A good article. The Atonement is there for all of us.
But help me understand, and I mean this sincerely, if anxiety, mental illness, etc? keeps you from serving a mission, how then can you go to school, work full time, get married, have kids with all the stresses that those things bring?
My mission was very hard at times, but not nearly as tough as the worry, work and challenge of raising children, adding to that career, church callings, financial, health and other stresses.
I hope everyone uses the Atonement and looks forward with faith and hope, but if you don't have the ability to handle a mission how can you handle the rest of life?
GrannyGailJune 9, 2014
There was a time in the church when elders were only allowed to serve for 18 months. The change came just as one of our sons was about to be released; elders with less than 6 months to serve were allowed to chose whether to stay for the full 2 years or come home early. Some of the missionaries were worried about how people would react if they chose to come home on the earlier date, but at this point, nobody knows who they were or when they came home and it isn't an issue. Missionaries with physical or mental health issues should be encouraged to take care of themselves and let the missionary effort fit in when or if it's possible. A parent who thinks an early release is a reflection on them need to address the needs of their missionary and not worry about their social standing.
ShawnJune 9, 2014
Good article. Unfortunately, Point #1 doesn't even apply to me. I had a mission call, had an MTC date, was worthy to go and still couldn't even make it to the MTC. Anxiety and mental illness killed my chances. Thankfully, an amazing young lady saw in me traits that a mission would only have amplified. We have been sealed almost 9 years and have 2 beautiful kids (so far). Don't worry about "culture". Like so many things in the gospel, it is what's "written in your heart" that counts.
KenJune 8, 2014
What do you have regarding an early returned missionary for anxiety problems wherein his mother who has chastized her son because he has caused her to be ridiculed (in what she perceives) in her social standing? Yes, this has happened and now the son has been cast away from home to live with his grandparents.
FairLucyRoseJune 6, 2014
Andy - thanks so much for this great article. I've never read anything else that relates to this subject, which is a shame because there are quite a lot of missionaries who need this reassurance. Thank you again.
KaraJune 6, 2014
Thank you Andy for these thoughts!!
Carolyn TaylorJune 5, 2014
Thank you Andy Proctor
This article is fantastic, no more than fantastic. I read it because I thought I might be able to encourage someone who has had to return home early from a mission for whatever reason. The concepts in this article are beautiful and could change anyone's attitude if they really let it. I think mission presidents should incorporate this or something close to this as reading material on the ride home for those released early. Maybe some version could be given to those who choose not to serve. Just had to say thank you. I have met your parents and they obviously did a good job with you. Blessings to you all.
AnonymousJune 5, 2014
Intense and well-written article - Thank you for your insight, courage, and encouragement
DavidJune 5, 2014
Thank you for a great article. Like it or not, there is tremendous social pressure for young people to serve a mission. President Monson recently affirmed that serving a mission is a "priesthood duty," President Benson was fond of saying "every young man should go on a mission," and many young ladies refuse to date a young man who didn't serve. There are many avenues for service - I wish the Church would offer alternatives for people who want to serve, but have difficulty facing a standard proselyting mission.
Renaissance NerdJune 5, 2014
I came home a month early, because they were having the presidential election in Chile and the Mission President didn't want any of us traveling while it was going on. It looked like it would be a pretty boisterous, possibly violent election. So of the six that were to go home that October, three were sent home a month early, and three a month late. We weren't given a choice, because we all six would've chosen to stay an extra month. It never occurred to me to feel bad about it (other than the disappointment of the moment I was told I had to go home early) until I casually mentioned it and somebody reacted like I had the plague. After I explained he apologized, but it didn't induce me to stop mentioning I came home early. I'll try to accommodate cultural Mormons to a degree, but I don't really care to put too much effort into it. There are cultural Mormons and there are converts, and though I was born in the covenant I'm one of the latter. I'll bow to culture in matters of fashion (curse ye, neckties!) but in matters of more weight, truth belongs to God, and culture belongs to man. If I have to choose between, culture is going to lose.
DianeJune 5, 2014
As a young woman, I was encouraged to get married instead of going on a mission. Today, I serve as a missionary in the technical department of the Church. This mission does not require me to quit my job or even leave home -- I do much of it from my bedroom. Service missions are available to all members of the church, even those who are not able to serve full-time missions for whatever reason. God needs all of us to minister to others.
LeAnnJune 5, 2014
Thank you. Your article was an answer to prayer. Many thanks for the great insight and inspiration.
leahJune 5, 2014
Thank you.
We live in an area with lots of Mormons, big wards full of wonderful faithful youth - not in Ut or ID. My daughter is graduating from HS and does not want to go to BYU, does not want to serve a mission. In the "culture", people wonder what's wrong with her. If she is smart and worthy, she should do one of those two things, right? I don't really understand her choice either!, but I would defend "to the death" her right to find her own path. I'm not worried about the opinions based on gospel "culture" only the gospel of Jesus Christ. :)
and BTW, I get so tired of "culture" based talks in SacMtg. I wish speakers would actually read the scriptures and some footnotes, especially when the foot note clarifies.
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Brett AllenJune 11, 2014
A good article. The Atonement is there for all of us. But help me understand, and I mean this sincerely, if anxiety, mental illness, etc? keeps you from serving a mission, how then can you go to school, work full time, get married, have kids with all the stresses that those things bring? My mission was very hard at times, but not nearly as tough as the worry, work and challenge of raising children, adding to that career, church callings, financial, health and other stresses. I hope everyone uses the Atonement and looks forward with faith and hope, but if you don't have the ability to handle a mission how can you handle the rest of life?
GrannyGailJune 9, 2014
There was a time in the church when elders were only allowed to serve for 18 months. The change came just as one of our sons was about to be released; elders with less than 6 months to serve were allowed to chose whether to stay for the full 2 years or come home early. Some of the missionaries were worried about how people would react if they chose to come home on the earlier date, but at this point, nobody knows who they were or when they came home and it isn't an issue. Missionaries with physical or mental health issues should be encouraged to take care of themselves and let the missionary effort fit in when or if it's possible. A parent who thinks an early release is a reflection on them need to address the needs of their missionary and not worry about their social standing.
ShawnJune 9, 2014
Good article. Unfortunately, Point #1 doesn't even apply to me. I had a mission call, had an MTC date, was worthy to go and still couldn't even make it to the MTC. Anxiety and mental illness killed my chances. Thankfully, an amazing young lady saw in me traits that a mission would only have amplified. We have been sealed almost 9 years and have 2 beautiful kids (so far). Don't worry about "culture". Like so many things in the gospel, it is what's "written in your heart" that counts.
KenJune 8, 2014
What do you have regarding an early returned missionary for anxiety problems wherein his mother who has chastized her son because he has caused her to be ridiculed (in what she perceives) in her social standing? Yes, this has happened and now the son has been cast away from home to live with his grandparents.
FairLucyRoseJune 6, 2014
Andy - thanks so much for this great article. I've never read anything else that relates to this subject, which is a shame because there are quite a lot of missionaries who need this reassurance. Thank you again.
KaraJune 6, 2014
Thank you Andy for these thoughts!!
Carolyn TaylorJune 5, 2014
Thank you Andy Proctor This article is fantastic, no more than fantastic. I read it because I thought I might be able to encourage someone who has had to return home early from a mission for whatever reason. The concepts in this article are beautiful and could change anyone's attitude if they really let it. I think mission presidents should incorporate this or something close to this as reading material on the ride home for those released early. Maybe some version could be given to those who choose not to serve. Just had to say thank you. I have met your parents and they obviously did a good job with you. Blessings to you all.
AnonymousJune 5, 2014
Intense and well-written article - Thank you for your insight, courage, and encouragement
DavidJune 5, 2014
Thank you for a great article. Like it or not, there is tremendous social pressure for young people to serve a mission. President Monson recently affirmed that serving a mission is a "priesthood duty," President Benson was fond of saying "every young man should go on a mission," and many young ladies refuse to date a young man who didn't serve. There are many avenues for service - I wish the Church would offer alternatives for people who want to serve, but have difficulty facing a standard proselyting mission.
Renaissance NerdJune 5, 2014
I came home a month early, because they were having the presidential election in Chile and the Mission President didn't want any of us traveling while it was going on. It looked like it would be a pretty boisterous, possibly violent election. So of the six that were to go home that October, three were sent home a month early, and three a month late. We weren't given a choice, because we all six would've chosen to stay an extra month. It never occurred to me to feel bad about it (other than the disappointment of the moment I was told I had to go home early) until I casually mentioned it and somebody reacted like I had the plague. After I explained he apologized, but it didn't induce me to stop mentioning I came home early. I'll try to accommodate cultural Mormons to a degree, but I don't really care to put too much effort into it. There are cultural Mormons and there are converts, and though I was born in the covenant I'm one of the latter. I'll bow to culture in matters of fashion (curse ye, neckties!) but in matters of more weight, truth belongs to God, and culture belongs to man. If I have to choose between, culture is going to lose.
DianeJune 5, 2014
As a young woman, I was encouraged to get married instead of going on a mission. Today, I serve as a missionary in the technical department of the Church. This mission does not require me to quit my job or even leave home -- I do much of it from my bedroom. Service missions are available to all members of the church, even those who are not able to serve full-time missions for whatever reason. God needs all of us to minister to others.
LeAnnJune 5, 2014
Thank you. Your article was an answer to prayer. Many thanks for the great insight and inspiration.
leahJune 5, 2014
Thank you. We live in an area with lots of Mormons, big wards full of wonderful faithful youth - not in Ut or ID. My daughter is graduating from HS and does not want to go to BYU, does not want to serve a mission. In the "culture", people wonder what's wrong with her. If she is smart and worthy, she should do one of those two things, right? I don't really understand her choice either!, but I would defend "to the death" her right to find her own path. I'm not worried about the opinions based on gospel "culture" only the gospel of Jesus Christ. :) and BTW, I get so tired of "culture" based talks in SacMtg. I wish speakers would actually read the scriptures and some footnotes, especially when the foot note clarifies.
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