Comments on: Mission Gossip

By: Emlee Taylor

Emlee Taylor — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 15:01:33 +0000

Randy,
LOL! You are not alone in this being a struggle to overcome! When I am focusing on avoiding any negativity, I am always surprised at how pervasive the gossip is in our conversations. So, you do your part where you are and I’ll do mine where I am. If each of us make the effort, we can join together and eradicate this negative cycle!
Emlee

By: Emlee Taylor

Emlee Taylor — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 14:58:38 +0000

Molly, I’ve had similar experiences outside the mission field! It’s hard to start the open conversations, and I wish Sister B would have chosen to speak directly TO you. Perhaps she would have gained a friend! Thanks for sharing your experiences–we’re all dealing with similar struggles, so much easier when we join together in positivity! 🙂

By: Randy McNeely

Randy McNeely — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 12:09:47 +0000

Emlee,

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful insights. I needed this today!

I’ve had my own challenges, over the years, with the gossip chain – being, sadly, the source of the gossip, and the target. It is a vicious cycle and nobody wins.

For the last several years I’ve tried really hard not to say anything unkind about someone who wasn’t present to defend themselves. I’ve also striven to be more kind and slower to rush to judgement on people without taking the time to understand and get to know them. It has proven to be much more satisfying, joyful, and fulfilling. My life, and theirs have been blessed.

I still need a lot of work, though, and your article has inspired me to do even better, starting now!

By: Randy McNeely

Randy McNeely — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 12:02:58 +0000

Well written Emlee. It really made me reflect on how many times, sadly, I’ve been part of the gossip change, speaking unkindly about those who weren’t present to defend themselves. I’ve had the same things happen to me.

I’ve tried hard, for the last several years, to be very careful about what I say about anyone, striving to be kind, even when I didn’t necessarily have kind feelings toward someone. It hasn’t been easy but I’ve been blessed because of it. In fact, I’ve been able to avoid the quagmires that come with gossiping and made friends I probably wouldn’t have otherwise because I was inspired to take the time to get to know people personally and judge for myself how they were, rather than relying on someone else’s judgement.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful talents and insights. I’m committed to doing even better!

By: Molly A. Kerr

Molly A. Kerr — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 15:35:07 +0000

I had a similar experience in the mission field. I received a more junior missionary (Sister A) into my current area, and she had a really bad attitude toward me. Come to find out, her previous companion (Sister B) was someone who spoke ill of a priesthood leader’s decision. I had stepped in to the conversation and spoken out against this behavior. This is the only interaction I remember having with Sister B. Sister B went back to her area and filled her brand new missionary (Sister A) with lots of ideas about me. And then transfers came …. just crazy. You’re right an open conversation is the only thing that fixes these issues.