Missionary work in the USA is suffering - Page 2 - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

myboynoah · 01-03-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

My MP was from Idaho, btw. And I support his rule. And I was always frown when my wife schedules the missionaries for dinner.

Obviously my MP had that rule and I missed the ward Christmas Party (on Christmas) due to it, and instead went out tracting as it snowed. I kept expecting we would meet "the Golden Investigator." Didn't happen.

Sometimes I didn't use the best judgement as a missionary.

MikeWaters · 01-03-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrumNFeather

I agree that there is plenty of time wasted "camping," but it seems like a more effective way of enforcing something like this is to have the elders follow dinner up with a lesson (like they're doing in my ward now - the equivalent of the discussions) but make sure that they are limited to an hour for the whole thing or something. I'm just not sure it is a good thing to have a black and white policy on this kind of thing, when it is the only chance the missionaries have to build relationships with ward members and gain their trust.

The reason I don't have the missionaries over to teach an investigator, is because I don't have a friend who is an investigator.

I can't remember the last time I met someone who said "I'm looking for a church" or "I'm looking for a spiritual experience".

Bad times are going to come eventually. And then things will change.

Indy Coug · 01-03-2008, 08:40 PM

That's why we need Romney to get elected; so missionary work can get that needed boost.

MikeWaters · 01-03-2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

That's why we need Romney to get elected; so missionary work can get that needed boost.

We need a better social product to take advantage of peoples' interest.

DrumNFeather · 01-03-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

The reason I don't have the missionaries over to teach an investigator, is because I don't have a friend who is an investigator.

I can't remember the last time I met someone who said "I'm looking for a church" or "I'm looking for a spiritual experience".

Bad times are going to come eventually. And then things will change.

But if you did have a friend who was investigating and you were performing your "every member a missionary" duties, would you let the missionaries teach your friend if you didn't know the missionaries at all and hadn't interacted with them?

Indy Coug · 01-03-2008, 08:46 PM

The biggest problem IMO is that the church allows wards/branches to get too big. The sense of community and cooperation works better with smaller unit sizes. People just get lost in the crowd with larger units.

That said, the resulting large increase in the number of units from such a change would put an enormous strain on the church to build enough buildings to house them all.

Archaea · 01-03-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

The biggest problem IMO is that the church allows wards/branches to get too big. The sense of community and cooperation works better with smaller unit sizes. People just get lost in the crowd with larger units.

That said, the resulting large increase in the number of units from such a change would put an enormous strain on the church to build enough buildings to house them all.

Very good observations.

In Utah or perhaps Idaho, wards seem to function well as they tend to mirror the community at large.

Outside of those regions, I'm not certain they do.

How to maintain a good use of resources, while promoting a sense of community.

What is a reasonable expectation to have?

MikeWaters · 01-03-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrumNFeather

But if you did have a friend who was investigating and you were performing your "every member a missionary" duties, would you let the missionaries teach your friend if you didn't know the missionaries at all and hadn't interacted with them?

None of my friends live in my ward. So there is the whole ownership issue. Which missionaries would teach? Where would they attend?

It's a mess. Loosening up the rules would help fellowship a ton.

MikeWaters · 01-03-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

The biggest problem IMO is that the church allows wards/branches to get too big. The sense of community and cooperation works better with smaller unit sizes. People just get lost in the crowd with larger units.

That said, the resulting large increase in the number of units from such a change would put an enormous strain on the church to build enough buildings to house them all.

There is likely truth to this, but being in urban wards for the past 10 years or so, I've not experienced it. My stake is the same size as it was probably 15 years ago.

DrumNFeather · 01-03-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

None of my friends live in my ward. So there is the whole ownership issue. Which missionaries would teach? Where would they attend?

It's a mess. Loosening up the rules would help fellowship a ton.

Well, at that point you follow the spirit of the law...or you do your best with the opportunity the Lord has presented you. But I see your point.

01-03-2008, 08:40 PM	#13
Indy Coug Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Between Iraq and a hard place Posts: 7,569	That's why we need Romney to get elected; so missionary work can get that needed boost.

01-03-2008, 08:46 PM	#16
Indy Coug Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Between Iraq and a hard place Posts: 7,569	The biggest problem IMO is that the church allows wards/branches to get too big. The sense of community and cooperation works better with smaller unit sizes. People just get lost in the crowd with larger units. That said, the resulting large increase in the number of units from such a change would put an enormous strain on the church to build enough buildings to house them all.