Sunday'S Broadcast Will "Cement President Monson'S Place As The Missionary Prophet"

[Tacenda]

I read a comment about this meeting on another board, they were making guesses also, one person said his wife was in the Deseret Bookstore and saw that this book http://deseretbook.com/Power-Everyday-Missionaries-Clayton-M-Christensen/i/5097487 was on the best seller list and thought it fishy because apparently they didn't think it was best seller stuff, anyway he thought it was to be correlated with the meeting this Sunday. And was being heavily promoted for that reason. Not sure if he and his wife are right about that.

I think the meeting will get members in on the action of missionary work, and possibly ask members to help with donations, since there are so many missionaries that might need funding. My neighbor will have two sons serving missions soon. The one has been out for a few months and the other is set to go in a few months, they're struggling with paying for just one son. I bet this is happening everywhere with siblings going out at the same time.

Also, Buckeye mentioned getting the missionaries iPads and doing missionary work using them. Maybe they will use it like they are with YW & YM's Sunday School classes. I'll bet they will start doing that to show the Mormon Messages Youtubes, Conference Talks etc., especially for non members that don't have that capability. So maybe donations for this also. And BTW, Buckeye might have hit on something, using the YW & YM program as a mini MTC makes perfect sense to me!

[Buckeye]

And BTW, Buckeye might have hit on something, using the YW & YM program as a mini MTC makes perfect sense to me!

Of course, such a program would only ratchet up the already-growing pressure on YW to serve missions. True, YW do not have a priesthood duty to serve because they are excluded from priesthood service. But I get the feeling that our church culture is moving to the point where YW are "expected" to serve just as much as YM.

[Alan]

I would be 100% in favour of a change to the missionary uniform. The current rules in this regard have outlived their usefulness and are beginning to be counter-productive. Significantly so in some parts of the world.

[cdowis]

I think it will have more to do with increased desire and opportunity to serve rather than expectations. Previously there was a sense that "you can't find a husband so you might as well go on a mission", but that attitude has changed dramatically.

[Stone holm]

I would be 100% in favour of a change to the missionary uniform. The current rules in this regard have outlived their usefulness and are beginning to be counter-productive. Significantly so in some parts of the world.

Oh no! The world would come to an end if the missionaries didn't wear white shirts, ties and suits....next thing they will let them grow beards and we all know that means they are about to become members of the Communist Party.

[cdowis]

What's the point of an MTC in a country you cannot proselyte in?

Huh?!

Edited June 18, 2013 by cdowis

[Kenngo1969]

Select missionaries will have unique calls. For instance, Jabari Parker will be called to play for the Utah Jazz.

Now that's something I can get behind!

[Stone holm]

Huh?!

The answer should be obvious.

Uh, not to me I guess I am thick. Why would you open an MTC in a country you cannot proselyte in and which hassles you about research institutes you place there and complains about Temple Work you do?

[Madmardigan]

From what I hear they are going to hold a reality TV show for when they choose the next Apostle. They will start with 25 men and see who is the most righteous of all. President Monson will hand out seer stones each week to those that continue on. Should be compelling TV.

[Buckeye]

Select missionaries will have unique calls. For instance, Jabari Parker will be called to play for the Utah Jazz.

Be careful what you wish for. If Jabari lives up to the hype he will get drafted top-5. Are you sure you want the Jazz to tank that bad next year? More likely he ends up with Phoenix, New Orleans, or - heaven forbid - Charlotte. Cleveland would be great of course (for me). Perhaps the best realistic scenario for LDSers is a Jimmer-Jabari duo in Sacramento.

[rpn]

In other internet sites, I've heard that there is a pilot where missionaries simply serve in the community all day and knock doors in the evening. Perhaps there are missions where that would further the work more.

It was announced a couple of months ago that sisters would serve in mission councils, and would be supervised by MP wives who would also be part of the council.

And others have mentioned missionary work via social media.

And Clayton Christiansen's book is probably on the best seller list because it was available for free on DB for a couple of weeks.

Edited June 18, 2013 by rpn

[cdowis]

Uh, not to me I guess I am thick. Why would you open an MTC in a country you cannot proselyte in and which hassles you about research institutes you place there and complains about Temple Work you do?

OK, I give up. I will put your out of your misery.

You will notice that others have ignored my post because they know that I have a very dry sense of humor. Saudi Arabia?? I thought you would get it with that one. Perhaps I should have said Pakistan.

Edited June 18, 2013 by cdowis

[toon]

Uh, not to me I guess I am thick. Why would you open an MTC in a country you cannot proselyte in and which hassles you about research institutes you place there and complains about Temple Work you do?

Isn't one of the missions of the Church to care for the poor and the needy.

[KorbenDallas]

My thoughts on improving missionary work:

1) service service service. Worked for Jesus and Ammon quite well.

2) admit the church is fallible and apologize to all who have been inadvertently hurt by incorrect traditions (e.g. Blacks, homosexuals, women, etc.). Humility is endearing, pride is not. Kudos to Kevin Kloosterman and Marlin Jensen.

3) release approximately 99% of shame and guilt held by young men by admitting that the M word is not a sin, instead of just quietly removing all references from guidebooks and conference talks, and hoping everyone will get the hint. Then they can focus on missionary work.

[Stone holm]

Isn't one of the missions of the Church to care for the poor and the needy.

Yeah, but we already have missions organized in the former Confederacy.

[Freedom]

It may be a meeting of the century for the church, but not necessarily the members. I have been to many board meetings with ceo's where they get all excited about a new direction the company is going in that, ultimately, has zero affect on the employees. Then they are all shocked and discouraged when the announcement is not received with cheers. 'We have modified the accounting software to accommodate both multi-client systems and multi-system clients!'. yay.

[Stone holm]

It may be a meeting of the century for the church, but not necessarily the members. I have been to many board meetings with ceo's where they get all excited about a new direction the company is going in that, ultimately, has zero affect on the employees. Then they are all shocked and discouraged when the announcement is not received with cheers. 'We have modified the accounting software to accommodate both multi-client systems and multi-system clients!'. yay.

You are not suggesting that it may produce enthusiastic snoring are you?

[Freedom]

My thoughts on improving missionary work:

1) service service service. Worked for Jesus and Ammon quite well.

2) admit the church is fallible and apologize to all who have been inadvertently hurt by incorrect traditions (e.g. Blacks, homosexuals, women, etc.). Humility is endearing, pride is not. Kudos to Kevin Kloosterman and Marlin Jensen.

3) release approximately 99% of shame and guilt held by young men by admitting that the M word is not a sin, instead of just quietly removing all references from guidebooks and conference talks, and hoping everyone will get the hint. Then they can focus on missionary work.

1) I am not sure how we can give any more service than we already are

2) This point is based on a false assumption

3) This has absolutely nothing to do with improving missionary work. Do you have any evidence that missionaries that feel guilt for activities you deem appropriate perform less effectively?

[Freedom]

You are not suggesting that it may produce enthusiastic snoring are you?

Well, coughing perhaps, but not snoring. The members were all abuzz about the change in age for missionaries but this was hardly new. It has been the standard practice in many other countries, and missionaries in North America were allowed to go at 18 if they had the funds and an endorsement from their priesthood leaders. It was not a new announcement, it was more of a rationalizing of the program around the world. Even the publication of preach my gospel has had no material change. Good teachers do not need better material. Bad teachers will continue to be bad no matter what material you provide them.

[Stone holm]

Well, coughing perhaps, but not snoring. The members were all abuzz about the change in age for missionaries but this was hardly new. It has been the standard practice in many other countries, and missionaries in North America were allowed to go at 18 if they had the funds and an endorsement from their priesthood leaders. It was not a new announcement, it was more of a rationalizing of the program around the world. Even the publication of preach my gospel has had no material change. Good teachers do not need better material. Bad teachers will continue to be bad no matter what material you provide them.

It could be a change of significance if they tweak the leadership change with regards to the Mission President's wife and the Sister missionaries...that could be a major nuance of import to a lot of future changes. Otherwise, it is just more of the same -- kind of like the "every member missionary" thingy, the only real change that accomplished was wiping out the Stake 70 Quorums, something I, as a former 70, am a bit ambivalent about.

[Buckeye]

It could be a change of significance if they tweak the leadership change with regards to the Mission President's wife and the Sister missionaries...that could be a major nuance of import to a lot of future changes. Otherwise, it is just more of the same -- kind of like the "every member missionary" thingy, the only real change that accomplished was wiping out the Stake 70 Quorums, something I, as a former 70, am a bit ambivalent about.

Agreed. I do not really expect mission president's wives will be formally called as president's alongside their husbands at this training. That was more speculation on my part as to why the training could be deemed a "meeting of the century." But whatever happens, I do expect a greater measure of attention to be paid to the presence and importance of mission president's wives at the training. Since April Conference, I have sensed a concerted effort by the church to publicize how much good women do. Much of that good is done quietly by the wives of men in prominent positions. The church seems to want to make that less quiet. I think we will see the trend continue in the future.

In fact, the FP announcment for the training already touches on this point. Those invited to attend are (1) full time missionaries (obviously), (2) "other interested members" (ok), and (3) "members of the ward council and their spouses." Since we're just reading tealeaves here, why the specific invitation for ward council spouses? I don't recall that ever being done before.

[Avatar4321]

Yeah that would definitely blow people away. Likelihood of happening somewhere betweeen zero and zip.

Colored shirts wouldnt be terrible:)

[Avatar4321]

Similar to how President Hinckley is the "temple prophet." This, according to an unnamed member of the presidency of the Seventy to missionaries in our mission (the elder I did splits with didn't remember his name). I have to admit, I'm with The Nehor in needing to see it to believe it, given the recent tendency to over-hype on the part of Church headquarters (e.g., teasers about a "historic" conference turning out to refer to the renovating of the Tabernacle, etc.). In trying to think beforehand about things that would blow me away, the only thing I can come up with is announcing that all missions will now be fully funded through tithing (I don't think this will happen, and don't think it would be good if it did ---- but it would blow me away). My prediction is that several new MTCs other than Mexico City will be announced. What are yours? (Sorry about the formatting ---- I can't start new paragraphs on this site). Thanks!

I've found that I am horribly bad at predicting anything with certainty. Honestly, I dont even have a guess.

Though I can tell from the Spirit present whenever read about this broadcast, it's going to be good. I don't usually get Spiritual impressions about meetings like that very often.

[Avatar4321]

Elder Nelson called it the "meeting of the century"? I guess that means Adam-ondi-Ahman has been pushed back another hundred years at least. Dang.

BTW, I think you're right about the social media thing. I was talking to someone who works for the Church and he said that it is anticipated that missionary work in China in the coming decades will be done mostly online. Which makes sense really.

The century just started. maybe he means until now

[Avatar4321]

I would LOVE to see a greater emphasis on service. Maybe instead of 4 hours a week the missionaries can dedicate four or five times that much. I served in a very low baptizing mission and when I think of all the time spent knocking doors while no one was home, it makes me cringe. Just think of the good we could of done giving service to the people during those less effective times of the day. IMO, It's a much more effective tool for bringing people into the church, plus it's the right thing to do. With the huge increase in missionaries, now would be the time to do it.

That being said, from the rumors I've heard it's just going to be a renewed focus on reactivation. Here's to hoping I'm wrong!

A few years ago our mission (where i live not where I served) had amazing success teaching and baptizing from tracting. So much so that we ended up getting a third unit at the building and making it very difficult to find parking.

Service is definitely a good idea though.