I'm not talking about the offspring of Mormon royalty, or the offspring of very well-to-do and famous parents (most all of whom, I would assume, are fairly happy with their eventual mission assignments), but the offspring of "middle-ish" LDS families ("middle-ish" historically, and/or "middle-ish" socio-economically).
If a particular young Mormon (male or female) in the second group above decided that, as their future mission assignment, they wanted to go to a specific place, could they manipulate this if they began several years ahead of time?
For example: If they wanted to go to a specific European or Asian country, if they took it upon themselves to learn that language fluently, could they assume an eventual assignment there if they really HAD become fluent in the relevant language?
And what about if they wanted to make certain that they would NOT be assigned to Boise or someplace like that, could they find out which missions were perhaps the most difficult to find suitable missionaries for (my guess would include the former Soviet Union countries, etc.), and could they prepare accordingly by previous achievements in the relevant language and culture so they would be sent to the difficult mission instead of to an American/Canadian one?
Does language (and to a much lesser extent, cultural) knowledge and fluency count when mission assignments are made?
Related question:
If assignments can be manipulated this way, any guesses as to what are considered "most difficult to find suitable missionaries for" assignments???
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2015 08:12PM by tevai.
tevai Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > For example: If they wanted to go to a specific > European or Asian country, if they took it upon > themselves to learn that language fluently, could > they assume an eventual assignment there if they > really HAD become fluent in the relevant > language?
That worked for me. French ancestry, then 4 years of French in high school...guess where I got sent? Yep -- France. My brother (2 years older) took 4 years of French, and also got sent to France (different mission though).
Yep, some magical "spirit" working there, back in the late '70s. Not. :)
I think they can take an influence on it by learning the language before. Most Mishs they send here already learned some German in school before and/or have some "european experience" before. Back in my days they said (behind closed doors of course) - That they don't assign "Blonde and tall girls" to Southamerica or Africa for their own safety. I heard that several times. One MP said: "They will never call you to these Countries because you are too desirable for these kind of men with your delightsome appearance." (I wished to serve in Argentina or Brazil so bad) What a racist jerk he was. Just like only the "Beauties" will be assigned to Templesquare. And that they assign those they see in future leading position from countries where mormonism is a small business to areas where they can learn the basics how to become a leader or how the church administration works. All of those guys from these countries I know jumped up the ladder pretty fast and made it to SP in their early 30's.
Also they assign a lot of Germans with a lower education (we have 3 level of education) only to Alpine or just the other german mission. (This actually must be as frustrating as being called to Boise since Germany has only 2 Missions left) I think they want to keep the time in MTC short. Most, with some german speaking background, come after only 3 weeks. Those Germans, who will serve in Germany/Alpine, also also will stay for 3 weeks. 10 years ago it was common to leave them there for up to 12 weeks when they have to learn a foreign language. Now they want them in the field asap.
I also think that they will send those with any issues not that far away. BF for example was close to 20 when he decided to go (actually he wouldn't go but you know pressure etc) and he was stupid enough to confess his sex-addiction (aka masturnation and some porn) and doctrinal issues. He entered MTC a few days before he turned 21. He was assigned stateside in a pretty small mission where he was under a closer monitoring than he would have been in a huge missionfield. (And then they gave them Ipads, Skype and Facebook ;) )
The "Rest" without any disposition will be assigned randomly as needed.
I gather that you are tall and blonde. Well, there's always Temple Square for you...
I am trying to remember the German mishies that were with me in the then Frankfurt mission that I got to know reasonably well. Two were Hauptschule, one was Realschule and I don't know the other. He was the smartest of the bunch, so maybe went to Gymnasium, but I don't actually know. I can't recall that he spoke of attending Uni after his mission. But this was 37 years ago.
Edit: I plumb forgot to mention myself. I had three years of high school German before my mission and I expect I reported very well on the language aptitude test. I put Norway and Sweden as my preferred locations. I was sent to Germany.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2015 01:34AM by Void K. Packer.
I went to Toronto. Way before my time there was an MP with the last name Toronto. While I was there, we had an elder with that same last name. I've occasionally wondered if the selection comments thought they were being clever.
Here in the 'mission field' if you're part of local bishopric to stake leadership your kids seem to get to go foreign language if they want to. Often to the countries they want. Even those kids that are dumb as posts and/or had clear worthiness issues. Otherwise your kids are fully subject to the whims of the God Computer. This seems to be the first sorting of kids into the those that are part of the dynastic club and those that are not.
All those many years ago, when I was submitting papers I have a recollection of going to a church somewhere in Salt Lake Valley to take a language test. I ran into a guy I'd known from the neighboring high school (debate stuff) and his dad was from Germany and had always spoken the language at home. His dad had just been released from several years as a stake president and knew several GA's as friends, etc. Both he and his dad were sure he would be going to Germany.
I had no foreign language training or skills, and was sure I'd go to a US mission, which for me was okay.
This elder went to Florida and I went to Brasil. Apparently his dad's connection to the GA's had no pull as to where he went.
I had 4 years of German. Sent to northern Brazil. Proven foreign language aptitude makes it more likely you will go to a foreign language mission, though not where you might expect. I know there have been Vietnamese speaking missionaries in Chicago, and Korean speaking missionaries in Brazil.
My sister swears that her son-in-law got sent to Japan because he decided to learn Japanese when he was a teen (he's one of those accelerated homeschooled type).
He served in Japan.
I told her technically it shouldn't work that way, it's suppose to be by inspiration and necessity of the mission.
I got sent to England and I one of the Benson's grandsons (not Steve) was AP for awhile then became my ZL. This was within my first 3 months there. So yeah, I think he got sent there because of his connections.
I did have 3 cousins serve in S. Korea (2 of them at the same time [different families & last names]).
So I'm not sure how they decide now? I know it's a computer chosen and the G.A.s and/or apostles pray over it, but there's too many coincidences for it to be random or guided by computer only.
Back in the day, I put on my missionary application form that I would prefer to go to an English-speaking country and named a few.
Instead, I ended up being sent to Japan.
I remember how much my grandfather loved Asia, how he often told me that growing up and, in fact, how he sent me a postcard from there when I was a teenager letting me know that I would love that area and its Mormon Gospel-devoted Saints, too, should I go there on my mission.
Well, despite my specific request to go English-speaking--like New Zealand or England (I didn't look forward to learning tough languages like Japanese)--I was dispatched to the Land of the Rising Sun. (Being a member of the Quorum of the 12, I think my grandfather may have had something to do with that).
Great country, but not one I had in mind at the time.
When the letter from SLC's HQ arrived in the mail informing me of my where I would spend the next two years of my life, I opened it and announced the destination--whereupon my mom's first reaction was, "That's going to be expensive!"
Looking back on it, I'm glad I went there. My most memorable--and most sobering--experience was living in tha A-bombed city of Hiroshima. Its eternal-flame epicenter, horrific museum displays, mass-burial site for thousands of the bomb's victims and shrines to those who died are something I will never forget.
Thanks. Grandpa.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2015 11:00AM by steve benson.
I think its odd that all of Donny Osmonds sons have been sent to European countries. And I belive most of Alan's sons have as well, with the exception of Alex, medical reasons.
bff son just got call. Now, this took less than two weeks from sending from the chapel. Sometimes they take one week. Basically it gets sent in on a sunday and they "process" them on wednesday so they are received on friday.
he is from devout family, knows spanish, but would have been happy anywhwere.
they do have a connection.....
anyway, got his call promtly, going to freaking japan.
If you gotta go, may as well go somewhere like that.
I would say more, but should not.
I don't get how these are any bit inspired. They give an available date, and click in teh computer.
does anyone know how htey can turn these around so quickly>
my close someone went to the boise mission. he "loved" it. spoke espanol,, but left with me years ago too.
he took me up there a few times, oh....he was in IF and burley and all those little places.
Way long time ago there was a box to fill in on the form for "preference." I put mine, and that's where I was sent.
I still know of several LDS families of "royal German heritage" and one of "royal (other European country) heritage," and ALL their kids go to those respective countries. All of them. For the last 2-3 generations, in fact. On Facebook I notice that the two German families have not missed a beat since the end of the War. It seems to be a tradition not yet forgotten by the church that members of certain families will go to certain places. In my mission we had three guys from the same family. Two have since become mission presidents in that country, and all of their siblings and kids have gone there, although in various missions. All of them.
"Way long time ago there was a box to fill in on the form for "preference." I put mine, and that's where I was sent."
I was going to comment about the preference box. I don't think I listed a preference, and I went to Australia. I had no foreign language, so that might have been a factor. Plus the fact that the mission had just been split, and they were adding more missionaries there. So it was a matter of timing for me. Frankly, I can't imagine picking a better place for me. The climate and culture fit my southeastern USA background pretty well. My mission probably would have been disappointing to me if I had been sent to some foreign-speaking place, especially a third-world locale.
This demonstrates uncommon good sense on the part of the boys in SLC.
On the other hand, I've seen a kid who took 4 years of high school Spanish AND spent a year as an exchange student in a Spanish-speaking country (and thus, was perfectly fluent) who was sent to Korea.
When he protested (and he did), he was told "You've demonstrated that you have an exceptional ability to learn language. Have fun in Korea."
He didn't. He was disillusioned from Day One. He didn't like the people, the food, the cultural ambience - and he left the church within a month or two of getting home.
I know a young woman who was fluent in Spanish and hoped to be sent to South America. She was sent to someplace in the south (not Florida). She was pretty disgusted.
The Invisible Green Potato Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Has it ever occurred to leadership that their > volunteer sales force deserve to CHOOSE where they > serve their mission? Just sayin'.
You've got MY vote...I think this is a great idea!!!
"Huge Detroit Tigers fan growing up, called to serve in Detroit! There is a god! Am I right?"
Only if you served in 1984, the year they won the series. :-)
I grew up a Tigers fan too. I lived near their AA minor league ballpark in Montgomery, AL. I went to games there from the late '60s through the early '80s, and I knew a lot of their players who went on to play in Detroit and other major league teams.
Back in my day we had to take a language aptitude test. It supposedly measured how easily we might be able to learn a new language. I had stumbled through a couple of years of French, so I had SOME exposure to learning a language.
But I wasn't all that excited about going on a mission and, if I had to go, I'd rather not be struggling with a new language at the same time.
The aptitude test was presented on a tape and we marked our multiple-choice answers on a computer card. About half way through, I realized I had skipped an answer but not the row on the computer card, so all my answers after that skip were on the wrong rows. Crap. At that point I just marked answers randomly.
I ended up in an English-speaking mission. My terrible results on the test might have had nothing to do with it. Who knows.
I think that by learning a language (maybe including a year of college study which also adds maturity) you can more than double your chances of going somewhere.
That's especially true for rare and difficult languages like Chinese, Korean, Swedish, Russian.... Less so for French or Spanish.
So far among my nieces and nephews that are 4/4 foreign assignments that use the languages they studied. Just sayin'...
A friend was fluent in German, so they sent him to Guatemala.
Another friend spoke Russian, so they sent him to Texas.
I don't think there's a lot of reason to the assignments. I think it's mostly a matter of sending people where the church needs them.
Back in my day, I used to think those who really needed their testimonies propped up got sent to high baptizing missions, while those of us with rock solid testimonies got set to low baptizing missions -- because we could take it. At least, that's what I told myself.
The Morg is missing out on some extra cash- Many a rich family would drop a 100K to ensure a child went where they wanted or some place safe. A protective parent would not think twice about helping god keep a child out of El Slavador or Nigeria.
Two of my kids are in the age range to have friends who are preparing, are on missions, or have recently returned (probably a few dozen total). None of them got sent to missions using the languages they studied in high school -- not even the ones who were exceptionally fluent/had multiple years of instruction.
I suspect that now, it's all random and computer-assigned according to staffing needs (except maybe for the wealthies/royals).