Don’t Go In The Water!
Satan Rules There!
I’m not sure how many people are aware of this fact, but Mormon missionaries are not supposed to go into the water on their missions for recreational purposes. No swimming in the oceans, lakes, or swimming pools. They are allowed to wade into these bodies of water to baptize their converts, when a suitable baptismal font isn’t available, but swimming in the same body of water is not allowed. Nor is recreational boating.
The Mormon Church has a general policy prohibiting full-time missionaries from swimming. This is in part a safety precaution to prevent drowning or other water related accidents. There are a number of other mission rules that vary depending upon the mission. For example, most missions prohibit missionaries from playing basketball (mostly for medical insurance reasons — too many people were being hospitalized and sent to Physical Rehab, interfering with doing missionary work). Rock climbing is also a prohibited activity. Mission rules are designed to keep missionaries safe by preventing them from participating in high-risk physical activities. They are also a tool of control with a promise of blessings if they are followed.
But getting in the water? What could be wrong with that? I’m not even talking about swimming. You can’t be in the water past your waist, and definitely not in water deeper than your head…
