Comments on: Archuleta and Exceptions to the Rule

By: ama

ama — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:32:17 +0000

Where’s the reference to David Archuletta saying this?

By: Orwell

Orwell — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:02:27 +0000

If he goes, great. I can see why he would make that decision. If he doesn’t, great. I can see why he would make that decision.

However, if the latter, the poor kid is going to face a lot of self-righteous, judgmental indignation from too many of his own faith – and it really won’t be any of their business anyway. So, if he doesn’t go, I’ll be the first to defend him.

By: John David Payne

John David Payne — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:15:30 +0000

He was on American Idol, right? So, clearly, the reason he’s not planning on a mission is because he’s gay.

By: Justmeherenow

Justmeherenow — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:38:02 +0000

Giving sanction for young individuals’ not to interrupt careers with a mission isn’t consistent with a “rite-of-passage” rationale for a uniform system of calling of 19-year-olds — but IS consistent with a rationale simply of calling individuals either before they have embarked on careers or after their retirements (or both times).

By: Kent Larsen

Kent Larsen — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:28:11 +0000

Austin, I think we will have to agree to disagree.

By: Austin F.

Austin F. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:31:58 +0000

What does it matter what the Church would do? It’s none of your business how the Church handles DA’s missionary decision. The three best latter-day saints I know each opted out of a mission for one reason or another.

And your excuse for butting in (famous daughter/famous home teachee) is laughable. Nice cover for gossip (or not-so-nice, as it seems).

By: Kent Larsen

Kent Larsen — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:29:43 +0000

I dunno, Justmeherenow, it seems to me that you are making a bit too much of the rite-of-passage aspect of missionary service. I don’t think that we can say that missionary service is only or even principally a rite-of-passage. [I do admit that a rite-of-passage is one effect that a mission has for many and probably most missionaries.]

By: Justmeherenow

Justmeherenow — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:28:12 +0000

The “widow’s mite” — ie for some Church members, going on a mission at 19 would be a much greater proportional sacrifice of their secular career’s development (and perhaps even earnings) than another person’s going at 25.

By: Justmeherenow

Justmeherenow — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:10:05 +0000

Look at the rite-of-passage model for the Church’s missionary service, itself. Why was it originally instituted? Is the age conformity issue its most important feature? Or is, rather, the most important feature instead moreso that this model provides young men the opportunity to serve without interrupting their secular careers, once begun?

If the second consideration provided more of the rationale for the system, then for young men such as David Archuleta to not necessarily have to interrupt careers that, in fact, they’ve already embarked on (or else for young men to decide in some cases to embark upon various careers having built-in age-related time constraints) would actually provide a more uniform application of this principle…since both the missionaries going at 19 and people such as David A. would all uniformly not be required to interrupt their careers.

(And sorry for my paragraph-long run-on sentence above.)

By: Kent Larsen

Kent Larsen — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:06:37 +0000

Kim (107, 108), you might try reading ALL the comments before coming to the conclusion that we are judging Archuleta. Its simply NOT the case (at least not in the vast majority of the comments as I’m reading them).

We are, in fact, talking about where the boundaries are, when the Church should, formally or informally, encourage people in Archuleta’s position to serve through their career. Or, in other words, what the missionary department might do.

I’m really not worried about Archuleta. I’m sure he will make a good decision, probably one that follows the counsel he is given by his priesthood leaders.

I AM worried about how the decision will influence others.