13 replies to this topic

[G Las D]

The young Manly sensation Will Hopoate has announced he's leaving the game at the end of the season for religious reasons.
He's a Mormon and has decided to spend two years on a mission.
It's a huge decision which I expect he's given considerable thought to.
It's a great credit to him that he feels so strongly that he has a job to do for his faith.
Knowing what life and youth is though I wonder if he'd have more experience and wisdom to call on in his mission in his mid thirties than in his late teens.
I admire the young man for his strength of mind and commitment. It's the other side of coin to players who have time out through drink, drugs or other scandal.
Apologies if I sound negative about such a big step he's decided to take.
I don't know what the mission will entail and why he could not express his faith and have more influence from within the game as a shining light.
Good luck Will. Enjoy the rest of the season. Hope to see you back in the game after your mission.

[Futtocks]

The young Manly sensation Will Hopoate has announced he's leaving the game at the end of the season for religious reasons.
He's a Mormon

A chip off the old block, then.

Oh, sorry, I misread your post - it actually said mormon.

As you were.

[HullRover]

Stupid, stupid, brainwashed boy! What a waste - that Joseph Smith has a lot to answer for!

Even a belief in the alleged Jesus of Nazereth doesn't require you to require you to risk throwing away a promising career!

Can't someone just lock this kid in a room with a few Christopher Hitchens videos to make him see sense?

And, the irony is that, up to 1979, the Mormon Chruch was an officially racist organisation as well!

Dawkins says it best!

[Queenslander]

A few harsh calls IMO good on the kid if it's what he believes in thats great, there is more to life than sport at the end of the day

[ArizonaRobin]

As a fellow Mormon, obviously I fully respect his decision to go on a mission. Technically, he could go on a mission in his 30's, but by then it is unlikely, since he will probably have a family and it is not encouraged to go on a mission while you have a family.


Being based in the US, this is a lot more common. There has been a few pro athletes that have come back from there mission and done well. In the NRL, the only one I can think of is Fraser Anderson. I believe he is now in Japan playing Rugby Union though. In the UK, the only one I can think of is Bob Everitt who used to play for Hull KR. He came back and did well, but that was on part time level.

Israel Folau is also a Mormon (I wish he had gone on a mission rather than go to the AFL though) as I believe is Krisnan Inu.

For G Las D, specifically what his mission will entail depends upon where in the world he is called and to what type of mission. For certain he will preach the gospel and invite people to come unto Christ. Another thing that is for certain is that, wherever he is, he is expected to serve the locals, even if they are not interested in our faith. For example, most of the major disasters around the World normally has the Mormon Church as one of the first responding organizations and he may be called upon to help people out in those types of situations (although I hope he doesn't need too).

If I was in his position, I don't know what I would do so he definitely deserves respect for having made that decision. Would people be happier if he left for Union for 2 years and got paid a load of money? At least he is making these decisions for what he feels are the right reasons.

Edited by ArizonaRobin, 22 May 2011 - 06:23 AM.

[Lounge Room Lizard]

Sorry but Religion is a load of rubbish and causes more problems than it solves. You look in History and Religion has often caused wars, split families etc. For any Religious nut to say to young people to give up work and go and preach is pathetic. Youngsters should be encouraged to work not go and chuck in a well paying job and then face the possibility of being unemployed for months if not years. Whoever advised Hopoate is a first class idiot who has no idea on the reality of life. Hopoate like others who do this "Missionary Work" face the real possibility of not finding work and then living of the state. I strongly dont agree with it.

For example, most of the major disasters around the World normally has the Mormon Church as one of the first responding organizations and he may be called upon to help people out in those types of situations (although I hope he doesn't need too).

Funny how I have heard the same from Catholics, Jehovahs Witnesses and other religions. Its just a line religions seem to love to trot out about how caring they are. Keep your bible bashing to yourself as well as your Bull ###### Hopoate.

[ArizonaRobin]

Sorry but Religion is a load of rubbish and causes more problems than it solves. You look in History and Religion has often caused wars, split families etc. For any Religious nut to say to young people to give up work and go and preach is pathetic. Youngsters should be encouraged to work not go and chuck in a well paying job and then face the possibility of being unemployed for months if not years. Whoever advised Hopoate is a first class idiot who has no idea on the reality of life. Hopoate like others who do this "Missionary Work" face the real possibility of not finding work and then living of the state. I strongly dont agree with it.

Funny how I have heard the same from Catholics, Jehovahs Witnesses and other religions. Its just a line religions seem to love to trot out about how caring they are. Keep your bible bashing to yourself as well as your Bull ###### Hopoate.

I respect your right to an opinion, however, the majority of people that do go on a mission (I am no talking pro sports stars here), come back to find that they have developed lots of skills that have made them very employable. Whether that is learning a new language or learning people skills, focus etc.

Where I live, returned missionaries are actively sought out due to the fact that they have many skills other people don't have.

Also in response to the first responder comment about natural disasters etc, your response is one of the many reasons that the Mormon Church itself does not promote itself as being a first responder, as an organization, it chooses not to publicize it since doing the act is reward enough. Perhaps i shouldn't have mentioned it, but I was just talking about it in terms of what a missionary may be doing.

If anybody wants find out more about what Hopoate and I believe, then you are welcome to visit Mormon.org and ask any questions you may have.

Edited by ArizonaRobin, 22 May 2011 - 03:31 PM.

[ArthurDaley]

Here is his dad checking out the prostate of a Queensland cowboys player.

[HullRover]

I respect your right to an opinion, however, the majority of people that do go on a mission (I am no talking pro sports stars here), come back to find that they have developed lots of skills that have made them very employable. Whether that is learning a new language or learning people skills, focus etc.

Where I live, returned missionaries are actively sought out due to the fact that they have many skills other people don't have.

Also in response to the first responder comment about natural disasters etc, your response is one of the many reasons that the Mormon Church itself does not promote itself as being a first responder, as an organization, it chooses not to publicize it since doing the act is reward enough. Perhaps i shouldn't have mentioned it, but I was just talking about it in terms of what a missionary may be doing.

If anybody wants find out more about what Hopoate and I believe, then you are welcome to visit Mormon.org and ask any questions you may have.

I personally don't 'get' organised faith of any denomination...I see belief in a religion as some sort of neuroligical 'blind-spot' which can cause otherwise sensible, intelligent people to take leave of their senses and lose all rationale!

Remarkable claims require remarkable evidence in my book...and I just don't see any!

But, each to their own.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am curious to know if you and most mormons HONESTLY and genuinely believe that there was a bonafide 'prophet' wandering around the Eastern States of America in the early 1800's? Or are you just wanting to live by the particular moral code that the Mormon religion offers?

Also, on a Rugby League theme, am I right in thinking that Gareth Thomas would not be welcome in your church?

[Futtocks]

Israel Folau is also a Mormon (I wish he had gone on a mission rather than go to the AFL though) as I believe is Krisnan Inu.

Correct on both counts; there were stories a couple of years ago about them considering giving up Rugby for mission work.

It is a hard decision for professional sports players who are Mormons; the ideal age for mission work is when you're young and relatively unencumbered with resposibilities to partner/kids/job, but that is of course the prime period of a sporting career.

[scotthouston2008]

Correct on both counts; there were stories a couple of years ago about them considering giving up Rugby for mission work.

It is a hard decision for professional sports players who are Mormons; the ideal age for mission work is when you're young and relatively unencumbered with resposibilities to partner/kids/job, but that is of course the prime period of a sporting career.

Yeah I'd heard that Folau was, sure when he moved to Broncos from Storm, i read somewhere he said he'd made the move to be closer to his Mormon church or something like that.

[ArizonaRobin]

Hey Hull Rover,

I genuinely do believe that there was and still is a prophet of God on the Earth.

To answer your question about Gareth Thomas. He would be welcome to come into our Church, but we believe homosexuality to be outside our code of conduct in the same way we believe that sex outside of marriage between a man and woman is outside our code as well.

My favorite quote talking about what we consider to be sin is that we condemn the sin while loving the person. There are several people that I would consider to be my friends who also happen to be gay. Just in the same way that I have family that drink and smoke. I love them equally and while I tell them what I believe, I don't preach, judge or condemn them because that isn't for me to do.

Also, before I joined the Church, I used to feel that organized religion was what caused wars etc. Then eventually, I came to believe that it is just a bunch of wackos that use religion as their excuse. I honestly believe that they would be wackos causing issues even if they didn't belong to a religion.

Thanks for asking questions, I hope that I managed to answer them.

[HullRover]

Hey Hull Rover,

I genuinely do believe that there was and still is a prophet of God on the Earth.

To answer your question about Gareth Thomas. He would be welcome to come into our Church, but we believe homosexuality to be outside our code of conduct in the same way we believe that sex outside of marriage between a man and woman is outside our code as well.

My favorite quote talking about what we consider to be sin is that we condemn the sin while loving the person. There are several people that I would consider to be my friends who also happen to be gay. Just in the same way that I have family that drink and smoke. I love them equally and while I tell them what I believe, I don't preach, judge or condemn them because that isn't for me to do.

Also, before I joined the Church, I used to feel that organized religion was what caused wars etc. Then eventually, I came to believe that it is just a bunch of wackos that use religion as their excuse. I honestly believe that they would be wackos causing issues even if they didn't belong to a religion.

Thanks for asking questions, I hope that I managed to answer them.

Very interesting. You've been very honest...thank you.

Again, don't take this the wrong way, but my attitude to those of a (any) religious persuasion is like your attitude to homosexuals/unmarried couples.

I can love/like/admire the person...I just condemn their faith!

Again, purely out of interest...I just wonder how what do you think of Christopher Hitchens arguments HERE?

[ArizonaRobin]

He does have some interesting points, while I still believe, I don't just believe in anything. I have prayed about and received my own witness that the things I believe are true. I think it is one of the sticking points of any conversation about religion is that if you don't want to believe, than anything I say or even show you is unlikely to change your mind. In the same way, you may have found a way to disprove some religious tenet (such as creating the world in 7 days - which i believe to be a figurative phrase rather than literal.) People that have this belief are likely to not believe you no matter what 'evidence' is presented.

I think it is just a merry go round and rather than proving or disproving each other, I would rather we got along and enjoy life.

I think I am going to withdraw from any more religious discussion on this particular thread. Purely because this is a Rugby forum and I love Rugby as much as the next person, meaning I want that to be the focal point of our conversations. But thanks for the discussion and your honest thoughts.