With the announcement made by President Monson today, it’s hard to think of anything else but missions once again. As soon as “the announcement” was made, social media lit up. Facebook and Twitter had nothing but comments ranging from how soon their kids could serve, how many kids they could have out at one time, transferring money from the tuition savings account to the mission account, to there being no freshman at BYU next year. While increasing the opportunities for young men and young women to serve is always a good thing, I can’t help but hope this does not turn into a double edge sword.
I have wondered all day today that if that announcement had been made even eighteen months ago, would it have impacted my son and our family differently? My son graduated from high school as a young senior, he turned 18 three months later, and we had a full year to wait before he could serve. And I know now in that year Satan won the battle for his ability to serve as we found out the hard way. I can see how in that year it is a very long time for young men to wait and even more opportunities for them to lose their eligibility or desire to serve.
My daughter, who is 18, has many, many young men friends that have been bothered by having to wait a year – they want to serve. They want nothing more than to be out there on their missions and according to their Facebook statutes tonight, their papers will go in by the end of the week. They cannot be more excited and I’m so excited for them. They are worthy, they are willing, and they are ready so why make them wait?
My fear for many young men is this: will they feel even more pressured and obligated to serve? How do we not start wondering why one young man is out serving at 18 and why another may be waiting until he’s 19? Will we start associating those serving at 18 as more worthy than those that choose not to serve that young? There are huge gaps in maturity at that age and what happens if we start sending too many kids, and these are kids we are dealing with, out to serve before they are prepared? Will we see more young men coming home than we ever have before? As one mother who has walked that road, I pray that does not happen. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone
I have wondered all day today that if that announcement had been made even eighteen months ago, would it have impacted my son and our family differently? My son graduated from high school as a young senior, he turned 18 three months later, and we had a full year to wait before he could serve. And I know now in that year Satan won the battle for his ability to serve as we found out the hard way. I can see how in that year it is a very long time for young men to wait and even more opportunities for them to lose their eligibility or desire to serve.
My daughter, who is 18, has many, many young men friends that have been bothered by having to wait a year – they want to serve. They want nothing more than to be out there on their missions and according to their Facebook statutes tonight, their papers will go in by the end of the week. They cannot be more excited and I’m so excited for them. They are worthy, they are willing, and they are ready so why make them wait?
My fear for many young men is this: will they feel even more pressured and obligated to serve? How do we not start wondering why one young man is out serving at 18 and why another may be waiting until he’s 19? Will we start associating those serving at 18 as more worthy than those that choose not to serve that young? There are huge gaps in maturity at that age and what happens if we start sending too many kids, and these are kids we are dealing with, out to serve before they are prepared? Will we see more young men coming home than we ever have before? As one mother who has walked that road, I pray that does not happen. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone
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