Who Really Signs A Mission Call?

[Mormon Dude]

I just read this article about an "open secret that nobody in government wants to talk about;" the President's autopen (the United States President). I know I've heard my question raised before (without hearing an answer), but does the Prophet really sign mission calls? I've looked at my call, and it was clearly signed with a pen (not printed), just was it really the prophet holding the pen, or a machine? Anyone who worked or works in the COB know? If the Prophet didn't sign it, why make it appear as if he did, rather than just print it on?

[LeSellers]

does the Prophet really sign mission calls? I've looked at my call, and it was clearly signed with a pen (not printed), just was it really the prophet holding the pen, or a machine?

What difference would it make even were your insinuation true?

I know mine was. David O. M^cKay's signature was smeared as he dragged his hand through the ink trail. But that was four decades ago (and, yes, there were autopens back then).

Lehi

P.S.: Why close the topic that had answers in it rather than the one that was empty> L.S.

Edited June 26, 2011 by LeSellers

[Whiskeypete]

Loved the talk a year ago about how the call process works:

http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/the-divine-call-of-a-missionary?lang=eng

55,000 missionaries = about 550 calls signed per week. Doable by hand, but I wouldn't have an issue i they were autopenned.

[Thinking]

I don't think it's big deal that an autopen is used.

Back in 1982 when I was in the MTC, the elders in my group and I compared Spencer W. Kimball's signature on our calls and it was identical. Nobody cared. We all realized that signing that many papers every day was not a practical use of time for SWK.

[Thinking]

Duplicate post.

Edited June 26, 2011 by Thinking

[19nazzy]

FWIW, my call was signed while Pres. Hinckley was in office and it would've been in his last couple of weeks before he passed away and comparing it to others, it looks pretty shaky. I wouldn't be surprised, nor really care if it was signed by an autopen, the GAs/First Pres. have more important matters to take care of.

Edited June 26, 2011 by 19nazzy

[kolipoki09]

FWIW, my call was signed while Pres. Hinckley was in office and it would've been in his last couple of weeks before he passed away and comparing it to others, it looks pretty shaky. I wouldn't be surprised, nor really care if it was signed by an autopen, the GAs/First Pres. have more important matters to take care of.

Mine was the same way. He also signed mine in pencil - not pen.

[Xander]

Mine was the same way. He also signed mine in pencil - not pen.

Our MTC teacher explained that it was a stamp. That the Prophet could not spend days on end signing thousands of papers like this. I remember my companion got really upset and refused to believe it. He said, "Well mine was signed by the Prophet, that's all I care about." The rest of us just shrugged and let him believe what he wanted.

[Xander]

Mine was the same way. He also signed mine in pencil - not pen.

Our MTC teacher explained that it was a stamp. That the Prophet could not spend days on end signing thousands of papers like this. I remember my companion got really upset and refused to believe it. He said, "Well mine was signed by the Prophet, that's all I care about." The rest of us just shrugged and let him believe what he wanted.

[Pahoran]

It was common knowledge in my mission. We didn't really imagine that President Kimball would hand-sign hundreds of mission calls (and missionary certificates) every week.

I had the distinction of having my name misspelled in the letter. I accepted the call and went anyway.

Regards,

Pahoran

[Palerider]

I bought three books personally signed by Paul H. Dunn.

None of the signatures were remotely alike. I guess he was following the prophet's example but couldn't afford the autopen.......

[Pahoran]

I bought three books personally signed by Paul H. Dunn.

None of the signatures were remotely alike. I guess he was following the prophet's example but couldn't afford the autopen.......

Ah. A cheap shot.

How surprising.

Or something.

Regards,

Pahoran

[cinepro]

Our MTC teacher explained that it was a stamp. That the Prophet could not spend days on end signing thousands of papers like this. I remember my companion got really upset and refused to believe it. He said, "Well mine was signed by the Prophet, that's all I care about." The rest of us just shrugged and let him believe what he wanted.

At some point, the practical reality of the situation has to be reckoned with.

[Sky]

It’s kind of a letdown to realize that the one letter in your entire life from the prophet was not actually signed by the prophet. I suppose it doesn’t matter though. He is still very much involved with the process of issuing mission calls. I remember writing back to the First Presidency accepting my mission call. It all works out in the end.

Edited June 27, 2011 by Sky

[kolipoki09]

I bought three books personally signed by Paul H. Dunn.

None of the signatures were remotely alike. I guess he was following the prophet's example but couldn't afford the autopen.......

I bought an autographed copy of George P. Lee's Silent Courage for $6.

I bought an autographed copy of Joseph Fielding McConkie's The Bruce R. McConkie Story for a considerably higher amount than it was worth, not because it was actually worth it, but because the book dealer insisted that having JFM's signature on it made it worth much more.

In the end, I think having a pencil copy of Gordon B. Hinckley's signature with the signs of old age blatantly apparent, make it priceless for me.

On average, 500+ mission calls go out each week. I would imagine having a literal ream of paper just to sign signatures would be overwhelming for anyone. Thus, if in fact some, if not all calls are signed automatically would not trouble me.

[krose]

He is still very much involved with the process of issuing missing calls.

Do most people really believe this? (I'm assuming you meant "mission," of course.)

[Sky]

Do most people really believe this? (I'm assuming you meant "mission," of course.)

Good catch.

[LeSellers]

Do most people really believe this?

I can't speak for "most people", but I know I do. (Of course, it might depend on what "involved" means.)

It's an issue of keys. President Monson has them, no one else does.

Lehi

[fatherofone]

I can't speak for "most people", but I know I do. (Of course, it might depend on what "involved" means.)

It's an issue of keys. President Monson has them, no one else does.

Lehi

if so many mission calls are issued a week and the consensus seems to be that the prophet does not personally sign each mission call, how then is he personally involved in each mission call, it would seem he would have the same time issue

[LeSellers]

if so many mission calls are issued a week and the consensus seems to be that the prophet does not personally sign each mission call, how then is he personally involved in each mission call, it would seem he would have the same time issue

The architect doesn't drive too many nails. No one, however, claims that because he didn't "build" the building, he didn't build it.

President Monson may not personally assign every missionary to his mission, but he does authorize each call. That's why his signature (personal or autopen) is on each letter.

As I understand it, once the calls are recommended to him by the member of the Twelve who did the work, President Monson refers it to Father through prayer, and, absent some conflict or stupor of thought, authorizes these letters to be sent to the new Elders or Sisters over his signature.

I know of more than a few calls that were changed later. Some were due to governmental snafus, others to health concerns. But that does not mean the original calling was in error. Things that make this sort of (rare) alteration necessary don't have anything to do with the missionary, but the circumstances that either changed themselves or were not well understood by the brethren for whatever reason.

I wanted to go to French Canada, and ended up in French Switzerland (and Eastern France). I dont know how that worked, but I know that I have the Gift of Tongues for Romance languages, at least, because I later learned Italian in the Army, and have picked up enough Spanish to get laughed at by children when I try it. Japanese never worked for me, and I shudder to think what might have happened had I been sent to Soporro.

Lehi

[sjdawg]

I don't understand why it matters one way or the other who signs the mission call. My expense checks from workare signed by an autopen. I don't lose any sleep worrying why they CFO couldn't take the time to sign it personally; I just cash it.

[Doctor Ninja]

The Lord signed my mission papers.

[Storm Rider]

The signature on the letter is meaningless. What is important is that the call is from the Lord. I suspect that almost all missionaries having received their call discover that their call was inspired and they are serving exactly where the Lord wants them to be.

[krose]

if so many mission calls are issued a week and the consensus seems to be that the prophet does not personally sign each mission call, how then is he personally involved in each mission call, it would seem he would have the same time issue

I always assumed it was some sort of committee that made these assignments. It never bothered me to think that Kimball didn't have anything to do with the decision of where to send me (or that he may not have ever touched the call letter).