Shiveley’s two-year German mission provided him with a healthy dose of religious skepticism—and useful training for his current job in marketing and sales.

What influenced you to go on a mission? Were you expected to go?

The Mormon Church expects all worthy young males to serve full-time missions. Regular indoctrination to reinforce this concept begins as early as three years of age. My parents expected me to go on a mission and stated they would be extremely disappointed if I chose not to go. Young Mormon women are instructed to date and marry returned missionaries, which reinforces the men’s decision to go on missions. Lastly, peer pressure is extremely strong.

What did you learn by going on a mission?

My mission was not all bad. Spending two years living in a foreign country at a young, impressionable age taught me a lot about myself. I struggled to learn and eventually speak a foreign language fluently. I learned quite a bit about sales and marketing skills and techniques. I learned to understand and even appreciate differences as I became very aware during my mission that many Germans regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and disdain as I attempted to convert them to a strange and peculiar U.S.-based religion.

How did your mission change your feelings about the Church?

I was taught from an early age to accept the voice of authority without question. The Mormon prophet is accepted by faithful Mormons throughout the world as someone who talks directly with God and knows what is best for every man, woman and child. During my mission, I gradually began trusting my own instincts and feelings and started, for the first time in my life, to begin to question many of the beliefs I had accepted without question. I began to poke holes in the rationalized nonsense of this concocted religion and the whole thing unraveled very quickly after I began my formal education process upon my return.

Why do you think the missionary program is successful? Why are young Mormon men so willing to spend two years on a mission?

Mormonism is built upon the need to demonstrate a self-fulfilling prophecy about the success of God’s work and God’s kingdom on earth. If God really did restore his true church through Joseph Smith and if God really did speak to a prophet who functions today at the head of His church—the Mormon Church—then the fruits of Mormonism would be manifested by membership growth. As such, the Mormon Church spends an inordinate amount of resources and energy in promoting and directing missionary work. By strongly encouraging young men in the prime of their life to dedicate two years to preaching the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Church also receives the benefit of converting not only others, but perhaps most importantly, the very hearts, minds and souls of the young missionaries.

If you could go back in time, would you still go on a mission? Why?

No. If I could go back in time, I would choose to travel in my youth or maybe serve in the Peace Corps.

What are you doing now? Did being a missionary play a part in your life today? How?

I work in marketing and sales in the computer industry. My mission experience taught me important skills including how to quickly and easily connect with others regardless of background differences or life experiences and how to present and sell myself with confidence, assurance and conviction.

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