Missionary work in the USA is suffering

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by marsupial

The smartest and hottest elders with the best personalities get sent to the Paris France Mission. Just ask danimal.

And Mitt, too!

They were some really great guys, even those not from the U.S. The British were the funniest and the Portuguese were the best footballers. The Americans, well they were Americans, and for the most part, sharp guys.

[minn_stat]

Originally Posted by Archaea

As far as cause and effect are concerned, I know too little to reach you the point Mike is with his suspicions.

As to the factual observations however, I agree that the wards probably don't function as well as they may have. Part of the problem there is the membership and part is the structure. I don't have an alternative structure or insights to add, as the problem seems unwieldy.

We're not as connected in the ward fabric as we once were. Are we the problem? Perhaps in part. Has society changed enough while the ward structure has not? Probably.

What are the solutions?

Solutions? Do your part. My wife and I have a "pseudo-goal" to once a month invite over established friends for dinner, games, BBQ, take our kids to the lake, whatever. And once a month invite someone new over for the same - new move-ins in the ward/neighborhood, ward members/neighbors who we'd like to get to know better/who seem to need friends, co-workers, families of our kids' friends, etc. In November, we had a couple over who had spent a month last summer in Bosnia, helping people restore/create photographic records that had been damaged during the conflict. The group they were with was sponsored by their church, and we talked about our missions as well. Very enjoyable, didn't ask them to listen to the missionaries, but they now know more about the church and (hopefully) have a more positive impression than they did before.

This probably wouldn't work for everyone, but the bottom line is, how much effort do you make to create a better ward? Just do a little something.

'Course, my involvement in these matters has probably just reconfirmed our neighbors preconceived notions of the weirdness of mormons.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by minn_stat

Solutions? Do your part. My wife and I have a "pseudo-goal" to once a month invite over established friends for dinner, games, BBQ, take our kids to the lake, whatever. And once a month invite someone new over for the same - new move-ins in the ward/neighborhood, ward members/neighbors who we'd like to get to know better/who seem to need friends, co-workers, families of our kids' friends, etc. In November, we had a couple over who had spent a month last summer in Bosnia, helping people restore/create photographic records that had been damaged during the conflict. The group they were with was sponsored by their church, and we talked about our missions as well. Very enjoyable, didn't ask them to listen to the missionaries, but they now know more about the church and (hopefully) have a more positive impression than they did before.

This probably wouldn't work for everyone, but the bottom line is, how much effort do you make to create a better ward? Just do a little something.

'Course, my involvement in these matters has probably just reconfirmed our neighbors preconceived notions of the weirdness of mormons.

We've been in our ward for over 5 years, and I can think of only 4 famiies that have had us over for dinner. One of those would be danimal/marsupial, but that doesn't really count because we had let them stay at our house for a significant amount of time when they were trying to find a place to live.

All 3 of the other families that have had us over no longer live in our ward.

My parents used to invite people over all the time.

I'm trying to think how many we have had over at our house. Not that many. I guess I don't want people eating my Blue Bell.

[Indy Coug]

This will be a popular opinion on this board, but home teaching and visiting teaching go a long ways towards building a sense of community in a ward.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

This will be a popular opinion on this board, but home teaching and visiting teaching go a long ways towards building a sense of community in a ward.

I would hope you are correct but unfortunately in my several decade long association with the Church I have not witnessed it to be so.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I would hope you are correct but unfortunately in my several decade long association with the Church I have not witnessed it to be so.

Well, if it isn't done right it won't. Like with most things, it isn't the concept, it's the execution.

[marsupial]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

This will be a popular opinion on this board, but home teaching and visiting teaching go a long ways towards building a sense of community in a ward.

I agree. I have gained several friends through visiting teaching that I would not have otherwise made. It's helped me branch out from my usual circle of young moms or people I work with in my calling.

[minn_stat]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

This will be a popular opinion on this board, but home teaching and visiting teaching go a long ways towards building a sense of community in a ward.

I'm a big believer in home teaching, and doing it right. That said, I've done pretty lousy at home teaching over the past couple of years. I have done it right at times, and when I do, it is fairly rewarding. For me, "doing it right" refers to having the attitude that these are God's children and my spiritual brothers and sisters, and I need to help them through the challenges in their lives. A once per month visit isn't home teaching, really, IMO. To me, it is sort of like training/homework for learning the second great commandment. If you can be assigned to a stranger and learn how to genuinely care about them, you are well on your way to becoming what you ought to be.

That said, I've got to go find my list so I can know the names of the people I'm supposed to be home teaching...