I'm pulling a Lucas McDermott and going on a mission to...

Some of you guys who know me personally know that I've been planning forever to go on a mission for the LDS Church.

So, yea... I got my mission call, and I'm pulling a full blown Lucas McDermott and in a few months, I'll be leaving Netphoria for 2 years.

I got my mission call on Friday, and opened 'er up with my family and my gal Jenny waiting by eagerly.

On October 16th, I'll be leaving to serve in the Rapid City, South Dakota mission for 2 years. Even though the title is what it is, the area actually encompasses both South and North Dakota, about 1/3 of eastern Wyoming, and a slice of western Minnesota.

Pretty nuts, eh? I've been trying to find somebody who knows anything about South or North Dakota and really haven't had much luck. You know anything about those two states besides Fargo or Mount Rushmore?

Just thought I'd let you guys know what was up so you wouldn't all be too heartbroken when I said I was leavin' in a few months...

Seriously - if any of you guys have questions that I could answer about the missionary thing, fire away! I've found that there are a lot of mis-conceptions about the Mormon missionary program and the Mormon church in general. If I could clear up any bad rumors about anything, then we'd all benefit just a little bit.

-Adam

i'll miss you, adam.


<3


give jenny my love, too.

when you get back, tell me how it feels to waste your life promoting the intangible, invisible, unknowable.

sorry, i'm not tolerant, and i hate the mormon religion. i prefer the jehovah's witnesses!

Originally posted by Irrelevant:
when you get back, tell me how it feels to waste your life promoting the intangible, invisible, unknowable.

ask stephen hawking the same thing! teehee!

context is funny.

Hey Rach... thanks for the sweet words. You know, you just might be the winner of my little contest! Remember, I asked you where you thought I was going, and you said Illinois! I'm not 100% sure on that one quite yet, so don't get your hopes up too high... but it's possible!

Originally posted by Raskolnikov:
You know anything about those two states besides Fargo or Mount Rushmore?

Yeah, there's like 8 people there. It should be a relatively easy mission.



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http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mledrew/samus.gif

Originally posted by Raskolnikov:
Seriously - if any of you guys have questions that I could answer about the missionary thing, fire away! I've found that there are a lot of mis-conceptions about the Mormon missionary program and the Mormon church in general. If I could clear up any bad rumors about anything, then we'd all benefit just a little bit.

i heard a rumor that some drunk saw an "angel" and it led him to some plates in the ground or something that had a message from god! and he destroyed the plates! is this true?

Originally posted by Irrelevant:
i heard a rumor that some drunk saw an "angel" and it led him to some plates in the ground or something that had a message from god! and he destroyed the plates! is this true?

I know you're just trying to bring the thread down, which is kinda sad. The first attempt didn't quite make me bite, and I really don't feel like commenting on this one since you're obviously just poking at my faith.

if you could answer the 10003258923828746837 questions I have about god and religon that doesn't ******* "he works in mysterious ways" or something including the word faith, please let me know

wow. Good luck. And I'll bite- are Mormons Christian? because they tell you that they are but then they believe in John Smith being the saviour which doesn't seem to go right with Jesus, if you know what I mean. Sorry to sound so ignorant but I've gotten 5 different answers from 5 different people on this and it's starting to annoy me.

Originally posted by Raskolnikov:
Some of you guys who know me personally know that I've been planning forever to go on a mission for the LDS Church.

What an enormous waste of time.

Originally posted by Raskolnikov:
I know you're just trying to bring the thread down, which is kinda sad. The first attempt didn't quite make me bite, and I really don't feel like commenting on this one since you're obviously just poking at my faith.

and christians, especially mormons, like to bring the rights of others down. that's sad.

your religion is stupid, illogical, and based on completely unreliable documents. i can't believe people who seem intelligent, like you do, fall for that shit. i'm just guessing you've had it ingrained in you since birth, though there are some intelligent people that convert to mormonism. but then, lots of intelligent people join cults, or become scientolgists.

that's all. i feel bad being so hateful of religion, and i'm sure i'm just as self-righteous as a christian is. IT MUST BE THE DEVIL MAKING ME HATE CHRISTIANITY!

hmph, I'm sorry but I just believe people who believe in religon are mindless. They are taught not to question their beliefs and conform to the masses. Plus I am entirely against missions. Seeing Christians in Congo and what not makes me want to throw up. They destroy the traditions of other cultures.

Originally posted by Irrelevant:
i feel bad being so hateful of religion,

really? why?
you seem so much more intelligent in doing so (not sarcastic)

Originally posted by Travis Meeks:
really? why?
you seem so much more intelligent in doing so (not sarcastic)

i just do. there's no way you can change someone's mind on religion, they've either been brainwashed or have brainwashed themselves.

:-/

lots of intelligent people join cults, or become scientolgists.

Difference?

Originally posted by Graveflower:
Difference?

scientology is every bit as valid as christianity. i just thought i would drive home the point about how religion is stupid by mentioning the fact that people actually believe scientology.

i think it's cool that you're willing to devote so much time to your beliefs and i think it's commendable to be so dedicated to your religion. i personally am a devote athiest but i can respect the fact that there ARE people with sincere beliefs. especially when there seems to be so much hypocrisy in the world of theology these days.

Originally posted by Junebug:
I'll bite- are Mormons Christian?

That's a great question... one I get asked pretty frequently by friends, co-workers, and what-not. Seriously, thank you for asking so that I can clear it up for you.

Yes, Mormons are Christians. Somehow people get this idea (maybe from members in your case?) that we believe that Joseph Smith is our Savior. Just like all Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior. We believe that Joseph Smith is a Prophet like Moses, Abraham, or any other of the Biblical prophets of old - and that Joseph was the first in a line of modern-day prophets.

Here are a few links with quotes from leaders of our Church that put it a little bit more eloquently than I could.

http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/c...1-55-2,00.html

http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/c...1-56-2,00.html

Did that help?

Originally posted by Travis Meeks:
if you could answer the 10003258923828746837 questions I have about god and religon that doesn't ******* "he works in mysterious ways" or something including the word faith, please let me know

If you'd like to ask a few of those, I'd be happy to try and give you my feelings on them. Can't say that I could answer any or all of them, but I guess it couldn't hurt...

What exactly does LDS stand for? Seriously. I'm too lazy to look it up.

Originally posted by Irrelevant:
and christians, especially mormons, like to bring the rights of others down.

Not asking this with a sarcastic or rude tone at all... but what do you mean by that? Maybe I could clear it up?

Originally posted by Irrelevant:
i'm just guessing you've had it ingrained in you since birth, though there are some intelligent people that convert to mormonism.

I have been a member since I was born. My mom is a convert, and my dad has been a member since he was born. So I suppose that I have had it ingrained in me since I was a little guy.

However, there comes a point when investing as much time into something as our religion does (or any religion, for that matter) that you want to figure it out for yourself, and find the truth. If I didn't truly and sincerely believe, I don't think that I would invest all of the time that I do put into going to Church.

Originally posted by Graveflower:
What exactly does LDS stand for? Seriously. I'm too lazy to look it up.

It's an abbreviation, and not a very good one at that. Not quite sure why it's as hip as it is.

But it's the abbreviation for "Latter Day Saints" which is part of the official name of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

so what does a "mission" for the lds church involve exactly? i can't see it being a humanitarian deal, seeing as how you're going to the dakotas (but you never know). this is a serious question. maybe i should already know, but i have no idea what kind of mission you speak of. please just tell me it doesn't it involve going door-to-door and badgering people into converting.

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And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee.
Power hath descended forth from thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command.
So we shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be.
In nomine patri, et fili, et spiritu sancti.
http://www.avalon.nf.ca/~rosemd/we3.jpg

Wake up man. You're in a cult, selling Jesus. People come to their beliefs on their own. Selling your religion is wrong.

Originally posted by Raskolnikov:
Not asking this with a sarcastic or rude tone at all... but what do you mean by that? Maybe I could clear it up?

nevermind my ignorant inflammatory statements, but godammit, you're so polite. are you polite because you're naturally so cool and unemotional, or because you're holding back and you want to act nice?

Originally posted by Raskolnikov:

Did that help?

Yes it did. Thank you. My friend is mormon and we don't discuss it much, but I've always gotten the notion from her that Joseph (not John, sorry) Smith was The Savior. Thanks for the clarification, and good luck on your mission.

Originally posted by Irrelevant:
nevermind my ignorant inflammatory statements, but godammit, you're so polite. are you polite because you're naturally so cool and unemotional, or because you're holding back and you want to act nice?

Obviously you didn't visit the Olympics this year.

Originally posted by General Board Moderator:
Obviously you didn't visit the Olympics this year.

no, but someday i'll go to utah to see the sundance festival. oh wait, that's in colorado. nevermind. i'm never going to utah. http://www.netphoria.org/wwwboard/smile.gif

Originally posted by Irrelevant:
no, but someday i'll go to utah to see the sundance festival. oh wait, that's in colorado. nevermind. i'm never going to utah. http://www.netphoria.org/wwwboard/smile.gif

No it's not. The Aspen Film Festival is in Colorado.