Screamineagle wrote:
I would say he has spent his whole life being a pretty good missionary or missionary tool. What is the difference? and does it matter? Just some of my random thoughts.
Agree it's a personal decision and no one should feel shamed for a decision they make.
Regarding your questions.
There is a difference between being a missionary and a missionary tool. Missionaries are set apart to be special witnesses of Christ. Only members of the Seventy, Quorum of the Twelve, and missionaries are set apart as such. They are given authority to teach the missionary discussions. And for male missionaries in particular, the power to utilize priesthood keys your average member can't. For the most part, that's a once-in-a-life opportunity.
Outside of the ordination aspects of being a missionary there is also the key difference in setting one's personal needs and desires off to the side and serving the Lord wholeheartedly.
Mission "results" are secondary. The Lord could do a much better job of missionary work by himself. So, why ask us to serve?
1) For our own benefit. As much as we like to say we're "sacrificing" something we're really not. As a missionary I learned so much about the gospel, myself, and life. Experience you can't buy that's proved invaluable time and time again.
2) As an expression of humility and submission to the Lord. There's great power in humility and meekness, which the Lord is trying to teach us through becoming missionaries. I can go about my daily life and achieve all my worldly goals and still be a missionary tool. But that's not the point of serving a mission.