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The following comments have been edited to prevent internet crawlers from
harvesting names and email addresses and any other personal information that
could be used either to generate spam or aid in identity theft.
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Note 1: Bishops Storehouse
| We work at the Bishops Storehouse when our Ward has assignments here in
Central Florida. There is a senior couple that serves full-time to
manage and oversee the Storehouse. But, there are always service missionaries,
couples and single members, who have been called to help in the day-to-day operations
of the storehouse and the cannery.
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Note 2: Excited To Serve
| I have friends from Alpine (Utah) that are sending a son who also has Aspergers
on a service mission for just this summer, and they are really
excited. They've had two sons serve missions and really hoped to
send this boy out, too.
He will be able to give both a farewell and homecoming sacrament
meeting talk, and he will not be going on vacation or anything this summer. I think
he'll be serving at temple square. He is
really excited!
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Note 3: From A Special Education Teacher
| I am a Special Education teacher so I have had more than one student
that was not allowed to serve a regular mission. The missionaires in
our area that have been called on service missions have mostly been
called to serve at Deseret Industries.
In some cases, those called were very hesitant to be called for this
type of mission. However, I have had one student complete his mission
at the DI and absolutely ended up loving the experience.
I know of a couple others that I believe served at a seminary in a special
needs class with special needs students with severe disabilities.
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Note 4: High School Service
| We had a wonderful young man from a previous ward who had Aspergers.
He was called as a Missionary to one of the high schools in
town. He was a greeter, and I think he helped prepare lessons, too.
I'm not sure what else he did, but he loved it and was there 2 years.
Oh, and the kids loved him.
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Note 5: Inner City Mission
| There is a young man in our stake who was not able to fulfill a regular
full time mission due to emotional problems. He has been assigned
locally to the Salt Lake inner city mission where he helps with the
various needs of non-English speaking/impoverished families. While
living at home and attending school, he works in this capacity a couple
of times a week. He feels very fulfilled working as a service
missionary because he is helping a very needful yet otherwise hidden
group of our community.
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Note 6: Joseph Smith Papers
| My brother-in-law's nephew has high functioning autism. They live in
Sandy, Utah. He was called to a service mission in Salt Lake City.
He lived at home and commuted to the Church Office Building each day by light
rail and bus. I understand that he worked on the Joseph Smith Papers.
He was a history nut and it was the perfect fit and a wonderful experience.
He completed his mission a year or two ago. If you are interested in this
type of mission, call the missionary department and ask!
I know the Lord is mindful of each of his children and has a plan for us
all. Pray for His blessings to be with you and your family during this
time of decision.
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Note 7: Local Service Opportunities
| Because the original email requesting these helps was sent anonymously,
I don't know where your family lives or what opportunities are
available to you there.
Because I am a stay-at-home mom, I've had opportunities to serve during the day while
my children are in school. I just completed a church service mission at
our local wet pack cannery. One missionary who served with me was a
single 19-year-old with limitations. There were also several
missionaries at the adjacent Bishops Storehouse.
Be sure to look at the Church's Mission and Service Opportunities website, but don't be
discouraged if your son isn't able to do everything listed for any specific
mission, and I don't know what his specific limitations
are, but the Lord's servants will be willing to adapt those requirements to
meet the needs of His children.
One more thought is that there might be service needs around the stake.
Your son could be a 'floating helper'
and help with whatever various bishops might need: ie. yard cleaning,
fence repair and painting, etc. or even church facility cleaning or even
raking leaves. He might get a phone call once a week or once a month or 4
times a week. It might not be something that is widely done, but could
be just the thing for him.
I would look at what we do as members on a regular basis, and see if the
stake president would tailor a specific mission for your son. Your son
would love the assignment and knowing he has a chance to serve with all his
"heart, might, mind and strength".
(D&C 4:2).
Also, if neither your bishop or stake president know what to do or how to proceed,
or remotely, don't seem willing to help, then call Salt Lake and talk to the
missionary department. Get some specific guidelines from them. Perhaps they will even
talk to your stake president.
There just has to be something. [Editor: Read many other notes here and you'll see
that some persistent Moms have accomplished miracles for their child]
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Note 8: London Nephew
| My nephew served a full time service mission at the London Temple. He
has learning difficulties. He was initially serving with the
groundsman/gardener but enjoys cooking and had worked in a restaurant
under a chef before and he then served and worked with the chef in the
temple restaurant. He also did a little proselyting from time to time
within the ward where he was based. He had his own apartment on the
temple grounds but was well looked after by the couples serving in the
temple and of course the Temple President and Matron.
He loved his mission and he has been back a couple of years and is now
working in a carvery restaurant under the chef there.
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Note 9: More Young Men
| We have several young men in our stake who are serving full time
while living at home. They work each day at
their service mission call.
Both of the ones from our ward have been serving in the big Family
History Center in Mesa. One of the young men speaks German as a
second language and uses it to help patrons with German research.
There are other opportunities as well through the
Bishop's Storehouse.
One of our friends had a son who was given the calling to work there.
That's a wonderful calling and place to be helping and showing love to those
going through tough times.
He might be able to serve in the temple as a patron or if there is a
laundry or cafeteria he could perhaps fill an important need there.
It is our hope that you will find comfort in opportunities to serve from
home and that any disappointment will be turned to joy as he receives an
inspired call to serve where he can be a blessing to others and feel that joy
while giving joy to others.
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Note 10: Multiple Opportunities
| We had a member of our ward who is high functioning special needs and he
served a mission here in Salt Lake City in the Family History
library, the Bakery, the DI, and other service areas of the
church.
He would also help the youth or adults who went down to do service
in their ward assignments. He served for 2 years and he loved his
mission. It was hard for him afterwards because he didn't have somwhere to go everyday
when his mission was over. He worked at Deseret Industries for a while and now he is
working with the special needs kids at our elementary school.
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Note 11: Non Traditional Missions
| My son's best friend served as a full-time missionary
right here in our home town by serving as the grounds keeper for all of
the stakes in Cedar City. He left home at 9:00 in the
morning and finished around 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening. He was so
happy to serve and seemed to be fulfilled by the calling.
It's a wonderful opportunity for these fine young men and they render
such honorable service.
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Note 12: Personal Experience
| A good sister sent me an email earlier this week and I was able to
forward the information I found. It is such a tender topic and
prospective missionaries needs are so individual and personal.
I genuinely hope that his righteous desires will be fulfilled and
that he will be able to find a meaningful mission opportunity that
will build him up and help him grow!
The website is www.ldsability.org. To get to the section specific to
missionary service look at the menu on the far left side. Click on
"resources" and a drop down menu will show up with "part-time mission" as
an option. At the bottom of the mission page there are links to ideas for
service assignments and a couple of profiles.
An interesting side note: Two years ago our family took a church history
trip during spring break. When we were in the Nauvoo visitor's center
there
was a woman I knew I recognized but couldn't quite place. Within a few
minutes her husband came up and I was close enough to read their missionary
name tags. It turns out they were one of the first families we met when
our
daughter was born with Down syndrome while we were graduate students at
BYU.
They were the founders of a Down Syndrome support group in Utah County and
we were among the very grateful beneficiaries. She hadn't seen us or our
daughter for about 12 years so it was fun to reintroduce ourselves. When I
asked her about her son she said, "He's serving here in the Nauvoo Illinois
Mission, you can find him at the Tin Shop! He also works in the Nauvoo
Temple Baptistry." I was overwhelmed.
Of course, the Tin Shop was our very next stop and I'm sure the other
visitors wondered why I sat in the back with tears streaming down my cheeks
as this handsome Elder with Down syndrome explained in detail and word for
word all about the role of the Tin Shop in early Nauvoo. Of course he was
willing to pose for photos for us so we could capture this memory! The
Elder continued to impress us as he performed in the evening musical and
participated in the Temple Baptisms our teens were able to do at the Nauvoo
Temple! Cool experience. The Elder's profile is on the website [linked above].
I think that adding this info to your site will be very helpful. Whether
it's a prospective missionary with a health concern, a special need, a
mental health challenge etc. I'm convinced that opportunities can be found
if we know where to look and who to ask!
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Note 13: Recreational Properties
| In Washington and in many other areas, the church has recreational properties.
One of them in Washington is located at Cle Elum. Our stake attends YW camp
there each year. It is a wonderful place. There are many senior missionary
couples, and a few young elders who, because of special circumstances, are unable
to serve full-time missions.
These missionaries are so valuable to the "ranch". They live on the site and
love being outdoors, working and serving. They provide a service to
many Stakes and others that visit the porperty. The duties vary, but all
those that serve in this sacred piece of forested ground look very happy
to be there.
I'm not sure of the correct procedure in following up on this type of opportunity,
but you might want to ask your stake president.
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Note 14: Reporting Missionary
| When my son reported to the high council after his mission, there was another
elder reporting, who had served right here in our mission.
He was disabled, but had a calling to teach with the fulltime missionaries, all day,
every day, but in a different stake. I think he said he lived with the elders,
but not in a regular companionship, but rather, in a "three-some".
He served diligently and helped teach, and show love to, many
people. He was very humble and his testimony simple, beautiful and powerful.
I'm sure he touched many lives.
This was in the Sacramento, California Mission.
I understand that your son has different challenges than this young man,
but, from this experience I learned there are many opportunities
for service. I'm sure you are praying for Father to find that
right opportunity for your son. It is there, I am sure!
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Note 15: Several Young Men
| I know of a missionary (high functioning down syndrome) who was called to serve at
the Institute of Religion at Utah Valley University. His bishop helped arrange this
and an official call came. He helped set up chairs, went on exchanges with the
full-time missionaries, went with the elders to teach single sisters to make it
appropriate, and then did office work 5 at the institute days a week.
For another service mission, this same young man served at the baptistry at the
Provo Temple.
Also, his parents were called to serve in the Nauvoo Temple, so he went with, and
had his own assignments.
Another young man I knew of served in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
He had a facination with military history and he did special research for the
Library.
Both of these boys lived at home, wore a nametag and suit till they got home each
day.
Another boy went with his Grandparents filming church records as his full time
mission. Another boy's Grandma received a witness while in the temple that she and
her husband were to take him on their mission. She couldn't come up with a way to
tell his Mom. A short time later, his Mom called his Grandma and said, "I was in the
temple......" Grandma interrupted and said "I know, we're taking him on our mission"
He was injured badly in a 4-wheeler accident and was wheelchair bound, but his mind
was perfect. So, he went with his Grandparents to film church records and that was
his full-time mission.
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Note 16: Short Term Service
| Our daughter served a 6-month service mission at the Humanitarian & Family History
Centers in Salt Lake City.
This was a unique mission created by the Stake President of her singles ward in
Castle Dale (Utah). She was able to be endowed before serving her mission
which allowed her and her companion to attend the Salt Lake Temple every week.
They lived in an apartment in Holladay (Salt Lake Valley) and were very involved in
the ward there, including a calling in the nursery. The ward loved having them there
and fed and took great care of these sweet sister missionaries.
It was a great blessing to the girls and an even greater blessing to the ward. The
bishop cried at the pulpit on their last week there at the thought of losing them.
It was very touching, as parents, to see the love they had for our daughter.
We would love to see more missions like this for these "special" youth! There is a
great need in the church for the service of these special children of God!
What A Win-Win Situation!
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Note 17: Temple Square
| We had a neighbor a few years back who could not
serve a full-time mission because of some type of disease. It didn't keep
him from functioning, but I guess the church was concerned about the consequence of
sending him away from the constant care of his doctors.
He was called to serve a full-time service mission on Temple Square.
Because he lived close to Salt Lake City, he was able to live at home.
He loved serving, even though it was not how he had always dreamed for his mission.
He was so happy to be able to serve in this
capacity.
I would think that if a bishop or stake president aren't
aware of such opportunities, you, or they, could call the Church and ask
about it. Someone knows!
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Note 18: Temples and Mission Offices
| As we are close to a temple, one suggestion is that he can be called to work in the
temple, in many different capacities, and live on site in the temple accommodations
through the week, going home at weekends maybe, or sometimes they do a few weeks at
the temple, then come home for a few weeks. Actually my parents did this at the
London Temple for a couple of years - '5 weeks on and 5 weeks off'. They worked in
all areas of the temple, depending on the need, whether it was 'temporal' in the
laundry or cafe, or more 'spiritual' work serving those who were attending the
temple - there are so many functions within the temple where service is required. Or
these young people are sometimes called to work in the office within the temple.
Actually, there is a young man currently serving a service mission in our temple now
- he is often the greeter at the temple desk, and his warm smile and friendliness is
so welcoming to those who enter the temple. What better place to serve the Lord and
his people, as well as those who have gone before. The temple presidency and other
temple workers are so loving and patient and caring, I can't think of a better place
for a young person to learn about eternal truths and be enveloped in the spirit in
such a safe and secure setting as within those sacred walls.
I also know of another young man with autism who was called on a mission, but he
atually spent the whole of his mission serving in the mission office, and working
under the watchful care of the mission president and his wife and the office
missionaries, and he completed a full two-year mission. That was quite a few years
ago, but it just came to mind.
Of course, every situation is different, but depending on the severity of a person's
condition, there are still so many opportunities for service within the Church - I
believe church service missions can also be served in family history centres and
distribution centres too, for example. I know a letter came out some years ago on
this subject, and it stated that church service missions are just as honourable as
proselyting missions for those young people who are not able - through no fault of
their own - to fulfill a proselyting mission. I just think that shows our Heavenly
Father's love for all His children, and His deep concern that no-one be made to feel
'unworthy' because they can't serve in the same way as others, and that one form of
service is no less honourable than another.
I hope my thoughts came over in the right way and sensitively, because it can be
such a painful matter. Know that the Lord loves your son, and he can still have such
fulfillment through serving faithfully and worthily.
[submitted from "Across the Pond"]
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Note 19: Very Short Term
| My nephew served with the rest of his family in the
Palmyra, New York Pageant. They served for two full weeks and had to
keep all the mission rules at all times. It was a wonderful
experience and a great testimony builder for the whole family.
I wonder if there isn't something similar closer to home, wherever that may be. It
was short, but maybe more than one could be arranged.
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