LDS missionary applications jump 471%

During the last two weeks, nearly five times the typical number of young Latter-day Saints have begun the application process to serve as full-time missionaries.

The leap was precipitated by an announcement earlier this month that reduced the minimum age for missionary service.

In a statement issued late Monday afternoon, church spokesman Michael Purdy said that while about 700 new applications are typically started each week, during the last two weeks "that number has increased to approximately 4,000 per week."

Further, Purdy noted that "slightly more than half of the applicants are women." Prior to the announcement, women made up 14 percent of full-time LDS missionaries.

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Jerry R Wood

While Romney says he is not about converting America to Mormonism we will see a great rise in mormon growth. Christian be alert and aware, this cult that shows to be about morals and family, the inner sanctum is deceitful and evil. Just be warned.
- John Adams
  
  Good warning.
  - mesaman
    
    I am warned. Now would you try using your brain to think and analyze and study before you open your trap and exhibit your gross stupidity.
- Esther
  
  Not so.
  - John Adams
    
    NO ONE in the mormon church is a True Saint nor ever shall be unless they repent and turn to Jesus Christ and Him alone!!
    - Esther
      
      We do.
      - John Adams
        
        No, madam, you do not!! That is the sad thing with a cult; those who follow it are blinded to the evil it truly is.
      - Esther
        
        We DO.
      - John Adams
        
        According to God's Holy Word, the Bible, you do not.
      - Vladimir
        
        John Adams, you seem to be misinformed. Go to http://www.mormon.org and see the real truth.
      - Vladimir
        
        Blinded, eh. To evil, you say. Truly?
        
        We need John Adams! The extraordinary identifier of evil.
        
        Quick, John Adams, get thee to the nearest Mormon church and then get back to me with your findings.
        
        I've been observing for years and the only evil I've seen was switching our meetings to the 9 am block two years in a row.
    - Esther
      
      WE are truly Saints, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and again, you have no idea what I am talking about.
      - John Adams
        
        The Bible says that you are wrong.
      - Vladimir
        
        Read the Bible, John Adams. The term saint was applied to the rank and file membership of the primitive church. We are the rank and file of His church in the latter days. You do know that these are the latter days?
      - John Adams
        
        The mormon church is NOT part of Christ's church!!
      - Vladimir
        
        You are correct, John Adams, it is not part of Christ's church, it is Christ's church.
      - John Adams
        
        IMPOSSIBLE!!
      - Vladimir
        
        Pray about it, John Adams.
      - John Adams
        
        I don't need to pray about it. The Bible tells me it is impossible.
      - Vladimir
        
        Just to be safe, double check it with God. You never know when you've misinterpreted or missed something. After all, it's the Bible that tells you, you can do that.
      - Esther
        
        The bible says no such thing.
      - Esther
        
        It is true.
      - Esther
        
        Yes!
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        Primitive, the primitive church exist today, as strong as ever, for your prophet to say there was a need to restore the PRIMITIVE church, is saying the gates of hell DID prevail against the church!!! Please, know the church of the east was larger than the episcalpalian and Roman catholic churches together til the 16th century..No need to restore the church during that time frame.. There were hundreds of small Pentecostal type churches during that time and all the way to the present time frame. No need to restore "anything" Today the largest growing church is the small Pentecostal type churches miracles are happening , sick and diseased people are being healed, dead people are being raised back to life. Nope not in America, Middle east , Africa, India.
        You acknowledge many times what Joe Smith, and many of YOUR prophets has said didn't come to pass, Now, what does the Bible say for the People to do that hear false prophets??? Thats' right, TURN FROM THEM. What makes a false prophet, If ONE thing they prophesy does not come to pass, they are FALSE!
      - Vladimir
        
        It has been revealed to us from God that the church His Son established suffered a prophesied apostasy and the keys to the priesthood to run His church were taken from the earth. Enter the dark ages. The gates of hell cannot prevail against revelation. Matthew 16:17-18 (with adequate attention to verse 17)
        
        If you have doubts that Joseph Smith or any of his successors were called as prophets of the Lord, I invite you to go to God in prayer and do as James advises; ask God. James 1:5
        
        I have a feeling you'll take His word over mine.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        Do you have to belong the the LDS church to be a saint?????
      - Vladimir
        
        Depends on YOUR definition of saint. If you are a Catholic it has a different meaning from ours. I am a saint, but not in the Catholic sense of someone who has been beatified. I am simply a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And no, I don't play for New Orleans.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        So, you are saying you have to belong to the LDS to be a saint?
      - Vladimir
        
        To be a Latter Day Saint, yes.
      - Esther
        
        In the case of LDS you could be taught by the missionaries and proceed from there. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are considered the Saints. This is the kind I am.
        
        Another position for sainthood is in the Catholic Church, Pastor Dwayne. In other words you have to be a Catholic like Pope Pius or Mother Teresa is reputed to have been where the Pope would officially canonize you. It is a long process and many times it is posthumously done to famous people. (This is the kind of saint my mother would be if Rome would come to their senses. She was a tirelessly good woman, but she was not famous except in her own town. But don't worry about her because I took care of her ordinances in the Dallas Temple of the Saints in 1999, so she is a Saint in heaven, Saint Anne.)
        
        The other way: if you are a Saints football fan you could be a secular one. Just buy one of those shirts from Wally World.
    - Vladimir
      
      In that case, John Adams, all Mormons are True Saints by your definition.
      - Pastor Dwayne
        
        You forget something Vlad. you have a Gal. 1:7-9 another Gospel, another Jesus, that the Apostle Paul sternly warned against!!!
John Adams

I wonder if this is a reflection of just how hard it is to get a "real" job.
- Esther
  
  Coupled with Mitt's success,yes. Remember, these kids pay their own way from money they have set aside doing chores, as Mitt did for his mission. Just think of all that discipline.
  - John Adams
    
    You sound as though you have fallen under the spell of the cult of mormonism. You best read your Bible and find the truth BEFORE it becomes too late.
    - Vladimir
      
      John Adams, you really seem to be misinformed. Go to http://www.mormon.org and see the straight story.
- EstebanCafe
  
  Sir, I know these young men and I would hire any of them that I have met.
  As for the "job" comment: unlike our Evangelical church, there is no paid ministry in the LDS faith–these kids save up their dollars and pay their way for two years.
  An interesting comment made by your next First Lady (hopefully) went something like, "No one is more selfish than a teenager. The LDS faith asks young men at the most selfish point of their lives to PAY to go serve others for 2 years." However you want to cast that, it remains remarkable to me that any young men would perform such a feat.
  I have two sons who have USA citizen and work in your military (CIA & USMC–both been to Afghanistan; the Marine to Iraq, too). They meet lot of Mormons working in same fields. They both admire them as honest and charitable in heart and action. Let us be careful in our condemnation of such and show that our works reflect our faith as much as do theirs.
  John, consult Acts 5: 35-40 and take Gamaliel's advice at heart before you "beat" these men any further.
  - John Adams
    
    My comment was not to "beat" the young people. It was more a commentary on the state of the obama economy.
    On a different matter; the lds "missionaries" are spreading falsehood that, if believed, will send people to the eternal torment of Hell. I think that they are sincere, but they are sincerely wrong and the message they proclaim is both dangerous and evil.
    - Vladimir
      
      John Adams, you seem to be misinformed. Go to http://www.mormon.org and see the straight story.
      - John Adams
        
        I've been to Salt Lake City, Temple Square, the Tabernacle, taken the official tour, even received a Book of Mormon – I'm not misinformed about mormonism.
      - Rebart
        
        Maybe not, but you do have a blind eye And a closed mind. This doesn't mean you should accept Mormonism as your religion, but you should be a not be so condemning about something you don't understand
      - John Adams
        
        God has condemned mormonism, therefore I don't HAVE to understand it to condemn it.
      - Esther
        
        Rebart and Vladimir are right. You do not understand, yet you look down your nose at me and tell me a bald face lie, like "God has condemned Mormonism"… You can't see it and I can't do anything about that. You ignored everything I told you. Also, you seem to equate my religion with Muslims. Is that what you saw in Salt Lake City? Is that what you see when you see Mitt and Ann Romney and family? You are grossly off base. You must have had a real headache in Salt Lake resisting the good things you saw and the good people who greeted you. You have a hard heart sir and since you read the BofM you know well what that is and how far that will take you. Not far. That is the first thing you need to work on, read James 1:5 and if you seriously have the discernment necessary, you will know how and where to go from there. At this point, well, you are no where in understanding.
      - John Adams
        
        "Goodness" is NOT godliness.
      - Vladimir
        
        Please explain.
      - John Adams
        
        There have been many "good" people who were NOT godly – "mother" theresa for example.
      - Esther
        
        She was truthful. That makes her in good-standing with any deity. You did not answer Vladimir's request for an explanation.
      - John Adams
        
        More evidence that you are terribly deceived.
      - Esther
        
        Are you saying that Mother Teresa did not do good works?
      - John Adams
        
        Her "works" in the eyes of most humans would be considered "good", however, in God's eyes all of her works are considered filthy rags.
        
        Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
      - Esther
        
        Unfortunately, of the 400 plus bibles, we have not the one Joseph Smith started before he was killed. I appreciate your pointing out about Mother Teresa's good works. I see more everyday why people think the Saints (us, in my religion) have a different God, what we have is a God, who is not satanic. In Isaiah 64:6 if Isaiah is saying that is what God thinks, then I believe that is not really God but the biblical god that does not exist as Jeff likes to put it.
      - John Adams
        
        FINALLY you admit that you do not believe in the God of the Bible, the ONLY True God.
      - Esther
        
        Calm down, please. I believe in the TRUE GOD, one who is NOT SATANIC and I believe there are many errors in the accounting of Him. Obviously you are not aware that their are over 400 versions of the bible AND COUNTING. And how many sects to match plus some more? You are the one who believes in the inerrancy of the bible which IS REALLY full of contradictions. I have said numerous times I do not believe the bible is inerrant. Implied in that statement is the fact we do not know the TRUE GOD from the bible.
        
        The bible is no more accurate than quantum mechanics is accurate. The two greatest disappointments of my life. I am sorry Joseph Smith did not complete his interpretation; the Saints will have to wait for the hereafter to see Joseph's.
      - John Adams
        
        Now you say that, not only do you believe in the God of the Bible, you say that the Bible has errors. Those two statements alone PROVE that you are not a Christian.
      - Esther
        
        I do not believe in the inerrancy of the bible. I believe in the true God that is in heaven and He deserves that the book written about him is free of errors, but it is not.
      - Vladimir
        
        Based on your response that God views all our works as filthy rags, John Adams, what's your take on the parable of the Good Samaritan.
      - John Adams
        
        Jesus was answering the question, "Who is my neighbor?"
      - Esther
        
        How is that different from Mother Teresa? (Have I lied to the six year olds? I can't wait to hear this)
      - John Adams
        
        The parable does NOT discuss salvation at all.
        I do not understand your comment about 6 year olds.
      - Esther
        
        All bible stories have implicit consequences in salvation.
        
        The 6 year olds are the students I teach sunday school, really of no consequence other than they know that they must be good in order to return to The Father and they love the good samaritan story and those like it where their parents probably already told them it teaches them to be kind and help others. Their parents value the story fully, so they do as well. It is the WAY kids are raised. By the time they reach 18 their bank accounts will be brimming with money for the good work they did at home helping their parents and they will go on a mission paying for it, in full, themselves. That is what is meant by my comment, ultimately.
      - John Adams
        
        According to God, there are NO good people, for all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags to Him. Our "goodness" will not get us into Heaven. The ONLY way into Heaven is through the blood of Jesus Christ.
        Each of the parables was given for a specific reason and many of them do not have anything to do with salvation.
      - Esther
        
        You are unbelieveable at times
      - Esther
        
        Yes you are misinformed, but due only to your own lack of discernment, and you have no idea what I am talking about.
      - John Adams
        
        I know that mormonism is both dangerous and evil. That is all I really need to know about it.
      - Esther
        
        It is not. If you really believe that why have you queried me? Is it to lambast me? Yes or No?
      - John Adams
        
        why have you queried me?
        This IS a discussion forum.
        Is it to lambast me?
        Of course not.
      - Vladimir
        
        You are right, this is a discussion forum, but you invite a good lambasting. Come up to speed on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and then tell us we are dangerous and evil. Go to http://www.mormon.org.
      - John Adams
        
        I don't need to go to a web site to KNOW that mormonism is evil and dangerous. My Bible tells me that it is.
      - Vladimir
        
        Better get your Bible fixed, John Adams, there's no proof in there.
      - Vladimir
        
        Depends on how much truth you understood.
      - John Adams
        
        The truth is found in God's Holy Word, the Bible, and it proves that mormonism is both dangerous and evil.
      - Esther
        
        There is not a word in the bible that "proves that mormonism is both dangerous and evil" … that is a bald-face lie. What is your sect, sir?
        
        We are not Mormons or morons, we are The Saints. Let's get some terms straight, first. If you can't respect us, there is no reason to talk.
      - John Adams
        
        There are NO saints in the lds church. That isn't disrespect, it's Bible truth!!
      - Esther
        
        WE are. Again, you have no discernment when it comes to the SAINTS!
      - Esther
        
        We are. Your bible has errors. You did not answer my question. What is your religious affiliation, your sect, if you will?
      - John Adams
        
        I am a born-again Christian. I have been a member of different churches – Conservative Grace Brethren, Independent Fundamental Bible, and Independent Fundamental Baptist.
      - Esther
        
        I would have guessed Calvinist. Are your churches in the SBC? If so, do you know Richard Land?
      - John Adams
        
        I've never belonged to a church in SBC. I, personally, believe as John Calvin did, at least in most areas.
      - Esther
        
        I thought so.
      - Vladimir
        
        Sure would like to see that proof, John Adams.
      - John Adams
        
        Good – read the Bible.
      - Vladimir
        
        Okay, finished. Skipped the OT, but don't think your proof is there. So I ask again, where's the proof, John Adams?
      - Esther
        
        On a scale of one to ten, please tell us how would you rate these two religions, with 10 being the most dangerous and evil?
      - John Adams
        
        ALL faiths other than the True Gospel as presented in God's Holy Word, the Bible, are 10 on that scale.
      - Esther
        
        I would add the True Gospel is one that has not been fully revealed.
      - John Adams
        
        The Bible is the only True Gospel we will ever have.
      - Esther
        
        One day we will have an error free bible. It will happen in the afterlife though, and not any time soon on the earth.
      - John Adams
        
        We already have the only Bible there will ever be, and the Bible we have is error-free.
      - Esther
        
        What is its name?
      - John Adams
        
        In English it's called "The Holy Bible."
      - Esther
        
        I know. I mean of the 400 plus translations, sir. I use the King James Version. [There are a couple I know about in the reformed tradition: Geneva and Geneva Study.]
      - John Adams
        
        I mostly use the King James Version.
      - Esther
        
        At least in your eyes I read the right book. Has Vladimir has been alerted to that fact? You know Joseph Smith would agree with you on the version, but stopped short of claiming it is perfect as you have.
      - John Adams
        
        I've not taken it upon myself to notify vladimir.
        That is only one area where joseph smith was wrong.
    - Esther
      
      You went everywhere essential in SLC, but you got nowhere because the things you were looking at are spiritually discerned. Tell me sir, did you know the saints are all about family? Did you glean even a smidgen of that?
      - John Adams
        
        There are some athiests, some muslims, some hindus who are all about family. That makes them neither spiritual nor right.
      - Esther
        
        It is all about eternal families, it is temple talk you wouldn't understand unless you investigated the positive side rather than the negative. Ask Vlad or visit mormon.org
  - rebart
    
    What a beautiful comment!
    - Esther
      
      Yes, I agree
  - Esther
    
    Thank You
  - Mex Seiko
    
    I wholeheartedly agree. Most people in cults achieve the fanatical fidelity that Christians should have for the true God. But instead we find things that divide us like politics and sports. That's why the grace of God is not based on works of righteousness but according to His love. I pray for their salvation.
    - Esther
      
      Those are passionate about sharing their message of Jesus. The reason it works so well is their true devotion to their cause which is not possible in other churches, not due to cult fanaticism but to love of Christ and to do His work. .
      - Mex Seiko
        
        Esther;
        
        Truth is not determined by fanaticism.
        
        Bible warns us of deceptions, which sincerely loving Christian that are deceived, will sincerely pay the consequences of their deception.
        Jesus, neither anyone of the apostles, or anyone between them and Joseph Smith were Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses. No reformation or whatever improvements anyone could bring to the Christian faith should include polygamy. That alone should be an indicator to any Christian who listened to this man.
        Even if Christianity was a false religion, Mormonism would be a false Christianity just on that basis, but there are even worse or major doctrinal differences that separate you from Christianity universes away.
      - Esther
        
        Are you implying that I said the missionaries are motivated by fanaticism?
      - Mex Seiko
        
        The word fanatic has good connotations only when it's regarding sports and other irrelevant activities, but a bad one when it comes to faith or religion. If you prefer to call it passions, that's, nice.
        I say people in cults are more fanatical than Christians. But I wish we Christians were more fanatical about our faith.
        The apostles and many, many Christians in the Middle-Ages went readily to their deaths for the gospel. There are many people suffering today for their Christian faith, while we skip church for a little rain.
        Regardless, passion or fanaticism, or even lack there off, do not make the thing true or false. Truth stands on its own.
      - Esther
        
        Thanks for the comment Mex. I was a little bit bothered by the word since the connotation is somewhat negative. Though I see what you mean that you wish your faith had that kind of passion… I prefer that word. And the kids do have that very passion that you are talking about, also at varying degrees, for The Christ. Many of these young people are truly astonishing.
        
        I just wanted to share with everyone that there was a lecture given by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve once that is memorable and is prompted by your comment. He often attends non-denominational religion meetings and knows quite a few of the authorities of other branches. Once he told us that he was asked about how we managed to get so many people interested in doing the Lord's work. It is difficult to put it into words, it really is, since so much of what he said you as Christians already know. Just how different it is may rest in our approach to the family and the work that must be done to ensure the family stays together, now and in the afterlife. All of it hinges upon the atonement of Christ. PERIOD With this kind of focus from birth, where when a child is born the child is recognized as a precious perfect gift from Our Father. Emphasis, perfect!!! That is the first divergence I see from other Christians. We believe that correction was made through a revelation from God to our first president. A child is reminded "Do not forget who you are" and this is reminder of where they came from and a recognition of who made it possible, i.e., Christ!
      - Esther
        
        And they say we are not followers of Christ.
        
        @3466b803b510d2ea1db1d8a9919c42af:disqus
      - Mex Seiko
        
        The situation, Esther, is that regardless how you call him, if it's not the Christ described in the Holy Scriptures, it's not the real Christ.
        In Matthew 7:23 Christ utters the terrible words "depart from Me, I never knew you." This He will pronounce to many who come to Him surprised because they have been deceived. Jesus is the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe. In Him, dwells the Godhead bodily. He was not created. He became partly human to fulfill a plan, but He is The God, not a God.
        God has a plan which is both wonderful and terrible. It's a plan of love and of justice. It's a plan of reconciliation between Him and man. It's the reversal of the mistrust of the Garden of Eden. It is based on our confession of faith and trust in His love and power. It requires a humble admission of our imperfection and error, and our repentance and surrender into His love.
        But we must surrender to the true Christ and not one fabricated by counterfeiters. Jesus probed His disciples frequently with the question: "Who do they say that I am, and who do you say that I am?" It is important to worship the true and only God that exists. That is what His name means. I AM. I EXIST. Because there's no other name in heaven and under heaven by which one can be saved.
        We confuse beauty with purity. Lucifer is still a beautiful angel. Beauty is his most powerful weapon. Vanity and pride are the beginning of all sins. Regardless of your opinion of Christianity. Regardless of supposed improvements anyone can think they make to Christianity, you must die to your own or any acquired ideas and come to, not Mexseiko, not Joseph Smith, or Billy Graham. You must come before Jesus and admit you're a sinner and commit your trust to Him. Ask for His forgiveness and ask Him to come into your heart. Read Romans 10 with a humble and open heart. Pray for and expect an encounter with the real God of Heaven and receive His peace.
      - Esther
        
        You did not respond to the major comment. You responded only the afterthought. Remember it is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the greatest passion for Christ than all others: "By their fruits ye shall know them" remember!!!
- Rebart
  
  What a stupid comment!!!
  - Esther
    
    Exactly
- Esther
  
  Rebart is right, This is a "stupid" comment (his word) and is the mark of a serious problem… like jealousy or envy… Not good sir. You are talking to some religious people and you don't even know it. That is pitiful. Really!
  - John Adams
    
    Just because someone is "religious" doesn't make them right. In fact, most religious people are on their way to the eternal torments of Hell. I'm neither jealous nor envious. I'm trying to interject the truth to try to snatch some from the burning.
    - Esther
      
      What's burning won't be the LDS missionaries.
      - John Adams
        
        I'm afraid that you are terribly wrong.
      - Esther
        
        Thank you for your comment. I consider myself forewarned.
      - Esther
        
        I am a Christian. One tenet of our religion most eloquently expressed by Elder Henry Bennion Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve, is to warn your neighbor of impending disaster. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/10/a-voice-of-warning?lang=eng You are a good Christian, Sir, and have been very thorough in warning us. Thank you for your comment.
    - Vladimir
      
      Religious physician, heal thy self. You may need snatching yourself some day.
Harold

Do any of you think to be a muslim is better than being a morman? I haven't heard of Morman's beheading people of killing children or wanting to rule the world. But to be a muslim and a communist combined, it seems to me that we are doomed. (If we put BO in the white house for another 4 yrs.)
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=58215905 Wesley Woods
  
  the 19th century mormons killed non-mormons and wanted to rule the world. during the gold rush many miners tried to cross Utah to get to California and Brigham Young ordered a massacre of these trespassers on September 11. Joseph Smith ran for president and was a anarchist when it came to United States, Illinois and Missouri governments.
  - Vladimir
    
    Did Wesley Woods just join the ranks of the gullible? How embarrassing.
  - Esther
    
    You might like to see why it was necessary… see the horrors experieced by early americans executed by the puritans on the sidebar of rationalresponse.com, Jeff Dixon's website.
- Esther
  
  You are a patriot sir. These youngsters are likewise. I assure you your consideration is not displaced.
Esther

Excellent… I have no doubt Mitt's success as in the news is having this effect on the young saints. It's hard work, but fullfilling for these young people.