Missionary Weight Policy

There was an article in the "Mormon Times" by a doctor about new weight standards that had to be met to receive a missionary calling. I felt compelled to send him these comments:

Your article in the "Mormon Times", March 2, 2009 edition was informative and while I understand very well your concern for obesity in children and adults as well, I respectfully disagree with the position of the Missionary Committee on weight standards for missionary callings for the following reasons:

(1) The policy is discriminatory, particularly in this part of the country, toward Native Americans and Hispanics who generally tend towards above average weight. There is a Navajo family in our ward whose children will never serve missions because of this rule, and it will ultimately will weaken the position of their family and posterity in the Church among a people who we are struggling with to keep in activity. My Catholic associates in northern New Mexico who, if ever converted to the gospel, would not have the opportunity for them or their family members to serve on missions.

(2) Until you have had a son or daughter who has been turned down for a mission, you will not understand the impact that such an action has on them and their family. I have not experienced this myself, but I have in-laws who have. Usually it results in the inactivity of the person affected and it alters the entire family's attitude toward the Church. Didn't he sing in Primary all through his youth, "I Want to be a Missionary..." What a price to pay for an administrative, non-spiritual rule.

(3) Such a rule as this deprives missions of good faithful bretheren who are instrumental in bringing the gospel to others. In my experience, the percentage of overweight missionaries sent home for health reasons is quite small; obesity doesn't usually impact most people until later in their age. I think of the 240 pound young man in my ward who was sent to northern Mexico three years ago. Three months into his mission, the local food and plenty of exercise had shed 60 pounds from his weight. He brought the gospel to many people and served as a secretary to the mission president. Well, he's back now, and he's back to 240 pounds again.

(4) I sense that this as well as many of the 'raising of the bar' missionary rules are economic decisions rather than spiritual decisions. Health care and sending missionaries home costs the Church money. But they are bad economic decisions if the person subjected to the rule loses activity in the Church and the Church is deprived of tens of thousands of dollars in tithing over his lifetime. I know too many missionaries from my mission in Germany 40 years ago who wouldn't have made it over the bar, but served their mission and subsequently became leaders in the Church.

(5) Well, to be fair, does this apply to other callings? Will my 300 pound Stake President and his similarly obese First Counselor be released because of their weight? Do they serve as good examples for our youth? What a waste that would be if these men who I call "Saviors on Mount Zion' hadn't been able to act in their capacity to literally save my children. Think about that before you turn away young men with their entire life and future in the Church in front of them.