I know the Lord leads the missionary work today, throught HIS living Prophets.

We are also counciled to pray for confirmation of the things Prophet's say, let alone prayer for confirmation that The Propher or even local leaders are our chosen leaders. I believe it is our responsibility to gain that revelation for ourselves.

If we just do everything the prophet does do we now lose our free agency??

I was 33 and my wife was 22 when we were married. Twenty years and eight children later, we're still going strong!

Perhaps without purse or script application today is a mindset. When I went on my mission in 1977 to Zurich Switzerland, missionaries needed somewhere around $175 US dollars to serve in that mission. I worked for months saving every penny to be able to have the funds upfront in my bank account. Which was what I believed was required at the time. When the time came for me to report I didn’t have enough. I sold my car, clunker that was. My parents were not well off as to the things of this world but they promised to help me with what was lacking and the elders quorum scraped together a $30 monthly donation for me. I believe I was the second missionary to serve from our small branch in Canada and the first sister. It was a big deal. I was so grateful. The costs of the mission continued to rise as I served. When I cashed my check each month the exchange rate brought it lower and lower. My companions parents were able to compensate for their kids but I had no extra money. Results of this were I had people who fed us. Members, non members alike. I had companions who never had a single dinner appointment till I was their companion. The Lord knows us and the desires of our hearts and He blesses us. When I was transferred to a very mountainous area and had to buy a bike my companion in that area was from England, the only member in her family, a linguist, spoke 5 languages, impressive missionary! About 1/2 way through the month we were both out of our monthly allotment. Back in the day you had to pay for transfers so my money was gone faster with the purchase of the bike, a second hand no speed woman’s bike. We laughed at our situation and decided rather than borrow from the mission office we would go without “purse or script”. For the next two weeks we solely relied on the Lord to feed us. We were grateful we had a place to sleep cause we had already paid our rent. But we had not one item of food in our attic apartment of the old farm house we lived in. We only had one dinner appointment on the calendar with the ward mission leader’s family at the end of the month. We left early every morning and rode our bikes 5 kilometers into town. We did as we always did, walked the streets and talked to as many people as we could. In the afternoon and evening we knocked doors. Miracles happened. People gave us bread, extra money when they bought a Book of Mormon, we had to buy them ourselves and sell them for cost, 3 franks, cheap for a hard back book. Sometimes we got invited in and they fed us. One time we knocked on a door and the lady answered and said, I’ve been waiting for you, shut the door, my companion and I looked at each other, she came back and gave us money and shut the door again. Everyday for two weeks someone gave us money, just enough to buy something that day to eat or gave us a little food, just enough for one scanty meal. But it was a time never to be forgotten! The Lord will take care of His servants if we trust Him and do His work. What an adventure in faith my mission was. We have sent all 7 of our children on missions. First grandchild has sent in papers. Times have changed. I pray they have challenges and opposition to develop faith. Going without is a good thing, at least periodically.

The only thing I disagree with is the clapping in sacrament meeting. It's good to remember it's the body of the Savior under that white cloth.

Ok American missionaries have more support in terms of health insurance and other services compared with other people from other country like in Brazil for exemple .

1984-86 in Orange County, California, we missionaries lived with members to reduce the high cost of living.

Every red flag went off during the thing--it was obvious--the whole thing stunk(and I would personally describe that as spiritual intuition). And I'm an allopathic-trained physician. Personally did not take the genetic therapy. The church made a suggestion based on good intentions, what they were told by "the sCieNcE exPerTs", and their misplaced trust in government institutions. Would love to see them do a retrospective on this, and make the clarification that it wasn't a revelation that all should do that, necessarily. Hopefully they learn that politics and individual health choices are outside of the purview of the church, and stay focused on Christ.

Another interesting thing to look into is how the Lord set up His church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord (1835) set up FOUR equal priesthood quorums to lead the church administratively in D&C 107. Two of the quorums were to lead the Saints in the stakes of Zion AT HOME: (1) the First Presidency and (2) the Stake High Councils of the church headed up by a Stake President. And two more quorums were to lead the Saints IN THE MISSION FIELD: (3) the Twelve and (4) the Seventy. The Lord put checks and balances in place (like the US Constitution, which is also ignored) both at home and away. One quorum, or one man, was NOT ever meant to hold all the power. It was never meant to be this hierarchical situation that it has evolved into. Page 112 in The Secret Chamber by Val Brinkerhoff goes into this in detail and lays out exactly what and why this change happened after the deaths of Presidents Joseph and Hyrum and their brother Samuel.

Sadly, Secularism has infiltrated the church resulting in many changes over the years like dress codes. When the LDS Church Elders accepted the 2020 stolen election and acknowledging Biden as legitimate, I looked up to the Heavenly Father and said: "Mama Mia! Dove sono i soldati Ephraimus!"

The exercise of such faith should be a requirement. How would a mission of austerity affect those that return regarding their participation in the building up of the Kingdom post-mission. The death on the vine is so pervasive for return missionaries. When I ask missionaries in the field what they will do upon reentry, not one has responded "I will continue to give all I can to building the Kingdom of God"...

Luke 22:35-36 indicates there is a time for purse, scrip, and sword. Families, wards, individuals, and of course the missionary's contribution are not against, "without purse or scrip," as this is a way the Lord, who provides all, completes His work. Everyone is quick to say, "No purse or scrip." Where are they when it comes to feeding the poor, shoeing the shoeless, teaching the uneducated? Oh, if there is money to be made provide housing that is not affordable. Give an offering from your fast that is only enough to be seen but not enough to feed a person for a day. To say God said, "this," there can be no other way is hypocritical. God can change His mind with the swipe of His hand, if not there would never have been a loss of 1/3 third of the hosts of Heaven and there would be no choice.

Could artificial intelligence produce a book like the Book of Mormon?

I am all for this. Though I think the mothers of these young missionaries would be just fine taking their children to a different Church and making sure they do not go on missions.

Lincoln, Jefferson, Joseph Smith, etc., said the same thing about what we should do with them. And they were right.

Does God use the "Drug Cartels", human sex traffickers, slave traffickers, terrorists and money launderers by the tens of thousands to advance His prophecy ???????? Yes, the immigration system needs a drastic overhaul. The cost should be a nominal background check and clerical fee. If we allowed increased, easier and cheaper legal migration we would not have so many illegal immigrants. But "illegal" is still "illegal" and should not be encouraged by anyone who is a law-abiding citizen.

2 yr old post, so dont know where your at now (Aug 2024), ... while God is certainly the authoritative final judge, and many human 'priesthood' acts will be of NO efficacy or reversed, these things DO affect your mortal life. Know a person who was 'x'd', having a firm testimony of gospel & virtuous life, but held to historical views that were not shown to be wrong, & would not deny testimonies simply because of hierarchy threat ... 30 yrs later, in coming back to church, an apostle heard story in person and apologized on behalf of 12 & presidency, declaring it should never have happened! Ya, 30 yrs later, 3 failed marriages later because of being in twilight zone! Valiancy requires ultimate prices be paid for convictions, but basic freedoms to learn & think should not be made 'life & death' , & sometimes you just keep things to yourself or avoid unnecessary confrontation. This particular 'Musing' seems honest & thoughtful enough with basic faithful underpinnings.

Interesting discussion. I've appreciated the comments more than the video itself.

The ‘War of Northern Aggression’ or ‘Southern Succession’, erroneously known as The American ‘Civil’ War, had nothing to do with freeing the slaves. General Robert E. Lee, the Southern leader who is venerated by all; stated that if the war had been fought over slavery, then he would have fought for the North! Lincoln has the blood of 600,000 dead and incalculable millions of injured and maimed on his hands. As the old story goes: ‘history is written by the victors.’

They made missionaries get the jab. I think that qualifies as a major sacrifice.

Btw. You may want to reconsider your choice of lighting so it doesn’t look like you crawled out of hell to give your message and left the door open.

This guy makes money off religion which is known as Priestcraft. Si he has no leg to stand on.

Wow the comments are unreal

Easy answer! They are doing as Jesus commanded. Jesus is the head of the church and called a prophet who oversees the missionary work! Simple as pie..

I think you got this one wrong, and I normally agree with about everything you say

It's almost like a 2000-year old book about itinerant preachers is not very relevant in the year 2024 🤷‍♂️

I agree are 18 and 19 year-old pampered missionaries might take more than they need nowadays. Many missionaries maybe shouldn't have even gone on missions, as you say. Would doing this really test the power of God to provide for those with real faith? Yes yes yes. BUT!!! You are so naive to think it would work in mass. It would be a disaster in 2024. Wake up! But make sure you send your children out without purse or script when/if they go on full-time missions. Or you'll be a total hypocrite. I had a strong testimony of the restored gospel even back in the 70s when I went on a mission to Europe. I won't say where. But I'm pretty sure that we 'kids' would have mostly starved and died if we had to beg for food, lodging, and script or depend on the members. The local governments also would soon have banned us from entry, because we would have had to spend most of our time begging just to survive. There were very few members and very few people who would even talk to us. And that was 45+ years ago. Today? Brother, I admire you and your intellect and your communication skills, but you are about the most negative saint I've ever encountered. You know so much better than our leaders. Is there one single thing you like that the leaders of the church have us do or get right today? If so, can we hear a musing on that? Oh, and by the way, the top leader at the head of His church is Jesus Christ. Is he really screwing up or should he scratch our failure leaders and start over. Maybe he should make you the president of His restored restored church...

That was from a different time. Things can adapt in acceptable ways, which is one reason why prophets are necessary and give counsel for their time. For example, the members of the original church wear different clothing instead of pioneer clothing, they have modern education, modern jobs, etc. Things can adapt appropriately.

Connor, should women serve missions? I cannot find one example of it in the scriptures.

The Lord Jesus christ the lord you consider from the Bible has returned to the earth multiple times and spoken again on how to live in these last days

People have been thinking they caught the Church doing wrong in this regard for a long time.

I only think the amount to be paid is by those living in prosperous countries. Missionaries from other countries barely pay anything.

SO are we going to start seeing Tuttle Twins books given out for free?

Without purse or script would only work today if we abandon the idea of having tens of thousands of missionaries in the world. I just don't see how the Church could keep track 70,000 missionaries when they are have no set place where they live. Also young men and woman just out of high school to handle everything involved would be too much for them. The world is just so different than it was in the 1830s. Perhaps a missionary force of say 5000 missionaries who are older could do this today effectively.

Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

You seem to have overlooked Acts 20: 25-35. It is clear that Paul on his mission had purse and script, and pointed out that he provided for himself and his companions, and not on those where he went. He didn't have the benefit of digital money and global banks, so he would labor from time to time for money to last a while. And in 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12 we get a more general command to labor to support ourselves. And in 1 Corinthians 9: 11-19 Paul says that it's okay to receive for preaching the gospel, but it's better to provide for oneself. It's no surprise that most of Christianity wouldn't mention Luke 22: 35-36, as generally having paid clergy they make a living off of the money they collect in the name of God.

I hope and pray the Church remains faithful and true, yet I vaguely recall a scripture that said basically that Ephraim will not show up Judah.

Let’s be clear, as you say, we’re living in different times. Why do you believe that many Missionaries come home and go in active. Don’t you take the President knows. Do you think he’s totally aloof?

Here is the first thing Libertarians get wrong: there is an objective right and wrong. We are moral creatures who perceive right and wrong to differing degrees. However, there is an average opinion that the majority agree to. The majority does have the power and the right to force the minority to comply. We can make laws against bad behavior and enforce them. The second thing you got wrong is that Lincoln was hiding his priorities. His first priority was Union and his second priority was to limit the spread of slavery that a minority, the Slave holders kept trying to force on the rest of the country. The truth about the Confederate South is that it was ran by a small minority that foisted its values over the values of the majority. There were far more slaves than slave holders and if you believe in the rule of majority than you have to re-establish it when it’s broken. That’s what he did. Right wrong or indifferent he did it. He was flawed. He was sympathetic to Karl Marx and he didn’t help the church at all. Yet, he did save the Union. It was the confederate elites running the south like it was their personal property is what tore the Union apart.

My grandpa went without purse or script in the 1940s

“…now they take a lot of purse…” Really? $12,000 for a two year non-career experience is a lot? Of all the things to pick apart in the mission experience (badges, uniforms, schedules, presidents, lesson curriculum, mission cost not being income considerate, age, training, duration, elders vs sisters, etc, etc) you pick purse or script as worthy of critique. I appreciate the information. I wish you would start out being straightforward about your thesis. “I believe the ‘purse or script’ commandment is still in effect and we have fallen.” Then make the case that purse and script weaken faith and conversion.

I’ve seen the “no purse or script” model done in other churches. It was executed as a business model. It has a very eerie feeling to it. Evangelicals have stained the traveling preacher model. When people find out missionaries pay their way they are floored.

We’ll send your kid without “purse or scrip” first in a third-world country. Tell us how it goes 😂

When we show up in impoverished countries with nice clothes and stuff, here's what happens: 1. You get robbed. Sometimes at gunpoint or knifepoint. 2. You realize how good you've had it all your life and now have a guilt complex. 3. Your foreign companion hates you, your nice clothes, your watch and camera. 4.They get the impression that money grows on trees in America and you never had to work a day in your life. 5. Then when you say you've been blessed for keeping the commmandments, they figure God's greatest blessing is wealth. 6. You become a target for every beggar on the street.

Since Jesus cannot return without there first occurring the great falling away, and since LDS is the only true church, the great falling away must be in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This seems like an ancient Jerusalem, "You can't take X amount of steps on Sunday... or else" kind of thing.

Maybe it’s just what pops into my feed, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a positive and uplifting video from you. They are all “let me complain about the church and tell you how the leadership is wrong and I am right” for an hour. Is there anything you actually like about the church?

The best advice I received before my mission was to not use extra funds from home. I served in Central America with Latino companions my first year. They were used to living on very little and taught me to do the same. I felt united with them and we had the spirit because we were one temporally. I think missionaries living off extra from home miss out on this experience. I know we were blessed because of it. Just an additional thought

I have also wondered about this sometimes. I know I often have more confidence in those who have given almost everything to follow Christ over those running corporations in his name.