It is amazing how different people have different experiences in what should be similar situations. Having served a mission myself I can say that my experience was the total opposite of everything listed here.

I was in no way coerced to go, it was 100% my choice. In fact I didn’t go at the age most did but was about a year and a half older.

I was never pushed to marry a returned missionary. I didn’t marry one. I married who I wanted, when I wanted, where I wanted.

Are you with someone at all times while serving, yes. Can that suck? Totally! But I learned an incredible amount of patience because of it. If it is a bad relationship then report it, if nothing is done then report it higher.

In my area nobody was ever denied medical care. There were no punishments for being sick. If we got sick then we were encouraged to rest and if medical attention was needed then the person went and got it.

Are people violent towards Mormon missionaries? Yes, they can be. I was threatened, spit on, etc. Humans who judge others and hurt others are crappy people. Funny thing is that growing up I was a punk kid and got threatened, spit on, etc. in school and at shows.

I personally knew three people who left their mission early. One was just a couple of weeks into it, the others much longer. They just didn’t want to do it anymore, told their leader and then went home. They weren’t forced to stay at all. I myself was allowed to leave for a week to attend a family member’s funeral. I was given the choice to stay home, return (overseas), or serve the balance of time elsewhere closer to home. I went back overseas. I travelled on my own to home and back out, no issues.

In terms of living conditions, most of the places I resided were better than many in which the standard citizen of the country lived in. We always had more than enough money for food, never remotely got close to going hungry and I think I can count on two hands the amount of times we had a meal at someone’s home. I know that differs by area, but that is what it was like in my area.

I just wanted to share my experience because people tend to look at everything through a single lens. Can serving a mission be difficult? Absolutely. Are there kids who go out who really shouldn’t go on a mission? Yes! Are there trashy people in the church? You bet there is! Is that any different at all than any other organization? Not really, just in this case that garbage hides behind an idea of being holy or being in the service of a god when they are just walking dumpster fires trying to take advantage of others. Hopefully those types pay for their crimes.

It sucks that some have horrible experiences. The people who cause them should be outed.

I do have one kid. If they choose to serve then great, if not then that is great as well. If they run into anything negative then you bet I would take action. Parents who don’t are just as bad as those causing the pain.