proselyte. We could sneak them in, but the church has decided to take the high road, and wait to go in the front door.



There are nonmembers that attend our meetings and fellowship with us. We try to make them feel welcome. We hope that they will recognize the spirit, and set their priorities straight, and come and join the Lord's church. There are some that just do not yet have the faith to do so.

Answer 6

1. Each mission president has their own style and has different rules for their missionaries. For example, on my mission we could watch movies and in other missions they could not. It just depends on how the mission president likes to run things. Keep in mind these missionaries are normal 18 and 19 year old kids who like to have fun and if given too much leeway they may not perform up to expectations.



2. We send our missionaries wherever we are allowed to go. Some governments don't allow them, other places aren't kind to people who convert to other religions so we don't want to put people in harms ways, etc.



3. You don't have to convert to be friends with the missionaries either during or after their missions. We love everybody regardless of personal belief and can have friendships that aren't based on personal belief. It feels more formal during the mission because they have a job to do, but they still do really care about people as individuals regardless of whether they convert or not, we just want the best for everyone.

Answer 7

"I do realise too why it is important that all missionaries must always toe the line but i find many of the rules are quite disturbing and too constraining. Why are they so fussy about it?"



The rules exist to protect the missionaries and other people. Safety in numbers.



"It might be as old as the church itself - although, i can't pin down the difference between anti-mormonism in the old time and today - So, why bother to try so hard about 'keeping on the right track'?"



Simple. We're not trying to win a popularity contest. Some of us are trying to follow Christ. Some aren't. As you say, there are bad apples and good in every barrel.



"I can't pin down the difference between anti-mormonism in the old time and today."



Neither can anybody else, because there isn't any. Our enemies use lies, misinterpretations, and inaccurate citations of scripture because they have nothing substantial against us. The persecutions started ten years before we were ever a church, when Joseph Smith, Jr., received a personal visitation from Jesus Christ and God, with Jesus standing at the right hand of his father and our father, his God and our God. Stephen the Martyr was killed instantly for seeing that in a vision. Smith was killed much later, but for the exact same reason. Trinitarians, professional clergy, and people who like to claim that Jesus saves us in our sins can all be so grouchy.



"Why LDS authority do not send missionaries to countries, such as north korea or those in middle east?"

We don't sneak in where we're not allowed. We prefer to be honest and to have integrity. We're working right now to get permission to minister from the People's Republic of China. If they're smart, they'll let us in, because we tend not to be troublesome, nor quarrelsome, and we tend to be honest and good workers. Many of us, anyway. Apples of all kinds again.



Oh, we have our sins, all right. Salvation is not lip service nor a simple act. It's a lifelong process of perfection. Jesus told us to be perfect. He wasn't mean enough to tell us we had to do it overnight.



If the CIA approached any of us and asked us to do them a favor, we'd tell them to go to Hell. We can't afford to raise any suspicions about our activities. "We have to answer to a higher authority," and can't let anything disturb our ability to minister. Oh, plenty of people thought I was a spy, and I was hurt and immature enough to say, "What would my country want to send spies HERE for?" Oh, dear -- better to grow up late than never, I suppose.



Your English is very, very good. It's better than some people use here.



Anyway, once he's no longer a missionary, he's just a man and can have friends from all over the world. It doesn't matter if they are in his church or not, believers or not, straight or not.

Answer 8

Being a Missionary is sort of like being in the Military very similar

to being a recruiter for the Marines or the Army or something like that in a country

like the United States that does not have the draft.



Everything is voluntary. Conduct is based on a high code of discipline.

Instead of recruiting people to kill other people, an LDS Missionary is recruiting people

to be part of the life process that incubates all that is good and holy in the Universe.



After the MIssion is over then Missionaries can grow their hair out and go on

camp-outs and go surfing and do things like that, but while they are on a Mission for

THE Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter Day Saints

they are in God's Army now.



Later is later.

Plenty of time for fun in the Sun after an LDS Mission is completed.



http://vimeo.com/21930581



http://vimeo.com/26743349



http://vimeo.com/54635332



http://Mormon.org Chat.





God bless.

Answer 9

Just one thing, about the difference between anti-Mormonism then and now: they are quite different. In the early days anti-Mormonism was literally anti–the Mormon people. They were political issues mostly, though no doubt some religious differences got under people's skin too. I think people were afraid of Mormons with their central leadership and their political power.



Nowadays when people call me an anti-Mormon I feel the need to correct them. I'm anti-MormonISM. I don't dislike Mormons generally, in fact most of the people I care about in this world are Mormon. And I think that's typical these days. We have issues with the institution of Mormonism, with its truth claims, with its political involvement, and with the way it ruins families when not everyone is LDS.

Answer 10

Ditto's to A Cat.



But concerning your immoral feelings, I would encourage you not to try to pursue them especially with a return missionary. You would be leading him down the path of sin, and possible exclusion from the Celestial Kingdom. If you really like him I don't think you should do something as devastating as this to someone you like.