Johnson: Why the Early-Returned Missionary Stigma Needs to Disappear

Staring out the window of an airplane, the closest I’d been to heaven while living here on earth, I felt the farthest away from God.

In nine short months, I had left to serve a mission in the Utah Provo Mission, but came home due to depression. Coming home, the only thought in my head was, “Am I returning with honor?”

On top of the pain that early-returned missionaries experience due to mental/physical health issues, spiritual trials or other issues, judgment just makes things worse. It’s time the early-returned missionary stigma gets torn out of LDS Culture.

47 percent of early-returned missionaries become less-active or inactive after they return home from missions. Church often becomes a place of judgement. This stigma puts the eternal lives of almost half of these early-returned missionaries in danger.

With over 10 percent of missionaries coming home early, you will probably meet an early-returned missionary(Banack). I encourage you to do only these three things:

1. Give them a hug

2. Say you love them

3. Tell them “I am so happy you are home.”

Give them the honor they deserve for their service.

— Jake Johnson, Provo

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