LDS missionaries certainly try to. They ask for a commitment to baptism early in the teaching process, well before they finish teaching all the official lessons. Even those lessons only cover the “milk” of LDS doctrine. Missionaries generally try to stay away from the “meat” as it tends to scare off investigators of the faith. It is not unheard of for people to be baptized a couple of weeks after starting lessons with the missionaries.
Thanks, I couldn’t wrap my head around how and why my friends “converted” so quickly.
Ugh. I hear you. I was born and raised Mormon so my Facebook feed is a constant stream of stuff from Mormon.org. Since this past weekend was General Conference, it has been almost unbearable with all the General Conference memes flooding my newsfeed.
Yes, they’ll ask for a commitment to set a baptism date within the first few meetings, they used to have to give a set amount of discussions before baptizing people but now with the new program it is far more discretionary. I have a friend that was baptized within two weeks of meeting the missionaries (this is the new program). He knew next to nothing about the faith, just got swept up in it all and thought it was what he wanted.
If I’m not mistaken the “Preach my Gospel” manual suggests getting a commitment to baptism in the the second lesson. I hate the commitment pattern, it always rubs me the wrong way. Even at 18 when pushed by LDS missionaries and still heavily trained in being polite and agreeable I would go all stubborn and flat out no, push me and that’s it you lose I will not ever agree to anything.Yes, they’ll ask for a commitment to set a baptism date within the first few meetings, they used to have to give a set amount of discussions before baptizing people but now with the new program it is far more discretionary. I have a friend that was baptized within two weeks of meeting the missionaries (this is the new program). He knew next to nothing about the faith, just got swept up in it all and thought it was what he wanted.
Yeah, that sounds about right. It’s all very high pressure.
Yeah the old discussions are dead on gone. You probably wouldn’t even recognize them more. Also now, “if the spirit prompts” they can skip what they feel they can. Basically the discussions are now more of an open meeting instead of a lesson with a Q&A afterwards.
LDS do not require you to start a class in October and wait until spring to baptized.
They are impatient because making a conversion is a big plus to the missionary’s resume.
Wow. Nice dig on RCIA.
I’ve actually send them used in missionary lessons in my area already
RCIA is a process. It is where a non-Christian adult is taught the faith in its entirety. It is where any and all questions are answered. It is where a person begins their discipleship of Christ. Scripture study, breaking open the word, prayer and study of the faith is the class part. There is an interior part, of the person turning to Christ. Creating or building a prayer life and spiritual devotions. There is a fellowship aspect, where the person is entering a community, our parishes. It is a time of discernment, where the Catechumen is seeking the will of God and deciding if baptism is where God is calling them. There is no rush. The Rite of Acceptance incorporates the person into the Church in a special way, which supports them and prepares them to live a Christian life, that begins at baptism.
If our RCIA program accommodated everyone’s schedules, we’d be teaching every night. That just isn’t possible. There would need to be a lot more people working in the ministry. Which would be wonderful, but Catholics are too busy too.Hey, I learned more stuff about RCIA! My town just does RCIA Oct-Easter (small college town), which has caused me frustration, because I never have the time in Oct to check things out (annual work deadlines). I did not realize that these practiced varied from parish to parish. Thanks for the info iepuras and Steven
I’ve actually send them used in missionary lessons in my area already
No two parishes are the same. If the parish you have looked at does not have a convenient RCIA schedule, try another parish. Or talk to the RCIA director. He or she will generally work with you. In small parishes, it is not unheard of for someone to receive one on one instruction.Hey, I learned more stuff about RCIA! My town just does RCIA Oct-Easter (small college town), which has caused me frustration, because I never have the time in Oct to check things out (annual work deadlines). I did not realize that these practiced varied from parish to parish. Thanks for the info iepuras and Steven
That parish is the only on in 60 miles. Perils of living in the middle of no where…
In a small parish there may be only one person inquiring into the Catholic Church so there isn’t a group to go through RCIA with unfortunately. I came into the Church in a large suburban parish (6,000+ registered families). There were about 15 people who were baptized along with the same number who were already baptized but confirmed, so 30 total came into the Church at the Easter Vigil last year. They had a similar number enter the Church this past weekend. That doesn’t include the group that enters the Church at Christ the King, which is usually a smaller group but still usually about 10 people.