Posted by:
NormaRae
(
)
Date: December 30, 2015 11:17AM
Don't ask me why, but every once in awhile I get hooked on watching mission call openings on YouTube. It's like a train wreck you can't turn away from. I'll find myself clicking on "just one more" several times.
I ended up there the other day and saw something I hadn't in a long time. Several different kids surprised their parents with the FACT that they were going on a mission when they got their call. "Look ma, it's a big packet from Church Headquarters" kinda thing.
One extremely beautiful girl gets all her girlfriends together and they all go giggling to show the letter to Mommy and Daddy. The look of shock on their faces was hard to describe. It seemed to be one of hurt that they didn't know, combined with excitement that their daughter got a mission call, combined with sheer terror that they are faced with 10k+ that they have to cough up that they hadn't planned on.
I know those kids are adults and don't need their parents' permission. But why would a bishop let a kid go through the whole process without even discussing it with the parents? Without making sure they are on board and able to do it financially? My chin dropped in disbelief. And the culty vibes gave me goosebumps.
Is this something new? Has the competition for who can make the best mission calling video just gotten so tight that it's just a new twist on that competition?