Sister Missionaries-All Good Or All Not So Good?

[Duncan]

In a spin off from another thread, what do you think of the idea that sister missionaries are just great or just the opposite? I served a mission and I dunno the sisters I knew well were great and yeah some had some weird things about them but so did the elders let me tellya. I don't get this idea that sisters are all good or all bad and the idea too is that elders are everything from future Apostle to future apostate-which may be true let's hope and let's hope not!

[blackstrap]

All human , I think. The cool, the smart, the ambitious , the wild , the weird , the goofy , the brain dead... are not gender specific.

[Judd]

Mixed bag, just like the elders.

[rayhale]

It’s frustrating to hear men, in the church, always talk about how women are always better than men, and this is a major reason why sister missionaries are better than Elders, never mentioning the fact that, before the age change, sisters, at 21, had 2 more years of being an adult, most had experience of living on their own, and most important, all of them, had a choice, whereas the Elders, really don’t, going on a mission is a priesthood responsibility, so if an Elder is mentally and physically healthy, he is expected to go. I would be curious to see if the baptism rate of missionaries doesn’t plateau or even go down, since both the young men, and women, who go on missions, are barely out of high school, with little, to no, experience being on their own, and more girls being encouraged (i.e. expected) to go on missions.

[Calm]

I would be curious to see if the baptism rate of missionaries doesn’t plateau or even go down....

I doubt it. There were localized programs run on the same basis in other countries where military requirements and other issues made the lower age necessary and IIRC, when the change was announced, it was stated that results showed no negative effect in this way.

For some time the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have allowed young men from certain countries to serve at the age of 18 when they are worthy, able, have graduated from high school, and have expressed a sincere desire to serve. This has been a country-specific policy and has allowed thousands of young men to serve honorable missions and also fulfill required military obligations and educational opportunities.

Our experience with these 18-year-old missionaries has been positive. Their mission presidents report that they are obedient, faithful, mature, and serve just as competently as do the older missionaries who serve in the same missions. Their faithfulness, obedience, and maturity have caused us to desire the same option of earlier missionary service for all young men, regardless of the country from which they come.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/welcome-to-conference?

I would be curious to see any studies showing a significant difference in the social and emotional development between 18 and 19 year old men. In some, it seems to me that there is actually a regression due to the loss of a structured life (high school and/or living at home and often just the attitude that as they are legally adults they have only their own opinion to consider).

Edited May 20, 2013 by calmoriah

[Storm Rider]

Gross generalizations are not helpful and it is a mistake to draw conclusions or make decisions based upon the gender of the targeting individual. IF, and that is a big if, success on a mission is realized by baptisms alone, then I have never heard of a sisters persistently leading in a mission. The only missions I am familiar with have consistently been led by individuals who happened to be elders. I also don't buy into the belief that sisters are more spiritual than brothers; that sisters do all the work in the church; or that sisters are more special than brothers. What I do believe in is that there are individuals called for a purpose to serve missions and that if they strive to emulate the Savior the Holy Spirit will accompany them as they teach the gospel. As they teach some will respond to the invitation of the Spirit and others will not. In a ward, nothing works unless individuals work regardless of gender and no gender owns the good and faithful servant label.

[Sandy Petersen]

Well I must be a naysayer here and state that in fact I do think that sisters (in general) are more spiritual than the brothers. How many sisters do you see in Sacrament meeting without their inactive husbands? How many young women stay diligently faithful in high school compared to young men? It's an open scandal how tightly-organized the Relief Society and Primary are compared to the male-run priesthood quorums and Sunday School, particularly when you consider how little is involved in the day-to-day operations of the latter. (I'm not dismissing the work done by the priesthood quorums - heck I have been in their leadership - but my wife has been an RS president, and I am currently teaching Primary so I can see the contrast).

Obviously there are some startlingly spiritual men around, and some extremely worldly women. A general rule is no more than that. I will also say that the sister missionaries I have dealt with have generally been less likely to slack off than (some of) the elders. On the other hand, this is probably explained by the already-mentioned-fact that the sisters are older and had less social pressure to come - i.e., were here because they wanted to be, which sort of refines the selection process.

[rockpond]

One of my favorite times during my mission was when my companion and I (Elders) shared a branch with a companionship of Sisters. The four of us decided not to split the area geographically. Instead, we'd meet frequently and determine how we could work together to best serve our investigators and members. Some people were taught exclusively by the Sisters, some were taught exclusively by us. And some were visited by both companionships.

The synergy was great. I'd love to see every area being shared by a pair of elders and a pair of sisters.

p.s. As a side benefit we could sing hymns in four part harmony.

[Calm]

Well I must be a naysayer here and state that in fact I do think that sisters (in general) are more spiritual than the brothers. How many sisters do you see in Sacrament meeting without their inactive husbands? How many young women stay diligently faithful in high school compared to young men? It's an open scandal how tightly-organized the Relief Society and Primary are compared to the male-run priesthood quorums and Sunday School, particularly when you consider how little is involved in the day-to-day operations of the latter.

You are equating external social behaviour with internal spiritual behaviour. Sometimes they overlap...as in the latter motivating the former, but not all the time.

[cinepro]

I suspect the average "quality" (however it is defined) of the sister missionaries will be increasing as their numbers increase from the age change.

[The Nehor]

It has been my experience that sister missionaries are either very good or very bad at fulfilling their calling. Elders seemed to have a lot more middle ground. I wonder if the age change will alter this.

Well I must be a naysayer here and state that in fact I do think that sisters (in general) are more spiritual than the brothers. How many sisters do you see in Sacrament meeting without their inactive husbands? How many young women stay diligently faithful in high school compared to young men? It's an open scandal how tightly-organized the Relief Society and Primary are compared to the male-run priesthood quorums and Sunday School, particularly when you consider how little is involved in the day-to-day operations of the latter. (I'm not dismissing the work done by the priesthood quorums - heck I have been in their leadership - but my wife has been an RS president, and I am currently teaching Primary so I can see the contrast).

I disagree. I see lots of sisters with inactive husbands. I also see husbands with inactive or non-member wives. They tend to get less press. I do not see more faithful girls surviving High School then boys. I agree that Relief Societies and Priesthood are organized differently in most cases but I think that is due to simple gender differences.

It seems that naturally men leave others alone out of concern while women are more likely to want to help. This works as men in general are less likely to want a lot of help and when they do need it they are less likely to want it known that they need it.

[BlueDreams]

It has been my experience that sister missionaries are either very good or very bad at fulfilling their calling. Elders seemed to have a lot more middle ground. I wonder if the age change will alter this.

As a sister missionary, I found that most sisters fell in between very good and very bad. The amazing and very bad sisters were just more remembered for better or for worse. There were so few sisters that instead of being lost in the mesh like the majority elders, each one became representative of who sisters were as an entity.

With luv,

BD

[Duncan]

Thought this was funny! the sound stinks at the end

[gree0232]

One of my favorite times during my mission was when my companion and I (Elders) shared a branch with a companionship of Sisters. The four of us decided not to split the area geographically. Instead, we'd meet frequently and determine how we could work together to best serve our investigators and members. Some people were taught exclusively by the Sisters, some were taught exclusively by us. And some were visited by both companionships.

The synergy was great. I'd love to see every area being shared by a pair of elders and a pair of sisters.

p.s. As a side benefit we could sing hymns in four part harmony.

Well, I am a military guy and a convert. I was 'found' by two sisters less than an hour after praying to the shown the 'right way'. Longer story ...

However, being a military guy, working with women is still somewhat of an oddity except in passing. When you are in an organization where the majority of day to action is managed by men ... you just kind of take it for granted. (That is not to say that women do not lead or manage in the military, but in the day to day tactical combat formation, they are currently removed from those situations ... again, another debate - intent is simply to establish context in this case). Working with the sisters as I entered the church was the first time I worked with women in an 'organizational' capacity ... and I was deeply impressed. They were all different, had different strengths and weaknesses, but I was amazed at the caliber of the young women and, to be blunt, how capable they were ... I would happily have worked with them anywhere (which goes back to one of those previous debate questions ... but I digress).

The elders are also terribly impressive, though, as one poster eluded to, the mandatory aspect of it can be a burden on some of those that I have worked with who struggle with the spiritual aspect of the assignment. Nevertheless, they have all been hard working and capable, a joy to work for.

I will also say that there are differences in gender, there are some things that people will be more comfortable sharing with women than they will with men, and the opposite ... For example, a crusty old infantryman is not going to be terribly comfortable talking about things like 'emotions' with two young men ... but two young women, who are open and eager ... and the same subject, and the tie into the gospel comes out almost naturally. Conversely, speaking about aspects of duty and honor come more naturally to young men, at least in my case, then to young women. Others will no doubt find that paradigm reversed ... or completely different.

I think there is incredible value to using both genders as they are willing and able, simply because people, being people, will see opportunities differently through the lens of gender.

There is also the reality that, whether they know it or not, those who serve missions get a great deal out of it that they may not realize until they are MUCH older, or at least a little wiser. The church does tremendous service to our young men and women in providing a mission opportunity ... and the payoff is that it find people, much like myself, to serve.

[Alan]

I served over 30 years ago. At that time sister missionaries were a bit of a mixed bag. But on the whole, they weren't too effective. They were there, in most part, because no one had yet asked them to marry........... and there was usually a good reason for that!

My son retuned from serving in Slovakia last year, and his view of sisters was very different. He said they were the best and most successful missionaries in his mission by a long way. He had nothing but praise for them.

I have another son currently serving in Sweden. It will be interesting to hear his commments.