The Astral Pulse

It always shocks me to see the capitalized letters "LDS". In the movie Star Trek IV, there is a scene in which Kirk is trying to explain something odd about Spock. He said that Spock lived through the 1960s and did too much LDS. Spock was considered fully explained, but suddenly Kirk was thought to be dyslexic.

Where did you get that about Mormon missionaries not being allowed near water? That is the weirdest thing I have heard. If it is true, though, I'd guess that it has to do more with staying close to home and family than with the qualities of running water.

RainyDaze-
I'd be happy to answer your question.  Yes it's true that young men serving as full-time representatives for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are not allowed to bath/swim in the open water (sea, ocean, lakes, etc.).  This rule, like nearly every other rule missionaries follow, is likely to have be instituted due to accidents in the past.  I personally know of several instances in which missionaries drowned after entering the water.  Another reason has to do with the fact that missionaries are to have no physical contact with members of the opposite sex and we all know that when one goes swimming one tends to see scantily clad young women.  That may sound funny or strange to some, but after having served a two year mission in Southern Italy, I can tell you right now that had we been able to go to the beach I might have gone crazy!  

There is indeed another reason I am aware of that led to the creation of this rule.  It seems that before this rule was implemented, a number of LDS missionaries were spiritually/psychically attacked.  Many have elluded to that fact that water may be manipulated easier by negative energies/spirits.  I find this somewhat bewildering in that we, as Latter-Day Saints, like many others, look at water as a great purifying element which is used in baptism as well as cleansing the earth.  Go figure... God works in mysterious ways and so does Satan.

That's more or less all  I know on the subject.

-Daniel

fides quaerens intellectum

Hey I was wondering if you had any opinions or knowledge about how mormon missionarys are suppose to stay out of the water.  I have always thought this was interesting and the most my LDS friends know is that it is considered evil and missionarys are expecially susceptable or something along those lines, but they don't know the why or the how.

My curiosity was further sparked by Bruce's assertion that running water is one of the most effective ways of keeping negs away.

You seem to be fairly knowledgable about doctrine and what not so could you (or anyone else)  maybe shed any light on this for me?

thanks
~joe


sorry if this is the wrong forum.