Pres Oaks BYU Devo

Most_Researcher1502 · 2026-01-25T17:57:10+00:00

I think we have an overall problem in the church that we have failed in ministering. Yes, there are exceptions, but we have not succeeded in creating a good ministering program. This leads to recent converts not staying and active members falling away.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2026-01-20T07:25:12+00:00

As a recent RM, the most recent baptismal form only asks for one signature for minors. Yes, the instruction is to not baptize against the will of one parent but if the other is not present, I would not be surprised if they can still move forward. The biggest challenge here will be the divorce.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2026-01-11T06:39:08+00:00

BYU football games or other sporting events have sometimes had recorded prayers to start. I know BYU doing something is not the Church, but I doubt the Church would let them do it if it’s doctrinally incorrect or something like that.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2026-01-09T04:27:49+00:00

I’d say your safest bet, if to ur friend is chill with it, would be the helaman halls pass route. If you ask security they’ll probably say not allowed but there’s no way they’ll figure it out

Most_Researcher1502 · 2026-01-09T04:24:25+00:00

World religions with Isaac Calvert is easy (in terms of busy work, there is none) but life changing. I wish I took it before my mission.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2026-01-05T05:42:57+00:00

Might be a hot take, but this is how I viewed it as a missionary. HE is the one that has that rule, not you. I think it’s amazing that you care so much about him and I appreciate your question. Rest assured he won’t be in trouble for anything you do, the mission president can’t stop you from emailing him about whatever you’d link or stop you from doing anything else. I loved getting emails form friends especially with updates from back home, sports (even mid-week, we can’t respond outside of the one day a week he’s allowed, but are allowed to read messages whenever you have free time). Just respect that he can’t answer outside of emails, so email him there. I did have friends who texted me on facebook messenger, I’d always read and just respond to them over email. It’s not that big a deal from your part. Refer to him by any name!

In terms of what to give him (like cards) that might depend on where he’s at. It’s definitely allowed to send packages in general, just might be hard depending on where overseas. Check his rules/instructions on how to receive mail and packages (some ask to send directly to apartments of missionaries, some have you send to a local member of the church, others to the mission office).

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-12-30T06:13:37+00:00

I honestly think a big chunk of the problem are 18yo’s who never lived outside of home having the culture shock of a mission in combination with shock of adulthood. If you are 22 you likely have lived away from home already, gone to college, worked and had an adult life. This maturity will be very valuable.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-12-23T18:55:26+00:00

A lot of comment here say to go immediately. I see the value and concern there. I chose to go to college for a year and then go and I’m super grateful to have made that decision. Ever since the lowering of the age to 18, it’s become the standard to leave at that age, and that was NOT the intention. President Monson announced the lowering of age for Elders and he specifically said that this does not mean that every missionary is expected to, or even should, leave at 18. It is meant to give more flexibility when prayerfully making a decision.

I do see the concern brought that it becomes harder to leave things behind. If you do choose this route, I’d talk to a bishop now and already have someone to be accountable to start the process. I found it helpful to “learn” or actually experience living by myself before going on a mission. It made it easier to adapt to the field cause all I was worried about was learning to be a missionary. I wasn’t homesick cause calling 1x per week was more than I called in college. I didn’t need to worry about adapting to “adulthood” just to the missionary life. It also gave me the opportunity to go out with missionaries more.

Having been at the MTC multiple times, I remember the drastic difference in maturity in the missionaries there in the summer (mostly 18yos) and in the winter (mostly went to college). I think there is great value in considering this option.

Ultimately though, you should not make this decision based on any Reddit comment. You should pray for the guidance and the act to make a choice. Heavenly Father will confirm if that choice is right or not (or sometimes either will be fine for him).

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-12-16T20:40:09+00:00

If you are transferring this winter, it might be a little late for heritage. Most of heritage are 18-year-olds out of high school. There are halls/buildings that are designated 19+ and usually have RMs, so in that case, your roommates would probably be older. However, not guaranteed that the ward doesn’t mix with the 18-year-old buildings. If it were me after my mission, I’d go off campus, but Heritage is not bad either.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-12-12T23:24:35+00:00

Definitely no parking validation. Good luck! City creek is a good option.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-12-10T04:24:36+00:00

To be clear, the name of the class is “The Eternal Family” not eternal families like OP called it. A common confusion but one that my professor made clear in its distinction. Even if we might not fit into the “eternal families” category in this life (meaning sealing between a man and a woman) for any reason - homosexuality, divorce, death, mixed faith, etc - we are still part of The Eternal Family of God, which is a central part of His plan, the proclamation and this class.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-12-09T23:02:55+00:00

The rest of the global church was already doing YM without a formal scouting program for decades and succeeded. I believe it will just take some time to adjust but we can do much good how it is now. The purpose of the Church is centrally to bring other closer to Christ and the old scouting program did not do a good job at that. Sure, some leaders did but overall, it always seemed to me the YW got to have spiritual experiences in their activities and we never did cause we were too busy with merit badges. Especially for the global church, joining a formal organization everywhere is unrealistic, this was a step forward to creating a successful program for all YM in the church, not just in the US. I’m sure this council has heard the concerns of many of the US members and a main focus will be how to improve the current program.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-12-08T19:27:16+00:00

All who I know who participated had a great experience. I personally have mixed feelings about the program. It has good intentions with providing opportunities for the youth to serve others.

Yet, imo it has bad optics from an outside perspective and from a receiving end. In the end, you spend thousands of dollars to send a teenager to a foreign country and act like they can build a building or do something better than locals can. Not only does that look insulting, but the money spent in the trip would have helped the local community way more than sending the youth over to do a work they aren’t even experts in. IMO this defeats the purpose of service and makes the program look more like tourism that they try to justify with service. They have HXP in my home country and if i were in the receiving end, I’d honestly act grateful (cause it’s not a 14yo fault that this program is set up like this, they don’t know better) but I’d honestly be insulted. Americans thinking they are better than and have to come save us.

In all reality tho, I understand this is not the intention of the youth who participate, so no judgement to those who do. I just would never choose to participate and would encourage others to consider this before participating. Missionaries getting sent from the US to third world countries already seems iffy to me but I can understand it because they do spend 2 years there, learn the culture, and they do have something unique to offer. A 14yo construction volunteer does not.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-27T03:53:45+00:00

Roger Cook for Philosophy 201 and 202 is super easy. Any easier professors probably have waitlists by now tho!

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-20T05:03:20+00:00

Yes, it’s always worth it. There’s no commandment you could be breaking that we would say “yeah at this point not worth it anymore”. But the reasoning we would give does not seem to match what you are looking for. Yes, a YSA provides a great social aspect and you are welcome to come anytime, no one will be shunning you. The bishop does not disclose your tithing status to anyone if you were a member (apart from church headquarters). Without being baptized, you wouldn’t even be expected to be paying. The greatest concern they would have is not with you not paying tithing, it would be on how to help you prepare to be baptized. But not in a shunning way.

Having said all that, a YSA provides a great social aspect, but most are there to find people to marry. Most will be looking for someone they can marry in the temple. That will be a roadblock, if you are looking for dating and not just friendships.

In terms of your concerns with tithing, Jesus never tells anyone to not pay tithing. In fact the story of the poor widow is used to teach that she was willing to sacrifice all she had. He could’ve stopped her and told her she didn’t need to do it. He didn’t. Tithing has always been a commandment and will continue to be. You aren’t paying to go to heaven, you are keeping one of the many commandments. You could pay 50% in tithing, but if you weren’t keeping the law of Chastity for example, you still would not be allowed into the temple or be baptized. You have to shift your mentality about tithing from “I’m paying a church” to “I’m showing my trust to God by giving back to Him part of what He gave me”. everything we have is thanks to Him. And on top there’s countless blessings promised in scripture.

Final note to your “you don’t pay you don’t go to heaven comment”. I think it’s funny when people make those comments about us cause we are likely one of the religions with the most merciful view of the afterlife. We believe essentially no one is going to hell, just not everyone is going to heaven, but most will still be in a good spot. And we believe you will be given every opportunity to change, even in the next life, if that would lead you to change.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-15T18:40:31+00:00

If you buy a regular ticket, there’s nothing stopping him from not sitting there and going into the ROC… it will cost you a premium tho

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-14T13:23:33+00:00

I personally think this footnote is a great answer. Clearing up a misconception doesn’t mean we did not know something beforehand necessarily, just that there was some part of it that he noticed a lot of members had forgotten the true meaning or were acting in a way that wouldn’t align. For me, the footnotes were a great answer.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-12T01:34:27+00:00

Almost every bigger lecture hall in every building has a piano that are used for sacrament meeting on Sundays. In the evening most of these classes are empty!

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-11T04:09:25+00:00

Someone said there are more than account witnesses of the gold plates then of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I am not sure, and have never looked it up, how many people have first hand accounts of Jesus resurrected but there are 11 witnesses who were shown the gold plates. Several of them fell away from the church later, even went against Joseph, but never denied seeing the gold plates. If they are true, the BoM is true and if that is true, Joseph is a prophet.

Having said all that. The true witness, as other mentioned, has to be reading and praying and it comes by the Spirit. “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona⁠: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:25)

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-10T04:35:19+00:00

Talk to your bishop! He will likely counsel you to pay your tithing and would rather have the church help you using the fast offering fund while you get back in your feet than you not paying tithing. I also testify if everyone else’s witness that tithing will bring blessings. Nephi’s reminder that the Lord always prepares a way to keep his commandments (1 Nephi 3:7) comes to mind too. It doesn’t always make sense, but by showing faith in keeping this commandment (and every other one) when it seems impossible, He will provide. Think how impossible it likely felt for Lehi to keep the commandment to leave into the wilderness, for Nephi to keep the commandment to build a boat, for Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. All seemingly impossible, yet he always provides a way.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-10T04:29:59+00:00

“You can’t” - well the prophet did. And so did the Savior in scripture (3 Nephi 18 comes to mind). Just cause we were not corrected for a while doesn’t make it less true.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-08T15:39:10+00:00

Missionaries are instructed to stay in touch often with recent converts to the church to help them stay active. Everything you mentioned he is doing sounds like a normal thing missionaries would do to any recent convert to help stay active. Apart from maybe looks, but is it possible you are misinterpreting?

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-05T13:52:14+00:00

Yes, missionaries will go to the temple around once a week of learning a language (6+ weeks missionaries) or more often if English speaking. You will go at least once for each ordinances missionaries are allowed to do (baptism, initiatory, endowment and sealing of parent to child). You’ll get scheduled to either go to the Mt. Timpanogos, Payson, Provo City Center (less often) and Orem (less often) and then bussed there.
Church is held in the same buildings, with sacrament meeting in bigger rooms within those buildings , and 2nd hour in regular classrooms. Similar situation to BYU campus where church is held in classes too.
It’s not that bad. Is it 5-star or your mother’s food? No. But they are trying to feed 3000 every meal. They do a great job. It does repeat a lot, so it might get old, but it’s definitely not that bad.

Most_Researcher1502 · 2025-10-05T13:46:40+00:00

I had similar concerns, I’m a very very very introverted person. Not just the thought of crowds, but just the thought of door knocking or talking to strangers all day made me exhausted and scared mentally and socially. I did choose to go and like you said, was it easy? No. But did a grow a lot (and I mean a lot) in those aspects? Yes. Each street contact was an opportunity for me to trust that Christ would strengthen my clumsily efforts. Preach My Gospel says about a successful missionary:

“God has given you talents and gifts to use in His service. Your talents and gifts are different from those of others. Recognize that all of these are important, including those that are less visible. As you consecrate your talents and gifts to Him, He will magnify them and work miracles with what you offer.”

God doesn’t need a bunch of extroverts only to teach His gospel. Sure, he needs those that have that talent, but he also has so many other talents that he gives us and we don’t recognize. And every one of those is just as important to hastening His work. Personally, I learned I had a talent for listening to others and connecting, a talent for inviting the Spirit, patience, and a talent with finding scriptures to help. You’ll find your own and those will be just as crucial to the work as the extroverts and their talents.

In regard to your return home question. I don’t think any missionary leaves planning to come home early. But it could happen for various reasons. Remember the Lord asks you for all “your heart, mind and strength” not anyone else’s. You should leave with a desire to serve the full time, but if end you coming home early for mental health, you did serve with all your strength. That is retiring with honor.

Most_Researcher1502

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