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Missionaries Today Compared To Decades Ago

Missionaries Today Compared To Decades Ago

Name: Bro. Joe
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Comments: What about the missionaries, the way they act, look and proselyte is very different than it was when I was on my mission. I went out with a couple of them last night and I was amazed by the... Well immaturity and a lack of an ability to answer the investigator's questions. Granted this investigator wasn't typical because she knew the Bible well but still they could have done it differently... Not so child-like.

Ago Decades Compared Today Missionaries

Brother Joe maybe the missionaries aren't immature, maybe you are just getting older and it seems that way to you. They're just young men who are usually 19-20, if you're over 40 they will surely seem immature.

Missionaries Today Compared To Decades Ago Studies Doctrine Mormon

Immaturity marked the standard greenie in the mid 1980's when I served. Back then, one could see why the Church would want to raise the bar. However, back then, a good missionary could excel and had the freedom to tailor the message. The danger of course was that he could tailor the message and until he (or she) learned more, such a message might not actually be doctrinal or appropriate.

Today's missionaries seem much more polished in the basic message and they also do not seem to respond much to anything outside that message which gives them a robotic feel. So in my opinion there are some problems here.

Today, like back in the 80's, I don't think missionaries get any scripture training other than the verses needed to complete the lesson. Preach My Gospel is still pretty basic. Growing up in evangelical country (Texas), I already had a basic grasp of how to handle Bible-based gospel questions and objections when my call came but it still took about a year of bashing before I became confident enough to handle any type of question or objection.

Yes, I said bashing. There really is no better way to learn how to answer any objection. Of course for such to be effective, one must not be personally offended or attack personally and one must not be seduced by antiMormon messages which are always flawed but sometimes more subtlely so. Despite the fact that I constantly bashed (usually while tracting), I had a pretty successful mission by English-speaking standards. I participated directly in the making of about four dozen baptisms.

So I think it still depends on the missionary and their experiences. They are told to look for those who are ready and many of them do not therefore, take the time to experience tough situtations or study in order to handle them. Some will note questions and objections and come back with an answer, but I think they will stop seeing those who have many objections and move on to the next person.

Unfortunate really.

Ago Decades Compared Today Missionaries

I dislike the way missionaries preach these days. Sometime ago, I had them over for dinner and I was shocked when they told me the new manuals are just for reference and they can teach whatever they feel like. I see it as a big problem because we're having young men with limited knowledge about the Church and the doctrine. I understand we focus on the basics however it worries me the fact that we're only sharing these things and members are baptized to then find out about things like Black and the Priesthood, blood atonement and other sensitive topics discussed in the mature board in this forum. I'm not saying they should be scholars but they should know these things so they can answer correctly when people approach them with these concerns.

Ago Decades Compared Today Missionaries

I don't think such subjects should be brought up with new converts because they are meaningless in the overall scheme of things. Plus there never was a such thing as BY's "Blood Atonement" operative in the Church and the priesthood has been conferred upon blacks since 1978.

But yes, I do believe missionaries should be able to answer questions about them.

Rather off topic, but...
Do I really have to pay to be able to post on the mature board?

Message Edited...
Persephone: Please use the Offtopic Tags so that the Thread maintains the SAME subject matter and does not develop into another Topic. See Constructive Posting Policy.

Questions for LDS Mature should be addressed here: Source 9

Missionaries Today Compared To Decades Ago

Bscpace:

Meaningless according to who? I don't think so. I think it's very important for investigators to know everything about the Church specially the past so when they join and find out later on they're not disappointed.

Missionaries Today Compared Decades Ago

Meaningless in the overall scheme of things like I said. What BY said about Blood Atonement and the issue of blacks and the priesthood have no bearing on one's salvation.

I am not proposing that such information be hidden, but there is no need to create stumbling blocks where none exist. I don't have a problem with teaching in such a way that one is "inoculated" if such questions arise later. And I don't have a problem with answering directly such questions if they arise immediately.

Missionaries Today Compared Decades Ago Mormon Doctrine Studies

Bspace:

Ah..I'm surprised you resort to the infamous "has no bearing on one's salvation" or "it's not important for our salvation" line members seem to love to say when the issues are controversial. What you may consider no bearing, it may for others after all, there were doctrines in the past that were taught as necessary for Salvation.