Bishops and Branch Presidents…
You’ll recall that we visited with you in our most recent training meeting about the new, required questions to be used when interviewing full-time missionary candidates. We gave you a two-sided, single-sheet listing the required questions to give to families (parents, specifically) in your ward or branch so they would know and understand the expectations as they prepare their children for full-time missionary service.
You’ll also remember there was an Appendix with some excellent doctrinal and/or policy statements regarding Worthiness, Extended Pattern of Serious Transgressions, Repentance, the Law of Chastity, the Law of Tithing, Sabbath-Day Observance and Honesty and Integrity.
One bishop noted my reluctance in recommending that the Appendix be shared with families. In hopes it might be of help to all of you, here is my response:
Bishop,
As for reluctance about sharing the Appendix…
Thank you for asking. I leave it to your discretion. Most of the Appendix is appropriate to share. My concern is the first page where they quote extensively from Handbook 1. There’s a reason that Handbook is not available to the public. One of the concerns would be when the Brethren spell out specific “boundaries” as to what can keep a young person from a mission or requiring a special appeal to the First Presidency, it can lead to a young man or woman wanting to hedge in his or her forthrightness (or attempt to be vague) with the bishop during preliminary interviews.
So my recommendation is to drop the first page and share only pages 2-6.
Hope that helps,
PrL
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