Missionary work (full-time)

Pros of Mormonism from the perspective of the
Believer	Ex-believer
It is not uncommon for a former missionary to say that a mission was the best or among the best 2 years (or 18 months) of their life. For many missionaries, a mission can be a formative experience at the minimum. Usually, it involves many positive experiences that lead to personal growth. Missionaries learn many important life lessons, such as how to work hard, how to work with other people, developing social skills, how to appreciate other cultures, how to get by with very little, and so much more.   Aside from these practical benefits, the spiritual benefits of bringing souls unto God are nearly incomprehensible and provide joy in this life and in the life to come. (see D&C 18). Furthermore, Elder Hales reminds us that “The Lord will send special blessings to your family as you serve. “The Lord promises: “I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families” (D&C 118:3).   Missionary work is literally the most important duty we have as members of the Church, as per Joseph Smith: “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel”.   For all these reasons and more, it is no wonder that we tell our youth: “no opportunity will be worth more than your service as a missionary.”	Even exbelievers probably acknowledges that a mission can be a formative experience at the minimum. Usually, it involves many positive experiences that lead to personal growth. Missionaries learn many important life lessons, such as how to work hard, how to work with other people, developing social skills, how to appreciate other cultures, how to get by with very little, and so much more.

 

Cons of Mormonism from the perspective of the
Believer	Ex-believer
There is an undeniable opportunity cost of going on a mission. Choosing to go on a mission will often preclude someone (although not necessarily so) from pursuing other endeavors like the peace core or studying abroad. It is not always easy to resume college studies after a mission.   Missions can be financial strains on families.    Missionaries that return from their missions are pressured into getting married and starting families, making some feel that they were forced to grow up too fast, especially with the lowered missionary age of 18.   There is a lot of social pressure to go on a mission and great stigma attached to males who do not serve.   Believing Mormons who go on missions can have a psychologically challenging time if they do not see success. They are frequently promised success, but often don’t necessarily see it, even if they are obedient and hard working. Missions can thus lead faithful missionaries to depression and feelings of no self-worth. Missionaries who go home early or don’t serve at all often feel like social and / or spiritual outcasts.   Many missionaries lament that they are restricted from offering “no strings attached service”, or from doing real charity / humanitarian work. Many missionaries wish they could have spent more time doing real service and less time proselytizing.	The exbeliever is likely to agree with the cons listed in the believing section, and they are not reproduced here for the sake of brevity. They might add the following thoughts:   Missionary service is one aspect of Mormonism that can appear cultish to outsiders and exbelievers. Mormons receive extremely high social pressure to go on a mission. As soon as they go, they are immediately cut off from the rest of the world. They spend anywhere from 2-10 weeks in isolation, being indoctrinated. Then they continue the rest of their 18-24 months in relative isolation, being part of the world but being in a bubble. Phone calls home aren’t allowed, letters and emails are heavily restricted, and even doctor and hospital visits are frequently discouraged. All media including books and newspapers are banned save a small selection of church materials. Again, an outsider that learns of these restrictions is likely to feel that it sounds culty.   Furthermore, the church has hinted that one of the most important reasons missionaries should serve missions is to convert themselves (i.e. maintain lifelong indoctrination).  Some men and woman who do not feel they have much of a testimony are counseled to go on a mission anyway. They are told they will get one on their mission. For example: “If you are worried about serving a mission, follow the Savior’s call… It is there you will feel and understand the sweet whisperings of the Spirit”. Elder Holland tells missionaries: “Missionaries are under obligation to come home having had at least one convert, you! There is no excuse in time or eternity for you not to have that one precious conversion”.He also says that the missionary manual is designed “to convert you, then help you to convert the [individual] investigators”. This is another example of how missions are self-serving for the church and provide little real service in the traditional sense of the word.   Missions can be traumatic memories for Mormons who leave the church. A Mormon who goes on a mission and later comes to believe the church is not true might feel that they wasted their time. They might regret helping people join a church that they now do not believe in or that they now believe causes harm. They might regret helping converts in foreign countries to leave their culture behind as they join the church. They might start to wonder if they actually helped anybody on their missions or if they actually did harm. They might feel regret that they did so much proselyting and so little service. They might feel regret that the commitment pattern they used on their mission seems similar to high-pressure sales techniques.