What was your mission like??

[miss taken]

I read Alicia's comments (in the introduce yourself thread) with great interest, particularly her experience on her mission.

I wondered if anyone else had any experiences.

[shamdiel]

I have a nice faith promoting story.
When I went on a mission the mission home was the old Hotel Utah across the street from the Salt Lake Temple. The morning of our last full day, at the mission home, we were informed that we were being blessed with a very special treat. We were going across the street, to the temple, and would assemble in the uppermost room, called the Priesthood Assembly Hall, and there we would be blessed to have, the then President of the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith address us. Wow! I could hardly believe my luck. We would actually be in the same room with the Prophet!! We were told he would speak to us first and then we would be able to ask him questions.

He spoke to us about the usual stuff, the nature of our calling and the blessing it was to serve God as an ambassador for the church and the need to follow our mission presidents... And then we got to ask questions. I couldn't believe it!!! One missionary had the balls to stand and ask him if he had ever seen God, face to face, and what did he look like and what did he say? Holy cow ! The question I wanted to ask but knew that I wouldn't. To my surprise the Pres just started to stammer and stutter, "Well..uh; well....um. Uh... " Finally one of his counselors came up behind him and moved him to the side took the pulpit and said; "Some things are just to sacred for us too talk about. It wouldn't be appropriate for the Prophet to speak about these things..." Woo! That was a close one!!! (I'll bet he never did that again) I was relieved that he got some help on that one... I also filed it away in my file of unanswered questions that helped me leave the church, some years latter. The mission experience really made that file bulge!!
John :Crazy:

[miss taken]

Thanks John.

I guess my mission was both good and bad. Met lots of nice people.

Always hated that the elders got cars and we had to bus or walk it!!!!

Remembering how I felt then, I was pleased to be doing something that I believed in, but didn't always find mission life very easy.

I didn't like what was called the 'chip em and dip em' policy, the whole point seemed to be about numbers and getting people baptised, and no time to build relationships with them of any depth. I think the next MP tried to change that a bit.

Overall, I would say it was an enriching life experience, and very very hard work.

Paul H Dunn did come to our mission, and I remember all the missionaries fawning over him as if he was some God.

I can remember thinking, 'this man is too large for life, there is something up', so didn't want to be in the line up to shake his hand. Intuition isn't always right, but was on that occassion methinks!!!!
Mary

[Alicia]

Even though my mission was hard it was a rewarding experience and I am glad I did it. It hasn’t been until now that I actually look back on some of the things that happened as being not right in my eyes. Like focusing on baptisms and numbers instead of Christ and the people. From what I hear the mission president that followed mine focused a lot more on the Savior and loving the people.

On my mission I also worked for part of the day at the Visitor Center in Los Angeles, which was amazing. The director was great. I got to talk with people on a deep level who were from all over the world. I also taught in Spanish, which sent me to places (neighborhoods) and gave me experiences that I would never of had other wise.

To give the Elders and Mission President credit I felt respected towards the end of my mission but it was something I (and all of the sisters) had to work for. You were automatically considered lazy if you were a sister and doubly if you worked in the Visitor Center. I know that it is my own fault that I worried about what other’s were thinking of me. And I guess no matter what you do in the church or out there are going to be people judging.

I feel such a heavy burden released now that I don’t feel like any one has any authority over my moral life and my life after I die. I hope that doesn’t sound weird but I am having a hard time explaining.

Alicia

[miss taken]

Even though my mission was hard it was a rewarding experience and I am glad I did it. It hasn’t been until now that I actually look back on some of the things that happened as being not right in my eyes. Like focusing on baptisms and numbers instead of Christ and the people. From what I hear the mission president that followed mine focused a lot more on the Savior and loving the people.

On my mission I also worked for part of the day at the Visitor Center in Los Angeles, which was amazing. The director was great. I got to talk with people on a deep level who were from all over the world. I also taught in Spanish, which sent me to places (neighborhoods) and gave me experiences that I would never of had other wise.

To give the Elders and Mission President credit I felt respected towards the end of my mission but it was something I (and all of the sisters) had to work for. You were automatically considered lazy if you were a sister and doubly if you worked in the Visitor Center. I know that it is my own fault that I worried about what other’s were thinking of me. And I guess no matter what you do in the church or out there are going to be people judging.

I feel such a heavy burden released now that I don’t feel like any one has any authority over my moral life and my life after I die. I hope that doesn’t sound weird but I am having a hard time explaining.

Alicia

Thanks Alicia. I so agree with you on the burden being lifted with regard to others having moral authority over me. I also felt that the elders seemed to believe that the girls were only there because they 'couldn't get married' that seemed to be more of an American Cultural Value, as it wasn't something I had come across with the lads back here who were my age. Sigh!!

[Alicia]

Thanks Alicia. I so agree with you on the burden being lifted with regard to others having moral authority over me. I also felt that the elders seemed to believe that the girls were only there because they 'couldn't get married' that seemed to be more of an American Cultural Value, as it wasn't something I had come across with the lads back here who were my age. Sigh!!

Where are you from? Do you mind me asking? Alicia

[miss taken]

Where are you from? Do you mind me asking? Alicia

Will PM you Alicia
Mary

[silverfox]

I have a nice faith promoting story.
When I went on a mission the mission home was the old Hotel Utah across the street from the Salt Lake Temple. The morning of our last full day, at the mission home, we were informed that we were being blessed with a very special treat. We were going across the street, to the temple, and would assemble in the uppermost room, called the Priesthood Assembly Hall, and there we would be blessed to have, the then President of the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith address us. Wow! I could hardly believe my luck. We would actually be in the same room with the Prophet!! We were told he would speak to us first and then we would be able to ask him questions.

He spoke to us about the usual stuff, the nature of our calling and the blessing it was to serve God as an ambassador for the church and the need to follow our mission presidents... And then we got to ask questions. I couldn't believe it!!! One missionary had the balls to stand and ask him if he had ever seen God, face to face, and what did he look like and what did he say? Holy cow ! The question I wanted to ask but knew that I wouldn't. To my surprise the Pres just started to stammer and stutter, "Well..uh; well....um. Uh... " Finally one of his counselors came up behind him and moved him to the side took the pulpit and said; "Some things are just to sacred for us too talk about. It wouldn't be appropriate for the Prophet to speak about these things..." Woo! That was a close one!!! (I'll bet he never did that again) I was relieved that he got some help on that one... I also filed it away in my file of unanswered questions that helped me leave the church, some years latter. The mission experience really made that file bulge!!
John :Crazy:

This reminds me of Hinkley's infamous interview with Larry King. Larry asked him something about being a prophet and Hinkley's reply was, "Well that's what they call me" or "That's what I am called". I can't remember exactly. I will have to find the interview and post it. Why didn't he just say YES, I AM A PROPHET OF GOD.

After all he wants US to proclaim that he is prophet at ALL COST. Never be ashamed, right???

I just found the entire interview a huge disappointment. Why are members expected to react differently but not the PROPHET?

Okay back to the original thread.........

[shamdiel]

This reminds me of Hinkley's infamous interview with Larry King. Larry asked him something about being a prophet and Hinkley's reply was, "Well that's what they call me" or "That's what I am called". I can't remember exactly. I will have to find the interview and post it. Why didn't he just say YES, I AM A PROPHET OF GOD..

That is why this meeting with the "PROPHET" went into my 'That didn't make any Sense' folder, that I kept and keep, in my head. I studied the scriptures and Church history, alot, and I couldn't remember one incident where a Prophet refused to announce that he had seen God and what God had said. I was taught that that was what made them Prophets! I guess this must be some new kind of Prophet made for our modern day. Or maybe just some corporate figurehead taking advantage of the passion to believe of their naive members. :Crazy:

[miss taken]

That is why this meeting with the "PROPHET" went into my 'That didn't make any Sense' folder, that I kept and keep, in my head. I studied the scriptures and Church history, alot, and I couldn't remember one incident where a Prophet refused to announce that he had seen God and what God had said. I was taught that that was what made them Prophets! I guess this must be some new kind of Prophet made for our modern day. Or maybe just some corporate figurehead taking advantage of the passion to believe of their naive members. :Crazy:

Though I wouldn't dare to presume for any of the LDS prophets, I would imagine that most of them 'except' JS perhaps, live by an Urban Legend that the prophets recieve regular contacts with God/Jesus/the angels. This was certainly the 'urban myth' that was espoused when I was on my mission for instance. And many a time have I listened to a talk in church, in which the members espouse that the GA's are so close to God etc etc