Talking to a co-worker about my mission...

[MikeWaters]

I was just a lowly senior companion, later topping out at DL. And I drove a toyota 4x4 pickup for a number of months.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I was just a lowly senior companion, later topping out at DL. And I drove a toyota 4x4 pickup for a number of months.

They kept me at DL for a year, apparently my leadership wasn't appreciated.

[CardiacCoug]

I made it to Zone Leader but there were no associated perks -- just more phone calls and paperwork.

Sooner Coug was AP for almost half his mission. How's that for damning evidence that such calls are not always divinely inspired?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by CardiacCoug

I made it to Zone Leader but there were no associated perks -- just more phone calls and paperwork.

Sooner Coug was AP for almost half his mission. How's that for damning evidence that such calls are not always divinely inspired?

well, at least being AP gave him plenty of time to make sure the pipes were clean.

[RedHeadGal]

Originally Posted by CardiacCoug

I have a female co-worker who has shown some interest in the Church. She came to our daughter's baby blessing last year and has read some of the Book of Mormon.

She was talking to me about my mission and saying what a great experience a mission must be -- how it would be really fun to get to travel, learn a new language and culture, etc.

I said, "Well, you're not really free to travel where you want. You just go where you're told and live there and do missionary work all day every day."

Her: "How do they know you're not traveling where you want instead of working?"

Me: "Well, you would have to convince your companion to break the rules. And you also have supervising Elders called District Leaders that you have to check in with and they keep track of the missionaries."

Her: "Are the District Leaders always boys or can they be girls?"

Me: "They're always Elders."

Her: "That's messed up. And the girls are two years older, right?"

Me: "That's right. Yeah, I guess it is kind of messed up. The Church is pretty sexist."

I'm an awesome member-missionary, huh? Are you guys impressed?

It's hard to answer these kinds of questions credibly without conceding the sex discrimination, which obviously begs the question of why you want to affiliate closely with an openly discriminatory organization (given that sex discrimination--unlike perhaps other kinds of discrimination--is not generally a position most Americans want to take). For me, I grew up in it, and although I reject much about it, I reconcile to myself that the greater good of the gospel message outweighs the problems I have with the sexist practices (I suppose a common view many people have had to take with the church over the years. . .). It's much harder for me to imagine embracing the gospel, however, as an adult, and having to get past the hurdle at the same time I was accepting the gospel.

[CardiacCoug]

Originally Posted by RedHeadGal

It's hard to answer these kinds of questions credibly without conceding the sex discrimination, which obviously begs the question of why you want to affiliate closely with an openly discriminatory organization (given that sex discrimination--unlike perhaps other kinds of discrimination--is not generally a position most Americans want to take). For me, I grew up in it, and although I reject much about it, I reconcile to myself that the greater good of the gospel message outweighs the problems I have with the sexist practices (I suppose a common view many people have had to take with the church over the years. . .). It's much harder for me to imagine embracing the gospel, however, as an adult, and having to get past the hurdle at the same time I was accepting the gospel.

Good post. I agree.

[SoonerCoug]

My last MP wanted to appoint some sister APs. I'm not sure if it ever happened, though.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

well, at least being AP gave him plenty of time to make sure the pipes were clean.

correct.

[splitbamboo]

Originally Posted by RedHeadGal

It's much harder for me to imagine embracing the gospel, however, as an adult, and having to get past the hurdle at the same time I was accepting the gospel.

I can see what you are saying. Anyone see the latest Ensign that highlights a woman convert from the DC area that is a high ranking CIA official? I was impressed with her story.