From the article:
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...
Cont'd:
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
Cont'd:
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...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...
I hate it when I have “early release,” too.
Good...maybe they’ll stop going to Latin American countries and coming back to pimp for illegal alien amnesty like the corrupt LDS leadership is, and as Sheriff Joe-slamming douchebags like Judge Murray Snow did.
Are they shunned or something?
I was pretty much convinced at age 19 that lots of things were not right for me. I went anyway. After all who wouldn't go to Denmark? I certainly didn't have feelings of failure but didn't come home early either. That would have been a social disaster as the culture has a way of demeaning those poor kids coming home early for what ever reason.
In my case I came home, graduated from college asap and got out of mormondum by taking a job in California. And yes up until 1963 those were the best two and a half years of my life. I learned to speak a foreign language, met Dexter Gordon and Ella Fitzgerald in the Jazz clubs of Copenhagen and became an expert in cooking Danish food.
Was it dishonest to spend the $60 per month sent by my parents? I will apologize next time I see them. Celestially speaking.
He deserves our praise, glory and song. But instead....
WARNING!! Religion bashing ahead
I'll bet that NEVER beens feel like failures a lot as well!
Beats being a WHORE I guess!!
Beware those claiming religious authority, who only tear down religion, but never actually offer praise to God.
Uh oh - someone isn’t perfect - A good shunning is in order!
What’s an RM?
When you are working to promote your church, then your success is based upon how many sign up, but insofar as we are working for the Lord and His glory, then that you were obedient to Him is what matters, and that souls were warned, sinners invited, some saved, and saints edified, with joy in seeing the Lord graciously work.
O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
—Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:28
... men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29
The Church is like a great caravan—organized, prepared, following an appointed course, with its captains of tens and captains of hundreds all in place.
What does it matter if a few barking dogs snap at the heels of the weary travelers? Or that predators claim those few who fall by the way? The caravan moves on.
Is there a ravine to cross, a miry mud hole to pull through, a steep grade to climb? So be it. The oxen are strong and the teamsters wise. The caravan moves on.
Are there storms that rage along the way, floods that wash away the bridges, deserts to cross, and rivers to ford? Such is life in this fallen sphere. The caravan moves on.
Ahead is the celestial city, the eternal Zion of our God, where all who maintain their position in the caravan shall find food and drink and rest. Thank God that the caravan moves on!
—Bruce R. McConkie Modern day Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ
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.
The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.