Last post Mon, Mar 17 2008 1:46 AM by Smurfsonite. 8 replies.
Hello you can call me Smurfsonite, Right now I am pressured into going on an LDS mission. I have been a member of that church all my life. My Father served a full time 2 year mission and so did my Brother. Before I had my injury I was a rebel and I went against our Church's beliefs and stood up for myself. I did try and stop a little before my head injury, but I never actually completely quit doing the things I was doing. Once my head injury came into play I finally took control and stopped. Sometimes I question if it was really me who stopped or my parents. I was 18 years old when my tbi accident occured (2006). And now the Doctors have told me about how I have recovered dramatically and there are no real restrictions that should keep me from serving a full time 2 year mission. I am always lookin two steps ahead and tend to 2nd guess myself a million times. Hence I am always giving out on myself and losing faith in the belief that I can accomplish it. Some people say I am a really sensible guy where i always point out All the facts in a situation. So I am always thinkin about how there should be a million reasons why I couldn't serve an LDS mission. No doubt I would love to serve a mission, I just don't understand why my t.b.i. won't have a great impact on me. It may seem like I never really went through that severe of a Head injury but I did. I fractured my skull in 5 places, was in an acoma for 4 days, unconcious for 2 weeks, in the hospital for 2 months. I haven't always been as able at doing things as I am now. Although I still have insomnia and anosmia(I lost a lot of the ability to smell), my equilibrium or balance has gone down hill, Coordination had to relearn completely( I had to learn how to walk again, my attention was horrible where things would just fly over my head and I never knew I missed anything, because of that my temporary memory struggled, enough of that-moving on. The doctors once told members of my family I would die. I feel like I can't do it and I am always questioning myself If I am a legit Mormon and am worthy of such a blessing and being able to go out and serve a mission - smurfsonite@yahoo.com If you got words of advice please reply and email me. You don't have to be a Mormon. I don't mean to get all preachy on everyone or anything but I wanna say this. Some people always tell me I'm soo lucky to be alive. I don't think it's luck, it was a blessing. I did recieve a Melchizedek Priesthood blessing in the hospital and i believe that is the number one reason for my recovery.
If you think it's a blessing then go.
The reason you go on a mission is to strengthen your faith through practice, you should not be worried about how you will get your laundry done, that will happen even if you have to ask and elder to help you out. When you go on a mission you are confirming everything you beleive through your own thoughts and words, That is why a mission is so important in your church. If you choose you can turn your injury into a reason to go because it is what makes you unique and you can share that with others that may not beleive in hope. You will have your challenges the rest of your life, so start living. Accept your blessing with grace.
P.S. In case you are wondering i'm pagan.
catherder
Hi,
Let me first state that I'm a disabled inactive Mormon who is gay. So, this may judge how you feel about my reply.
Honestly, this thread should be answered by LDS only. Only we know what it's like to be LDS and the social pressures of going on a mission.
Before I became inactive, I, too, wanted to go on a mission. But, I was told that I couldn't because of my disability. (See my profile about my disability.) At that time, I was, and still am, living on my own. And, if I did need help, I knew I would be with my companion 24/7. Yet, despite this, my bishop said that the Church was no longer allowing physically disabled to go on missions, including service missions.
Talk to your bishop. Only, the Church headquarters make the final decision, not you.
(Sorry, non-LDS, that's how it works. And, you're not allowed to disagree with Church policy.)
carmitch: Talk to your bishop. Only, the Church headquarters make the final decision, not you. (Sorry, non-LDS, that's how it works. And, you're not allowed to disagree with Church policy.)
I'm sorry you had bad experience. But I have to disagree. The only reason, in this situation, that the final decision is made by the church is because if this young man would have a hard time being able to fully do his duty while on his mission, then why should he go? And they have said that they have excused, not excluded, disabled members from going. Everything about practicing faith has to do with personal decisions (aka Agency) and whether you can live with practicing it the way that the Lord has set the rules forth.
Smurf, this is a highly personal decision you need to make with your bishop and the Lord.
First, if you feel you are able to fulfill a full-time mission, no matter what the obstacles seem like and you feel strongly about it and have prayed about it and you've felt like the Lord wants you to, then you need to pursue it. My parents just got back from their Nauvoo mission and they had at least two disabled elders there - one with Down's and the other with CP. The church has excused members with disablities from going on missions but that doesn't mean all of them don't.
Second, you really need to sit down with the Lord and really fast and pray that this is the right decision for you. If you're faith is wavering right now, maybe you need to work on your relationship with Him right now, and worry about going on a mission later. It is the hardest two years of your life, and if you're questioning whether you believe in the church or not, you're going find it that much harder. My able-bodied brother had a hard time. I think if he had waited another year and worked on himself more, he would have gotten more out of his mission. Instead he was so wrapped up in how much he was homesick and how much he hated his area, that I really believe he missed out on opportunities to be taught. I think his rush to get on his mission had a lot to do with my parents pressuring him, but again the ultimate decision is yours. No matter what your parents or bishop or friends or anyone says, you need to make sure it's right for you. Do I think, if you can serve a mission, you should go? Yes. Our leaders have told us that all worthy young men should go. I think personally that young men (and women) grow soooo much on a mission, not only emotionally but spiritually as well.
Work on yourself - get a good footing. More iimportant than whether you can because of your disability, figure out if you feel the Spirit working inside you and you can look someone straight in the face and say "I believe the church is true", no matter what you've done in your past. The things you've done can only make you stronger because if you never want to do them again, you can be an example and comfort to someone who is struggling.
I feel like I'm babbling now, but I just want you to make the best decision for you. Pray about it, fast, have your bishop give you a blessing.
I go through moods where somethings seem exaggerated. Sometimes I'm thinking about staying, but honestly I like to tell myself the only thing that will stop me from going on a mission is if the church headquarters replies with information regarding me not serving a mission. I know that the typ of mission I will serve may vary but I don't look at it like i'm a failure if I don't serve a full time proselyting mission. I will serve my calling with as much effort that I can put forward. Sure I've struggled in the past. If I stay where I'm at I may continue to struggle, I gotta get up and move forward with an optimistic heart and realize it truly is a blessing that I can serve a mission. I know The Lord wants me to act as an instrument in his hands and I'll do all I can to insure I'll continue to be a gnarly instrument. Sometimes I like to look at these situations at the eternal perspective and I try to realize that my struggles are so minuscule in reality, my mind is just trying to stretch it and intimidate me from going on a mission. :) I'll go forward with my hand on the rod and my shoulder to the wheel and I'll push along. I just gotta keep on keeping on.
Could it be that perhaps this person shouldn't go? Just because he/she wants to, doesn't mean they should. I've seen elders go for the wrong reasons.
While I was still active, I remember a guy who was mentally ill and attended the same Institute of Religion as I did. In order to be chemically balanced, he was on medication. If he missed any dosage, he would snap and become violent, even towards his own family and friends.
He got his calling and left for his mission. Everything was fine while he was in the MTC. Once he was in the field, he slipped. He got sent home.
Not everyone should go on a mission, even if they desire to.
From Smurf's reply, he's admitted to not being sure. Would you want him out in the field?
*sigh*This only proves how I feel.
I believe in having a free spirit being im native american so im not a reliogio that many can relate to so what i will tell you is do only what you want to do / do only what you feel in your heart is best for you / say only what you want to say / think only what you want to think / Dont let anyone sway what you want unless you want them to
if you want me to collaborate on this email me joshnola@myway.com i wont tell you what or not to do
Yeah, but it doesn't work that way in the Mormon church.
I believe that The Lord will help me out in the field. I am not scared to serve a mission anymore, I honestly don't feel like I ever have been. I just wanted to talk to people about it because so many whould conclude I am not able to go. I understand that there are plenty of reasons why someone else would think I shoulen't go. But then again, I'm not someone else. Doctor's and other Church officials agree that I am defintely fine and able to serve a mission. Yes there's a chance that Church Headquarters will decline my request and not send me on a proselyting mission. I know that no matter what I will get a call somewhere to some kind of mission. There are many kinds of missions out there that are available. I wasn't questioning if I would be physically able to go on a mission. I was looking more for moral support. I am not worried about me needing certain medication that I won't have or forgot to take because I have't taken any type of medication at all for rehabilitation. O I am so excited to go on my mission and can't wait till I get my call. I am so interested in finding out where The Church will send me. I know there are some people out there that have given up hope because of some life mishaps. I know that there will be people out there that I can go to to spread the word to help them. Enough talk about me. My mission is in the least about me and more of about others.
