For the most part, not a lot of 19- or 20-year guys are terribly introspective. Given the – for many – overwhelming social pressure to go on missions, many guys who aren’t completely committed to Mormonism go along to avoid upsetting their families or being able to marry a Mormon girl when they get back. Since these people aren’t that convinced about Mormonism themselves, then they are unlikely to be converted to another church. They are more likely to pass their time and go back with some great stories, marry a Mormon girl and live happily thereafter, or, as in my case, drop out after they return.
Mormon missionaries live in a bubble, surrounded by other missionaries, and repeating truths to themselves. I was surprised to see the difference in my perspective of Japan as a missionary seeing things through the filter of the stories passed down from senior to junior, and then looking at it again as a ex-Mormon.
You go though a training program designed – as it should be – to enhance “spiritual” experiences, which helps reinforce people who are wavering. For the others, the climate is intentionally created to not allow honest questions, and almost everyone falls in line.
For Sampiro’s example, this happen either a lot or not much, depending on how you view the numbers. If you were to compare Mormon missionaries against other similarly aged males, you would be surprised that so many of them don’t die of backed up sperm disease. Sure, you laugh, but at 19 to 21 years of age, could you go two years without sex or even releasing it yourself?
However, if you were to believe, as is common, that missionaries were special people, with a divine calling to a specific geographic area, then even one stray is too many.
You have to understand that missionaries’ lives are regulated minutely. Hiking as an actively was OK, but not swimming. We were allowed to play half-court basketball, but not full-court, for example. Why? No one is allowed to ask, but this was in the “White Book” or set of rules which we were required to carry everywhere we went.
After giving up in vain on trying to make sense of the deep mysteries, I would still like one, good honest reason why it was sinful to play full-court basketball.
Anyway, I digress. I personally knew a few who did the dirty deed as missionaries. That actually takes courage, as this is the worst possible thing which missionaries could do. (Other than killing their companion, and in my entire live I’ve only heard of one case of that. Having given up the religion years ago, it may have happened since I’ve been out of the loop.) Having sex will immediately get you sent home, without exception.
As in the old joke about everyone’s ability to count to nine, (from when marriages were supposed to happen first, and then the baby) everyone knows when you leave on a mission you won’t be back for 24 months. Anything shy of that will cause an indelible stain on the family name.
That said, one guy I knew used to sneak out after lights out to shag a lady down the street. He was “lucky” as even though people has suspensions, no one had any proof, so when the Mission President called him on the carpet, he just lied through his teeth and sensibly denied anything. No need embarrassing your family while you’re having fun. Naturally, he didn’t hang around with the saints when he got back.
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