Remember how I talked about conference last week? Well. The first session of conference on Saturday morning holds all the announcements. And after all the traditional statistics and temple announcements our dear Prophet dropped a HUGE announcement. President Thomas S. Monson, announced that the church would be lowering the minimum age required to serve full time LDS missions.
Since the day of my birth until I thought forever the age to serve would be 19 for men and 21 for women. And then, through inspiration from God, the age has been changed. For men, I guess they are men since they are "adult" age, it would now be 18 and for women 19! My. Mind. Was. Blown. You might be thinking, yeah, one or two years difference? That isn't too big of a jump. But for me it means a whole new world for the LDS culture in which I grew up. In fact. I love the idea of this change.
A few faces as the announcement was made. The kid on the left clearly in shock.
Instead of going to college for a year and potentially ruining their college GPA (like so many do, because hey they are just leaving in a year) or making some wrong turns, these young men can go on a mission DIRECTLY after high school. It is a game changer.
And not only that, women can go on a mission right away, and instead of waiting around all day for their missionary or not dating until they are 24... they can head out on their mission. It will change the idea of what a Sister missionary is. No longer will it be the girl that "went because she wasn't married". It will be the young women that WANT to be out there serving. The women that want to be missionaries.
I am looking forward to seeing how things move forward. This age change is something truly amazing. Now I want to take the time to answer a question I got on my conference post.
So how come the men go to a 2 hour "priesthood" meeting? Do the women go to a meeting for their gender only as well? And if not, why?
I am looking forward to seeing how things move forward. This age change is something truly amazing. Now I want to take the time to answer a question I got on my conference post.
So how come the men go to a 2 hour "priesthood" meeting? Do the women go to a meeting for their gender only as well? And if not, why?
Men go to a priesthood meeting to receive direct messages from the presidency of the church. The men, generally have a little more responsibility because of the priesthood so they talk about things that are more serious and directly related to holding the Priesthood. Men are the head of families so if they're strong, families will be.
The women have their own meeting the week prior to general conference. It is called the Relief Society broadcast. During the broadcast we have the opportunity to listen to the Relief Society presidency and a member of the presidency of the church. This broadcast is related to the responsibilities women have to teach and to take care of those around them.
The reason there are two different meetings is because men and women have different responsibilities and the Church wants to be able to focus on specific items that come through revelation.
What do you think of the big announcement?
What did you love at conference?
What did you learn?
Love,
Deidre
I lOVED conference, amazing as always! And I was going crazy when they announced this! I can't help but think what my life would be like if I could have gone at 19... I got married before I was 21 so it wasn't even a thought for me but wow, crazy! So exciting!
I was in shock as well..a good way to put it is my jaw dropped to the floor!!! I am so excited for everyone even more..needles to say the singles branch I attend is going to be half gone by Feb or March since most of the guys are 18 and girls 19-20!!!!
I am thrilled at this change! I think a lot more women who are interested in serving missions will have the chance to go now!
I was so excited about the change! I COULD NOT believe it though. We listened to it over and over and just stood there.
19 was a much better age for me than 21 as for as mission stuff. At 21, I was more career minded and I would have had to quit, re-apply, and then wait to get back on track with my program (classes were only offered once a year..). By 21, I also thought that since I wasn't married (and because I wanted to) that I needed to make sure I was able to support myself because once I got out of college I wasn't going to ask my Dad for cash. Beyond that, at 21, I wanted to be dating so I could get married.
Anyway, tangent. I told Devin I was so excited because it is more likely we need to start saving now for all of our children to possibly want to go on a mission!
Thank you for answering my question.
I love this! No longer the girls who went bc they couldn't get married! Yes!!!!
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