But how can it be results-driven when the missionaries aren't leading toward commitments? I honestly felt the past missionary discussions -- the ones on 5X7 booklets were very good. When we had an investigator with questions, and they had a ton of questions, we would answer a couple questions at the start and then let them know that we would likely answer a lot of other questions as we made our presentation.
Normally investigators were OK with it. If people refused to read and pray on the first discussion, we knew they weren't golden and needed to make that commitment. It all made a lot of sense. As I got more into the mission, I found I was able to craft the canned presentation to the needs of the people I was teaching. I would weave in scriptures and concepts as they seemed to fit the discussion, to the benefit and interest of the investigator.
Weird Situation I'm in
- SilentDawning
- Posts: 7602
- Joined: 09 May 2010, 19:55
Re: Weird Situation I'm in
"It doesn't have to be about the Church (church) all the time!" -- SD
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
A man asked Jesus "do all roads lead to you?" Jesus responds,”most roads don’t lead anywhere, but I will travel any road to find you.” Adapted from The Shack, William Young
"The wise man has the power" -- adapted from What A Fool Believes -- The Doobie Brothers
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
A man asked Jesus "do all roads lead to you?" Jesus responds,”most roads don’t lead anywhere, but I will travel any road to find you.” Adapted from The Shack, William Young
"The wise man has the power" -- adapted from What A Fool Believes -- The Doobie Brothers
Re: Weird Situation I'm in
That is a great ideal - but most of the missionaries on my mission quoted the lessons word-for-word and didn't deviate significantly to answer questions that weren't in the lessons. Speaking in a foreign language complicated that issue greatly - which is something that isn't mentioned much in these kinds of conversations. Often, two foreign missionaries didn't have the ability to deviate from the scripted lessons with confidence.
The current lessons still are focused on progression and ultimate baptism. They simply allow the missionaries to tailor the approach to the investigators individually. What you did on your mission would be perfectly appropriate now.
Frankly, I love the new structure - because it fits me and my personality much better. I think that is a major factor.
(I would make some changes if it was up to me, but that is more a function of returning to the original way of using the Book of Mormon than anything else and would be a new discussion, so I won't go into it here.)
The current lessons still are focused on progression and ultimate baptism. They simply allow the missionaries to tailor the approach to the investigators individually. What you did on your mission would be perfectly appropriate now.
Frankly, I love the new structure - because it fits me and my personality much better. I think that is a major factor.
(I would make some changes if it was up to me, but that is more a function of returning to the original way of using the Book of Mormon than anything else and would be a new discussion, so I won't go into it here.)
I see through my glass, darkly - as I play my saxophone in harmony with the other instruments in God's orchestra. (h/t Elder Joseph Wirthlin)
Even if people view many things differently, the core Gospel principles (LOVE; belief in the unseen but hoped; self-reflective change; symbolic cleansing; striving to recognize the will of the divine; never giving up) are universal.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." H. L. Mencken
Even if people view many things differently, the core Gospel principles (LOVE; belief in the unseen but hoped; self-reflective change; symbolic cleansing; striving to recognize the will of the divine; never giving up) are universal.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." H. L. Mencken
- SilentDawning
- Posts: 7602
- Joined: 09 May 2010, 19:55
Re: Weird Situation I'm in
I was re-reading this thread. The benefit of aging is that you can read a past thread and enjoy it as if it's the first time Just kidding, my faculties are all there (no pun intended), but I was intrigued about what I wrote.
I want to add a follow-up comment. One of my concerns, as well as the concerns of others here was being unfair to the missionaries. This was because the professors weren't really there to be taught or to consider conversion.
When I saw the missionaries on the following Sunday, we chatted briefly about the discussion experience. I said I hope they didn't feel that I wasted their time. The senior companion said "I would rather be in discussions than doing anything else".
So, the comment someone made previously "How can you waste a missionaries time? What will they be doing otherwise, tracting?" seems to fit the bill.
I simply thought I would share his reaction. Makes me feel a little better about the discussion.
I want to add a follow-up comment. One of my concerns, as well as the concerns of others here was being unfair to the missionaries. This was because the professors weren't really there to be taught or to consider conversion.
When I saw the missionaries on the following Sunday, we chatted briefly about the discussion experience. I said I hope they didn't feel that I wasted their time. The senior companion said "I would rather be in discussions than doing anything else".
So, the comment someone made previously "How can you waste a missionaries time? What will they be doing otherwise, tracting?" seems to fit the bill.
I simply thought I would share his reaction. Makes me feel a little better about the discussion.
"It doesn't have to be about the Church (church) all the time!" -- SD
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
A man asked Jesus "do all roads lead to you?" Jesus responds,”most roads don’t lead anywhere, but I will travel any road to find you.” Adapted from The Shack, William Young
"The wise man has the power" -- adapted from What A Fool Believes -- The Doobie Brothers
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."
A man asked Jesus "do all roads lead to you?" Jesus responds,”most roads don’t lead anywhere, but I will travel any road to find you.” Adapted from The Shack, William Young
"The wise man has the power" -- adapted from What A Fool Believes -- The Doobie Brothers