Missionaries Now To Live With Members!

[nana]

IOW, your patronising, condescending and otherwise just generally insincere sympathy for the missionaries is just an excuse to slam the Church for something unrelated. Got it.

Don't lose any sleep worrying about the missionaries, Nana. They don't need your pity.

Regards,

Pahoran

[/quote

And he wakes, just because you consider me to be an an anti, don't assume that that you know

me. Insincere? again you do not know me.

[fatherofone]

There was nothing announced in our services yesterday about this

[mnn727]

Add it up:

5.00 pound of hamburger

2.69 p nut butter

4.00 cheese

2.69 bacon

these are a few of the prices I paid at walmart the upscale store I shop at and the high class f

foods I eat.

Note, I didn't add much produce as it is too expensive for my blood most of the time.

Nana, I suggest finding a different grocery store, some of these prices are outragous

***

Nope, nothing said in Church yesterday in my ward

[nana]

Nana, I suggest finding a different grocery store, some of these prices are outragous

***

Nope, nothing said in Church yesterday in my ward

Cheaper than Walmart? ok...

[spinner]

Since nobody besides the original poster has been able to verify this, I must say that I'm a little skeptical (nothing personal, auteur55). I just see way to many potential downfalls here, such as:

1) The big one is trying to keep the missionaries separate from the female members. Even if there is a retired couple hosting the mishies, what do they do when they have a daughter or a teenage grandchild visit? Are members who rent to missionaries reallly to be expected to so completely restrict access to their home?

2) On a correlated note, the same goes for keeping the missionaries away from young children.

3) Missionaries keep very strict hours, and having them in your basement would really restrict the hours you yourself keep, especially if you are sharing a kitchen.

4) Missionaries are not always the cleanest creatures. Members may very quickly tire of this program after a few months of missionaries never washing their own dishes, not vacuming their floors, and generally not treating their homes very nicely.

5) Additionally, I could see this leading to some nastiness between members and the church. Imagine members who get some bad eggs living in their basement and simply and want the missionaries to leave. Are they going to violate their rental contracts with the church? Is the church going to turn around and take them to court for violating the terms of their lease? Lessor-Lessee relationships can frequently turn nasty, and dropping the members and the church into this role could alienate a lot of people.

6) Having full (or even partial) access to members' houses will present a lot of temptation to missionaries. Missionaries will be tempted to watch members' TVs when the members are away. Missionaries may be tempted to swim in members' pools. A missionary may decide to pick up the member's issue of Car and Driver. Missionaries have a lot of strict "do not's" in their rules and being put in a member's home will suddenly put them very near a number of forbidden things.

[myleague]

I don't think if this is an actual program that it is designed for the majority of members, only those members who have large enough houses to comfortably allow the missionaries their own space. Again if this were true, the church is aware of the predetermined issues with missionaries and would be taken into account before settling on a living arrangement. Personally I have no issue with this, I have a mother in law apartment on my house and they would have their own everything, we wouldn't have to interact with them if we didn't want to. The Church isn't stupid or ignorant of potential legal liability, all bases would be cover all i's dotted and T's crossed.

[Gillebre]

So if this announcement of missionaries to soon start living with members is true, could you please provide maybe a LDS newsroom briefing on it, or something, or perhaps something else that would confirm this for us?

Thanks.

[auteur55]

Since nobody besides the original poster has been able to verify this, I must say that I'm a little skeptical (nothing personal, auteur55).

It is odd that no one else is mentioning the annoucement. I am only reporting what happened in church today. I actually have a hand out in my possession that was given to the members that details the rules of the change and what houses will qualify. The only mistake that could have possibly been made was this being country wide but the bishopric did report that this would be the case.

Spinner I agree with nearly all of your downfalls except the last one. I think this will help missionaries be more obedient UNLESS they get with some members that are lax on the miss rules. Otherwise me, the missionaries, and the members of my ward held the same apprehensions that you listed.

Here is a thread I find online about it although it doesn't confirm it from an authorized source,

http://www.ourthoughts.ca/2007/06/07/missi...g-with-members/

[myleague]

It is odd that no one else is mentioning the annoucement. I am only reporting what happened in church today. I actually have a hand out in my possession that was given to the members that details the rules of the change and what houses will qualify. The only mistake that could have possibly been made was this being country wide but the bishopric did report that this would be the case.

Spinner I agree with nearly all of your downfalls except the last one. I think this will help missionaries be more obedient UNLESS they get with some members that are lax on the miss rules. Otherwise me, the missionaries, and the members of my ward held the same apprehensions that you listed.

Here is a thread I find online about it although it doesn't confirm it from an authorized source,

http://www.ourthoughts.ca/2007/06/07/missi...g-with-members/

You going to the FLDS or RLDS church? It may just be a mission wide or area wide decision. Just as our missionaries stay out till 10pm at night in the summers because of the long days. Each mission has different necessities.

[bluebell]

I ran into a couple who lived in a neighboring stake and they mentioned that they were fixing up their home because the members are going to be asked to allow the missionaries to live in them-this was last week.

I haven't personallly heard anything about it though.

[bluebell]

Add it up:

5.00 pound of hamburger

1.50 loaf of bread

2.50 milk

2.69 p nut butter

.50 can of tuna

1.00 noodles

.50 can of veggies if they are on sale.

4.00 cheese

2.69 bacon

1.19 celery

.89 can of soup

1.39 saltines

2.00 baloney

2.39 mayo

1.19 18 eggs

1.89 potatoes

.79 margerine

2.89 orange juice

these are a few of the prices I paid at walmart the upscale store I shop at and the high class f

foods I eat.

Note, I didn't add much produce as it is too expensive for my blood most of the time.

When i served (1999) the sisters got 140 a month total (that's for all toiletries, non-food items, and food) a month.

We ate REALLY well. The elders got about 20 dollars less a month, yet our whole zone ate lunch at fast food places twice a week (p-day and after district meetings where the whole zone was together anyway) and then my comp and i usually had lunch out another 2 times just on our own out of laziness.

We had plenty of money to take off on p-days to the ocean and the redwoods as well (not having to pay gas and all really helps) and buy small things to send home.

I had MUCH more money to buy food with then than i do now with a family of four to feed, though i spend more than 140 a WEEK right now, and not a month.

Yes, there were months when we had 4 dollars left to get through the last 7 days but that was our fault and not because we didn't get enough money to live on.

Supporting one person on that much money a month-when other people are feeding you dinner 90% of the time, is not very difficult to do.

It's when the members don't do dinners that the missionaries suffer-but even then, some planning will keep them from starving to death.

[dude]

We didn't have this announcement in our ward yesterday, and I agree it sounds fishy.

I have 3 boys on missions in South America and all 3 live with members already.

So this will save money?

Whose money will it save?

Will missionary families pay less now per month to have a missionary out? or will the savings be diverted to other costs either in our out of the missionary program? or to other parts of the world?

Good questions. Follow the money.

If this announcement is true, it's not about "keeping missionaries more obedient".

(We already "raised the bar" remember? Yes, I'm sarcastic).

If this announcement is true, it's about money. Think about how much the church would save. I really doubt they would suddenly go backwards and ask for less than the $400 per month I pay every month ($1,200 for 3 boys, and I do it gladly. It's actually cheaper than having them in college. Plus, despite my sarcasm here, I"m thrilled they are on missions). But I'm sure it costs more than $400 per month per missionary to run the world-wide program, and I assume the church subsidizes the rest. (Just like all the BYU students.) So they probably looked at how to stop the bleeding.

Here's some other observations that haven't been mentioned:

What about all the members in the world (especially poorer countries) where the arrangement is already in place and it's a win-win? They do it for financial reasons mostly. Will these members be given a "pay-cut" to $75 per month? Also, for such a small amount, I"m afraid you'd have members choose to do this for other reasons than financial, and that leaves about 3 other reasons I can think of:

1. Out of the goodness of their hearts. (That might be tougher to find than you think)

2. Because they are lonely and want the elders so life will be more interesting. (Look out for those)

3. Because they are asked to. In other words, a new "calling". Like the type we already add to our regular callings, like temple worker, etc.

[myleague]

There are plenty of outlet food stores, for those missionaries in the big city areas. I lived on Craft Mac & Cheese; I couldn't eat the cheap stuff... Still had plenty of money to go golfing, shopping at Value City and the occasional splurge of eating at Outback Steak house. I lived on $127 a month, there were even those missionaries that saved over $1000 of MSR by the time they came home. My last companion was one of those Elders. Maybe fiscal responsibility should be part of the MTC program; then again there is no schooling like the school of hard knocks... or in this case empty stomach.

[Calm]

I lived on Craft Mac & Cheese; I couldn't eat the cheap stuff...

Man, if I thought the missionaries were living on this stuff because of any reason besides they liked it, I'd give them a few cooking lessons. Noodles and scrambled eggs would be better than this and cheaper.

Are cooking classes offered in the MTC? I think that would be a great benefit for those missionaries that have either relied on Mom all their lives or who think that you can't have decent food without a lot of work.

I'd give those classes myself if they didn't mind holding them at 2 AM.

[Duncan]

My brother and I both served in LA. We always stayed with members and their were never any problems. That was years ago for him and I got back 7 years ago.

[myleague]

Man, if I thought the missionaries were living on this stuff because of any reason besides they liked it, I'd give them a few cooking lessons. Noodles and scrambled eggs would be better than this and cheaper.

Are cooking classes offered in the MTC? I think that would be a great benefit for those missionaries that have either relied on Mom all their lives or who think that you can't have decent food without a lot of work.

I'd give those classes myself if they didn't mind holding them at 2 AM.

Lol, I did actually really like Mac & Cheese. I also know how to cook, was just lazy, I would rather spend my time sleeping than cooking healthy meals. My attitude changed about half way through when I had put on 30lbs... I started eating better and exercising; by the time I went home I had lost 90lbs. That and I developed a keen sense of timing of when members were eating, and the appropriate time to stop by and say hi.

[pchan]

Three weeks ago our Bishop read in priesthood meeting a letter from the church(don't remember if it was more local or First Pres. type) that asked members to evaluate their situation and see if they have a lifestyle resources and ability etc. to have missionaries in their home. They are trying to cut costs in order to avoid the cost per missionary increasing. Didn't sound like a change churchwide for all missionaries, but more along the lines of asking the members to pitch in more locally to helping supprot our missionaries.

I ate meat if I was lucky once a week in Japan and relied mostly on veggies and rice and yet came home 25 lbs heavier than when I left.

[auteur55]

a change churchwide

It was reported to me that it wasn't a change churchwide but only through the United States and Canada.

[Tchild2]

As a missionary in Argentina I lived twice with homeowners. One was a single (old) lady member, and the other couple were non members. I LOVED living with homeowners. Instead of tepid squalor, filth and a lack of most of the basic household necessities (like heat or a stove, refrigerator etc) that most missionaries had by living on their own in the poor suburbs of Buenos Aires, a homeowner provided a safe, clean and happy residence. They provided company, great meals and in the case of the non-members; TV and radio!!

Of course, in the U.S. and Canada, living conditions for missionaries are remarkably better, so maybe living with and around nosy members watching your every move would be a real bummer. But hey, the mission already is a descent into personal hell, what is a step or two more down the rung going to hurt?

[Pahoran]

As a missionary in Argentina I lived twice with homeowners. One was a single (old) lady member, and the other couple were non members. I LOVED living with homeowners. Instead of tepid squalor, filth and a lack of most of the basic household necessities (like heat or a stove, refrigerator etc) that most missionaries had by living on their own in the poor suburbs of Buenos Aires, a homeowner provided a safe, clean and happy residence. They provided company, great meals and in the case of the non-members; TV and radio!!

So TKid was a muck-off missionary. What a surprise.

Of course, in the U.S. and Canada, living conditions for missionaries are remarkably better, so maybe living with and around nosy members watching your every move would be a real bummer.

Yes, I can see that actually living the rules would be a dreadful strain for the good-time boys.

But hey, the mission already is a descent into personal hell, what is a step or two more down the rung going to hurt?

Not for those who aren't fake.

Regards,

Pahoran

[Lachoneus]

It was reported to me that it wasn't a change churchwide but only through the United States and Canada.

I read the letter myself three weeks ago. It applies only to Canada and the United States.

We have 9 families in our ward that qualify. Three of those families have already volunteered.

The Bishop and I speculated that this would free up funds to assist the needs of the missionaries in other countries.

[Paul Ray]

I'm planning to build a place for missionaries behind my house on some of my property.

It'll have a bedroom, a bathroom, a real life manger, and everything.

... including electricity and plumbing.

[auteur55]

We have 9 families in our ward that qualify. Three of those families have already volunteered

Hopefully there will be families in every area that will jump at the opportunity. The letter specified that missionaries are not to stay with one family for longer than 2 years. So the church is expecting some form of rotation.

[Tchild2]

So TKid was a muck-off missionary. What a surprise.

If you say so Pahoran. What a shame, two years of extreme personal sacrifice and I didn't earn your approval. Guess it was a wasted venture then. Haven't seen you in a while. Maybe you are just getting back from the border with the other militiamen shooting at poor Latinamerican immigrants as they try to find a better life?

Where did you serve Pahoran? Didn't serve a mission? whaaaa? With that winning personality of yours? If your going to follow Christ, try picking up at least one quality of the leader you profess to believe in. Just one, is that too much to ask?

Regards,

Pahoran

Hey, regards to you too Pahoran!

[nana]

So TKid was a muck-off missionary. What a surprise.

Yes, I can see that actually living the rules would be a dreadful strain for the good-time boys.

Not for those who aren't fake.

Regards,

Pahoran

So TKid was a muck-off missionary. What a surprise.

Yes, I can see that actually living the rules would be a dreadful strain for the good-time boys.

Not for those who aren't fake.

Regards,

Pahoran

Pahoran, why are you seemingly so mean and spitefull when some disagrees with you?