VideoGameJunkie Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 (edited) I know of several girls who didn't serve missions and were single that got endowed in their early 20s, but I don't know of any men who got endowed without serving a mission or getting married. Does this ever happen or is the church pushing men to serve missions or get married? And have you ever heard of men getting endowed young without having served a mission or engaged? Edited January 26, 2016 by VideoGameJunkie
JAHS Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 "A man must hold the Melchizedek Priesthood to receive his temple endowment. Most single members will be interviewed for a recommend for their own endowment when they are called as missionaries or when they are to be married in a temple. Worthy single members who have not received their endowment in connection with a mission or marriage may become eligible to receive the endowment when the bishop and the stake president determine that they are sufficiently mature to understand and keep the sacred covenants made in a temple. Such eligibility is determined individually for each person, not by using routine criteria such as reaching a certain age or leaving home for college or employment, or simply desiring to observe the temple marriages of siblings or friends." (CHI) 1
rpn Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 When they are 18, hold the melchizedek(sp?) priesthood and are ready to make and keep the covenants. I wouldn't suggest any young person do it unless they are going on a mission or getting married. But many of those in the mid twenties decide they don't want to wait longer.
ERayR Posted January 26, 2016 Posted January 26, 2016 20 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: I know of several girls who didn't serve missions and were single that got endowed in their early 20s, but I don't know of any men who got endowed without serving a mission or getting married. Does this ever happen or is the church pushing men to serve missions or get married? And have you ever heard of men getting endowed young without having served a mission or engaged? When he is worthy to get a temple recommend.
The Nehor Posted January 27, 2016 Posted January 27, 2016 6 hours ago, ERayR said: When he is worthy to get a temple recommend. And when his Priesthood Leaders think it wise. The only reason we endow missionaries is that they need those covenants because they are expected to live them. If I could have waited longer I would have. 1
Freedom Posted January 27, 2016 Posted January 27, 2016 Many young men cannot serve a mission for health or other reasons. In my experience, they can go to the temple right away. It is left up to the discretion of the stake president. I know one young man who, at twenty, was told by his stake president that if he did not go on a mission he should not go to the temple until he is ready to marry. He moved to another stake and was in the temple three months later. 1
The Nehor Posted January 27, 2016 Posted January 27, 2016 18 minutes ago, Freedom said: Many young men cannot serve a mission for health or other reasons. In my experience, they can go to the temple right away. It is left up to the discretion of the stake president. I know one young man who, at twenty, was told by his stake president that if he did not go on a mission he should not go to the temple until he is ready to marry. He moved to another stake and was in the temple three months later. I had a Stake President who pretty much refused to give the Melchizedek Priesthood to most mission-age men who were not going on a mission or getting married. His logic was that you shouldn't take on the responsibility of the Priesthood when you are, in advance, saying you are not interested in fulfilling one of those responsibilities. Made sense to me.
Robert F. Smith Posted January 27, 2016 Posted January 27, 2016 On 1/26/2016 at 8:28 PM, VideoGameJunkie said: I know of several girls who didn't serve missions and were single that got endowed in their early 20s, but I don't know of any men who got endowed without serving a mission or getting married. Does this ever happen or is the church pushing men to serve missions or get married? And have you ever heard of men getting endowed young without having served a mission or engaged? President Monson did not serve a mission and had no problem getting his endowment and in getting married in the temple. And he is only the most prominent case. There are plenty of others. Serving a mission is voluntary, and has a powerful effect on the young elder who serves, but it is not required.
The Nehor Posted January 27, 2016 Posted January 27, 2016 Just now, Robert F. Smith said: President Monson did not serve a mission and had no problem getting his endowment and in getting married in the temple. And he is only the most prominent case. There are plenty of others. Serving a mission is voluntary, and has a powerful effect on the young elder who serves, but it is not required. President Monson was of mission age long before President Kimball made the announcement that every worthy and able young man should serve a mission and has an obligation to do so. It is voluntary in the sense that you can choose whether you want to go but God and his prophets have made it clear the right now choosing not to serve when you can is refusing an obligation that is part of the Priesthood so it is not voluntary in the sense that God does not much care one way or the other. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted January 27, 2016 Author Posted January 27, 2016 I gave it my all in the mission field, but only lasted 1 week in the MTC before having to come home, but I was still able to be endowed and have been endowed since June 2005 at age 20. I love going to the temple.
Robert F. Smith Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 20 hours ago, The Nehor said: President Monson was of mission age long before President Kimball made the announcement that every worthy and able young man should serve a mission and has an obligation to do so. It is voluntary in the sense that you can choose whether you want to go but God and his prophets have made it clear the right now choosing not to serve when you can is refusing an obligation that is part of the Priesthood so it is not voluntary in the sense that God does not much care one way or the other. There are a good many people in the LDS Church who would say the same, and it isn't just folklore, but it is still wrong and is not part of our faith. As in the case of young Tommy Monson, who was of mission age, many men have involuntarily gone to war instead of a mission. The Church has even had formal agreements in the Vietham era with the Dept of Defense and the Selective Service that froze the number of missionaries, and which made the operative call either (1) the official mission call letter, or (2) the selective service letter (the draft). God is not so narrow and rigid as He is often depicted.
The Nehor Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 12 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said: There are a good many people in the LDS Church who would say the same, and it isn't just folklore, but it is still wrong and is not part of our faith. As in the case of young Tommy Monson, who was of mission age, many men have involuntarily gone to war instead of a mission. The Church has even had formal agreements in the Vietham era with the Dept of Defense and the Selective Service that froze the number of missionaries, and which made the operative call either (1) the official mission call letter, or (2) the selective service letter (the draft). God is not so narrow and rigid as He is often depicted. And if another war with a draft comes up we will adapt. Right now the command is clear. Go on a mission if able. I do not think we should be harsh towards those who choose not to but the command is what it is. It may change. If Brigham was right one day the missionaries will be called home and I presume no new ones sent. The commands are always changing but that it can change does not dilute what it is now.
JAHS Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said: There are a good many people in the LDS Church who would say the same, and it isn't just folklore, but it is still wrong and is not part of our faith. As in the case of young Tommy Monson, who was of mission age, many men have involuntarily gone to war instead of a mission. The Church has even had formal agreements in the Vietham era with the Dept of Defense and the Selective Service that froze the number of missionaries, and which made the operative call either (1) the official mission call letter, or (2) the selective service letter (the draft). God is not so narrow and rigid as He is often depicted. My mission was during the Vietnam war. My lottery number was 38. If I hadn't already planned on going on a mission I would have been drafted. The draft was over by the time I got home. Unfortunately I had a few companions who were probably dodging the draft.
The Nehor Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 35 minutes ago, JAHS said: My mission was during the Vietnam war. My lottery number was 38. If I hadn't already planned on going on a mission I would have been drafted. The draft was over by the time I got home. Unfortunately I had a few companions who were probably dodging the draft. I find it hard to blame people for wanting to dodge the draft in that war. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted January 28, 2016 Author Posted January 28, 2016 I wouldn't have been eligible for the draft I don't think because of my Tourettes, ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety and need for medication. In 2004 I met with an army recruiter and he said I couldn't join the military because of my conditions and need for meds so I assume that would include a draft too.
JAHS Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 9 hours ago, The Nehor said: 10 hours ago, JAHS said: My mission was during the Vietnam war. My lottery number was 38. If I hadn't already planned on going on a mission I would have been drafted. The draft was over by the time I got home. Unfortunately I had a few companions who were probably dodging the draft. I find it hard to blame people for wanting to dodge the draft in that war I agree, but those missionaries were not serving for the right reason and sometimes they just didn't want to do the work or follow the rules.
The Nehor Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 32 minutes ago, JAHS said: I agree, but those missionaries were not serving for the right reason and sometimes they just didn't want to do the work or follow the rules. Then that is annoying.
Robert F. Smith Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 14 hours ago, The Nehor said: I find it hard to blame people for wanting to dodge the draft in that war. How does that square with Article of Faith #12, which is an official part of the Mormon Canon? And is Pres Kimball's admonition more important than that?
The Nehor Posted January 28, 2016 Posted January 28, 2016 16 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said: How does that square with Article of Faith #12, which is an official part of the Mormon Canon? And is Pres Kimball's admonition more important than that? That article of faith is a generality. In specific circumstances the church has broken the law of the land. We practiced polygamy when it was illegal. We illegally immigrated into Mexico. We took up arms against the owners of the land we were on to join the United States and we fought the government of the United States more then once. If Joseph Smith meant it as a hard and fast rule then he did not live it. I do not consider it a hard and fast rule.
Robert F. Smith Posted January 29, 2016 Posted January 29, 2016 4 hours ago, The Nehor said: That article of faith is a generality. In specific circumstances the church has broken the law of the land. We practiced polygamy when it was illegal. We illegally immigrated into Mexico. We took up arms against the owners of the land we were on to join the United States and we fought the government of the United States more then once. If Joseph Smith meant it as a hard and fast rule then he did not live it. I do not consider it a hard and fast rule. Neither does Ammon Bundy, and his father Cliven.
salgare Posted January 29, 2016 Posted January 29, 2016 My eldest son joined the Army National Guard the summer between his Junior and Senior year. It was a six year commitment with two years of inactive duty at any point in the contract to facilitate those wanting to go on a mission. This was all in the midst of the Iraq war and ongoing Afghanistan deployments.
The Nehor Posted January 29, 2016 Posted January 29, 2016 1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said: Neither does Ammon Bundy, and his father Cliven. Yes but to be fair they are also numbskulls. 1
Boanerges Posted January 29, 2016 Posted January 29, 2016 My 17-year-old son recently got his patriarchal blessing. It is made very clear that serving a mission is his choice. The patriarch commented afterward that he did not feel inspired to say anything about serving a mission other than it was his choice to make. FWIW, I don't consider it a "commandment" to serve a mission and I don't think the current upper levels of church leader ship see it as a commandment.
VideoGameJunkie Posted January 29, 2016 Author Posted January 29, 2016 I felt like it was a commandment to go on a mission if I were to ever marry an LDS girl because all the Young Women and YSA girls I knew said they were told by leaders to only marry an RM. So it put pressure on me to go and I only ended up lasting 1 week in the MTC. I never even wanted to go in the first place, but I tried because I felt I had to and was required to.
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