I didn't really think the church was true before my mission. I told my bishop that I didn't want to go anywhere cold, or state side. I got my wish the Philippines. I hated it there at first but then I turned it into a 2 year vacation. Married a girl from the Philippines after a divorce from my first wife. My brother just got back from El Salvador. Also a non believer was telling me storied about the crazy things they did. Another friend who served in a south Florida Mission told me he would spend most every day on the beach or talking to Cuban girls. He moved back to Florida after his mission

I don't think it is the place as much as the companions.

Agree to the companion thing, but being away from the president also helps.

Pilipinas, talaga?
Tons of catholics, great scenery, nice people, at mga babae...:)

Of course, if you really don't believe, the best place to go on a mission is nowhere. But if family pressure, etc. prevail...that's not bad.
France wasn't bad, either. Nobody expected baptisms. So you weren't considered a "failure" if you baptized nobody!

I sure wish that person would sell his/her story to Inside Edition.

It's bad enough that TBMs waste their time, but non believers need to screw up the courage to just say no.

Any kid who grows up Mormon deserves a two year vacation. It's the least the folks can do.

The Peace Corp or your local St. Vincent's

Ditto.

College, military, job or actual charitable service.

Home. If you don't believe and want a vacation then go on vacation. Want adventure overseas? Go travel in Asia or something? Don't have money for it (missions cost $10,000)? Become an English teacher somewhere and get paid while you explore a new culture. A mission is a miserable place for someone who doesn't buy into the church. Think of being surrounded by mindless believers (of which I was one) and having to pretend to believe or get caught and sent home (no refunds). Skip the mission and just go somewhere.

" Married a girl from the Philippines after a divorce from my first wife."

Married and divorced prior to going on your mission???


Unless it was a senior mission, that seems odd to me..

Mormons are raised with the goal in mind to never cut the apron strings and stand on their own. Being scared of your parents is part of the Mormon control. I don't see grown-up adult people in the regular world terrified to tell their parents what they really think about things. Going on a mission without the benefit of a successful brainwashing is just wrong.

In my family, one parent talked non stop about "family honor" and the implication was you do what makes the family look good, and it doesn't matter if it goes against your personal goals, the family (church) is all that counts.

A good pub.

WHY in the world would a non-believer even GO on a mission? Granted, I didn't grow up Mormon, and I didn't know anyone else who was Mormon, so until I converted as an adult, I wasn't exposed to the whole "mission" thing.

But I DO remember being a teenager, and I only applied to universities that were WAY away from home. I LOVED my university years! Sure, being out from under the parental thumb, I did my share of hell-raising, but it was relatively innocent stuff. Got drunk a couple of times (and learned the hard way about hangovers.) Didn't do drugs. I got excellent grades, because, for the first time in my life, I found education to be fascinating.

University years are meant for learning, and hell-raising. Both are part of growing up. A mission would be - well, counter-productive. No growth there.

Believe it or not

Study abroad. Live overseas and get college credit for it. I had two opportunities to go to France, and I should have taken at least one of them.