Mission call opening videos

[Rain]

6 hours ago, Duncan said:

Something i've noticed with these youtube mission call openings is everybody in Utah has fireplace, golly!!!!!! it's funny too when they can't even pronounce where they are going! then some one in the background is like, it's pronounced, "Ed min tin" not, "Ed Monton"

I had to laugh when I moved to Phoenix. I saw so many more fireplaces here than in Utah. 

[Rain]

5 hours ago, CA Steve said:

While I am in agreement with all of what you say, i find the need to have a revel party for baby gender or for a mission calling, way over the top, I think one can no longer separate social media from real life. While I don't understand the need to tweet, snapchat, facebook,  text or whatever the latest fad type of communication there is, it is not going away. I also think that one problem the church faces is its own inability to incorporate social media in a meaningful way with its members, especially the youth. This is, in small part, a reason our youth are leaving.

You know, this does give me an idea. If the church were to figure out a way to incorporate social media with mission callings, something like a live face time session with a general authority in which the prospective missionary was told his or her calling location by the authority live, it would add an element to the calling that would probably be highly attractive to youth. I realize the logistics would be difficult given the number of such calls that would have to be made but it would be easy to call a few more 70's just to cover that assignment.

Are there any general authorities who tweet? There should be.

Here are some of them.

[Duncan]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

I had to laugh when I moved to Phoenix. I saw so many more fireplaces here than in Utah. 

fireplaces in Phoenix? are they just for show?!

[Rain]

5 hours ago, Duncan said:

fireplaces in Phoenix? are they just for show?!

No. Well, I don't know if anyone uses them or not, but they are real. At least the one in our rental and this one works.

Now our rental house was actually cold. It was this dark pit and since we were on blow up mattresses on tile floors it got to us, but we have all tile floors in our own house and have only had the heat on once to see if the heater worked when the house was inspected. 

[Hamba Tuhan]

21 hours ago, rongo said:

He was willing to wait a month, if necessary, so the maximum number of people could be there.

And did people actually indulge him by attending? If someone were to ask me to travel to the church to watch him/her open a mission call, I'd roll my eyes secretly and politely decline.

21 hours ago, bluebell said:

I was thinking of the big airport homecoming tradition and it also sounds like a horror show to me.

We have an American family in our ward, and their son returned from his mission last month. The family only moved here a year ago, so no one in the ward had even met the boy. Nonetheless, the entire ward was invited -- and then vigorously encouraged -- to be at the airport to welcome him home. He arrived mid-morning on a work day. Needless to say, no one but his family was there to greet him.

I'm glad that, for now, these kinds of things just don't happen here.

Edited December 1, 2017 by Hamba Tuhan

[Duncan]

5 hours ago, Rain said:

No. Well, I don't know if anyone uses them or not, but they are real. At least the one in our rental and this one works.

Now our rental house was actually cold. It was this dark pit and since we were on blow up mattresses on tile floors it got to us, but we have all tile floors in our own house and have only had the heat on once to see if the heater worked when the house was inspected. 

off topic, but years ago I helped move this girl in our YSA ward, all she pretty much had was blowup furniture, so all you had to do was deflate it and then take it out, the move was like 20 minutes

Edited December 1, 2017 by Duncan

[Gray]

15 hours ago, rongo said:

We had a boy (a good boy) get his mission call several weeks ago. He will make a fine missionary. He called me on a Tuesday and asked if we could reserve the church for that Saturday night to open his mission call in front of the ward and record it. I suggested that he open it with his family, and then tell everybody where he got called to. He said that he wanted to do it with the ward and to record it for social media. Well, I said, we have youth conference on Saturday, and a dance, so most of the youth won't be there and the building isn't available. No problem, he said. What about the following Saturday?

Everything ended up "okay:" he waited and opened his call in a big extravaganza, like he wanted. I was flummoxed. Most missionaries and their families can't wait to open the letter and find out where they're going. In his case, despite his good performance in Aaronic priesthood quorums, the overriding motive and goal was a big social media frenzy. I'm seeing this trend more and more with youth, and I think it's a factor in some of their flame-outs as missionaries: the day-to-day reality of missionary work doesn't match up to the anticipation, build-up, and one-upping of getting social media mileage and traction out of the "reveal." To them, everything else is anticlimactic; the highlight of the mission for them is going to be the "reveal," and the mission and what happens on it is seen through this lens: photo ops, social media mileage, etc. But it all pales in comparison to the excitement of their "reveal."

It isn't just Mormon missionary youth. We see this in increasingly elaborate baby gender reveals, recruited athletes holding ridiculous press conferences with costume changes to "reveal" their school of choice, and other things. 

I really worry about youth and adults' increasing penchant for living their life on social media and on the internet and not living their life in real life. For some, this causes anxiety and depression because people are obsessively comparing their fake selves with others' fake selves --- their portrayed personae. For others, their addiction to social media and updates is itself a source of depression and anxiety. 

Are others seeing this trend of seeking for bigger and bigger mission call reveals? I think this is something that should be done quietly, with family, but of course, people choose their own way. I wanted to tell this boy, "Just go open your mission call with your family, and stop monkeying around with this elaborate reveal stuff. 

Well, I went on my mission nearly 20 years ago, and missions didn't live up to the tremendous amount of hype back then either! Missionary work has a lot of ups and downs. You wouldn't get that impression from the way people talked about them.

In any case, I suspect there are some real problems associated with emotional health and social media. Not trying to poo poo your point-- I think it's well taken.

Edited December 1, 2017 by Gray

[Gray]

8 hours ago, Rain said:

I had to laugh when I moved to Phoenix. I saw so many more fireplaces here than in Utah. 

They need them for those chilly 60 degree winters!

[cinepro]

While I agree with that some of them get out of hand, I did like this one...

You are assigned to labor in the...Antarctica?

My hope is that we get to the point where kids in Utah are opening them at half-time at NBA games at mid-court.  

 

 

Edited December 1, 2017 by cinepro

[rockpond]

12 hours ago, Duncan said:

fireplaces in Phoenix? are they just for show?!

I grew up in Phoenix.  My house had two fireplaces -- one of them never saw a flame, it was just there cause my Mom or the architect thought the wall needed something.  But, the other we would use because we enjoyed the look and smell of the fire.  Also, my dad would light it up every Christmas morning and burn all the used wrapping paper (I later discovered this isn't good for your chimney but since we only did it once a year, I guess we were okay).

[Duncan]

2 minutes ago, rockpond said:

I grew up in Phoenix.  My house had two fireplaces -- one of them never saw a flame, it was just there cause my Mom or the architect thought the wall needed something.  But, the other we would use because we enjoyed the look and smell of the fire.  Also, my dad would light it up every Christmas morning and burn all the used wrapping paper (I later discovered this isn't good for your chimney but since we only did it once a year, I guess we were okay).

That's something!

[rockpond]

I think you make a good point, Rongo.  I don't doubt that the young man you describe was going on the mission for the right reasons.  And, in all likelihood, he'll complete two great years of honorable missionary service.

But, I do seem to be noticing an increase in missionaries who don't last that long.  I think that there could be a correlation between actual missionary life not living up to perceived missionary life.  And these crazy call-opening ceremonies, farewell parties, and homecoming videos could be part of it.

Just this morning I watched a homecoming video of the son of a friend who returned last night.  There were a couple dozen people at the airport, a professionally made banner, and someone shooting video from beginning to end.  The video was then edited, put to music, and posted in social media in under 12 hours.  While I have never seen a call-opening held in a church meetinghouse, I have seen videos of some with huge crowds gathered, big maps on the wall so everyone can make their guess, and tons of loving attention showered on the young man or woman.  On its own, not necessarily a bad thing but I wonder if, for some, there is a bit of a let down when reality hits.

[Okrahomer]

36 minutes ago, cinepro said:

While I agree with that some of them get out of hand, I did like this one...

You are assigned to labor in the...Antarctica?

My hope is that we get to the point where kids in Utah are opening them at half-time at NBA games at mid-court.  

 

 

I like this homecoming video better.

Edited December 1, 2017 by Okrahomer

[rongo]

21 hours ago, CA Steve said:

While I am in agreement with all of what you say, i find the need to have a reveal party for baby gender or for a mission calling, way over the top, I think one can no longer separate social media from real life. While I don't understand the need to tweet, snapchat, facebook,  text or whatever the latest fad type of communication there is, it is not going away.

I understand this, and think you have a point. Sometimes you have to adapt to circumstances that aren't going to change, and it's futile to be the equivalent of an old codger shouting in vain "Get off my lawn!" I disagree that we should wave the white flag on this and embrace and submit ourselves to working within social media. I completely understand those who disagree with me on this --- they think I and others like me are delusional and naive about the ability to stem the tidal wave. Where I disagree with them is that I think our rapidly-diminishing cultural ability to a) have quiet time without stimulation, b) to read books, c) to interact non-electronically is significant. I think that is a direct link to the Church dwindling in influence and power in the lives of its members, and in members' abilities to have power and influence in the lives of others. I know that some think that the social/electronic-mediazation of lds.org is a great thing, and that the Church is expanding its scope and reach through videos, social media, etc., but I see this as being just a gimmick and toy in the lives of already electronics-saturated members --- with no tangible effect in helping people progress to exaltation. It's just waving the white flag.

I also think that one problem the church faces is its own inability to incorporate social media in a meaningful way with its members, especially the youth. This is, in small part, a reason our youth are leaving.

I actually don't think that if the Church were more effective in harnessing social media, then the kids we're hemorrhaging would not have their issues and would be strong, vibrant Church members building up the kingdom. I think if the Church were super-effective at harnessing social media, we would have the exact same result with the inactive, uncommitted, and resigning youth.

You know, this does give me an idea. If the church were to figure out a way to incorporate social media with mission callings, something like a live face time session with a general authority in which the prospective missionary was told his or her calling location by the authority live, it would add an element to the calling that would probably be highly attractive to youth.

Yuck. I know I'm a 42 year-old codger, but this seems really gimmicky and trendy. It's a good idea to get out there, and is no worse than, say, contrived, scripted "face-to-face" events, but I sure hope not. It seems to me like something off of the movie of "The Giver" (A bureaucrat's face on the screen saying, "Thank you for your childhood, Elder Jones.")

The reason it would never happen is the problem in the OP: filming and distribution of the call reveal. The Brethren are extremely adverse to having anything from them sent virally around for comment. These would be taped and shared and sent all over the place, and subject to mockery and disection. 

Are there any general authorities who tweet? There should be.

I think all of the "tweeting GAs" have staffers do it for them. That's kind of deceptive, isn't it? To be portrayed as "being on Twitter/Facebook," but for it to be ghost-written.

[rongo]

20 hours ago, Thinking said:

I think it's gotten out of control. Even though there are no more official missionary farewells (the departing Elder is allowed to speak - but no family) . . .

I still allow these. I have the family speak, and a musical number if they want to.The policy is for places like where my wife grew up, where if they had farewells, the youth would literally be in other wards every single Sunday for friends' farewells. It makes sense in areas like that. But, in places where a missionary leaving is a special event for a ward, I think a traditional farewell is just fine. I know that some by-the-bookers' heads explode that I would dare to have a traditional farewell, but it isn't disruptive to our services. We have a boy out, and this one leaving in January. The next one up will be in June (my son is doing a year of college first). 

[rongo]

22 hours ago, Duncan said:

where are they going?

Lima, Peru. His very inactive and hostile dad speaks only Spanish, and the boy understands Spanish and will rapidly pick up speaking it, I believe. We are ecstatic about this, because it will be very good for his family. Based on my experience with him, I have no concerns about him not being able to hack it and coming home early. 

I was just disappointed in the spectacle of the production that he really wanted. 

[rongo]

19 hours ago, juliann said:

I fly into SLC a lot. I hate the screaming welcoming committees and I always wonder bow the missionaries who don't have a rent a mob feel.  There is no way to avoid it because the airport has cordoned them off at the bottom of the escalator so this is the first thing every unsuspecting traveler sees when they reach SLC. I have to walk around them to get to the baggage claim. Hey, it just occurred to me that there is an elevator....

Tacky. It was just my family when I got home, and no signs or balloons or anything. 

Funny story. In high school, one summer I took the Greyhound from Chicago to Utah to visit my grandparents. In Nebraska, two men sitting in front of me began talking for hours about how weird Mormons are. When we hit the mountains in Wyoming and started to get closer to Utah, they talked about how different Utah was going to be, and what they wouldn't be able to do (access to alcohol, etc.). When the bus pulled into the Greyhound depot in Salt Lake, there was a *humongous* homecoming crowd for someone, with banners, balloons, signs, etc. 

When the large crowd began doing the wave, one of the men said to the other: "Look! They're bus worshippers!" 

[rongo]

16 hours ago, Rain said:

I did find 2 group openings more appropriate though. One was my oldest son's friend. He waited 9 months to get his call! Everyone was dying to know where he was going. Another one was a young man in our ward who lost his dad and then 5 years later his mom and the ward has really supported him through it all. 

You know, I think overall in this boy's case, it had some positives. We are a very close ward, and he and his mother have been very active with some challenges from his father and inactive sister. He really does consider the ward to be family (not just a trite cliche) and did want to share it with people he regards as family (a very broad tent and definition in his eyes). 

I was just hoping for it to be a special family experience as a family for them. His dad (very shy) was visibly uncomfortable with the spectacle. 

[rongo]

10 hours ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

And did people actually indulge him by attending? If someone were to ask me to travel to the church to watch him/her open a mission call, I'd roll my eyes secretly and politely decline.

Yes, a lot of people came to support him. Not going was kind of a tricky situation for me. There was some potential for offending some of his family if I wasn't there. I did tell them if they taped it it couldn't be in the chapel (and discouraged even considering the chapel as an option, because of the nature of call reveals).

Quote

I'm glad that, for now, these kinds of things just don't happen here.

Here's hoping that things stay that way always where you're at!

Edited December 1, 2017 by rongo

[rongo]

2 hours ago, rockpond said:

Just this morning I watched a homecoming video of the son of a friend who returned last night.  There were a couple dozen people at the airport, a professionally made banner, and someone shooting video from beginning to end.  The video was then edited, put to music, and posted in social media in under 12 hours.  While I have never seen a call-opening held in a church meetinghouse, I have seen videos of some with huge crowds gathered, big maps on the wall so everyone can make their guess, and tons of loving attention showered on the young man or woman. 

My parents said that a big thing (and problem) in the Poland Warsaw Mission when they were there were massive videos missionaries worked on at the end of their missions combining footage from their call reveal, down through their mission, and then "The End." They said it was really out-of-hand, and that the production values and "likability" of their videos eclipsed all else in importance. 

On its own, not necessarily a bad thing but I wonder if, for some, there is a bit of a let down when reality hits.

I think it's a much further-reaching problem than simply "for some." I think for most missionaries, they can't imagine having "mission memories" without a lot of social media play, a soundtrack, video editing, etc. It's the Facebook-ization of mission memories akin to Oceania's propaganda films in 1984. It's sad. And it leaves them with a warped remembrance shaped by the social media editing focus. I think many definitely compare the reality of their mission with the soundtracked, edited videos they have seen and are unhappy with their mission experience. 

[Duncan]

I had a companion who was more interested being on a mission rather than actually being a missionary, he had posters, books, "tracting pills", "power tools for missionaries" tapes, all this paraphernalia but actually getting him to talk to people and apply what he was listening to was another matter. I can see people taking more pictures than people they actually talk to 

[rongo]

3 minutes ago, Duncan said:

I had a companion who was more interested being on a mission rather than actually being a missionary, he had posters, books, "tracting pills", "power tools for missionaries" tapes, all this paraphernalia but actually getting him to talk to people and apply what he was listening to was another matter. I can see people taking more pictures than people they actually talk to 

Nail on the head. 

I think a big problem with *many* of our young people (not just a few here and there) is that their focus is "being on a mission," as you say, and not on fulfilling the mission. 

There is a crucial difference between the two, and we all know kids and people who liked the thought of being on a mission, but didn't like doing missionary work. Although they wouldn't mind having staged pictures of them doing missionary work to go in the portfolio . . .  

[Jeanne]

2 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

I like this homecoming video better.

They did a good job on that Homecoming video...!

[Calm]

3 hours ago, rongo said:

Lima, Peru. His very inactive and hostile dad speaks only Spanish, and the boy understands Spanish and will rapidly pick up speaking it, I believe. We are ecstatic about this, because it will be very good for his family. Based on my experience with him, I have no concerns about him not being able to hack it and coming home early. 

I was just disappointed in the spectacle of the production that he really wanted. 

His dad being inactive and hostile likely has a lot to do with it.

Being able to experience the massed support his production created probably helps him to balance the negativity of his father.

[rongo]

Ironically, this boy is able to go on a mission only because two missionaries years ago pre-paid money for their missions and came home after only a couple of months (this was before we moved into the ward). We have had a $10,000 surplus in the ward mission fund for the three years I have been here (the non-refundable money from those two missionaries), and when I called Salt Lake asking if they wanted to take the money out of the account, they were adamant that this money stay in the ward (it was then that they told me it stemmed from two early returnees). The family cannot afford a mission (and if any money at all were involved, the father would not allow it), and while the ward would pull together and pay for it monthly ($10, or $20, here and there from members), having this meant that he could go. His mother cried when I told her that generous members had covered it. I asked her to donate what they could ($50 a month, but no problem if they couldn't on certain months --- it wasn't dependent on it).