Deseret News | MormonTimes.com: Inner-city mission taught love of neighbor

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MormonTimes.com: Inner-city mission taught love of neighbor

kathyn | 7:51 a.m. July 8, 2008

My husband and I were service missionaries, also. We served part-time for two years and we just loved it. We served at the dry pack cannery in Magna. Because of my husband's health problems, we'll never be able to serve a full-time mission but this was a wonderful experience for us. I couldn't believe how much fun we had, too.

Darlene | 8:14 a.m. July 8, 2008

My husband Earl and I were also service missionaries but our's was an awful experience and we would never do it again .. we were abused and taken for granted .. bad experience and no more missions for us thanks very much

to Darlene | 8:59 a.m. July 8, 2008

I am so sorry that you had an unpleasant experience. That never should have happened. I hope you can find joy in service in another way.

Comments continue below

Carole Knowles | 9:21 a.m. July 8, 2008

I did not know that young married couples could serve missions. That's great!

John Lambert | 9:30 a.m. July 8, 2008

I really enjoyed this article. I live in metro-Detroit and we also send people on missions to help in the inner-city. Such people are the key to many of the branches surviving. Things are getting better, and the branches are nearly wards. However 15 years ago when some of them started they only had one Melchezidek Priesthood holder and were only able to have a full presidency by calling couples to help.
I thought this article was excellent.

BC | 10:00 a.m. July 8, 2008

I live on the west side of salt lake, and I see the service missionaries often. Even though I have never been a service missionary myself, I attended the training that they go to. This program is wonderful. They learn how to really care for the poor and needy - not the Utah Mormon right-wing "care for the poor and needy only IF the poor and needy are willing to care for themselves" nonsense that is so prevalent in the more-affluent wards in Utah. True, Christlike service giving to the needs and wants of the poor is being done.

Anonymous | 10:02 a.m. July 8, 2008

Great article.

My husband and I served a part time mission when we were first married (20 years ago). Wow, it was a great experience. It set the tone for the rest of our marriage. We are very close to each other, and learned many things in those first couple of years about unity, getting along and learning to be more selfless. It really changed the direction of our whole marriage. ( Our mission also ended abruptly because of our new born daughter. )

I would recommend a part time mission to anyone who wants a great marriage. Just imagine being married to your mission companion!

Jan | 10:21 a.m. July 8, 2008

What a totally awesome way to start a marraige, in service to others. This was a great article - thank you for printing it.

Henry Drummond | 11:00 a.m. July 8, 2008

I think the Mormon Church is doing something here that will make a huge impact in people's lives. I have some Mormon friends who have done these types of missions and it is rewarding for all parties involved. I think it would be a good experience also for anyone who makes public policy to do this as well. You really get a better idea of what the real problems are and most importantly that there are in fact solutions that can impact all of society.

To Darlene | 12:29 p.m. July 8, 2008

So sorry you had such an apparently awful mission. Just wonder if you asked for re-assignment, talked to your mission president or leaders. As senior missionaries you had a lot more flexibility than the "young guys", and I do not understand why you allowed an awful experience to continue, when there were alternatives? No one should suffer continued abuse - one time only and then you leave! As far as being taken for granted - you should not have allowed that either!

We have had many senior couples out here "in the mission field", and all of them came through just fine, even without the comforts of their pleasant homes, and the company of their children and grandchildren. Sometimes they stretched beyond what they thought they could do, but all provided invaluable service.

I'm sorry you do not feel you would like to serve again.

Thanks! | 1:36 p.m. July 8, 2008

I also did not know that young marrieds could serve service missions! What a great idea if they can do it, and what an experience. They also could have reached some that older people might not have.

I'm not sure exactly how this works. Was this a full-time mission? I can understand senior couples having saved to provide for themselves during their service, but wonder how 21 and 22 year olds could do it? Also, was college put on hold?

However it was accomplished - thank you!

Darlene | 2:05 p.m. July 8, 2008

We did talk to the mission president and he repeatedly told us "talk to the hand" and that our heavenly father had placed us in the position of service missionaries and we should accept the challenges that service brought as a test to our testimony ..

To Darlene 2:05 p.m. | 2:54 p.m. July 8, 2008

I'm so sorry, you really sound as if you had a horrible experience - and in my opinion, your Mission President was wrong - the safety and welfare of "his" missionaries was very important. As senior missionaries you had already had a lifetime of experience, and I'm sure you had "challenges" to test your testimony throughout your life! At that point my husband and I would have taken it higher up, and requested reassignment to a different area or mission, or honorable release. The Mission President was not the final word in your circumstances.

I hope that you have been able to find ways to serve in your own home area, and are seeing the rewards of your service, and feeling joy in doing so.

Great | 3:02 p.m. July 8, 2008

I think this is great...my parents went on seven missions. I would not recommend this...lost to many years with them, but I think Darlene's experience is sad. My parents felt that way every once in awhile, it is part of life..a lot is attitude and as said before....you should have put your foot down...the mission president is only human...if you would open your heart and serve again, you would have a much better experience I bet!

to darlene | 3:33 p.m. July 8, 2008

sounds like you were on Mission impossible .. sorry that's corny please consider serving again .. you won't regret it .. I was praying for you this afternoon and got a clear picture of future happiness for you and earl so vivid it was breath taking hear the calling and ease your soul Darlene

kenny | 5:05 p.m. July 8, 2008

When missionaries return home and say that was the best 2 years of their life does not mean it was without the trials of everyday living.

The Detroit, Michigan area has seen in quite a remarkable way how the gospel affects people in our inner city.Missionaries played a huge part in that.
Couples from the suburbs serving in the branches.It works.We now have a member of the High council from one of our branches.

The Bell Isle Branch is set to host a open house of their new building.
The last LDS chapel that was built in Detroit before this was in 1928 I think. Some day we will have a stake just in Detroit I hope.

Isn't.... | 8:56 p.m. July 8, 2008

marriage a mission in itself?.....I think you two have done well.....LOL!!

sarah jane | 11:06 p.m. July 8, 2008

My husband and I served an innercity mission. We had some very wonderful experiences. I also understand Darlene's feelings because we experienced some of the same situations that she described. We learned to say no when we felt we were being taken advantage of. We offered assistance to the extent that we felt was acceptable and backed out of situations when we felt we were being abused.

I would serve another mission and I would be there to help. However, I will refuse to carry the full load for someone who is capable of handling his own load.

John Lambert | 10:50 a.m. July 10, 2008

To to Darlene at 2:05,
I think people should hold back from passing judgements. I have no clue who was right and who was wrong because I do not know any of the circumstances. People throw around some words so lightly that we do not know what they really mean.
I do not know the circumstances and would say that we should avoid condemning people when we have no clue what the actual conditions were.

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