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Amateurparent shared the following in another thread. I am moving it here to stand as a new thread, since it is a wonderful story and important point. A friend of my DH joined the church when he was in college. He graduated, worked for a year, and decided to go on a mission. His family was very against the church and a mission was the last straw. At 24 years of age, this missionary enters the MTC. No support. No letters. No family. No contact from anyone. After a few weeks he was distraught.
He called church headquarters and said, “Why should I do this if no one cares that I am here?” He was put on hold for a minute. Elder Perry then came on the line and told that elder that HE cared. Elder Perry wrote that missionary throughout his mission. He was that missionary’s only correspondent for 18 months.
As I have seen people discuss these last few weeks whether Elder Perry was one of their favorite GA’s or not .. I have thought of this story. How in the midst of a busy administrative role, Perry found time to write to one missionary consistently.
We may differ on political or religious viewpoints, but when we can unite in how we treat people, we have the big stuff taken care of.
What a wonderful story! It’s easy to forget that among the bad things that happen as we interact with one another, there are some very good things. It’s easy to forget that kindness and compassion are not THAT foreign to our experiences as members of the Church. As an aside, Elder Perry is the only apostle that I ever shook hands with. He always came across as a nice, happy man.
That is a great story…. I felt like I was reading my own story — really. I joined the church at 20, and due to financial obstacles, left at 23. No one in my family wrote to me, except my mother on about 3 occasions, and my sister once. They were actually ashamed that I was serving.
Fortunately, I had a girlfriend (LDS) who wrote steadily, so my situation was not as dire. I can tell you, though, that it’s an achey feeling to be out there in all the rejection, companion problems, and also, the flashes of spiritualit and good “highs” and have few people to share it with other than your journal. At least I had a girlfriend.
Kudos to Elder Perry for what he did. What a motivator, to have an Apostle writing to you on your mission. I personally would not be able to feel I could be completely candid about everything (for fear of getting someone in trouble for a matter that would normally not be a big deal unless in front of a high ranking leader), but it still would be motivating to know EP cared enough to write to the missionary all that time.
It quells (a bit) the perception I’ve developed that many leaders see volunteers as employees…
Gerald wrote:What a wonderful story! It’s easy to forget that among the bad things that happen as we interact with one another, there are some very good things. It’s easy to forget that kindness and compassion are not THAT foreign to our experiences as members of the Church.
As an aside, Elder Perry is the only apostle that I ever shook hands with. He always came across as a nice, happy man.
I think many in the church focus on this very positive aspect of the church and feel like anybody that points out any issues with the church is just an all-around negative person.I like Gina Colvin’s comments on being a critical lover
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kiwimormon/2015/04/uncritical-lovers-mormonisms-problem-children/ ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kiwimormon/2015/04/uncritical-lovers-mormonisms-problem-children/ reallystupid and harmful, I would not be doing what a good friend does. A good friend would bring this up. Part of why I stay in the church is the good people I find there (the majority).
SD – I think of my mission and it was hard, but not having family supporting me would have made it really hard. I feel for you and those that do it. I can see how it can hurt even more when you have given so much and then go what you have gone through the last few years. LookingHard wrote:SD – I think of my mission and it was hard, but not having family supporting me would have made it really hard. I feel for you and those that do it. I can see how it can hurt even more when you have given so much and then go what you have gone through the last few years.
Thanks. It was tough, so I understand how this missionary must have felt.
My family still rejects me over my Mormonism (my mother does). Nice to know someone empathizes… thanks lookinghard.
I (usually) love visiting teaching, because it gives me a reason to unite with companions to treat someone well. Starting out I don’t always enjoy or understand my companion, but I always come to appreciate her after we do this together. I didn’t serve a mission, but I imagine this is one of the biggest lessons learned. Quote:Ann wrote: I (usually) love visiting teaching, because it gives me a reason to unite with companions to treat someone well. Starting out I don’t always enjoy or understand my companion, but I always come to appreciate her after we do this together. I didn’t serve a mission, but I imagine this is one of the biggest lessons learned.
I truly believe the most important thing a ward can do to be completely functional is to make sure home teaching and visiting teaching is actually happening in a real and consistant manner. When people are taken care of in the most basic ways, everything else seems to fall into place. Visiting teaching when properly done allows true care, true ministry, and real caring. It allows care for the afflicted and lifts up those in need. When it fails, the entire ward system fails with it.
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