Not sure how this will be received, considering the polarized emotions the LDS Church seems to inspire in people, but I thought this was pretty incredible.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8108202&autostart=y
Elizabeth Smart will be leaving next month to serve an 18-month LDS mission in Paris, France. Regardless of what you believe about the LDS Church, you can't help but be impressed with Elizabeth Smart. Serving a mission is a difficult thing. In LDS circles, there's oftentimes pressure on young men to go. I'm always impressed with young women that go, because they do it without the social pressure lots of young men receive.
A mission is hard work; and it can be personally very stressful. Other than written communication, you have no contact with home while you're gone - in her case, it will be for eighteen months.
But I would think it's going to give her more normalcy than she's had at any point since she returned home. I would guess that most people in France wouldn't really know who she is. Still, I can't imagine how much bravery it's going to take for her to get on the plane and leave for an unfamiliar place.
I don't know Elizabeth Smart; but I know lots of her family - aunts, uncles, and cousins. They're all solid people. I'm proud of the way this girl has responded from an, to say the least, unthinkable ordeal. I can't imagine that there will be much in her life that she couldn't accomplish.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8108202&autostart=y
Elizabeth Smart will be leaving next month to serve an 18-month LDS mission in Paris, France. Regardless of what you believe about the LDS Church, you can't help but be impressed with Elizabeth Smart. Serving a mission is a difficult thing. In LDS circles, there's oftentimes pressure on young men to go. I'm always impressed with young women that go, because they do it without the social pressure lots of young men receive.
A mission is hard work; and it can be personally very stressful. Other than written communication, you have no contact with home while you're gone - in her case, it will be for eighteen months.
But I would think it's going to give her more normalcy than she's had at any point since she returned home. I would guess that most people in France wouldn't really know who she is. Still, I can't imagine how much bravery it's going to take for her to get on the plane and leave for an unfamiliar place.
I don't know Elizabeth Smart; but I know lots of her family - aunts, uncles, and cousins. They're all solid people. I'm proud of the way this girl has responded from an, to say the least, unthinkable ordeal. I can't imagine that there will be much in her life that she couldn't accomplish.