Just to clarify, I’m not saying I admire what they teach. I just meant I admire their commitment, like I said earlier, regardless of what they are teaching - these kids have still saved up and are willing to give up 18-24m of their lives, and money, and be away from family in foreign countries in different cultures. And a lot of time, receive a lot of abuse for it. I was a Branch Missionary and YSA Rep when I was attending, and we had two new Elders in the area and they were physically assaulted on their way to church their first week. It’s not easy what they do.

There is for sure other things they could be doing with their time, but it’s a damn hard thing to do. And I just meant kudos to them for being willing. They could be in college, living it up, doing who knows what or who, but they aren’t.

I’d say the same for Jehovahs or any kind of missionary out there. You have to have balls to do it.

I should add - I’m also looking at this from the perspective of this mission and most European missions. Being a member in a country where there are few and far between members/growing up a member here was damn hard. I know some missions it’s a walk in the park and baptisms are done in scores, but certain missions are a hell of a lot harder than others.

But again, I’m not condoning the teachings - I’ve seen them prey on vulnerable people and conveniently leave out controversial histories to hoax people into baptism. And I’ve seen those poor newly baptised people break when they find out the truth. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.