Comments on: The missionary and the priest http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/ A Mormon Blog Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:03:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Stephanie http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92790 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:54:48 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92790 Great story. Thanks.

]]> By: Antonio Parr http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92789 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:50:18 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92789 Final thought (of the hour):

In light of the very negative public perception of Latter-Day Saints, I would suggest that the single most important missionary work that our missionaries can undertake is the creation of good will, which is a kind of fertilization necessary before any meaningful harvest can ever occur. Beyond this focused objective, it is simply wonderful to hear accounts of people of different faiths learning to love and appreciate each other, just as Christ commanded.

]]> By: Antonio Parr http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92788 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:47:17 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92788 One of the sad limitations of the LDS missionary experience is the suggestion to missionaries that, since they belong to a Church that has a fulness of the Gospel, there is really nothing that any non-LDS believer has to offer them. Such a paternalistic approach (especially when it comes from 19 year olds boys) does not lend itself to the kinds of cross-faith missionary friendships described by Norbert.

Thanks again for sharing your story.

]]> By: Antonio Parr http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92787 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:20:33 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92787 This is a wonderful story, one that I wish that every missionary could experience: the sharing of faith, both as giver and receiver, with both being edified.

]]> By: fluffychicky http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92786 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:13:12 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92786 Hmm…I will have to let my husband know about the chocolate covered salmiaki. He’ll be very excited.

]]> By: mondo cool http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92785 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:09:07 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92785 This is a great story. My take is that any increase in goodwill towards the Church cannot be counted as “terrible” missionary work. Who knows but what his children will be more favorably inclined towards the Restored Gospel when they encounter it for themselves? It’s happened before.

]]> By: Norbert http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92784 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:00:11 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92784 fluffy, you’re getting the better end of that deal. Of course now Fazer makes chocolate-covered salmiaki, which is better than it sounds.

]]> By: fluffychicky http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92783 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:40:18 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92783 My husband had a similar experience with a couple that he taught in Finland. They have never joined the church, but they mean more to my husband than any member that he worked with in Finland…including the lone baptism that he was able to perform. It has been nearly 15 years since he has seen them, but their friendship is as strong as ever. They talk once a month on the phone and we exchange Christmas packages. We send them all varieties of Life Savers (their favorite American candy) and my husband gets Salmiaki and I get Fazer chocolates.
Mmm…Fazer.

]]> By: Stephanie http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92782 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:36:39 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92782 I’m beginning to wonder if being crazy or eccentric is a requirement for being a member of the church in continental Europe… Of course, the missionaries in my ward in France assured me that mine was the crazy ward, that they’re weren’t all like that…

That is a wonderful story. And the reaction of your new companion to the idea of visiting a priest is so tragically typical… *SIGH*

]]> By: sol http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/13/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92781 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:36:16 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/03/the-missionary-and-the-priest/#comment-92781 True dat, ben o!

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