Quote:
Originally Posted by Tex
As I said, I think this is an extremely one-dimensional approach that the Brethren do not share.
Also, what evidence do we have that the bar is actually being lowered? Clarifying misunderstandings about the standard does not count.
I think that realization was already in place, and that's why the bar was raised in the first place.
I think you're conflating a budding testimony with transgression. To the first: no one is suggesting kids need to have the New Testament memorized to enter missionary service. They just need to be comfortable with the fundamentals of the gospel. Read Preach My Gospel. It's not rocket science in there.
To the second: everyone wants young people who have transgressed to repent and be made clean, they just don't want them undergoing that process while serving a full-time mission. DallasDan's comment is echoed by Ballard: "The day of the 'repent and go' missionary is over. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you, my young brothers? Some young men have the mistaken idea that they can be involved in sinful behavior and then repent when they’re 18 1/2 so they can go on their mission at 19."
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I had never known what the "Shocker" was until I was in the MTC. We had this missionary in my district who was from SLC and he was talking about past transgressions of him and others, and he described to us vividly how to perform it.