What Happens when you let the Mormons in??

In this episode of The Midlife Revolution, Megan discusses LDS missionary tactics and lesson topics. She sheds light on what the LDS church expects of its missionaries and what you can expect if you let the elders or sisters into your home.
Finally, Megan explores one of the MIND BLOWING differences between what Mormons used to teach about Joseph Smith's first vision in contrast to what is now published on the church website in the Gospel Topic Essays at LDS.org.

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[beckawamsley]

I was visiting by missionaries sometime around 2009. They visited with us a couple of times and we learned more about the Mormon religion from them. During that time we learned that they were living off of an extremely low food stipend, something like $20/week. They told us they had been living off of cereal and peanut butter sandwiches. I was appalled that the Mormon church didn't take better care of these missionaries. I felt so bad for them. I ended up cooking a hot meal for them one night and they were so grateful.

[JanP-rg]

You are so strong, honest, informative and sincere. Keep up your great work Megan, I love your integrity and sincerity. We support you 100%

[BH]

Megan, I know you probably get a lot of negativity from viewers and family but all I can say is thank you for speaking up. I was raised in the church and was extremely devout until I left around age 34 (married/sealed in the temple the whole 9) most of my family is still in but I’ve left all religion as a result. I never find you to exaggerate or mislead your information, just speak plain truths. Thank you for being fair and honest. I appreciate you!

[michellesmixedmediamadness]

Yesterday I was watching/listening and didn't pay attention as much as I wanted but apparently a few things you said made an impression on my brain. I haven't ever encountered a Mormon missionary until yesterday afternoon! I was leaving the library and these two girls walked up to me and my daughter-in-law and granddaughter. I saw their name tags as "Sister so-n-so". I knew right then who they were. Thank you for sharing this info because it made me see them in a new light. We chatted for a few minutes and they seemed to be very happy someone gave them the time of day. It's just wild that I just listened to this and then had my first encounter with LDS missionaries.

[marymedal]

I am not Mormon but I always open my door. I go outside and chat with them. I share my faith and give them and try to to talk to them about the Bible and it's teachings. I touch on things in their faith that aren't biblical and basically try to give them my perspective of their faith different than what they have been taught. Some listen and show interest. My goal is to let them know there is a God who loves and cares for us without all the extra requirements of them in their lives.

[ValeriePeterson-wf]

I never answer my door when they come thank Megan for all the work and help you do for others 😮❤

[tlc]

A multimillion dollar church that has money hidden in banks tax free in Utah can’t help their missionaries!!!

Reason 2, 458 as to why this church is repugnant!🤢

[MillaJ]

A group of LDS missionaries helped after a flood in my state this summer and I worked alongside them. I was so excited! And yes, they did not want to talk about where they were from— my questions got redirected to their current location and mission. I didn’t ask if they were safe because there was 15 of them and I worried about surveillance of each other with their answers.

[cathyweisner]

I’m 5 minutes in on this and quite frankly I’m disgusted they are “keeping track” on me. It’s NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS! How I feel what I believe. That’s MY business and not theirs. That’s apalling.

[sundown]

I've met with them many times, evan as a child and not understood them. Ty for helping understand their purpose.

[micheleh]

I'm a Latter-day Saint. Every ward I have been in as a member or attended as a visitor has a missionary dinner sign-up sheet for every day of the month. Including as recently as yesterday, the ward I attended had a sign-up sheet. One ward I was in even had a calling of a missionary meal coordinator, so if any days were vacant, that person was to contact people that hadn't signed up. Members (such as single men or women) that can't invite the missionaries into their home are asked to deliver meals to them. I am sorry to hear that some missionaries are hungry, as in the states and countries I've lived in, the missionaries usually have dinner provided.

[jezackr]

Thank you for this talk! I always wondered what is behind the missionaries doingg their thing.
I'm an agnostic, not interested in any particular faith, but I love learning new things and talking to people about their beliefs, so my attitude towards the missionaries is a bit more open than I usually see it:) Offering them a drink/food seems like such a kind thing! I'll have to keep it in mind.

[LeeannVanderveur-mkuv]

I enjoy listening to you. You are so thorough in your explaining to us what I thought I already knew about Mormonism. I'm still processing it and I'm 53 years old! Please, tell me at some point none of this will matter to me anymore. It's just so damaging to be taught these lies. I thought resigning would help me feel better. Continued success to you on the channel. You are so inspiring!

[christistruth]

If Mormonism was true, the leaders and the missionaries wouldn’t need to lie. 1:04:42

[kathiewhite]

I told them I would listen ONLY IF they could help me remove a bloodstain on my carpet😂😂😂😂 Works well!

[joaop.barata]

As someone who's served a mission somewhat recently (2016-2018), I'd like to offer clarification on some of what is said in the video, and what is being talked about in the comments. I also offer to respond to anyone who wants to engage in discussion / ask questions. I'll number all my points to make it easier for anyone to respond to any one of them if they'd like.

1. Not all missionaries pay their own mission (I didn't, my family paid only a very small percentage): rules vary for different parts of the world for various reasons, but generally speaking, if a young man or woman cannot afford to pay for their mission, it will be paid for them. From their own ward's mission funds, or the Church's general missionary fund, both of which members can donate to. Many of the missionaries living expenses (such as housing) also comes from tithing and other Church funds dedicated to operational costs.

2. The cost varies from mission to mission, so it's not a fixed 450 dollar monthly cost for everyone.

3. The percentage of money donated by the missionary / their family / their ward, or the Church's general missionary fund, gets summed up to make up the total cost of that missionary's whole mission, which will be more or less the same for every missionary on that mission (Sister missionaries iirc cost a bit more). That money then gets divided, and the missionary receives a stippend every 15 days that should in theory be enough for all their needs (the local Mission President makes recommendations on if this should increase or not based on local cost of living, although raising the overall cost of a mission is not something that is done easily).

4. Members can 100% still feed the missionaries, although it's more common in some places versus others. In Brazil missionaries get fed daily, and because of that receive a smaller stippend. In some places, mission presidents discourage this because they feel it's time wasted, while others encourage it.

5. A missionary's experience is probably 75% dependant on how their mission president chooses to administer the mission, which leads some to have amazing experiences, and others to have not so good ones. My mission president was amazing, but I've met others that I would not have liked to serve with.

6. While talking about poligamy, CES letter, and other similar issues, is not part of the missionary lessons, we'll be happy to answer any questions. With that said, missionaries aren't trained apologists / theologians. Any knowledge that we do have, comes from our personal study (which we are very much encouraged to do), and seminary / institute classes prior to our mission (as close to a theological training as we're gonna get, but not every missionary has the opportunity to receive that prior to their mission anyway). So you'll find some missionaries who are better prepared to answer all sorts of questions (I'd like to think that I was one of those), and others who aren't prepared at all. Then you also have missionaries who are not speaking their own language, and are not fluent in whatever language they're teaching, and are not able to do much discussion outside of a few memorized phrases (especially when they're new). Whether missionaries should be introducing people to some of the most "controversial" topics, is a whole other discussion (albeit an important one, that I think we should have).

7. A lot of focus in the video about what and how missionaries used to teach 40 years ago. The Church is an ever-evolving entity, and I believe we've learned from past experiences and mistakes, and changed our approaches to be better, and I think there's room for even greater improvement. I'm glad I didn't serve 40 years ago when I would have had to memorize a whole discussion, and even back then some missions were already pushing those boundaries and used teachings methods that were much closer to the current Preach My Gospel handbook that missionaries are using. When I taught on my mission, sometimes it was more like a lesson, because that's what worked better with certain people, and sometimes it was more of a conversation (I preferred the latter).

[pattyakriel]

Theres a general resentment in South Africa among the majority of us when mormon pr evangelical missionaries come lnowcking. Missionaries are clisely linked to our Apartheid past. This doesnt mean that there are no Christians, Evangelicals or Mormons in our country. I dont see much knocking on our doors these days. I sometimes find leaflets, books, recordings in my post box - that never cease to amaze me - always wonder if theyre given political and social information about Africa, to firstly learn our cultures and believes, our basic human needs before presuming to be "bringing the good message"

[datalisa]

Megan explains this stuff without a judgy tone - mad respect for her.

[ValeriePeterson-wf]

I Love how you explain things in the Mormon Church went ever I went I was waiting for them to start over so I could understand it you have taught me so much thank you for your hard work 😊❤

[marthat]

Thanks for this perspective. Before, I would feel threatened by them - seeing them as religious manipulators… but this helps me view them with compassion, as humans that need love just like me.