| Subject: | "RAISING THE BAR!": The 1st Presidency's new "Statement on Missionary Work" ....... |
| Date: | Feb 05 12:25 2003 |
| Author: | Rollo Tomasi |
| On December 11, 2002, the 1st Presidency sent out a letter to all
Church leaders from GA's down to bishops. Attached to that letter is a document entitled
"Statement on Missionary Work from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles" which is also dated December 11, 2002. The statement is broken down into
several parts and subparts, which are summarized (direct quotes used where possible)
below. This is NOT the entire text -- I just include the more interesting stuff: I. ELIGIBILITY FOR FULL-TIME MISSIONARY SERVICE: The intro to this part contains the following: "Bishops and stake presidents have the serious responsibility to identify worthy, qualified members who are spiritually, physically, and emotionally prepared for this sacred service and who can be recommended without reservation. Those individuals not able to meet the physical, mental, and emotional demands of full-time missionary work are honorably excused and should not be recommended. They may be called to serve in other rewarding capacities." A. Qualifications for Service: -Should read BofM before mission; spiritually prepared to "respond to whisperings of the Spirit." B. Moral Worthiness: -Those "guilty of fornication, heavy petting, other sexual perversions, drug abuse, serious violation of civil law, and other transgressions" must repent and be free of such activity for at least one year before getting the mission call. -Those "who have been promiscuous with several partners or who have been with one partner over an extended period of time in either a heterosexual or a homosexual relationship will not be considered for full-time missionary service." -Exceptions in unusual circumstances, but 1st Presidency must approve. C. Physical, Mental, and Emotional Stability: -if have significant emotional challenges or on medication, must be stabilized and found to be fully functional. -no unwarranted exceptions to this rule. D. Missionary Farewells Discontinued: -Sacrament meeting farewells and open houses discontinued. E. Missionary Homecomings: -discontinued -returning missionaries should give a talk that "build[s] faith and motivate[s] the youth to serve missions." II. HOW TO FIND INVESTIGATORS: Intro states: "Every honorable means should be used to find people who are willing to listen to the message of the Restoration." Stake presidents and bishops have responsibility and accountability for finding investigators for the missionaries to teach. Emphasis is on finding families. A. Missionary Work is Centered in the Ward: -"People who are experiencing significant changes in their lives -- such as births, deaths, or moving into new homes --are often open to learn more about the gospel and to make new friendships. For example, when meeting someone who has experienced a death of a little child, the missionaries could relate the teachings of Mormon and give comfort to the family. They could affirm to the investigators that they can be reunited with a deceased child." (ED. NOTE: this made me sick!) -"When missionaries are not working with members they should find people to teach through tracting and related means." -Investigators and new members need friend to come in the Church and stay active. (ED. NOTE: In other words, assign someone to be a friend) -"Leaders should cultivate in all members an awareness of their potential for bringing others to a knowledge of the truth." III. TEACH BY THE SPIRIT: Intro states that missionary discussions no longer "taught by rote presentation." Missionary can now use his own words as prompted by the Spirit and "not give a memorized recitation, but speak from the heart in his own terms." Can now mix up the order of the discussions. IV. BAPTIZING WORTHY CONVERTS: A. Preparing Investigators for Baptism: -"Investigators should live the principles of moral worthiness, the Word of Wisdom, and commit to pay tithing." -Must attend "several sacrament meetings" before baptism. -can be confirmed in any sacrament meeting soon after they are baptized. V. STRENGTHENING NEW AND LESS-ACTIVE MEMBERS: Intro, quoting GBH, states: "Every new member needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the good word of God." A. A Friend: -make sure a "friend" is present at important Church moments for new member. B. A Responsibility: -all new members "should be given a responsibility immediately after baptism appropriate to their capacity. That responsibility may appear small but the new member should be made to feel that it is important. Only as we serve do we grow." C. Nurturing with the Good Word of God: -new members get set of new member discussions. -"Bishoprics should give careful attention to sacrament meetings to see that the gospel is taught and the Spirit of the Lord is felt in the hearts and lives of the people." -Ward councils continue to coordinate fellowshipping of new converts. ************************* Well, that's it. None of it surprised me. Much of this has already been done for a long time. Just now it's in writing. Enjoy! |
| Subject: | Jump, boys, jump! |
| Date: | Feb 05 12:45 |
| Author: | Fly |
| Thanks for taking the time to post the letter. The Church's fleet of missionaries will begin to resemble ambulance-chasing vultures. Maybe the missionaries should just read the obituaries before they decide where they'll go tracting each day...! And it seems to me the new emphasis on "teaching from the heart" will put the onus of failure more squarely on the shoulders of the individual missionary. No converts? Well, ya must not have the Spirit, Elder. My advice to everyone on the board: BUY STOCK NOW in Zoloft. ; ) |
| Subject: | I hadn't thought of this. |
| Date: | Feb 05 12:51 |
| Author: | blabber |
| Fly wrote: > > And it seems to me the new emphasis on "teaching from the heart" will put the onus of failure more squarely on the shoulders of the individual missionary. No converts? Well, ya must not have the Spirit, Elder. Good point- |
| Subject: | Re: Jump, boys, jump! |
| Date: | Feb 05 12:59 |
| Author: | Secular Priest |
| Just had a Priesthood meeting in our ward where this was gone over
also. Primary children are going to be involved in missionary work in our Stake. They did
not say how except to involve primary children. I teach high school and have a nice young man about 16 years in my class who is LDS. He was working with another young lady today. She was bent over when I walked by and you could see bare skin and the cheeks of her ass. (Common at this school) My first thought was if I was 16 again I know I would never qualify for a mission with the girls in this class. My second thought was was more proper. If he is not affected by this (and I don't know if he was or was not) then this guy has problems big time. If you are a male 16 years of age and not affected by this I am not sure I want that person to be teaching me. Maybe the LDS Church is looking for young men who are not normal and have no normal drives! |
| Subject: | The guilt trip isn't new. |
| Date: | Feb 05 14:42 |
| Author: | Stray Mutt |
| It has always been blamed on the missionary. After all, the field is white and ready for the harvest and all you have to do is go out and gather the crop of converts. If you're not baptizing, even in hostile lands, you're just lazy or unrighteous. Are you still masturbating, Elder? |
| Subject: | I was told that it was the Spirit |
| Date: | Feb 05 13:41 |
| Author: | joan |
| that decided on who went on missions and where. It would appear that the church leaders have lost faith in the spirit's ability to get it right. |
| Subject: | I was especially amazed they specifically target those who lost a young child. Sick! nt |
| Subject: | Re: "RAISING THE BAR!": The 1st Presidency's new "Statement on Missionary Work" ....... |
| Date: | Feb 05 16:18 |
| Author: | Randy J. |
| The points in that letter that stood out to me were the orders to
discontinue missionary farewells and homecomings. I wonder if they did that because of a
high number of missionaries coming home early for various reasons. If an outgoing
missionary has a big farewell, brags about how much he's studied, how many he's going to
baptize, etc., but then comes home a few months later because of some transgression or
something, his early return would be widespread knowledge in his church community, and
embarrass him and the church. So maybe they're downplaying the event of missionaries
leaving and returning to minimize the demoralizing effect of lots of people finding out
about those who didn't finish their missions for whatever reason. My niece's oldest son left on a mission a couple of years ago. When I next saw my niece a few months later, I asked about her son, and her hubby told me rather embarrassingly, "Well, he had some unresolved conflicts, and he had to come back home." I wonder just how many others like that there are throughout the church. |
| Subject: | The "official" reason for discontinuing farewells and homecomings .... |
| Date: | Feb 05 16:33 |
| Author: | Rollo Tomasi |
| is, at least in Utah, they are getting out of hand -- so many Utah kids are going that nearly every sacrament meeting is dedicated to a missionary farewell or homecoming. A relative in Utah has confirmed this is true in her ward. Many Utahns are very happy with this change, although some will still go ahead and do an open house because that has nothing to do with sacrament meeting. |
| Subject: | Wow, that one part made me sick too! |
| Date: | Feb 05 16:48 |
| Author: | Dagny |
| >-"People who are experiencing significant changes in
their lives -- such as births, deaths, or moving into new homes --are often open to learn
more about the gospel and to make new friendships. For example, when meeting someone who
has experienced a death of a little child, the missionaries could relate the teachings of
Mormon and give comfort to the family. Translation: Circle around like a vulture looking for anyone in a vulnerable situation. Then, using emotion, go in for the kill. SICK SICK This is an admission, IMO, that people living a nice normal life with no vulnerable events happening are probably not interested in the church. Don't they wonder why?! |
| Subject: | -"People who are experiencing significant changes in their lives – |
| Date: | Feb 05 17:26 |
| Author: | TAK |
| The Quote “ For example, when meeting someone who has
experienced a death of a little child, the missionaries could relate the teachings of
Mormon and give comfort to the family. They could affirm to the investigators that they
can be reunited with a deceased child." This is a ploy of many cults to look for people who are emotionally and psychologically strained and who have their guard down, thereby making them more susceptible to believing things they might not otherwise believe. It’s a small wonder that given time people who do join wake up one morning and realize: What the hell was I thinking and just quit the Church. |
| Subject: | RAISING THE BAR[f]! |
| Date: | Feb 05 17:45 |
| Author: | Bert |
| “Those individuals not able to meet the physical, mental, and
emotional demands of full-time missionary work are honorably excused and should not be
recommended.” What happened to “every worthy male member should serve a mission”? Did the previous profits misunderstand the communication from on high? |
| Subject: | Re: "RAISING THE BAR!": The 1st Presidency's new "Statement on Missionary Work" ....... |
| Date: | Feb 05 19:10 |
| Author: | MikeB |
| Nothing really that new -- except for the no homecoming and
farewewells (thank God for that) -- those generally got me REALLY angry. As far as teaching by the spirit -- it constantly goes around in circles. When I went in 1984, the church was in the "follow the spirit" cycle (in the 70s they had to memorize everything). It looks like the church went from the "follow the spirit" in the 80's to "memorization" in the 90s back to "follow the spirit" in 2003. I noticed the same pattern on my mission -- Had to constantly try the next new thing that was going to really help increase baptisms. People involved in Sales understand this approach.....when you have a bad year, you change things and over the course of a few years, you're back to where you started..... |
| Subject: | IE"Take advantage while people are emotionally vulnerable"....Sick and wrong!! nt |
| Subject: | Follow the money |
| Date: | Feb 06 09:08 |
| Author: | anon |
| Could the real reason for raising the bar, and discontinuing
homecomings and farewells be that the church is trying to throttle back on the sales
force? I mean, it's a huge drain of money to staff missions all over the world, when most of the converts are financially poor, and fall away in a short time anyway. How long can the church continue to fund a sales force on the scale it does when there is no return on investment? About the only positive thing about missionary work, from a financial perspective, is that it weds the missionary to the church, and thus increases the likelihood that he will pay tithing throughout his life. And that's nothing to sneeze about, particularly if he becomes a business executive, dentist, doctor, lawyer, engineer, or accountant, as the Lord wants him to be. |
| Subject: | I kind of think this "raise the bar" stuff is a smoke screen too. |
| Date: | Feb 06 17:53 |
| Author: | Sobriquet |
| They have to know these extremely rigid requirements will disqualify
90 percent of teenaged boys in the church. The 10 percent that will qualify are probably
too weird and creepy and will only scare potential converts off. The GAs have to find a scapegoat for the implosion and Moism not selling, and unfortunately, these poor young men are going to be the primary casualties. This "new" policy just has abuse written all over it, IMO. |
| Subject: | Some thoughts on the almost schizoid policies of COB; here's why... |
| Date: | Feb 06 21:58 |
| Author: | Colonel Thomas Kane |
| this new policy and procedure memoranda demonstrates the Great
Divide between Mormonism, and the Mormon Church. The Colonel replies: Demographically, there will be a major shortfall in 19 year olds starting real soon; economically, fewer and fewer members of the Church's middle class American core can afford the luxury of two years service for their children. The First Presidency wrote: > A. Qualifications for Service: > > -Should read BofM before mission; spiritually prepared to "respond to whisperings of the Spirit." The Colonel replies: If they haven't read the BoM by NOW, they have no business being missionaries; it's obviously not a material matter, to COB. Incidentally, the only "whisperings of the Spirit" they will pay attention to are those of the Priesthood Chain of Command. The First Presidency wrote: > B. Moral Worthiness: > > -Those "guilty of fornication, heavy petting, other sexual perversions, drug abuse, serious violation of civil law, and other transgressions" must repent and be free of such activity for at least one year before getting the mission call. The Colonel replies: Only the Church places "heavy petting" - a term of art, to be sure - as morally equivalent to "drug ABUSE" - meaning, if the casual user has the "right connections," he has nothing to fear - and "serious violation of civil law" - another term of art, which apparently means, "if the police arrested you, and you were convicted/placed in an alternative sentencing program//placed on probation. That's right. "Heavy petting" is the moral equivalent of shooting up, and being convicted - AS A JUVENILE - of a "serious violation of civil law." The problem seems to be one of degree - with "fornication" standing before "heavy petting" as, say, a "serious violation of civil law" stands before "convicted of a felony," then the Church is saying, in effect, few will show up and qualify, anyway. And, if they do not receive The Call, they must be guilty of anything from "heavy petting" to something OJ would do. THAT'LL ruin your reputation around the ward. Well, you at least get a year to get it back.... Ha ha. The First Presidency wrote: > -Those "who have been promiscuous with several partners or who have been with one partner over an extended period of time in either a heterosexual or a homosexual relationship will not be considered for full-time missionary service." The Colonel replies: "Scarlet Letter," anyone? You can see the Operations Research guys in COB now; "One time each with eight girls, or eight times with one girl, or once with any boy. Yep, all looks the same to me. Let's run it by Boyd." The First Presidency wrote: > -Exceptions in unusual circumstances, but 1st Presidency must approve. > > C. Physical, Mental, and Emotional Stability: > > -if have significant emotional challenges or on medication, must be stabilized and found to be fully functional. > > -no unwarranted exceptions to this rule. The Colonel replies: As opposed to "warranted exceptions" to the rule; Mormon Royalty only need apply, we imagine. The First Presidency wrote: > D. Missionary Farewells Discontinued: > > -Sacrament meeting farewells and open houses discontinued. The Colonel replies: Again, we see the unique character of Wasatch provincialism. This can only be a problem in the Corridor. Outside, especially in remote areas, the one act that celebrates the fulfillment of this Mormon right of passage is removed. More folly. The First Presidency wrote: > E. Missionary Homecomings: > > -discontinued > > -returning missionaries should give a talk that "build[s] faith and motivate[s] the youth to serve missions." The Colonel replies: The last thing the salesman has to do is pump the territory to the newbies. The First Presidency wrote: > II. HOW TO FIND INVESTIGATORS: > > Intro states: "Every honorable means should be used to find people who are willing to listen to the message of the Restoration." > > Stake presidents and bishops have responsibility and accountability for finding investigators for the missionaries to teach. Emphasis is on finding families. The Colonel replies: Note that, "Stake presidents and bishops have responsibility and accountability for finding investigators for the missionaries to teach." In other words, you do the prescreening of the target market; the missionaries will go in and close the sale. We do not have enough missionaries to do that damn "door-to-door" nonsense that brought far too many welfare people into the Church. "Emphasis is on finding families." Translated, "too many damn welfare people, and people who can not contribute in a serious manner to this Church have been recruited; these people are net net negatives, and we can not afford to bring any more damn losers on board." The First Presidency wrote: > A. Missionary Work is Centered in the Ward: > > -"People who are experiencing significant changes in their lives -- such as births, deaths, or moving into new homes --are often open to learn more about the gospel and to make new friendships. For example, when meeting someone who has experienced a death of a little child, the missionaries could relate the teachings of Mormon and give comfort to the family. They could affirm to the investigators that they can be reunited with a deceased child." (ED. NOTE: this made me sick!) The Colonel replies: It is also a doomed tactic; you recruit when they are down, and when they get back up, they leave. The First Presidency wrote: > -"When missionaries are not working with members they should find people to teach through tracting and related means." The Colonel replies: This is the height of folly; what this says is, keep the missionaries busy doing SOMETHING, so they do not have time to question what they are doing, and why... The First Presidency wrote: > -Investigators and new members need friend to come in the Church and stay active. (ED. NOTE: In other words, assign someone to be a friend) The Colonel replies: Translated, "people soon realize all they are is a ticket punch to help the Real Mormons, the missionaries, look good in the eyes of COB. Nobody gives a damn about the new members, anyway. Hell, they're all welfare people, or flakes. If they were like us, they wouldn't need us." The First Presidency wrote: > -"Leaders should cultivate in all members an awareness of their potential for bringing others to a knowledge of the truth." The Colonel replies: translated, "For God's sake, introduce the missionaries to nice people like yourselves. Treat it like AMWAY!" The First Presidency wrote: > III. TEACH BY THE SPIRIT: > > Intro states that missionary discussions no longer "taught by rote presentation." Missionary can now use his own words as prompted by the Spirit and "not give a memorized recitation, but speak from the heart in his own terms." Can now mix up the order of the discussions. The Colonel replies: Translated" "Tailor the pitch to the buyer. One size did NOT fit all." The First Presidency wrote: > IV. BAPTIZING WORTHY CONVERTS: > > A. Preparing Investigators for Baptism: > > -"Investigators should live the principles of moral worthiness, the Word of Wisdom, and commit to pay tithing." > > -Must attend "several sacrament meetings" before baptism. > > -can be confirmed in any sacrament meeting soon after they are baptized. The Colonel replies: The days of "quickie baptisms" are over; look at what Oaks and Holland are discovering. We never needed these people in the first place. The First Presidency wrote: > V. STRENGTHENING NEW AND LESS-ACTIVE MEMBERS: > > Intro, quoting GBH, states: "Every new member needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the good word of God." > > A. A Friend: > > -make sure a "friend" is present at important Church moments for new member. > > B. A Responsibility: > > -all new members "should be given a responsibility immediately after baptism appropriate to their capacity. That responsibility may appear small but the new member should be made to feel that it is important. Only as we serve do we grow." > > C. Nurturing with the Good Word of God: > > -new members get set of new member discussions. > > -"Bishoprics should give careful attention to sacrament meetings to see that the gospel is taught and the Spirit of the Lord is felt in the hearts and lives of the people." > > -Ward councils continue to coordinate fellowshipping of new converts. > > ************************* The Colonel replies: Translated, the Bishops had better remember that each week, we are trying to recruit normal people, and cut back on all of that cult bullshit at Fast and Testimony meetings. No more of this talk about the Three Nephites being seen on his ranch getting out of a damn UFO!" Rollo Tomasi wrote: > Well, that's it. None of it surprised me. Much of this has already been done for a long time. Just now it's in writing. Enjoy! The Colonel replies: This distills the essence of the conflict between GBH's "mass over class" approach to recruitment, and Monson's anger at having to pay the bills for people who don't really want to be there, anyway. It does make a mockery of the TBM's who have been preaching about the importance of spreding the word of the Restoration to all, and baptizing all. The take-home message: (1) No more recruiting of flakes, and welfare people. (2) Recruiting is the duty of the bishop - closing is the duty of the missionary - customer satisfaction after the sale is the duty of the bishop. (3) Only sell to people who are net net positive - families are the best, as they can be mutually reinforced to support the Church. (4) Any "worthy young man" who does not go, on time, will be considered the moral equivalent of an IV drug user, whoremonger, and/or a homosexual. (5) Pretty silent on the topic of the sister missionaries, aren't they? Best wishes. |
| Subject: | #4 Strengthening the soul of the presidency |
| Date: | Feb 06 23:43 |
| Author: | justlikejellyrolls |
All candidates must be willing without doubt to rip out their soul and feed it to the presidency by hand. (Disclaimer: No hand to mouth contact) |
| Subject: | Hmmm, no mention of masturbation |
| Date: | Feb 07 00:43 |
| Author: | ink |
| Hell, even Dr. Laura thinks masturbation is healthy. I wonder if this is a Sign of Things to Come. (heh) |
| Subject: | No mention of sister missionaries? I wonder how they will doctor that one up!? |
Recovery from Mormonism - www.exmormon.org |