Robert F. Smith Posted August 7, 2013 Posted August 7, 2013 From the stories I've heard, the biggest changes have been the higher standards set for "social" skills and health problems, including depression, bipolar disorder, aspergers/autism, obesity and other physical conditions that lead to fatigue etc. Meaning that young men with social or physical disabilities that otherwise would have been allowed to serve in the past are now excused from service.Also, it's my understanding that potential missionaries that have fornicated are not accepted for service. But I suspect our forum participating Bishops can give much more correct info on this.Actually, physical disabilities no longer prevent missionary service, even if severe. However, in such cases, the missionaries (both male and female) are assigned to internet missions using Skype. They are able to teach all the lessons, but must turn the candidate for baptism over to local elders. Such service by disabled missionaries goes on in a number of locations worldwide.
halconero Posted August 7, 2013 Posted August 7, 2013 Can I just point out that for all the talk of lower quality missionaries that from the time the missionary force dropped from around 60,000 to 50,000 (roughly) years ago that the number of baptisms didn't drop, but stayed roughly the same? That doesn't seem significant at first until you account for "efficiency."Also, speaking as one of the recently returned ones (I think Blue Dreams can attest to this as well) I hardly think that the missionaries that I saw out in the field, or the ones I see now are somehow subpar.Bull pucky.
LordUther Posted August 7, 2013 Posted August 7, 2013 The missionaries involved in reactivating me are both 18, I thank God the age was lowered. 2
daz2 Posted August 7, 2013 Posted August 7, 2013 How we see things depends on where we sit. I think the missionaries I have met and worked with are as strong or stronger than any I have worked with before, individually and as a group. I think PMG and the new youth lessons are a vast improvement over prior programs and materials.
The Nehor Posted August 7, 2013 Posted August 7, 2013 I think the missionaries on the whole are getting stronger.
cinepro Posted August 7, 2013 Posted August 7, 2013 The video game world has bred a generation of " can't and won't do much that requires any serious physical effort " . If the missionary has been heavily involved in organized sports , there is a better chance of a strong work ethic.Sounds to me like that may not be such a problem anymore. The day of the "sit in front of a computer" missionary has arrived!
Robert F. Smith Posted August 8, 2013 Posted August 8, 2013 (edited) Sounds to me like that may not be such a problem anymore. The day of the "sit in front of a computer" missionary has arrived!However, that may pose another problem:"Video Games Boost Visual Attention but Reduce Impulse Control," ScienceDaily.com, Aug 4, 2013 — A person playing a first-person shooter video game like Halo or Unreal Tournament must make decisions quickly. That fast-paced decision-making, it turns out, boosts the player's visual skills but comes at a cost, according to new research: reducing the person's ability to inhibit impulsive behavior. This reduction in what is called "proactive executive control" appears to be yet another way that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior.See the whole article at http://www.scienceda...30804081115.htm .Do we want impulsive and aggressive missionaries out there? Edited August 8, 2013 by Robert F. Smith
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