But this was long ago, back when the idea of missionaries knocking on doors in communist countries was the stuff of fantasy. It seemed an impossible boundary to breach.
Not so much anymore. Mormons are all over the ex-Soviet Union today. And as soon as it figures out how to make money while maintaining its non-capitalist contempt for us, China is next. I should be scared now, right?
Mostly I wish I had paid more attention to the talk. It would be nice to recall whether that whole "wards and stakes" in previously unheard-of places condition also included outer space.
Now that NASA has announced its intention to colonize Mars sometime in the next 30 years, will off-world wards and stakes also be a precursor to the Second Coming?
As it has been with every other outward migration in human history, once a toehold is established somewhere missionaries soon follow.
For example, if there are more than three dozen Mars colonists by 2050 you can bet somebody at LDS Church HQ will be trying to figure out how to get Mormon missionaries there.
A space church mission is a whole other can of bugs than one to a country we were willing to atomize in the interest of global peace.
For starters, there's the fact that it's a one-way trip. People signing up for the NASA mission know they'll never be coming home. So a missionary called to Mars would never get released.
I can't tell you how much this would suck. The only thing that got me through the 77 days I spent with Elder Lekker was knowing that it couldn't last forever.
It wouldn't get any better as human colonization spread. If sharing a miniscule apartment with someone whose ability to draw a level breath drives you crazy, imagine having to share an oxygen bottle with him 105 astronomical units from the mission home.
Read more:
Kirby: An LDS mission to Mars - and beyond
- The Future of Mars colonization - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Richard Branson wants to colonize Mars [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Giller Prize nominee Alix Ohlin on writing, and reading [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2012]
- Mars manned mission- Mars Direct plan for Mars colonization (Mirrored) - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2012]
- AJ Interviews Sean Calhoun! - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2012]
- Table Talk: Buffalo Wings, Mars Colonization, and Dubstep! - Video [Last Updated On: March 2nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 2nd, 2013]
- Mars colonization - Video [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2013]
- Mars Colonization Habitation Module #1 - Video [Last Updated On: April 13th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 13th, 2013]
- Chinese Volunteers Register for Mars Colonization Project - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2013]
- IGN News - Mars Colonization Wants You! - Video [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2013] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2013]
- Tekkit com GWi7 mars colonization #1 - Video [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2013] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2013]
- Secrets Of The Eisenhower Presidency - From Alien Contact To Mars Colonization - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2013] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2013]
- Private Mars Lander Launching in 2018 Will Build on NASA Legacy [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Mars Colonization Mission Will Happen Live on Reality TV ... [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Economic Viability of Mars Colonization [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Mars trilogy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Case for Colonizing Mars, by Robert Zubrin [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Red Colony - Colonizing and Terraforming Mars [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- NASA Quest: Possibility of colonizing Mars [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Why Colonize Mars? - Red Colony [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Colonizing the Planet Mars - Buzzle [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2013]
- 1,058 called up for tests before one-way trip to Mars [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2014]
- More than 1,000 chosen for one-way Mars reality-TV mission [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2014]
- Mars mission hopefuls whittled down to 1,058, representing 140 countries [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2014]
- Tampa man one step closer to Mars? [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2014]
- Volunteers For Mars Colonization Wanted: Apply Today [VIDEO] [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2014]
- St. Louisans hope to make mission to Mars [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2014]
- NC State student makes the cut for chance to go to Mars [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2014]
- Minn. Man Finalist In Mars Colonization Plan [Last Updated On: January 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 23rd, 2014]
- The Dead Planet [Page 3.14] [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2014]
- Human body not ready for life in space [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2014]
- Let's Play Kerbal Space Program - Career Day16 - Mars colonization - Ep25 - NOELonPC - Video [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2014]
- Mars Colony-Scale Rockets 'Could Be Ready In 10 Years ... [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2014]
- MARS COLONY: Chapter One and Two | MARS EXPEDITION [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2014]
- Mars One: Va Beach woman makes first round of cuts for ... [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2014]
- Calgary artist behind illustrations of would-be Mars One habitats [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2014]
- Planetarium Inspires New Cosmonauts [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2014]
- Leading Texan Democratic Senate Candidate Compares Obama to Hitler [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2014]
- Mars Exploration - Video [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2014]
- Packing Of Mars - Video [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2014]
- Kelowna scientist joins NASA funded simulated mission to Mars on Hawaiian mountain [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2014]
- What, Exactly, Is Kicking Off Everywhere, Whether in Venezuela, the Ukraine, or Thailand? [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2014]
- How Humans Will Evolve on Multigenerational Space Exploration Missions [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2014]
- Kwame Nkrumah: The one and only founding father of Ghana [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2014]
- Finally! A Trash Collector For Space Junk! [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2014]
- SpaceX prepares to take the biggest step towards affordable space travel: Soft landing the Falcon 9 rocket [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2014]
- Thinkfactory Media Shopping Mars Exploration Reality Series [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2014]
- Colonizing Mars: Just How Far Away Are We? - Space News ... [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2014]
- One Minute on Mars - Video [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2014]
- Mars Colonies | Strategy Games | Play Free Games Online at ... [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2014]
- Mars One building simulated colony to vet potential colonists [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2014]
- Planet Mars Colonizing - Video [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2014]
- NASA Astronaut on 'Gravity', Mars Colonization & Sex in Space | Interview with Dr. Leroy Chiao - Video [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2014]
- The Human Heart May Not Be Able to Handle the Trip to Mars [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2014]
- Worth the Wait - Extra! - Episode 2 - Video [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2014]
- An Indie Look - Sol 0 - Video [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2014]
- SpaceHabs: One man's architectural vision for colonizing Mars [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2014]
- NASAs new Martian braking system paving way to easier human colonization [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- SpaceX Postpones Launch to Space Station Until Friday [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2014]
- SpaceX postpones launch [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2014]
- Clash mars PH launch of internationally coordinated protests vs Obama Asia trip [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2014]
- Purdue student closer to a trip to Mars [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2014]
- How Sensitive Are Plants To Gravity? [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- ISS Studies Show Bacteria From Earth Could Colonize Mars [Last Updated On: May 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2014]
- NASA May Put Greenhouse on Mars in 2021 [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2014]
- 54 Canadians still in the running for one-way trip to Mars [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- NASA hopes to put greenhouse on Mars [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- NASA Aims To Establish Greenhouse On Mars By 2021; Curiosity Mars Rover Drilled Slab Of Martian Sandstone [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- Plant Life on Mars? NASA May Send Up Greenhouse in 2021 [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- A greenhouse on Mars? Scientists propose plant experiment for next rover. [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2014]
- Private Mars One Colony Project: 705 Astronaut Candidates Pass Latest Cut [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2014]
- Mars Offers Humanity A Do-Over [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2014]
- Colonization of Mars - Space Colonization Wiki [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2014]
- Nova Scotia woman prepared for final frontier [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2014]
- Girlfriend or Red Planet? 'Mars One' hopefuls on hard choice - Video [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2014]
- Mars Colonization By: Alexis & Anna - Video [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2014]
- Scientist uncovers red planet's climate history in unique meteorite [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- Red Planet's Climate History uncovered in Unique Meteorite [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- Scientist Uncovers Mars' Climate History In Unique Meteorite [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2014]
- If You Had $1 Million [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2014]