The Missionary

The typical day of a Missionary is demanding and does not include activities someone might expect for a young man age 19-25. According to an interview with Elder Johnson, missionaries arise at 6:30 to pray and prepare for the day. They get an hour to exercise and have breakfast then begin personal scripture study.  After an hour of personal study missionaries meet with their companion to continue studying and prepare to teach investigators.  From 10am until 9pm Missionaries fulfill their main mission responsibilities.  They teach investigators, visit sick members, knock on doors, give service hours at food pantries, parks, nursing homes etc. and seek opportunities to bring joy to all people.  During the day missionaries have an hour for lunch and additional study as well as an hour for dinner, usually hosted by a member.  By 9pm missionaries return to their living quarters, to write in their journals, send letters to loved ones, prepare for the next day’s activities, and retire to bed by 10:30.

The role of a missionary in making the world a more sustainable, more joyous and, better place primarily comes in those hard working hours between 10am and 9pm every day.  The tireless work of young men who volunteer, visit the sick, teach the gospel, and dedicate their day to other people makes a real difference in the quality of for millions of lives.

Missionaries explain true principals of the gospel of Jesus Christ which teach individuals who hear and act upon them to live with more joy in their lives.  The work of missionaries helps bring about a revitalization of moral values.  Their teachings promote a community with less destructive behavior, less aggression and less greed.  As a representative of Christ 24/7 missionaries are an example of what it means to be morally clean.  Some of those principals they teach are to “impart substance unto the poor, be honest in your dealings with other men, be charitable to all people, be responsible for those dependent upon you especially family, remain chaste, and develop talents which will benefit all men.”(Gospel Principals) If we had more business men on Wall Street and Main Street who were honest, charitable and true to their word the state of our economy and plight of the poor man would be in a much better place.  Teaching and leading by example these young men show people that true happiness comes through the gospel.

Missionaries are people who assist individuals in discovering questions of the soul, and second challenging those same individuals to seek the answers.  They offer possible answers, or rather teach what conclusions they and other people have come to through stories of their experiences and through books like scriptures respectively.  The only way to gain a testimony of something is to seek the answers for yourself with genuine curiosity, then ponder, read and study.  However, it isn’t always easy to figure out how to go about studying deep questions out on your own. Without missionaries many fewer people would give up on their pursuit for truth and understanding.  They have pondered and studied and found such great joy in the answers that they want to share their knowledge with other people.

In order to prepare for a mission I will need to study, complete necessary paperwork and interviews, evaluate costs, and learn the rules associated with life in the field.   Missionaries are to be well versed in the scriptures and use a book called “Preach My Gospel” to direct their studies in a direction that will be beneficial to the work they will be doing each day.  Because missionaries spend most of their time teaching people about the messages contained in these books it is imperative that prior to and during a mission daily diligent study takes place.  As I prepare to go on a mission I will be focusing on the plain and simple truths contained in the pages of the standard works.  Understanding their messages will allow me to teach with more clarity and be able to answer questions from investigators.  Local mission leader Dan Rino stated that “Young men who come on their missions with good study habits, and a love for the scriptures set themselves up to succeed in their calling.”  While on a mission young men are expected remain obedient to the rules as outlined in the Missionary Handbook.  Items such as no alcohol or drugs, no coarse language, proper dress and grooming, no dating, no entertainment unrelated to the church, have a cheerful attitude and follow schedules as outlined appear in the Handbook.  (Missionary handbook)  Other rules address how to spend money, travel, recreation, safety, and methods of communication.  Familiarizing myself with these rules and following those which are currently applicable will allow me to start being a good example today, and prepare for a mission in the years to come.

The success of a missionary is broad and largely depends on his obedience in his calling. Generally success is defined as making a positive difference in the community which a missionary serves and challenging individuals to seek answers to questions of the soul.  While there is no formal measuring stick to determine whether a young man has been successful and it is impossible to compare any two missionaries, those who follow the rules outlined in the Missionary Handbook, and take advantage of every opportunity to serve find the most satisfaction on their missions.  President Thomas S. Monson commented in a 2002 Talk with Mission Presidents that the most successful missionaries have a good relationship with their leaders, work with current members of the church to find potential investigators, and understand that they have “the answers to man’s search for happiness.” (Monson)  Each missionary is responsible for his own success.  The potential for doing good is boundless and diligence is key to serving worthily in the calling of a missionary.

After a mission young men return to work or school, but their compassion for all peoples of the earth, and dedication to service never cease.  The transition from daily routines and singular purpose can be challenging for returned missionaries, however the mission never really ends.  There is always work to be done, and millions of people gain strength when missionaries share their experiences in church meetings.  Having an ingrained work ethic and practiced communication skills missionaries enter the work force prepared to be quality assets of their companies.  A mission is a life changing experience for anyone, and is the best thing a young man can be doing with the vigor of his youth.

 

References

Gospel Principals, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2004, Salt Lake City.

Elder Johnson, interviewee, Current missionary in the Madison area

Dan Rino, interviewee, Local Mission leader

Missionary Handbook, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2006, Salt Lake City

Monson, T.   www.ldschurchnews.com, “The Three M’s of successful Missionary Work” July 6, 2002.

Ask Questions

What is the meaning of life? What is justice?  Does anything I do matter?  Why even try?  Does God exist? Does it matter if he does?  Am I just some result of evolution here by random for 75-80 years, then gone, an instant? Is this the Matrix? Why are some people happier than others?  Why are their income disparities?  Why do I feel guilty sometimes?  Why do people suffer?  Why are there so many different Religions?  Who am I? Will the world ever cease to exist?  What happens in 2012? What happens when I die? How did I get here? What‘s in the center of a black hole?  Why should you listen to anything I’m saying?

Maybe you have answers to those questions maybe some of them you struggle with yourself, Maybe you don’t care.  I certainly don’t have an answer to most of them.  But I have engaged with them.

I’m suggesting the world would be better place if more people thought about deep questions; if more people stayed up late into the night pondering these mysteries.  This mostly because when you engage with those deep questions you come out a better person.  You think before you act, you find a purpose in your actions; you realize you are living for something and that you represent something.  You matter and everything you do matters.

Project Introduction

The case for missionaries

Maybe you’ve seen pairs of young men dressed in black suits adorned with name tags reading, “Elder So and So, The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”  If they’ve never knocked on your door, or you haven’t bothered to talk them on the street, maybe you are curious what 52,000 of these young men are up to.  Quite simply, they are out to teach everyone how to have “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.” (D&C 59:23)  Missionaries aged 19-25 from around the world are assigned to areas in 162 nations where their influence is needed most, and at a time in history when the message of the Gospel is desperately needed.  Their dedication and diligence betters the lives of unnumbered people every day, making a real and positive difference to the levels of love and happiness in the world.  To make the world a better place I intend to become a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  If the purpose of sustainability is to maintain or improve the satisfaction we feel in life, then the goal of sustainable practices is to continue to be filled with happiness.  There is no greater way to increase joy than to spread the pure love of Christ.

There is no question that missionaries are needed.  The world has seen a degradation of moral values, false teachings, deceptive philosophies, increases in pride, greed, selfishness, and lust.    Over 17million American adults suffer from clinical depression each year.  Eating disorders rage among both men and women.  Addiction to drugs, alcohol, pornography, and temporal pleasures destroy relationships.  41% of first and 60% of second marriages end in divorce.  (Enrichment journal) Contemporary moral beliefs argue that it is up to the individual to decide what is right and what is wrong causing a disassociation with true principals of virtue. Furthermore, as society distances itself from God and harkens unto temporal pleasures it finds happiness only temporarily.  Money, cars, and things never were joy.  This principal is demonstrated by statistical data gathered by Gallup, showing that over the past 60 years the level of happiness felt by Americans has remained stable while GDP has grown from $300 billion to $14.5 trillion in the same time frame. (Figure 1) presumable people with $14 trillion worth of more stuff each year would be more satisfied with life; however this is apparently not the case. Another Gallup poll show that individuals who regularly attend church have more satisfaction with life that those who rarely or never attend. (Figure 2)  While maybe not a concrete correlation there is certainly some intuitive sense to the proposal that happiness isn’t linked to money.  True and lasting happiness, pure joy, can only come from a testimony in Jesus Christ.  That testimony replaces pride with charity, addiction with self-control, and humbles men to not lust but enjoy what they have.  It values relationships above pocketbooks.  The purpose of a missionary is to aid people in finding exceeding joy.

Missionaries offer a great service to society. Nearly all of the 52,000 current missionaries will serve for two years starting at the age of nineteen. Upon returning from that mission they will integrate back into the life of their non-missionary peers, attending classes, trade schools, taking jobs and starting families.  One of the criticisms of missionary work is the concept of opportunity cost from economics.  Rather than have this massive population of young men preaching teaching and serving for two years, it’s possible they could be receiving an education or producing.  I have already addressed the latter part of this argument in suggesting that economic prosperity doesn’t equal happiness and suggesting that little could bring more value to the world than directly increasing the joy in even one person’s life.  Speaking to returned missionaries about their experience and accomplishments compared to peers who have not been on a mission there was little doubt that a mission sets a young man up for success.  Brandon, who has been back from his mission for over two years, said that had he just stayed in school he would probably be finishing up medical school by now and getting ready for a career maybe starting a family.  Instead he is finishing up an undergrad, married without children, and full of priceless experiences from dedicating two years to spreading the gospel.  Brandon commented that going on a mission made him a better student, established study habits, and gave him a better perspective on why school was important.  Elder Paventy, another return missionary, said, “In high school you were looking for your comfort zone. But I’ve found that on my mission I’m looking to get out of my comfort zone. I’m always searching for ways to do something more.”  It is precisely that attitude that creates people who are of the most value to society.  In fact the numbers on employers who hire returned missionaries are equal compared to their peers who used those years to advance their education and careers.  In addition it seems like every year articles appear in national papers admiring the elite graduates that come out of BYU programs despite the small town and un-famed name. (BYU is a church affiliated University that many returned missionaries attend for schooling).  Missionaries set themselves up for success and become highly productive members of society after their missions due to good habits established while in the field. (Business week)

The work of a missionary directly improves the lives of those people he comes in contact with.  There millions of people on the planet who are searching for answers to questions such as; where did I come from? What is my purpose in life?  Where will I go when I die?  In talking to recent converts to the church I have found that as individuals seek answers to these questions their lives are enriched, finding greater peace and comfort.  Robin commented that it has been tough explaining to her family her choice to join the Church, but the blessings from the Church community and a greater understanding of the scriptures have given her happiness far exceeding the pain.    Kristen who joined the Church one year ago said the opportunities that she has had since receiving the gospel have been innumerable. She now volunteers at food pantries, visits elderly and organizes service projects across Madison.  Beyond increasing an individual’s personal satisfaction churches also provide a venue to meet likeminded people and create a support structure for dealing with the challenges of life.  Kalie Peterson, a life time member, commented “there is no way we could do it all on our own, I attend church because learning together and fellowshipping with others makes everyone feel loved and supported.”  Missionaries by no means completely answer any of the aforementioned questions of the soul; rather they serve as a means to light a fire in the heart of men, and a desire to understand the nature of God.

If we want a better world, a place with kinder words, helping hands, satisfaction, hard work, peace and comfort, missionary work is an excellent way to get there.  There are serious problems with the state of moral values today which the Gospel can correct. Loneliness and discomfort can be cured by missionaries.  They can guide individuals into finding answers to their deepest questions.  Missionary work is the not a panacea for these problems but it is certainly a good start and more missionaries will only serve to meet the needs of the billions of people who desire to have more joy in their lives.

Why Mormon Missions Produce Leaders

Lds.org – Various resources

Mormon.org- Various resources

Why Mormon Missions Produce Leaders, Winter C., June 2011, Business Week, Businessweek.com

Divorce Statistics, Divorcestatistics.org, cited from Enrichment Journal.

Doctrine and Covenants, Chapter 59, Smith Joseph, August 7, 1831.

Kristen Lempp, interviewee, resident of Madison WI and recent convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Robin, interviewee, resident of Madison WI and recent convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Brandon Martin, interviewee, returned missionary and Member of The Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints.

Figure 1 / Figure 2

Project Proposal

One year ago this October 1^st
I was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints.  Since investigating the church
and searching my soul for some of life’s most profound insights I have become a
better person.  I have been kept from the
temptations of Alcohol, drugs, sex, pride, and lust.  I have grown in charity, purified my heart
and set a straight path towards righteousness.
I am by no means a perfect person and often falter from what I know is
right, however were it not for the church and my testimony I would not be
nearly as confident, loving or wholesome.
Surely there is something to be said about the impact my decision to
harken unto the words of the gospel has had on the world.  Humble members of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints strive to provide for the spiritual and temporal needs of
the world through a number of Church programs and services.   Some
of these include the church welfare system, disaster relief efforts, addiction
recovery, and the missionary program.
These programs directly make the world a better place by improving the
lives of individuals who could not do so for themselves.  In order to make the world a better place I
will become a missionary for the Church.

We are surrounded by people who are
searching for a purpose in life.  These
people have families whom they love and want to be happy and healthy.  They want a sense of belonging and to know
that their life is valuable.  Everyone
desires to know the answers to questions such as; where did I come from? What
is my purpose in life?  Where will I go when
I die?   Missionaries help people to find
answers to these questions and comfort in the Lord.  There is no greater charge to a missionary
than to help people receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus
Christ.  The world will be a better place
as more people find peace in this world and discover the knowledge that lies
within the gospel.  As the word increases
with the pure love and light of Christ, all men will feel the kind touch of
charity.

In order to go on a mission there
are a number of things which I must do to prepare, both logistically and
spiritually.  It is a process that can
take years and thus has frequently been on my mind.  A missionary must be prepared to devote two
years of his life to the work of the lord.
He must be able to preach the gospel with authority, understand the
message of the Restoration, be faithful, diligent, obedient, and humble.  There is much studying, prayer, and work with
church leaders that must be done before I am ready to go on a mission.  As part of this project I will interview
church leadership, current missionaries, former missionaries, and individuals
who have been touched by the work of missionaries.  I will also interview people who have not met
with missionaries to find determine their perspective on how missionaries may
or may not be improving the world.
Besides researching the impact that missionaries have on the world I will
research what it takes to become a missionary, costs, time commitments, rules
and regulations associated, pre-mission preparation, and post mission
life.  Ultimately I want to determine
what makes a mission successful and how to measure the success of a mission.

Because I cannot
feasibly go on a mission and report on the effort’s success by semesters end I will
be reporting on the typical experience and impact of a church missionary.  It will be difficult to measure how the
quality of life has improved and the world has become a better place but I hope
to show qualitatively the impact a missionary can have on individuals and
superimpose those results on to the population.
Along with positive effects of a mission I will research negative
effects on individuals and society.   I
will attempt to determine the costs to society of having thousands of young men
in the field rather than working or going to school.  Through this project I hope to demonstrate how
missionaries have a positive impact on society and individuals.

alexkraft