Missionaries Going Home Early-Is This Everywhere?

[Calm]

No non proselyting missions for older guys either? I was thinking more in that direction....

I don't know about that...I assume there is some volunteer work they are allowed to do...IIRC we had an older single male who went on a lot of the service projects the ward had, he was a convert so had missed the mission eligibility stage. Edited June 20, 2013 by calmoriah

[ERayR]

I just read an article this morning about a trek, don't know where it was. The kids were out for a day and it got cold. Somebody, I guess, suffered from hypothermia, so the adults loaded everybody up and they went and found a nice warm barn to hang out in.

I thought, really? They want the pioneer experience, but only if it's not too uncomfortable? Heck. let 'em suffer. Might lose a couple along the way, but they'll really learn to appreciate what the pioneers went through.

I'm kidding, of course. But we are raising a generation of wimps.

They could experience leaving a loved one along the trail in a shallow grave. I'm just kidding too. To spend three days in the summer pulling a lightly loaded handcart a hardship, come on.

Edited June 21, 2013 by ERayR

[Calm]

It is being forced to go without deodorant and hair products that is so harrowing.

[ERayR]

It is being forced to go without deodorant and hair products that is so harrowing.

That could be a problem. Where is this happening?

[Duncan]

It is being forced to go without deodorant and hair products that is so harrowing.

[media=]

Camping?!!!!! These are my thoughts exactley!

Edited June 21, 2013 by Duncan

[Calm]

That could be a problem. Where is this happening?

The trek in the stake here requires the kids and leaders to dress in clothing styled in the correct period and no cosmetics or other personal products save sunscreen. The idea is that they get to have a more authentic experience.

[ERayR]

The trek in the stake here requires the kids and leaders to dress in clothing styled in the correct period and no cosmetics or other personal products save sunscreen. The idea is that they get to have a more authentic experience.

Till they get more than a three day trek and live off of salt pork, beans and corn meal with weevil with shoes and clothes literally wearing to tatters on their bodies and pulling a fully loaded cart for days on end they will never have any idea. Less than a week pulling very light carts and a hot meal at the end of the day and "oh dear" no shower or hair care and they are going to know what the pioneers went through. Come now. I am having a hard time keeping a straight face.

Period clothing doesn't an authentic experience make. Out on the plains pulling your guts out sick or well and knowing you have to go on because nobody will rescue you and if you stop you will die and so will your kids, who just might die anyway. How can you authentically reproduce that with period clothes in a few short days?

Edited June 21, 2013 by ERayR

[Thinking]

There is a theory out there in critic-land that the age was lowered to 18 because too many young men were deciding not to go after beginning their college education.

[ERayR]

There is a theory out there in critic-land that the age was lowered to 18 because too many young men were deciding not to go after beginning their college education.

And another theory is that the Brethren needed to get a very large missionary force in a hurry.

[Calm]

Till they get more than a three day trek and live off of salt pork, beans and corn meal with weevil with shoes and clothes literally wearing to tatters on their bodies and pulling a fully loaded cart for days on end they will never have any idea. Less than a week pulling very light carts and a hot meal at the end of the day and "oh dear" no shower or hair care and they are going to know what the pioneers went through. Come now. I am having a hard time keeping a straight face.

Period clothing doesn't an authentic experience make. Out on the plains pulling your guts out sick or well and knowing you have to go on because nobody will rescue you and if you stop you will die and so will your kids, who just might die anyway. How can you authentically reproduce that with period clothes in a few short days?

I didn't say "authentic", just "more authentic".

I completely agree with you.

Edited June 21, 2013 by calmoriah

[Gohan]

Last thing I want to do is open up any wounds or judge anyone who went home early, had a family member go home early or what have you in that regard. I was talking to the APs here a bit ago and on average one missionary goes home early every transfer in this mission and it's been like that since last spring thereabouts. They sent home 2 elders this week, one is going home very soon and the APs said they have 8 who are on the fence about going home or are in the process to get approved to go home. One sister missionary prayed about going home, God said yes but the Mission Pres. won't let her. I am gobsmacked by how many people are leaving, has anyone else noticed this? it's bonkers.

I am the ward mission leader here and so I work with these young people and I think I would run after anyone who bailed from our ward!

It's not terribly uncommon sadly. Although a few going home were for other reasons, I reported with a group of fifteen elders, and only seven of us finished at the correct time.

Ugh...those Assistants should NOT be giving that kind of information out about the missionaries in your mission. It's something between them, the mission president and the individual missionary.

Those kind of APs were generally the ones who liked to gossip, maybe let slip little things about transfers from time to time, or hint at problems. It's an abuse of their assignment.

This hits home for me, as I served in that assignment for 9 months of my mission. Information about missionaries going home, even if it is just the number going home is something that shouldn't be spread around.

Duncan, next time those Elders want to talk about something like that I would ask them if that info is something their mission president would be happy to share with anyone. Watch for their reaction and I promise you they'll look uncomfortable.

Every member a mission president eh? I respect your service, but don't judge the kids prematurely. They could be as stressed about it as the mission president and just need to get it off their chest.

[Duncan]

It's not terribly uncommon sadly. Although a few going home were for other reasons, I reported with a group of fifteen elders, and only seven of us finished at the correct time.

Every member a mission president eh? I respect your service, but don't judge the kids prematurely. They could be as stressed about it as the mission president and just need to get it off their chest.

7 finished with you? holy Mrs. Naugatuck!!!! had 10 of us in my MTC district and only 7 finished at the correct time, one of whcih was my MTC com. and I WISH I could get back in touch with him but his name is dead common so it's unlikely unless he finds me

[Alan]

Back when i served (30+ years ago) only 2 missionaries went home early during my two years. One because he was really homesick, the other for inappropriate conduct. So that's 2 out of 150+.

Some have mentioned the lower service age as a factor. If it is, it's an American thing. Britons have been going out at 18 for many years. I myself went out on my mission at 18 years and 33 days old.

I have noticed over the years a discrepency between the maturity levels of teenage Americans and Europeans.

[Scott Lloyd]

No non proselyting missions for older guys either? I was thinking more in that direction....

My understanding is older couples and older single women, yes; older single men, no. This has been the case for a long time. If the policy has changed, I've not heard about it.

Edited to add:

Sorry, I misread "non-proselyting" for "proselyting." As Emily Latella would say, "Never mind."

Edited June 21, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

There is a theory out there in critic-land that the age was lowered to 18 because too many young men were deciding not to go after beginning their college education.

I think there's something to that, critic land notwithstanding. We lose a lot of young people after age 18 before they've had opportunity to serve a mission. Hard to keep track of them after they can legally go off on their own. This has been a challenge in institute enrollment for a long time.

Not a thing wrong with immersing them in a super-concentrated environment of spirituality and dedication 24/7, say I. As Elder Holland has said, the first convert a missionary wins better be himself or herself. I say that if the missionary accomplishes this yet doesn't have a single baptism, the mission has not been in vain.

I do grant that the missionary needs to be prepared beforehand, spiritually, morally, mentally and emotionally.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Actually this was done in my mission in Washington state. This was only a few years ago. It was a lot of fun having the young men do missionary work with us and eat our food. They were called mini missions. IIRC they lasted a week.

I did one of those "mini-missions" in Washington State in 1993. Even got the runs as part of the experience, so I was prepared in many ways for my mission to Argentina.

[BlueDreams]

I'm not remembering a ton going home from my mission during the 18 months I was out. I remember 4 or 5 leaving early....one leaving and returning. etc. THat's from a mission of ~180. Who knows, there may have been more and I just wasn't aware of it. One was for medical reasons, 2 were for poor conduct, another was a mix of medical and homesickness. I could ask my friend later, but frankly our mission wasn't all that crazy and pretty obedient. And I'm not even really bragging. It was the type where visiting authorities come to talk/see how we're doing would have us fill out some online report and on coming would state something along the lines of how, in what we were supposed to be doing, we were generally doing pretty good... then highlight areas that people mentioned interest in a lot. The meetings were so light I didn't know some actually did reprimand missions/missionaries. There were those that struggled, those that weren't very good, etc. But my president was very good at monitoring and nipping that sort of behavior sooner than later. I didn't realize some of the problems that could happen until after when others would talk about it from their missions.

So my guess is that it would vary. My other guess is that, though I'm sure all of what you mentioned can and have been problems, mostly the increase in people going home is also related to the increase of how many could go home they're spitting them out as quickly as possible and with so many new people, comes less training, more stress in the field, and simply more people. So statistically, though it wouldn't surprise me if it were a little higher, It might not have changed excessively.

And I can't really say from my district back in the MTC. I can't even remember how many there were. Only 3 of us went to philly the rest went to canada.

With luv,

BD

[BlueDreams]

I did one of those "mini-missions" in Washington State in 1993. Even got the runs as part of the experience, so I was prepared in many ways for my mission to Argentina.

Yeah, I've heard of that still being done in various areas.

[Closet Doubter]

Back when i served (30+ years ago) only 2 missionaries went home early during my two years. One because he was really homesick, the other for inappropriate conduct. So that's 2 out of 150+.

All 8 elders in my MTC district finished their missions and I only recall 3 missionaries in my mission comming home early and they were all health related (possibly a little exagerated on the part of one of the missionaries). I came the closest to coming home early for non health reasons when I was exposed to a book of supposed doctrine that was probably mostly true but filled with a lot of false doctrine. It shook me up and when a teacher at the MTC told me that if I didn't beleive what was written in the book then I didn't believe the church was true, I almost left the MTC. The book was titled "Doctrines of Salvation by Joseph Fielding Smith.

[Tacenda]

My BIL ran away from the MTC back in the late 70's. He and my sister were so in love, I'm sure it had to do with that. He didn't go home but came to my home and told my parents. I guess he said he experienced a very dark spirit in the MTC. He was supposed to have gone to Mexico where his father once served. But things worked out and he was able to go back out on a mission but served in the USA. He has been a faithful member ever since and is currently in the bishopric.

[Buzzard]

My mission was over three decades ago, maybe we were made of sterner stuff, but in a mission of 180 elders/sisters give or take, one elder packed it in, and another was exed on the spot by the MP and had to shop for new underwear before flying home.

[Deborah]

Has there ever been a missionary who didn't want to come home when he realizes it's hard work. Remember Pres. Hinckley. Fortunately he had a father who was firm with him and I think too many parents today coddle their children and don't want them to suffer any discomfort.

But if a young man or woman can stick it out, what a great experience for life, and just to know he or she accomplished something significant and stuck it out.

[Duncan]

Has there ever been a missionary who didn't want to come home when he realizes it's hard work. Remember Pres. Hinckley. Fortunately he had a father who was firm with him and I think too many parents today coddle their children and don't want them to suffer any discomfort.

But if a young man or woman can stick it out, what a great experience for life, and just to know he or she accomplished something significant and stuck it out.

I think I was homesick for about 5 minutes on my mission! I got sick the first day in the MTC, but I attribute that to travelling in the US and different altitudes and stuff

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

IMNSHO it has a lot to do with our not teaching our younguns to handle the hard things. We have not taught them to handle hardship. We give them everything they want so they don't know sacrifice. They think a three day handcart trek in the middle of the summer is a hardship.

I agree. Not that I had a hard life. But when I decided to go on my mission. I said to my self I don't care how hard it is I am not going home until it is done. I am not sure our youth have that same mind set. I mean do they even mow lawns as a summer job anymore or is that job to "hard"? Edited June 21, 2013 by Mola Ram Suda Ram

[ERayR]

Has there ever been a missionary who didn't want to come home when he realizes it's hard work. Remember Pres. Hinckley. Fortunately he had a father who was firm with him and I think too many parents today coddle their children and don't want them to suffer any discomfort.

But if a young man or woman can stick it out, what a great experience for life, and just to know he or she accomplished something significant and stuck it out.

I am guilty