More Missionary Guidance

[The Nehor]

It is a minor thing but some may want to know. The Church released a series of communications this week on potential missionaries with conditions that may make Covid more likely to be dangerous. The guidance was to assess the risk and consider a local service mission from home or a normal full-time mission in an area where they could return home quickly if they became ill. The conditions are the ones currently believed to increase risk of complications (immunocompromised, respiratory problems, asthma, obesity, kidney issues, cardiac issues, liver issues).

They also said that those with moderate to severe asthma are automatically deferred and there are guidelines as to what that means.

They also sent out service guidelines for missionaries covering basic Covid protection when volunteering and providing service. Probably not much of a discussion but I know many have people they care about going on missions or currently serving.

 

[Jeanne]

Glad they are being cautious and considerate to those who may be less immune and still participate somehow.

[MustardSeed]

Tough.  Many missionaries who chose to serve 6+ months ago didn’t sign up for life threatening conditions and now they have to choose if they want to continue serving.  Pressure. How does one say no? 

[The Nehor]

27 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

Tough.  Many missionaries who chose to serve 6+ months ago didn’t sign up for life threatening conditions and now they have to choose if they want to continue serving.  Pressure. How does one say no? 

By having a modicum of independence and the ability to pray and get an answer and confidently follow it.

As to the actual process I believe Nancy Reagan covered it.

[MustardSeed]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

By having a modicum of independence and the ability to pray and get an answer and confidently follow it.

As to the actual process I believe Nancy Reagan covered it.

I don’t know many 19 year olds with the maturity to do that.  Some, but not many.  Not the kids in my life, anyway. 

[The Nehor]

6 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I don’t know many 19 year olds with the maturity to do that.  Some, but not many.  Not the kids in my life, anyway. 

I am also convinced that mission leadership is not generally going to apply undue pressure. 

[amo]

4 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

I am also convinced that mission leadership is not generally going to apply undue pressure. 

Mmm, not so sure about this. It took an Area 70's letter to stop the mission pres in our area from having formally allowed --letter and all... "his" missionaries to continue visiting homes, accepting dinner invitations, etc., right in the middle of the pandemics, since he--the mission pres-- thought he had been inspired to do so. 

It must've been a very humbling experience for this mission pres...

[CV75]

2 hours ago, amo said:

Mmm, not so sure about this. It took an Area 70's letter to stop the mission pres in our area from having formally allowed --letter and all... "his" missionaries to continue visiting homes, accepting dinner invitations, etc., right in the middle of the pandemics, since he--the mission pres-- thought he had been inspired to do so. 

It must've been a very humbling experience for this mission pres...

Sometimes it's wise for a president to share inspiration that affects virtually everyone (member and non-member) within his geographical jurisdiction with his priesthood leader as he decides whether or how to act on it.

[Scott Lloyd]

3 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

I don’t know many 19 year olds with the maturity to do that.  Some, but not many.  Not the kids in my life, anyway. 

Maybe they just need an opportunity like this to stimulate the growth of a backbone. 

[Scott Lloyd]

On 5/17/2020 at 2:29 PM, MustardSeed said:

I don’t know many 19 year olds with the maturity to do that.  Some, but not many.  Not the kids in my life, anyway. 

 

On 5/17/2020 at 5:56 PM, Scott Lloyd said:

Maybe they just need an opportunity like this to stimulate the growth of a backbone. 

So long as we are giving out anecdotal information here, I will go ahead and share mine. 
 

A young woman in our ward received her mission call just before all the pandemic stuff hit. Church meetings were canceled a week or two before she was scheduled to give her sacrament meeting talk. She went ahead and gave her talk via Facebook live streaming (I viewed a recording of it later). 
 

She was not permitted to go to the MTC where she had been scheduled; instead she underwent the online training at home. Then, she could not go to her assigned field of labor, and like thousands of other young sisters and elders, was in limbo for several weeks and had to choose whether to interrupt her mission or be temporarily (perhaps permanently) reassigned. She chose the latter and went to a mission closer to home. 
 

Through it all, she has had an incredibly positive attitude. During her weeks in limbo she periodically posted inspirational and spiritual thoughts on Facebook that edified me and I am sure many other followers. 
 

I spoke with her dad recently about how well she is bearing up. He said she was disappointed for a while but quickly overcame it. 
 

I am proud of her and the many other young missionaries who are similarly manifesting an attitude of consecration and service. God bless them all. 

[alter idem]

On 5/17/2020 at 11:59 AM, MustardSeed said:

Tough.  Many missionaries who chose to serve 6+ months ago didn’t sign up for life threatening conditions and now they have to choose if they want to continue serving.  Pressure. How does one say no? 

My daughter has been out just under 5 months,  she and other missionaries were asked to consult with their families and pray about whether to return home. She felt she should stay and it has been the right decision for her, but she said they had a lot of missionaries return home. From what she said,  there was no pressure to stay, as many did not; they went home. So I don't think this was a problem,  at least it wasn't in her mission.