Katya wrote:wired wrote:Katya wrote:So what would you consider an example of the right kind of pressure? (Or "pressure"?)
A bishop calling a young man in to ask him if he's fasted and/or prayed about submitting mission papers and requesting that he do so.
And what if he says he doesn't want to or decides not to go for other reasons?
Real answer: As the Bishop, I'd probably pray about what to do with the young man and trust the Lord to give me the appropriate response based on that young man and his situation.
Hypothetical answer: Assuming I am left up to my own decision and God doesn't have direction for me one way or the other...
If he says he doesn't want to fast or pray about it, I'd let him know that was disappointing and that he was missing out on the most important opportunity he has had in his life to that point.
If he says he's fasted/prayed about it, and he doesn't want to go, I'd ask him if it's a matter of him not wanting to go or if he was earnestly open to an answer from the Lord and that was the answer he received. If he told me that was the answer he received, I would ask him why he thinks the Lord gave him that answer. I would let him know he would be accountable for that answer and that if it was truly from the Lord, he'd be fine. If it was his own laziness, he would have to explain himself to the Lord some day.
Throughout both of these scenarios, I would emphasize that it is something he ultimately has to decide for himself, but that there is typically a right answer - go on a mission. If he can't decide to do it willingly or thinks he will be a hindrance to others, I would tell him to figure out what he needs to do to go willing or prevent himself from being a hindrance, and then go. I would tell him not to go if he thinks he can't get over it before submitting his papers.
None of this response would be applicable to (a) David Archuleta, (b) young men with serious transgressions in their past, (c) young men with disabilities. This is for the average, slacker young man who just wants to continue playing around in college and hasn't put the effort in to determine that God really does want him to go on a mission. I recognize that even then there will be exceptions - that's what revelation is for. But prophets have pretty plainly stated that every young man should do everything in his power to serve a mission. The ones who don't want to out of selfish reasons should be admonished by appropriate priesthood leaders to repent and reconsider. If the young man can't sincerely do those things, don't let him go.
Another clarifying point: there are great young men who choose not serve a mission (erroneously) and there are crappy young men who serve a mission. That doesn't detract from the fact that the Lord clearly wants young men to serve a mission right now. That hasn't always been the case and it may not be the case in the future, but until the Lord prompts a prophet to change that policy, I don't see what advantage we give a young man by simply saying, "Do what you
want to do." Rather, we should say, "Do what you
ought to do, and do it for the
right reason."