Relationships Don't Survive LDS Missions
Two year Mormon missions are big-time relationship killers.
Outside of Big Love, the occasional polygamy trial, and Mitt Romney, most of America is pretty in the dark about Mormonism. Well, one thing we know about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is that they often go to Brigham Young University (BYU) and they go on missions if they’re deemed pious enough. A Mormon mission is a trip to the near and far corners of the world to proselytize for 18 to 24 months.
Pretty sweet, right? Well this quote struck us as a little troubling, "money spent on a girl before your mission is money spent on another man's wife." So, the LDS struggles with LDRs just like everyone else. No one keeps an accurate stat for it but it’s estimated that around 80% of relationships do not survive a mission. One Bishop feels that it’s because preparing oneself for marriage two years hence makes it impossible to fully focus on the work at hand.
We’re pretty sure it’s because these are to kids in their teens and early 20s and they might not be together in 2 years any way. There’s gotta be a very similar pattern for young military personnel being deployed overseas. Out of sight, out of mind, and out on the town with someone else.
Discussion
Hey MD,
We appreciate your point on BYU. All Mormons do not go to BYU and all BYU students are not necessarily Mormons. Bad form on this end.
On the other stuff, we just meant that Googling 'Mormon news' the last 6 months typically resulted in a story about Romney, Jeffs or Big Love.
And finally, we were using first, standard definition of pious: having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God.
Again, thank you for reading and your comments.
No my friend, deemed pious enough is not a flattering way to say that some Mormons can't go on missions, especially if pious is often defined as, according to merrian webster, "marked by sham or hypocrisy b: marked by self-conscious virtue."
And let's just dissect the actual words for a minute, because this is what was written:
Outside of Big Love, the occasional polygamy trial, and Mitt Romney, most of America is pretty in the dark about Mormonism...
Mitt Romney was grouped with Big Love and pologamy trials! You don't think that implies they're all the same religion? You know that's what it's meant to read, especially when the next sentence begins with "Well, one thing we know about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is that they often go to Brigham Young University (BYU)..." as if in addition to being polygamous flip-floppers, we also attend a paticular university. See how the wording makes it read like we're all in the same boat? Check the wording next time, its not helping the millions of people you yourself pointed out no nothing about Mormons outside a few incorrect stereotypes.
Hey MD,
Do us a huge favor and reread the above post. "Deemed pious enough" means that certain LDS members are not permitted to go on missions if they haven't lived up to certain moral standards. The mission is an honor. And if you read again, you'll notice that we said MOST people are terribly unfamiliar with Mormonism outside of a few certain stereotypes. One of which Mitt Romney made light of. Thanks for reading.
I agree, most relationships don't survive missions, tell me something logic wouldn't. But how dare you assert that missionary’s serve missions if, "they are deemed pious enough." Since when is taking a 2 year trip to not only teach people about our church, but to serve in disaster areas and to volunteer at charities a act of piousness? Seems like an act of selflessness if nothing else. Ask any Hurricane Katrina victim or anyone in California who was affected by the fires, they’ll tell you your pious Mormons were often the first ones on the scene, sometimes arriving before the professionals.
And it sure beats spending two years doing what most other self-absorbed young adults between 19 and 21 would do, don't you think? (I feel I'm allowed to say that because I'm also a self-absorbed young adult, to be truthful.) These young men and women deprive themselves of drinking, drugs, sex, and basically all things associated with their age group. They do this not only to be "deemed pious enough" but it's because they believe these things are harmful to their spirituality. Don't insult people's religious beliefs, especially when the best references you have aren’t even accurate. You are aware that the Mormons don’t practice polygamy anymore, right? Seriously, wrong church. The Fundamentalist Mormon Church does, they split off from us back in the 1800’s, so you’re a little slow on the uptake. We do not advocate polygamy in any shape way or form, get your facts right.
So the moral of this story is this: don’t insult our missionaries. You wouldn’t take a dump on the Dali Lama’s prayer rug, so do not take a dump on something so many people value just as holy.
