Long time lurker, few times poster.

So my best friend (also dated him but I've posted that story a while back) got back from his mission in South America about a year ago. Anyway, here are some of the conversations I've had with him since then...

When I saw him again within the week that he returned....
Me: So how was it?!
Him: It was the best 2 years of my life.
Me: Yea...they make you say that.
Him: No they don't.
Me: Okay. Well if you're telling the honest truth, then I'm happy for you.
Him: Yea.

A few months ago....
Me: Would you go on a mission again?
Him: No.
Me: What if they asked you to?
Him: Then I would say no.
Me: What if they said you had to go?
Him: Then I would go.
^yeeaaaa cause if that's not cultish then idk what is

I really hope, at the least, that I've left things for him to ponder about from my questions, facial expressions, etc.

That would have been my case, it takes some time for the programming and cultural pressure to wear off.

+1

Facial expressions....

One of the pivotal moments that cracked open the door into truth is that a very intelligent man who tended to say what he thought was listening when I mentioned some trivial church thing. He cocked an eyebrow and very calmly and honestly said, "Do you really believe that?" I didn't. Took a while to stop justifying my beliefs to myself.

Why wouldn't he go again if it was the best two years of his life? You're really not asking him good questions.

Him: "It was the best two years of my life!"
You: "Are you sure?"
Him: "Yah! I've never felt the spirit so strongly!"
You: "Did you get horribly sick?"
Him: "Well, yah"
You: "Were you aching to just listen to some music or some way to kill the long stretches of boredom?"
Him: "Um, yah, kinda"
You: "Did you feel horrible about not being able to talk to your family and friends for so long?"
Him: *tears*

The Church doesn't treat them well. Go ahead and ask about the worst thing that happened to him or some horror stories. I'm sure he's got some pent-up feelings about it that he's never told anybody, and this might give him a bit better perspective on what exactly he put himself through.