LDS Prophets... Who, Why, How?

[Katzpur]

Hey Kathryn....is that the name you preferred to be called?

Yup. That's my name. That's what I go by. The only other related name I like is Kate, which is what Bob (Pah) used to call me. I hate being called "Kathy."

How do the potential missionaries know how much their mission will cost?

One of the forum members who has actually served a full-time mission may be able to give you a more accurate answer than I can, but to the best of my knowledge, this is how it works:

The cost of serving a mission (i.e. housing, food, transportation, etc.) in the various parts of the world varies greatly. For instance, it costs a lot more money to live for two years in Japan than it does to live for two years in Guatemala. The Church determines the average cost of a mission, based on the figures for each possible destination, and all of the missionaries contribute an equal amount to a fund from which all receive a monthly allotment, according to the cost of living requirements for where they are serving. They don't, by the way, have a choice as to where they will be going. Some want very much to serve a foreign mission, and get assigned to Podunk, North Dakota. Others want to stay in the states, and get sent to somewhere in Siberia. Again, I may be wrong, but I believe the current average cost is somewhere just under $500 per month.

 

[DeepShadow]

The Church determines the average cost of a mission, based on the figures for each possible destination, and all of the missionaries contribute an equal amount to a fund from which all receive a monthly allotment, according to the cost of living requirements for where they are serving. They don't, by the way, have a choice as to where they will be going. Some want very much to serve a foreign mission, and get assigned to Podunk, North Dakota. Others want to stay in the states, and get sent to somewhere in Siberia. Again, I may be wrong, but I believe the current average cost is somewhere just under $500 per month.

Sounds dead-on to me. When I was serving in 1995, it was $475 a month we had to donate, although my mission expenses were actually averaged at around $488. The extra $13 came from surplus funds from missionaries in lands where they could live comfortably for a lot less.

OTOH, my brother's mission in Italy was considerably more expensive; they often housed 4-6 missionaries in a large apartment just to bring the rent within reach. Again, when missionaries in many South American countries can survive on less than $50 a month, there's plenty of surplus to pass around to others.

 

[Bishka]

Sounds dead-on to me. When I was serving in 1995, it was $475 a month we had to donate, although my mission expenses were actually averaged at around $488. The extra $13 came from surplus funds from missionaries in lands where they could live comfortably for a lot less.

OTOH, my brother's mission in Italy was considerably more expensive; they often housed 4-6 missionaries in a large apartment just to bring the rent within reach. Again, when missionaries in many South American countries can survive on less than $50 a month, there's plenty of surplus to pass around to others.

That's neat.

Rhonda, I can say that tithing does go to the Universities, especially in keeping the cost of education down.

Take for instance,

What does it cost for a regular university?

Anywhere from $2000-$8000 a semester?

I pay about $1300 a semester, if that.


~:giraffe:

 

[Buttercup]

I pay about $1300 a semester, if that.
~:giraffe:

You got a giraffe! Yay!

My daughter's college tuition is about $1700 a semester. Fortunately she got a scholarship so all's we pay for is her apartment.

The college you go to in Rexburg is an LDS college?

 

[Bishka]

You got a giraffe! Yay!

My daughter's college tuition is about $1700 a semester. Fortunately she got a scholarship so all's we pay for is her apartment.

The college you go to in Rexburg is an LDS college?

Yep.

4-year private university to be specific.

~:giraffe:~

 

[CaptainXeroid]

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