snoscythe wrote:
I've had issues with Te'o all season long as his presentation of how/why he chose ND conveniently ignores the BYU aspect and instead portrays the ND decision as the hand of God directing him there over USC--the most recent thing I read had his dad stating LDS reps wanted him at ND instead of going on a mission---as if the Church headquarters put input both (i) into him going to ND, and (ii) foregoing a mission.
He also was very public that he was going to go on a mission regardless, but less than a year into ND he "postponed" it, with his Dad clarifying that he could go on a mission later in life after his football career--apparently substituting a senior mission for a young man's mission. This is apparently what the LDS "reps" endorsed.
To me, even without the BYU aspect, the Manti Te'o story, like the Jake Heaps story, is a tragic story about what happens when you make a compromise and rationalize your way around the commandments. It's one thing to decide not to serve, but to make that decision, and then paint that decision as directed by some higher calling and telling untruths in the process diminishes the sacrifice every other young man who has walked away from life for two years makes. What Te'o and Heaps tell the world is "sometimes things of the world are bigger than the Lord's directives," and nothing could be farther from the truth.
I agree every person should serve a mission, I did, my father/grandfather/great grandfather etc etc all served and I hope my son serves. This does not mean that a person cannot be a good representative of the church. If I recall BYU and its fans (including me) look at Steve Young and Jimmer as good representatives for the churchâ¦..not saying they are perfect or that this represents an exception to the mission; but they can be good representatives too.
You are incorrect in stating Manti was committed to a mission the whole time, during his recruiting process he told all schools he wanted the option to go on a mission and excluded them if they said ânoâ, but the consensus was he was not going to serve and this was clear to coaches and others. Nearly everyone involved, including BYU, knew that was not likely to happen. That is his choice, we have opinions on whether it is right or wrong, but not make judgments on someone.
As for the reason for the focus on USC vs ND and inspiration and why BYU was not discussed in thisâ¦â¦BYU was discounted before, there were concerns about BYU (more than football related, no need to bash or get into theseâ¦..and it was not specifically the honor code) and they were cut early from the list. Manti could have attended BYU if he chose to do so. The stories he tells in the media come the last few days before signing when it was really ND or USC, it was very clear to him where to go and this story has been nothing but good for the church and for Mantiâ¦â¦.he received inspiration, he followed through without knowing why and now he knows whyâ¦..this is a good story. He talks about the next life and his gratitude for the Lord and his family. All this is a very good story.
Personally I have gotten A LOT of questions about him and his faith that I would likely not have gotten at BYU, it would have been brought up as a tidbit during the a game and covered locally but no way would the national attention have been the same. He brings insights to others that may not have had it if he went elsewhere. I am not going to judge Manti on not going on a mission, I may believe a mission is for everyone but it is not my place to judgeâ¦..and I donât discount his ability (nor others who donât serve) to be a representative of the church in their lives.
I feel many wear blue-goggles on this, heck I wear blue and gold goggles on ND topics and blue goggles on BYU topics; but this is the type of kid people should embrace. To me it sounds like sour grapes, he did not choose BYU; that does not make it the wrong choice for him, everyone receives their own inspiration and thoughts. I also did not go to BYU and there was no excuse other than me praying about it and knowing there was somewhere else to be; I was worthy, I had the grades and scholarships, but knew I needed to go elsewhere and it was the right choice. I love BYU, I want my kids to go there, but I had my own reasons I did not understand at the time and now do for going thereâ¦..I have people I love and my personal testimony has grown as I have been able to contribute more actively; I guess on the outside you could make assumptions but they would not be true. It was right for me to not go to BYU, for others it is absolutely the place to go; there is not a one-size fits all for choice of schools.
Apologies if for the rant, but I have met Manti and his family. They are great people and they have been nothing be cordial and nice to me and my wife and children; Manti personally has spent time with my kids that others do not. In the past two weeks I have had people ask more about my faith, comment âI want my son to be Mormon if I knew they would turn out like Mantiâ, âa Mormon the face ND footballââ¦â¦how is this bad. I will stick up for those I know and have met, please donât paint a broad brush.
