More Missionaries Being Sent Home For Health Reasons?

[Scott Lloyd]

Very recently in our ward, we have had three missionaries sent home for health reasons. (And let me be clear: These are missionaries who are worthy in every respect to be serving; they simply had health problems.)

 

That amounts to 30 percent of the missionaries serving from our ward.

 

I realize this is entirely anecdotal. But I wonder if it signals a trend. Does a greatly expanded missionary force mean that more are apt to be coming home early because of health? Has anyone else here noticed this? Or is this an anomaly that's indigenous to my ward?

Edited February 24, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[Buzzard]

None from our ward in the ten years I have been there. Also anecdotal.

I do know that the "raise the bar" initiative of several years ago was at least partially  because of the cost of missionaries who either came out with unresolved issues or couldn't emotionally take the rigors of the mission field having to go home early.  

[Duncan]

Welcome to my World! Since July our ward has sent 5 missionaries home, 3 sisters and 2 elders. I have so much to say on this subject.I have been the WML since the fall of 2011 and my 2013 and continues to this day the trauma of the missionary drama is long, thick and deep. The maturity level has dropped or maybe is at normal levels for 18 and 19yr olds. I love everyone of those who got sent home or went home, none were for disobedience. As near as I can tell this mission has sent home over 30 missionaries since the age drop, it's so unbelievable.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Duncan

[cinepro]

We had one missionary in our ward come home early last year (out of ~5). 

 

Oddly, yesterday was my 20 year anniversary from coming home early from my mission (for health reasons).  My future wife knew I had been sick, so she decided to stop by my parents to ask them how I was doing (not knowing I had flown home that day), and then I opened the door.  Talk about a look of shock!

 

I ended up going back out and finishing my two years, but from what I hear it's a little more difficult to go back once you've come home.

Edited February 24, 2014 by cinepro

[Bikeemikey]

Very recently in our ward, we have had three missionaries sent home for health reasons. (And let me be clear: These are missionaries who are worthy in every respect to be serving; they simply had health problems.)

 

That amounts to 30 percent of the missionaries serving from our ward.

 

I realize this is entirely anecdotal. But I wonder if it signals a trend. Does a greatly expanded missionary force mean that more are apt to be coming home early because of health? Has anyone else here noticed this? Or is this an anomaly that's indigenous to my ward?

 

Perhaps you are simply not aware of some other worthiness issues?

[Scott Lloyd]

Perhaps you are simply not aware of some other worthiness issues?

All three have been or are being given callings in the ward pending the resumption of their missionary service once the health issues are resolved.

[Bikeemikey]

All three have been or are being given callings in the ward pending the resumption of their missionary service once the health issues are resolved.

 

Bishops can provide callings as part of the repentance process. Not all "sins" require one to forsake a calling. 

[Scott Lloyd]

Bishops can provide callings as part of the repentance process. Not all "sins" require one to forsake a calling. 

There are no sins in these instances. You're barking up the wrong tree.

[Calm]

Bishops can provide callings as part of the repentance process. Not all "sins" require one to forsake a calling. 

Why assume a worthiness issue when there is no need?

[The Nehor]

Bishops can provide callings as part of the repentance process. Not all "sins" require one to forsake a calling.

True but he said this was pending returning. Generally going home for worthiness issues means you do not go back.

[Scott Lloyd]

True but he said this was pending returning. Generally going home for worthiness issues means you do not go back.

And in each case, the return was very much made public with an announcement from the pulpit. I don't think that happens when a missionary is sent home for a moral infraction.

[Bikeemikey]

True but he said this was pending returning. Generally going home for worthiness issues means you do not go back.

 

You can go back if you repent. Returning an un-worthy missionary is done as discretely as possible due to the huge social stigma that can be created. 

 

My only point is that an outsider may not be privy to all details.

[Scott Lloyd]

You can go back if you repent. Returning an un-worthy missionary is done as discretely as possible due to the huge social stigma that can be created.

I highly doubt that happens.

 

 

 

My only point is that an outsider may not be privy to all details.

 

And it is by incessantly insinuating such a "point" that false rumors get started.

 

Stop it. These are fine young people, and they do not deserve this.

[Gray]

I've heard anecdotal stories about more problems with emotional health as reasons for coming home. Could be the younger age of the missionaries and not being prepared for the stress of mission life. But who knows, really. 

[Bikeemikey]

I highly doubt that happens.

 

And it is by incessantly insinuating such a "point" that false rumors get started.

 

Stop it. These are fine young people, and they do not deserve this.

 

Im not saying anything about them at all.

 

I am talking about taking the vouchsafe of an outsider about what is actually a matter of confidentiality.

 

I have seen two individuals come home from missions due to "health" issues. One came back for a worthiness issue (he was a close friend of mine) and went back later. But your doubt that this ever happens is well noted. This was before preach my gospel so the policy may be totally different now.

[The Nehor]

And in each case, the return was very much made public with an announcement from the pulpit. I don't think that happens when a missionary is sent home for a moral infraction.

No, they do not announce it. I have known cases where it happened though (friends and people I know well) and I have never seen one go back.

[The Nehor]

I've heard anecdotal stories about more problems with emotional health as reasons for coming home. Could be the younger age of the missionaries and not being prepared for the stress of mission life. But who knows, really.

Going home for emotional problems is nothing new. I know of at least six cases from my mission of people being unable to cope. There was no stigma from the rest of the missionaries.

[Scott Lloyd]

Im not saying anything about them at all.

 

But the fact is, I post here under my real name, so it would easy to trace this to my ward and hence have it reflect badly and undeservedly on the young people involved. To avoid any damage to their reputations, I'm telling you to stop this gratuitious speculation now. If need be, I will bring this before the moderators.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[Bikeemikey]

But the fact is, I post here under my real name, so it would easy to trace this to my ward and hence have it reflect badly and undeservedly on the young people involved. To avoid any damage to their reputations, I'm telling you to stop this gratuitious speculation now. If need be, I will bring this before the moderators.

 

So lets get this straight.

 

You start a thread talking about missionaries coming home from their missions early.

 

I then make the observation that that there may be factors at play that you are not aware of.

 

I then back this up by providing an example from my own experience as well as simply highlighting that the repentance process is confidential so you wouldn't know about it.

 

Next I know im denigrating the youth of the church?

 

Seriously man... how about some proportionality.

 

If you want to start a thread talking about missionaries coming home early you must by default engage in the conversation about coming home for worthiness issues. 

 

I am not skeptical to the RM you are referring to... im skeptical of you capacity to provide a concrete guarantee than they have come home for health reasons. Because you can not provide such a confirmation it is impossible to use your "anecdotal" sample as an indicator of higher numbers missionaries returning home due to health reasons.

 

This is a discussion thread. Im confident the moderators will back me up on this.

[Palerider]

So lets get this straight.

 

You start a thread talking about missionaries coming home from their missions early.

 

I then make the observation that that there may be factors at play that you are not aware of.

 

I then back this up by providing an example from my own experience as well as simply highlighting that the repentance process is confidential so you wouldn't know about it.

 

Next I know im denigrating the youth of the church?

 

Seriously man... how about some proportionality.

 

If you want to start a thread talking about missionaries coming home early you must by default engage in the conversation about coming home for worthiness issues. 

 

I am not skeptical to the RM you are referring to... im skeptical of you capacity to provide a concrete guarantee than they have come home for health reasons. Because you can not provide such a confirmation it is impossible to use your "anecdotal" sample as an indicator of higher numbers missionaries returning home due to health reasons.

 

This is a discussion thread. Im confident the moderators will back me up on this.

 

Actually I think Scott and the missionaries in question should be given the benefit of the doubt. He's closer to the case than any of us here and the speculation really does no one any good.

 

I just wish that members would use the same reasoning and logic when members leave the church as when missionaries have to come home. I thought Calmoriah put it quite well:

 

"Why assume a worthiness issue when there is no need?"

 

[Paddy]

Scott

We have not had any missionaries come home early for medical reasons in our Stake/Ward for a long time. Admittedly we don't send out as many missionaries in Australia then the US.

However, we have a set of travelling Sisters in our ward, I think they are kind of equivelent to the AP's. They told us of the higher rates of depression experienced among the Sisters in the mission. They have also been told that this is not isolated to just our mission but is an increasing issue among Sisters.

I would probably argue that the percentage of ill missionaries is probably the same but with the increased number of missionaries serving the noticeable rate of them returning home is higher.

Just my thoughts.

Paddy

Edited February 24, 2014 by Paddy

[cinepro]

You can go back if you repent. Returning an un-worthy missionary is done as discretely as possible due to the huge social stigma that can be created. 

 

 

 

I would be very, very surprised if the Church allowed someone who came home for worthiness issues to return to a full-time mission.

[Scott Lloyd]

Scott

We have not had any missionaries come home early for medical reasons in our Stake/Ward for a long time. Admittedly we don't send out as many missionaries in Australia then the US.

However, we have a set of travelling Sisters in our ward, I think they are kind of equivelent to the AP's. They told us of the higher rates of depression experienced among the Sisters in the mission. They have also been told that this is not isolated to just our mission but is an increasing issue among Sisters.

I would probably argue that the percentage of ill missionaries is probably the same but with the increased number of missionaries serving the noticeable rate of them returning home is higher.

Just my thoughts.

Paddy

That's my hunch as well.

[Scott Lloyd]

Actually I think Scott and the missionaries in question should be given the benefit of the doubt. He's closer to the case than any of us here and the speculation really does no one any good.

 

I just wish that members would use the same reasoning and logic when members leave the church as when missionaries have to come home. I thought Calmoriah put it quite well:

 

"Why assume a worthiness issue when there is no need?"

A valid point.

[Bikeemikey]

Actually I think Scott and the missionaries in question should be given the benefit of the doubt. He's closer to the case than any of us here and the speculation really does no one any good.

 

I just wish that members would use the same reasoning and logic when members leave the church as when missionaries have to come home. I thought Calmoriah put it quite well:

 

"Why assume a worthiness issue when there is no need?"

 

I don't disagree with this.

 

The benefit of the doubt is fine. As I said, my comments were about Scotts inability to know for certain the causes of the missionary return...

 

Im a skeptic about everything. That said, i wouldnt spend any time concerned with the reasoning behind early returned missionaries outside this abstract conversation on the issue.