Idiots

[Jeff Lebowski]

It is tough for me to contemplate that we actually have missionaries this stupid:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695260314,00.html

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1205113198/1

[Tex]

I can believe it. These guys just happened to get caught.

It was an extremely stupid thing to do (especially posting photos on the Internet), but it seems foolish to prosecute these guys for felonies. Does this parish not have any stupid teenage boys in its congregation?

[DrumNFeather]

Weren't there missionaries in Japan who did a similar thing with a statue of Budda? I seem to remeber something like this happening before. As I recall, the church was not allowed to teach in that particular city for quite some time.

Anyone remember this? Or is it an LDS urban myth.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by DrumNFeather

Weren't there missionaries in Japan who did a similar thing with a statue of Budda? I seem to remeber something like this happening before. As I recall, the church was not allowed to teach in that particular city for quite some time.

Anyone remember this? Or is it an LDS urban myth.

I am pretty sure that one's an urban legend.

[BigFatMeanie]

Originally Posted by DrumNFeather

Weren't there missionaries in Japan who did a similar thing with a statue of Budda? I seem to remeber something like this happening before. As I recall, the church was not allowed to teach in that particular city for quite some time.

Anyone remember this? Or is it an LDS urban myth.

There have been several similar incidents. The most famous one was in Thailand. The elders sat on a statue of Buddha. They were turned in by the photo store. The pictures were put on the front page of newpapers and the public was outraged. At least one of the elders was thrown in jail and was there for quite some time. The incident happened in the 1970s. Even in the 1990s, the pictures would periodically be republished and public outrage would cycle up again and the missionaries would have to spend several days in their apartments and wait out the storm of outrage. I haven't been back to Thailand since 1996 so I don't know what the status is lately.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by BigFatMeanie

There have been several similar incidents. The most famous one was in Thailand. The elders sat on a statue of Buddha. They were turned in by the photo store. The pictures were put on the front page of newpapers and the public was outraged. At least one of the elders was thrown in jail and was there for quite some time. The incident happened in the 1970s. Even in the 1990s, the pictures would periodically be republished and public outrage would cycle up again and the missionaries would have to spend several days in their apartments and wait out the storm of outrage. I haven't been back to Thailand since 1996 so I don't know what the status is lately.

I always assumed this one was urban-legendy.

The way you describe it pretty much ensures its urban legend status because you seem to be implying the existence of widespread, published photographic evidence, missionaries being imprisoned, etc, and a newspaper periodically republishing pictures. Maybe my google search is broken, but I cant find any reference to it.

Verdict: 100% urban legend.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

I always assumed this one was urban-legendy.

The way you describe it pretty much ensures its urban legend status because you seem to be implying the existence of widespread, published photographic evidence, missionaries being imprisoned, etc, and a newspaper periodically republishing pictures. Maybe my google search is broken, but I cant find any reference to it.

Verdict: 100% urban legend.

You need to fix your google.

http://301nightsinbangkok.blogspot.c...iscretion.html

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by myboynoah

You need to fix your google.

http://301nightsinbangkok.blogspot.c...iscretion.html

Thanks for the link. What did you enter to get that to come up?

Next step for me...time to find someone who speaks Thai to translate.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Thanks for the link. What did you enter to get that to come up?

Next step for me...time to find someone who speaks Thai to translate.

I think it was "mormon" "thailand" "Buddha" and "missionary"

I used some other searches and came up with an archived NYT article on the sentancing of the missionaries from 1972, but one needed to be a subscriber to access. I opted out.

I remember this growing up and I think this incident still stands in the way of The Church being officially recognized in Thailand (or it did for a while) and also prevents missionaries from getting two-year visas, requiring them to leave the country every 90-days and then re-enter.

I seem to recall a course in the MTC on not doing stupid things as I prepared to leave. They talked about getting sick (only drink potable water!!!), getting thrown in jail (don't be like those stupid missionaries in Thailand!!!), and getting sent home (don't have sex with the Bishop's daughter!!!!). It was kind of a scared straight approach with vivid examples of horribile sicknesses and humiliations.

The Church needs to get on this now, contact the Parish and apoligize profusely. And get those boys to do the same, sans anything that extolls the virtues of Mormonism. Keep it simple: We screwed up and we are very, very sorry. What can we do to make this better?

[MikeWaters]

Why should the church apologize?

Signed,
Tex