Return missionary program

[Rob4Hope]

https://www.lds.org/pages/mcm-beta?lang=eng

so, what is happening with this so far? I don't see this being pushed that hard. Did I miss the memo?

[Corsair]

https://www.lds.org/pages/mcm-beta?lang=eng

so, what is happening with this so far? I don't see this being pushed that hard. Did I miss the memo?

You are not a returned missionary or you would know more about it. It is commonly handled by bishops and stake presidents from what I have seen. My nephew was give this. He managed to get married in the temple exactly one year to the day of his return from his mission. I am pretty sure he graduated successfully as far as the church is concerned.

[Reuben]

I downloaded the PDF and decided to check out lesson 2, which is all about your purpose. Holy moly! I had forgotten how light on substance church lessons are.

The lesson seems to have a few purposes. 1. Get RMs to think about finding their purpose. This is good: missions hand you a purpose and railroad you into fulfilling it, so returning can be disorienting. In general, it's good anyway. 2. Remind RMs to get married by talking about covenants a lot. 3. Remind RMs to consult their church-approved horoscopes, most of which will also do #2.

It's many pages for just this, with inspirational quotes and introspective questions, giving many takes on slightly different versions of the same information and points. It's a smorgasbord of milk designed to orient convictions, not provide anything useful.

And... I think I've just described everything in the church curriculum.

[Corsair]

I downloaded the PDF and decided to check out lesson 2, which is all about your purpose. Holy moly! I had forgotten how light on substance church lessons are.

The lesson seems to have a few purposes. 1. Get RMs to think about finding their purpose. This is good: missions hand you a purpose and railroad you into fulfilling it, so returning can be disorienting. In general, it's good anyway. 2. Remind RMs to get married by talking about covenants a lot. 3. Remind RMs to consult their church-approved horoscopes, most of which will also do #2.

There is no systematic theology in these lessons. It's no deeper than "Jesus and the prophet want you to do this, OK?" I was so happy to be out from under the guilt laden mission rules and this additional program would have deeply annoyed me. But my indoctrination was pretty thorough at that stage of my life and I kept with the implied program long enough for church purposes.

[Palerider]

I downloaded the PDF and decided to check out lesson 2, which is all about your purpose. Holy moly! I had forgotten how light on substance church lessons are.

The lesson seems to have a few purposes. 1. Get RMs to think about finding their purpose. This is good: missions hand you a purpose and railroad you into fulfilling it, so returning can be disorienting. In general, it's good anyway. 2. Remind RMs to get married by talking about covenants a lot. 3. Remind RMs to consult their church-approved horoscopes, most of which will also do #2.

It's many pages for just this, with inspirational quotes and introspective questions, giving many takes on slightly different versions of the same information and points. It's a smorgasbord of milk designed to orient convictions, not provide anything useful.

And... I think I've just described everything in the church curriculum.

Well, if an instructor goes beyond the pablum and begins to offer real world ideas and solutions, especially involving families and actual working relationships, and actionable methods of how to proceed in life......you begin to divide the congregation.

Half of them will tell you they're SO glad and thankful to have finally gotten some meat out of a lesson and the other half will tell you it's none of your damn business to offer specifics because you have just stepped on their toes and they see that they're being lousy parents.

The church hates creating ruffled feathers. Better to keep to the pablum. It's safer.

[Rob4Hope]

I downloaded the PDF and decided to check out lesson 2, which is all about your purpose. Holy moly! I had forgotten how light on substance church lessons are.

The lesson seems to have a few purposes. 1. Get RMs to think about finding their purpose. This is good: missions hand you a purpose and railroad you into fulfilling it, so returning can be disorienting. In general, it's good anyway. 2. Remind RMs to get married by talking about covenants a lot. 3. Remind RMs to consult their church-approved horoscopes, most of which will also do #2.

It's many pages for just this, with inspirational quotes and introspective questions, giving many takes on slightly different versions of the same information and points. It's a smorgasbord of milk designed to orient convictions, not provide anything useful.

And... I think I've just described everything in the church curriculum.

Well, if an instructor goes beyond the pablum and begins to offer real world ideas and solutions, especially involving families and actual working relationships, and actionable methods of how to proceed in life......you begin to divide the congregation.

Half of them will tell you they're SO glad and thankful to have finally gotten some meat out of a lesson and the other half will tell you it's none of your damn business to offer specifics because you have just stepped on their toes and they see that they're being lousy parents.

The church hates creating ruffled feathers. Better to keep to the pablum. It's safer.

This brought up a memory about this milk/meat. I use to wonder why everyone FREAKED OUT when, as a teacher, I shared some information out of "good books" that augmented the lesson material. I remember the "talk" where I was instructed to follow the curriculum.

It was a beginning to my questions. If I feel it would be beneficial to share additional material, and "follow the spirit", then how can this be wrong?...and the counter point: "The brethren have the HG with them when they create the curriculum. THEY KNOW WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT....NOT YOU!".

You can't have it both ways,...at least I found I couldn't. That was a beginning on when I looked at motives. Was the church really interested in developing people's souls, or where they more interested in conformity? I decided it was the later. Nothing else fit.

[moksha]

While they are in the field, why not send them an inspirational greeting to show you care?

Convert to the left
Convert to the right
Dunk them
Dunk them
Fight, fight, fight!
Go missionaries!