Comments about ‘Preparing their children, youths to serve’

This is a beautiful and worthwhile cause to prepare to do for the people of the world. This preparation is for life's journeys and not just for a mission, however. Service is such a worthwhile project that never stops, in this world or the next.

It does help for parents and their children to have a goal and with the instant drop in ages, it didn't give men and women in those age groups very much time to speed up their preparation.

I know mission presidents are ready for their youthful and energetic new missionaries to join the force for good in the world. Many of these missionaries have served in humanitarian causes and know how to work in a world full of challenges.

Thank goodness for parental and church programs that have prepared these servants of God for this time to fulfill the promises He has given to those that serve diligently, now and in the future.

I am in the YM Presidency and am thrilled about the change. It immediately made us change our attitude, as some of my Deacons will be on missions within 5 years. We are more coordinated with what the Teachers are doing, and they more with the Priests' preparation, as we need to make sure they progress and are ready right out of High School.

It means I will have 2 sons out, over-lapping by a year, instead of one right after the other, but double the blessings, double the fun!

There is one further blessing I have thought of, that I have not seen discussed on these message boards. Withe a far higher percentage of our young women serving as missionaries in the future, they won't be available right after High School to get married early.

I feel this is a positive. For years, I have felt that in some LDS Cultural circles there is too much emphasis on getting married as soon as possible. I think this change will allow our young women to mature, prioritize, and in the end, choose their mates more carefully.

I see this strengthening marriages and the Church in general going forward.