Why I am GLAD I went on a MISSION....

[danboyle]

I went to France, 79-81, and spent most of my time knocking on doors. Lots of reading too. Being on a mission was like seeing the morg in a microcosm. All outside influences filtered out. No family, No friends, No school, No newspapers, No TV, No girls, No nothing...just the morg and it's teachings.

When you are trying to sell something, you learn a lot about what you are selling. I am sure I would know a lot less about the church had I stayed home, and gone through the motions of a TBM. The mission focuses your attention. I was too indoctrinated at the time, and brushed over anything controversial, but the questions remained unanswered.

Coming home was one of the happiest days of my life...FINISHED with the two year ordeal, now back to my real life..why didn't I act on those feelings and GET OUT of the morg? I had my questions buried deep, so going along with the program wasn't too hard...esp. when all friends and family are 100% in the church.

Being on a mission, reading the Bible and BoM over and over leads to many, many questions. Tracting and occasionally teaching, and even baptizing raises questions. Studying church history leads to many more questions. I don't think I would have looked at the church and its history so thoroughly had I not gone on a mission. It was like seeing mormonism in a microscope.

I was successful in putting the unanswered questions aside for several years, but when I hit my thirties, they all came rushing forward. I felt compelled to get answers, and for the first time in my life, I was going to accept the truth, no matter where it fell. If mormonism was true, great. IF it was false, I would accept that fact. For the first time in my life, I was not going to have the answer locked in before the question was asked. This may not sound like a big deal, but when you are raised 100% tbm, it was almost scary.

Yes, glad to have gone on a mission, it opened my eyes. Sad to have gone on a mission too. It sent me down a path that was based on lies. The church lied to us. It still does, only now it lies to my wife and kids...

[silverfox]

I went to France, 79-81, and spent most of my time knocking on doors. Lots of reading too. Being on a mission was like seeing the morg in a microcosm. All outside influences filtered out. No family, No friends, No school, No newspapers, No TV, No girls, No nothing...just the morg and it's teachings.

When you are trying to sell something, you learn a lot about what you are selling. I am sure I would know a lot less about the church had I stayed home, and gone through the motions of a TBM. The mission focuses your attention. I was too indoctrinated at the time, and brushed over anything controversial, but the questions remained unanswered.

Coming home was one of the happiest days of my life...FINISHED with the two year ordeal, now back to my real life..why didn't I act on those feelings and GET OUT of the morg? I had my questions buried deep, so going along with the program wasn't too hard...esp. when all friends and family are 100% in the church.

Being on a mission, reading the Bible and BoM over and over leads to many, many questions. Tracting and occasionally teaching, and even baptizing raises questions. Studying church history leads to many more questions. I don't think I would have looked at the church and its history so thoroughly had I not gone on a mission. It was like seeing mormonism in a microscope.

I was successful in putting the unanswered questions aside for several years, but when I hit my thirties, they all came rushing forward. I felt compelled to get answers, and for the first time in my life, I was going to accept the truth, no matter where it fell. If mormonism was true, great. IF it was false, I would accept that fact. For the first time in my life, I was not going to have the answer locked in before the question was asked. This may not sound like a big deal, but when you are raised 100% tbm, it was almost scary.

Yes, glad to have gone on a mission, it opened my eyes. Sad to have gone on a mission too. It sent me down a path that was based on lies. The church lied to us. It still does, only now it lies to my wife and kids...

I had a few debates with some young missionaries about a year ago. Hubby wanted our youngest DD baptized and we compromised. She could be baptized if she could take the lessons and I could be present. I had a lot of "two cents" worth of info to add to their lessons. Like if you believe in God and want to pray your prayers and communication with God is MORE important that the prophets. You don't have to believe that the prophet is the ONLY one with special communication with God. He is HUMAN and capable of making mistakes so you must be careful when heeding his advice.

One mishie was getting ready to be released from his mission. He asked me a few questions about where I had heard this or that. I gave him some links....most directly to official church sites (like the geneology one to show that Joe was married to women who WERE married to other men at the same time) I often have wondered if he ever did further research.

Oooooo. France! Ah la la!

[free thinker]

I went to France, 79-81, and spent most of my time knocking on doors. Lots of reading too. Being on a mission was like seeing the morg in a microcosm. All outside influences filtered out. No family, No friends, No school, No newspapers, No TV, No girls, No nothing...just the morg and it's teachings.

When you are trying to sell something, you learn a lot about what you are selling. I am sure I would know a lot less about the church had I stayed home, and gone through the motions of a TBM. The mission focuses your attention. I was too indoctrinated at the time, and brushed over anything controversial, but the questions remained unanswered.

Coming home was one of the happiest days of my life...FINISHED with the two year ordeal, now back to my real life..why didn't I act on those feelings and GET OUT of the morg? I had my questions buried deep, so going along with the program wasn't too hard...esp. when all friends and family are 100% in the church.

Being on a mission, reading the Bible and BoM over and over leads to many, many questions. Tracting and occasionally teaching, and even baptizing raises questions. Studying church history leads to many more questions. I don't think I would have looked at the church and its history so thoroughly had I not gone on a mission. It was like seeing mormonism in a microscope.

I was successful in putting the unanswered questions aside for several years, but when I hit my thirties, they all came rushing forward. I felt compelled to get answers, and for the first time in my life, I was going to accept the truth, no matter where it fell. If mormonism was true, great. IF it was false, I would accept that fact. For the first time in my life, I was not going to have the answer locked in before the question was asked. This may not sound like a big deal, but when you are raised 100% tbm, it was almost scary.

Yes, glad to have gone on a mission, it opened my eyes. Sad to have gone on a mission too. It sent me down a path that was based on lies. The church lied to us. It still does, only now it lies to my wife and kids...


I served in upstate New York, 1978-80, and came home feeling just as you did. I was too young, and could not recognize at the time what I was feeling. I was so glad that it was over, and I had made it through. I came home pretty depressed though. Had a lot of guilt etc. Can you imagine that? After all that service, and doing a great job, I was feeling guilty.

I have said this before, and now repeat it. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a sad and sick underbelly. There is something eerily wrong within it's bounds. I cannot put my finger on it, but something is wrong within it's bounds!

Free Thinker

[david]

When I got my mission call in 1979 to the Austria Vienna Mission, I thought I had won the lottery! Word was, it was a tough mission, but all I could think about was how wonderfully exotic and cool it would be. To learn a foreign language, to live in the land of truly great art, architecture, and history (favorite subjects of mine)--I couldn't believe my good luck!

Well.

In many ways it was indeed a dream come true. The land and the culture--my exterior world--were everything they are made out to be.

But my interior world was hell. The "comforts" of mormon doctrine did nothing to offset the reality of mission life, which is lonely, drudgerous, boring, and shallow. To be so disconnected from real life is like serving a prison sentence. And like danboyle said, seeing the church up front and so close did more damage than good.

Missionary work as we practiced it was pure arrogance. We had nothing to offer the people we spoke with, and I hated playing the role of salesman. Set against the backdrop of such authentic people and culture, the church seemed like a joke. Thus I often found myself fighting feelings of shame for what I was doing.

Cynical TBM's will say that I just didn't have a testimony. This is untrue. I had a testimony, but also an open mind. We're talking oil and water here.

The paradox of my mission is that it was a complete waste of two years, and yet without it, I may never have found my way out. I lost my testimony on my mission, and became inactive shortly thereafter. I guess the strategy of the authorities--to brainwash me during my formative years--backfired in my case.

PS I fell completely in love with architecture while in Vienna and went on to study the subject and become a practicing architect. I left the church AND found my career! Double bonus! Maybe I really did win the lottery...

[Born Free]

When I got my mission call in 1979 to the Austria Vienna Mission, I thought I had won the lottery! Word was, it was a tough mission, but all I could think about was how wonderfully exotic and cool it would be. To learn a foreign language, to live in the land of truly great art, architecture, and history (favorite subjects of mine)--I couldn't believe my good luck!

Well.

In many ways it was indeed a dream come true. The land and the culture--my exterior world--were everything they are made out to be.

The paradox of my mission is that it was a complete waste of two years, and yet without it, I may never have found my way out. I lost my testimony on my mission, and became inactive shortly thereafter. I guess the strategy of the authorities--to brainwash me during my formative years--backfired in my case.

PS I fell completely in love with architecture while in Vienna and went on to study the subject and become a practicing architect. I left the church AND found my career! Double bonus! Maybe I really did win the lottery...

Time well spent from the sound of it. What was Morphanism's loss was your and architecture's gain.

I have a part Jewish psycho-therapist friend who regularly attended international conferences there, who was stunned by the anti-semitism that was barely below the surface. I found that amazing when one considers how many famour Jews came out of Vienna.

He also delighted in visiting Freud's offices, where, as I recall he said, one waits in the historical waiting room until a guide is ready, when you are beckoned with "Mr Carroll, Dr Freud is now ready to see you!"

I can imagine how challenging tha culture must have been to a young American who was open to savour the experience and the culture (beyond the anti-semitism that is).

You could have stayed and become a "Mormon architect". One of my first acquaintences when I attended Church for the first time at 7 years of age, went on in later years to become one of the above sub-species.

When I looked at the MacTemple built here, I wonder how he can sleep at nights. Any self-respecting architect could not touch such a commission with a barge pole (IMHO). But within Moism, I am sure he has cudos.

BTW, what is the latest data on the percentage of RMs that depart the Church?

Daryl

[david]

Time well spent from the sound of it. What was Morphanism's loss was your and architecture's gain.

I have a part Jewish psycho-therapist friend who regularly attended international conferences there, who was stunned by the anti-semitism that was barely below the surface. I found that amazing when one considers how many famour Jews came out of Vienna.

He also delighted in visiting Freud's offices, where, as I recall he said, one waits in the historical waiting room until a guide is ready, when you are beckoned with "Mr Carroll, Dr Freud is now ready to see you!"

I can imagine how challenging tha culture must have been to a young American who was open to savour the experience and the culture (beyond the anti-semitism that is).

You could have stayed and become a "Mormon architect". One of my first acquaintences when I attended Church for the first time at 7 years of age, went on in later years to become one of the above sub-species.

When I looked at the MacTemple built here, I wonder how he can sleep at nights. Any self-respecting architect could not touch such a commission with a barge pole (IMHO). But within Moism, I am sure he has cudos.

BTW, what is the latest data on the percentage of RMs that depart the Church?

Daryl

Not to get off the topic of this thread (because I would love to hear other's evaluations of thier missions), but your words struck a chord with me. Mormon "architecture" is pathetic. The latest joke are these new McSteeples which are the kitchiest crap you can imagine.
When I was ready to graduate my annoying TBM uncle said he could use his connections to get me a job in SLC in the morg architecture office. I about split my gut laughing. Might as well just ditch the profession altogether than work there.

[pokyrecycler]

I served a mission in Oklahoma 1990 to 1992.

The two biggest lessons I learned on my mission:

1: The value of service. I learned to give of myself unconditonally. This was not always appreciated by my "superiors" because it interfered with the numbers game.

2: People outside of the Mormon church seemed happy (something I was surprised to see based on my morg training).... I will even say they seemed happier!