How does the church choose where the missionaries end up goin? I was always told it was inspired by "God" mmmm hmmmm what do they just have the missionarys names in a big bowl and the names of places to go in another big bowl and pick em both out?

Makes as much sense as Devine inspiration. It is probably some random generator program that matches bodies to openings. No thought required.

They do extensive testing of prospective missionaries to identify linguistic skill, also look at family background, school performance, even leadership experience like student government. All of that stuff informs their decisions.

According to the lore repeated here, one of the afossils attends each Selection Day, to make the necessary relays of information from ghawd to the minions who are filling in the blanks.

Except that when it comes to selecting the sister missionaries who will be staffing the temple visiting centers, their photos have to be reviewed, by the afossil... Apparently, ghawd sees the young ladies through the afossil's eyes!

Yes, there is that.

There would of course be no favoritism for the beauties if Brother O'Dawg were in charge.

Other than Senorita Saucie, that is.

It's basically through technology and burning boobs. Here is what Ballard said:

"Your photograph comes up on a computer screen, together with key
information provided by your bishop and stake president. When your picture appears, we look into your eyes and review your answers to the missionary recommendation questions."

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2015/06/how-are-missionaries-called/your-personal-interview-with-an-apostle?lang=eng

How do I tell if a thought is random ?

Lol idk Dave good question! And what?! I didn't know the afossils did that! With the sis missionarys pictures! Oh man! That's......deep of them gosh! "When your picture appears we look into your eyes" AHH! that's a bit scary thinking about those creeps staring into your eyes UGH! And wow ya the whole prosses just sound so....deep and OH so....inspired! (Eye roll)

Testosterone can be very potent. I suppose ghawd thought he was doing us a real favor when he made us subject to its influence.

I wonder if he and Michael, the Archangel, giggled when they lit up the pheromone factories in Adam & Eve?

They probably got a wheel of fortune deal going on at the MTC....or they throw darts at balloons on a wall.

Hahahahahahahahaha oh MAN you guys crack me up!

and for other touristy sites.

If someone speaks a language or has connections to a country, they're often sent there.

I think rich high profile parents often have a say where their their sons or daughters are sent.

It's done by computer program.

https://www.exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1864650,1865120#msg-1865120

I don't think we will ever be given a truthful answer to how the missionary committee of the LDS Church decides where to send each applicant.
It appears to be random. Here are the openings, here are the approved applicants, shuffle them three times, start filling from the top down.
Prior language skills doesn't guarantee they will be used.
AKA: what baura said!

From "On This Day in Mormon History:"

June 2, 1979 - CHURCH NEWS article "Computers Aid Church" refers
to use of computers by Missionary Department. Due to massive
increase of missionaries, computers have assigned Mormons to
their full-time missions since church-wide computerization in
1970. First Presidency has neither oversight nor review of
mission calls. Special committee (LDS bureaucrats and one or
two general authorities) reviews computer print-outs of proposed
missionary calls and occasionally changes some mission
assignments. Signature machine signs church president's name to
letter informing LDS missionaries of their assignments.
Management Systems Corporation is dissolved in 1979, its
functions absorbed by Information Systems Department.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2018 04:01PM by SusieQ#1.

Computer

My TBM mom and step-dad did a "senior mission" to temple square, SLC.
Part of their duties, as my mother explained to me, was to pre-select young female mishies to be assigned there. They were explicitly told to choose "attractive" young females only. You know, only the best-looking get to represent the lard at the holiest of visitor's centers...


So much for "inspiration." Or computers. For SLC temple square, at least, the girls are picked by how pretty they are.

It is all done by computer.