Feelings of failure common among early-return missionaries, study says [Mormon mishies]

KSL.com ^ | Nov. 5, 2013 | Celeste Tholen Rosenlof

[Colofornian]

OREM — Missionaries who return early from their service need additional help from ward members and clinical professionals to cope, a new study says.

Kris Doty, Ph.D, chair of the Department of Behavioral Science at Utah Valley University and a clinical therapist, led a team of students in studying the effects of a missionary’s early return on their faith and lives. Doty found that 74 percent of participants had feelings of failure and 65 percent were uncomfortable in social settings due to early release...

The 348 study participants were males and females, ages 20-29, who returned early from the mission field...

The study, which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not involved in, was conducted this year after Doty saw the negative effects on loved ones and students...

More findings:

Early-returning perceptions of their adjustment

74% had feelings of failure

65% are uncomfortable in social settings due to early release

46% feel confident stating "I'm an RM"

44% feel uncomfortable answering questions about their mission

40% felt pressured to go back out

37% report dating life adversely affected

37% feel connected to those who completed mission

SNIP

She was surprised to find so many early-returned missionaries experienced feelings of failure and perceived the reaction of family members, friends and ward members negatively.

SNIP

Missionaries with mental health concerns, homesickness, physical health problems or worthiness issues who returned early felt increased feelings of failure, while those who came home because of family issues or lacked personal testimony in the church were less likely to experience feelings of failure...

Of those who felt they were received poorly, many reported long-term effects including a period of inactivity or permanent inactivity and 47 percent surveyed reported they were less active at the time of the study than before their mission...

[Utah Binger]

Don’t need no stinkin’ rules.

[laotzu]

And what describes avoidance of MORMON quotes? Fear?

Good morning. That was a Mormon quote.

"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
Ezra Taft Benson

[StormPrepper]

It's well know and documented that anti-Mormon's deceive. They use half truths and outright lies to spread their venom.

Leaving out most of the original article because it doesn't fit their negative and vile narrative is common.

Left out of the original article
In response to the study, LDS Church Spokesperson Cody Craynor issued a statement encouraging members to reach out to early-returning missionaries.

“It is our hope that all Church members and visitors to our local congregations will be warmly received and feel the love and support of our faith communities," he wrote. "This extends to elders and sisters returning home and adjusting to life after their missions regardless of the duration of their service or personal circumstances.”

Left out of the original article
In her presentation, Doty said that missionaries returning early from the field may already be hypersensitive to the situation, and the fact that early returns are handled differently from ward to ward could affect the return missionary’s perception. Those who perceived their ward members received them well from their early return had decreased feelings of failure.

Left out of the original article
Those who felt they were received well upon their return by ward members were less likely to become inactive. Additionally, having strong spiritual experiences on their missions increased their chances of staying active after an early return.

I was raised a Southern Baptist and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 21. At 22, I served a mission in California. I came home two months early due to health problems. I've been an active Church member for almost 30 years. Married in the Salt Lake Temple. I have 6 kids and my oldest son just returned from his very successful mission in California.

I personally was well received by my ward. But it didn't matter if I was or wasn't received well, the gospel is still true no matter what people do. I will always be active in it until Jesus Christ returns and tells me His work is finished.

The original article is about a very small minority of the total missionary population who, like me have to return home from their missions early.

[StormPrepper]

I read your post #30 several times. It's very nice, thank you for posting.

No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. —Joseph Smith—History of the Church, 4:540.

I may put that as my desktop image.

[Elsie]

Good ol' Ezra!!

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In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.

1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.

Ezra Taft Benson

(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)     http://www.lds.org/liahona/1981/06/fourteen-fundamentals-in-following-the-prophet?lang=eng

[Elsie]

It's well know and documented that anti-Mormon's deceive. They use half truths and outright lies to spread their venom.

It's well know and documented that Mormon's deceive. They use half truths and outright lies to spread their venom.

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And, if they do NOT cling to polygamy; they are DAMNED!! (according to one faily highranking MORMON source...)

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"Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned;

and I will go still further and say, take this revelation, or any other revelation that the Lord has given,

and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned.

Brigham Young - JoD 3:266 (July 14, 1855)

[Elsie]

I've been an active Church member for almost 30 years.

Are you one of the 15% or so 0f ALL Mormons who possess a TR?

[Elsie]

No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;

Watch out for the HALLOWED ones!

[Elsie]

...let the tares grow up with the wheat until the harvest...

[Utah Binger]

HALLOWED ONES Speaking Today

[Larry Lucido]

I imagine this is common in a lot of religions and denominations.

I was only able to complete a few months of my Latvian Orthodox mission work. It was hard getting through hall those texts.

[Gamecock]

Just spewed Diet Mountain Dew on my monitor.

[Colofornian]

Leaving out most of the original article because it doesn't fit their negative and vile narrative is common...Left out of the original article Those who felt they were received well upon their return by ward members were less likely to become inactive. Additionally, having strong spiritual experiences on their missions increased their chances of staying active after an early return.

Stormie, I was acknowledging stuff like this already five months ago...here, I'll repost what I told Godzilla June 10 (note sentence 2 acknowledgement):

...there's a "dual effect" that goes on...a high % discover some things about Mormonism -- and about themselves -- and slowly jumpstart their eventual exodus out...But there's also a % who are "steeled" by the experience...and, long-term-wise, wind up being both higher givers to the cult as well as a key pool for future leadership fodder. (And, hey, somebody's gotta clean the Mormon facilities' toilets for free!)"
Mormons to Have 85,000 Missionaries This Year

I was raised a Southern Baptist and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 21.

So you and West have something more in common, after all: You're BOTH apostate Baptists!

Well, saw last night that West has elected to give up the ghost of monitoring FR. He's abandoned his self-appointed watchman's post. Giving up. Demoralized. Goin' AWOL.

[Colofornian]

...having strong spiritual experiences on their missions increased their chances of staying active after an early return.

Grant Palmer is a prominent ex-Mormon.

Go to the link below...and you'll see Palmer claiming that...

...approximately 45% of return-LDS-missionaries no longer have a temple recommend within five years of returning.

Cracks in the Mormon Dam

[StormPrepper]

Grant Palmer is a prominent ex-Mormon

Prominent? Would that be in anti-Mormon circles because I've never heard of the guy.

"...approximately 45% of return-LDS-missionaries no longer have a temple recommend within five years of returning."

That's because LDS Missionaries check in with Grant Palmer for five years after their missions. Is that what you and him are claiming?....Really?

It has to be true because a "prominent" anti-Mormon says it. How in the world could I possibly doubt the validity of such a statement!!11one /sarc

Not to mention, even though I can't fathom how he comes to that number... except that he pulled it out of, you know where, having a Temple Recommend is not an indication of activity. Especially in areas that may not have a temple close by. Having a recommend assumes activity, not having one just means they need to have an interview scheduled.

[Colofornian]

That's because LDS Missionaries check in with Grant Palmer for five years after their missions. Is that what you and him are claiming?....Really?

Hey, Grant has his inside sources!
Three Meetings with a LDS General Authority, 2012- 2013