Returned Missionaries Setting an Unseen Standard

How social culture has changed at BYU due to influx of RM’s

“Someone once told me I was not as dedicated to the church because I didn’t serve a mission,” said senior Emma Steward. The now classic ‘on my mission’ stories are told by both men and women who served as ambassadors for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The term “RM” means returned missionary. At Brigham Young University, religion and social culture has been widely changed by RM’s over the last year.

In October 2012, President Thomas S. Monson changed the age requirements to serve a mission. Men could go at the age of 18 and Females could go as early as 19.

Female RM’s, although the minority, have set an unseen bar for non-RM females. “I’ve met a guy that said if serving a mission is expected of men, then he will expect it of us,” said junior Amber Wallace.

“Did they not see what the apostles said? Sometimes I feel like it is the standard and if you don't people look at you and assume,” Wallace said.

For girls, they might not be the minority here at BYU but many of them say that the social culture makes them feel like they are.

The real minority are men who have not served missions and are not RM’s. Joshua Barnett, a senior studying chemistry had medical issues that prevented him from serving a full-time mission.

“When I get asked if I served a mission or where I served a mission, somehow I get embarrassed or ashamed to say No,” Barnett said. He expressed that even though he had the desires to serve a mission, he feels that people largely judge him because he did not serve.  

“Sometimes not serving a mission also affects my dating life,” said Barnett. He described how most women at BYU are turned off by non-rm’s.

The discrimination against non RM's is not just limited to BYU. Many non RM's across the county have also been victims of these social issues. Kenneth Morgan, a junior at UVU has experienced similar social repercussions for not serving. "Most girls automatically think I am not worthy enough to date them because I didn't serve a mission," Morgan said.

"What I did do was serve my country for four years in the U.S. Navy. I guess that's not good enough for some," said Morgan. He expressed that he also had a desire to serve a mission but due to military service he couldn't.

Whether female or male, social culture has made non-rm’s feel like the minority.