Obese Missionaries Need Not Apply

[bigb]

Like everything else in this world, there's probably a work around to this. A person could probably go to a doctor and get a note saying despite being obese, there are no other health concerns. For example, I didn't get my wisdom teeth removed before I went. My dentist said they would probably never be an issue. I still have them all these years later (I'm 35) and have never had an issue. Despite being an "extremely large person", I have no other health risks. No heart issues, no blood pressure issues, no diabeetus concerns, nothing to worry about at all. But I have always been active. I have a physically demanding job, I've always played sports, I'm constantly out playing with my kids and wrestling with them, etc.

 

[colton]

I have many concerns about this, not the least of which is the pressure it could put kids under to lie on the application to skirt this "requirement".

I agree that we should avoid policies which penalize those who tell the truth. But kudos to her for not stretching the truth in this matter.

... the BMI is a very out-dated and poor reflection of physical conditioning...

I agree 100% there. I looked into this once out of curiosity and found that the BMI actually is only a mediocre measurement of obesity, but it has the advantage of being a very quick measure. As someone else in the thread said, it may well be that her doctor could provide a better measure that the church would accept.

When I went on my mission, also in 1989 (not sure if colton wants this to get out, or even remembers, but we went into the MTC at the same time going to the same mission, but in different MTC districts)...

Of course I remember! And no problem with you mentioning that.

But I guess that is another good question, should it be difficult, at the risk of pushing some kids away. Is "losing" some kids worth it to make sure the kids that go are the best they can be? Is it a winnowing process in which the ones who just "can't hang" are weeded out so they don't taint the field later?

Are they all being lost, though? It seems like in your daughter's case, this didn't change her mind, it motivated her to lose a little weight and apply again in a month or two. Or that's what you seem to be saying, anyway. So maybe THAT's what intended with the rule--not to drive kids away, but to help them be better prepared. (Although I do admit the risk was there for her to change her mind.)

In other news my own daughter (17 yrs) is planning on going on a mission at 19. She's very skinny and not very physically active, so while she won't have issues with the BMI requirement, I'm definitely going to show her the quotes I posted earlier in the thread about being able to walk & bike.

 

[colton]

Just know that we are all imperfect people (me more than most), and the church is true and the church is trying to deal with all of us. Sometimes is is confusing or looks shady. That is where your testimony carries you through, and you realize that you do what you have to do and let God sort out all this other garbage.

Very well put.