TSCC should have an easy opt/way out for missionaries. Maybe a 2 month trial also. And that early returned Missionaries don't be shunned for their right and decision to quit.
I'm sure that the morg cops are staking out the airport and bus terminals. And, I hope she escapes before the church cops find her and "bring" her back. This is a sad thing, I hope it turns out well.
The pressure that these kids are under is immense, I'm surprised that more of them don't crack. I agree that there should be a way of escaping their mission with fear of retribution.
When I lived in Utah I was pretty good friends with a girl who was originally from Ogden. She didn't have a high opinion of it and stated that parts of it were pretty dangerous (unsurprising since she both used and trafficked heroin and other drugs in the town). I really hope nothing happened to her, people have this idea of Utah being this super-friendly, old-timely knock-on-any-door-and-the-people-will-invite-you-in-for-supper kind of place, but it's absolutely not. I've spent like 3 nights in Ogden (I spent way more time in Salt Lake and Utah County), but my impression of it was that it was exceptionally seedy-looking and ugly.
I was also told (though am not able to verify) that at one point the city of Ogden has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the country. Great job mormons.
the article states that the police or church don't think "foul play" involved ... I take that to mean she went AWOL. I hope that is the case. I wish there was some way to offer to support to her if she did go AWOL, the church is going to be very unhappy, they have lightened up a bit in recent years, but I expect she will get a heavy dose of shaming.
There are some pretty seedy spots in Ogden, although most of it is pretty common suburban town. I have noted a lot of tweaker looking types in Ogden, Clearfield, Roy area when visiting. Wouldn't want my daughter alone with out transportation or shelter. I suspect she has friends in the area that helped.
It just occurred to me that a new approach to door to door missionaries would be to let every companionship that knocks on your door know that your house is a safe house for missionaries trying to get out of the church and/or back home. We might be able to help someone like this.
If she did make a run for it, she is probably 1) not even in Ogden to begin with and 2) she purposely did not leave a note about where she was going just so they wouldn't track her down. I noticed that the parents were not mentioned in the article so either they do not know what is going on or they were in on her leaving.
If I were this missionary, I would be mortified about the church and law enforcement plastering my photo in the media. Especially so soon, and when no foul play is suspected.
The girl is legally an adult and she can go wherever she wants, whenever she wants.
She doesn't owe the church an accounting of her whereabouts. Just because she VOLUNTARILY did so for the time she was on her mission, doesn't mean she has to keep doing it.
My thoughts exactly. The media talks about it like a kid has just disappeared, not an adult. It is so foreign to the average person that it could not be presented this way on the news in any other state.
As much as I dislike TSCC, I think this is a matter of "dammed if they do, and dammed if they don't."
According to the article this young woman walked out when she was in an emotionally distressed state. If this was indeed so then I do believe the TSCC has a duty of care in finding her as quickly as possible in case she has suicidal intent.
On the other hand, if they do find her at a bus station or the airport or anywhere else and she wants to go home, she should be allowed to do so and not be bullied/shamed into completing her mission.
"I hate this mission and I want to go home" isn't what I would call emotional distress.
Someone in the Trib comments pointed out that the church could be "poisoning the well" with that comment, so that the TBMs, if she speaks out, can prattle on about Satan, the adversaries and her period, each picking their favorite. It's fun when you have lots of incorrect choices to keep from picking the correct explanation.
I wonder if her family is LDS. She is from Woodland, TX not far from Houston. It's a very nice, rather affluent area. My concern, at this point, is for her safety. Looking for an update but have not found one.
My sister knows this girl from stake MIA activities. I got the sense that my sister who is in stake leadership knows a bit about this, will see if she knows details yet.
Sunbeep mentioned the "pressure on these kids". But at 19 years old, she isn't a kid. She is an adult who has finally learned that she can act like one.
I read on another thread that she showed up in SLC. They now know where she is, so she's probably safe and not to worry about her being out on the streets somewhere.
madalice Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I read on another thread that she showed up in > SLC. They now know where she is, so she's probably > safe and not to worry about her being out on the > streets somewhere.
Glad to hear that. They need to do some work on how they deal with missionaries. Many simply don't like their missions and want out.
madalice Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I read on another thread that she showed up in > SLC. They now know where she is, so she's probably > safe and not to worry about her being out on the > streets somewhere.
I'm looking for a reference. Every news article I've found shows her still missing from Mon. night.
Good for her, above all - I do hope she is safe! Obviously, the mormon mission experience was not pleasant/likely brutal for her to take this kind of approach in leaving; however, she must at the same time be respected by law enforcement/church security - after all, she is an adult women/a free agent! If they have located her as noted, she should be given the opportunity to contact people she can trust! As Always, tnurg (GRUNT)
What is the best way to get word to missionaries that our's is a safe house? We don't attend. Many would toss our card thinking we are just "anti."
I was thinking of posting on Facebook that our's is a safe house, but they will be asked a few questions so that we could verify who thy are. I'd like to post a phone number, but know that TBMs would call at all hours just to mess with us.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Once an RM who had adult-onset schizophrenia made his way to our house and called his dad who came and was a complete asshat. The boy had come to our home once, and knew that he would be looked out for, and walked clear across town to find us.
Suggestions for those of us who would like to provide this?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2016 01:11AM by kathleen.