Missionary Myths

Four years ago, I took a break from college and moved to New England. And by 'break', I mean every day for 18 months I woke up early, studied for 2 hours, and came home after 11+ hours of door knocking, teaching, and community service.Turns out, religion is not the most comfortable topic to bring up with perfect strangers. I didn't have the 'results' that a lot of other missionaries have, but it was bar none the most rewarding and defining experience of my life.

   

Since I've come home, there's a Mormon running for president, billboards across the country plugging mormon.org, and even a broadway about LDS missionaries. With all this media attention the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (yep, it's a mouthful - let's go with LDS) is receiving, I'll take a stab (a really small one, maybe more of a paper cut) at some of the misconceptions I've heard about LDS missionaries. [if you want to know more about actual beliefs go to www.mormon.org]

Myth: Only boys go on missions.

Well, guess what?

Girls can go, too. There are 55,000+ LDS missionaries worldwide, and I'd say 10% are women. Guys generally go when they turn 19 and serve for 2 years, while girls go when they are 21 for 18 months. It's more expected of a guy to go, but I was never discouraged from any Church leaders.

Myth:  You can watch TV and call your family on your "day off".

Well, guess what?

I had to wait a full year to see High School Musical 3 and only talked to my parents 3 times over 18 months.

Myth: Missionary efforts are focused primarily on developing countries.

Well, guess what?

New York State isn't exactly a developing country. I've found it more difficult to 'justify' my mission to people when (1) I didn't serve in an exotic country and (2) I didn't build houses for 18 months. But you should know that the primary purpose of LDS missionary work worldwide is proselytizing. Yes, we did community service each week, but our main job was to teach people about Jesus Christ and our Church's beliefs.

Myth: The dress standard for sister missionaries is to look as homely and genderless as humanly possible.

Well, guess what?

Just because I looked like a granny in my oatmeal Tuesday-night-Bingo skirt during my mission, doesn't mean everyone else did. Sisters are encouraged to wear bright colors and makeup. The fact that I usually wore sweat pants under my skirts probably didn't help our image.

Myth: You get to pick where you go on your mission.

Well, guess what?

You don't. Your application (called 'mission papers') is sent to a council who will assign you to one of 340 missions throughout the world. It's certainly not a draw-a-name-from-a-hat process and involves a lot of prayer and deliberation to issue your mission call.  

Myth: All missionaries are white farm boys from Utah or Idaho.

Well, ok. This one is almost true.*

Myth: Since you are a "full-time" representative of the Church, it subsidizes your mission.

Well, guess what?

It doesn't. You pay for your own mission, though the Church may help you out if you can't afford it. Compared to being a college student, a mission is actually quite affordable.

Myth: All LDS men are REQUIRED to serve a mission.

Well, guess what?

Jimmer didn't, and neither did Bryce Harper. But Ken Jennings did, and so did Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder). So who's more righteous? Again, it's strongly encouraged for young men to serve, but ultimately it's a personal decision.

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*Ok, let's get real: there are thousands of non-American missionaries throughout the world--we just don't see them as much because they are often called to serve in missions within or around their native country.