An exploration of the lived experiences of returned Mormon missionaries

215 Pages·2017·1.16 MB·English

Louisiana State University
LSU Digital Commons
LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School
2013
An exploration of the lived experiences of returned
Mormon missionaries
Errol Douglas Bordelon
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College,
AN EXPLORATION OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF RETURNED MORMON
MISSIONARIES

A Dissertation

Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the
Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College
In partial fulfillment of the
Requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in
The School of Human Resource Education
and Workforce Development

by
E. Douglas Bordelon
B.A. Louisiana State University, 1995
M.A. Louisiana State University, 2001
M.P.A. Louisiana State University, 2006
May 2013
©Copyright 2013
Errol Douglas Bordelon
All Rights Reserved

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This dissertation is dedicated in part to St. Charles Lwanga and the martyrs of Uganda,
whose faith and courage withstood the harshest of treatment and the cruelest of fates. Their
steadfastness and their fearlessness are testaments to all of the faithful, regardless of
denomination. I dedicate this dissertation in part to the memory of Staci Ann Pepitone, whose
optimism was infectious, whose smile never failed to brighten the darkest of rooms, whose kind
voice was warm and reassuring, whose wit and humor are legend, and whose courageous spirit
continues to inspire me and countless others. This dissertation is dedicated in part to my sisters
Amy, Caryl, Keiron, Liz, Rebekah, Sarah Ann, Lauren, and Lorraine; to my brothers Dave, Eric,
Zack, CJ, Miles, Tyler, Jacob, Arthur, Mark, Leon, Greg, and Gene; and to my godchildren
David, Francesca, and Simone.
This dissertation and doctorate are the culmination of 37 years of uninterrupted formal
education. This dogged pursuit was inspired by one person's unconditional devotion to her
family, a person whose lifetime commitment to her children are perhaps best reflected in Carolyn
Rodgers's poem "Portrait."
"mama spent pennies and nickels and quarters and dollars and one
life. mama spent her life in uh gallon milk jug fuh four black
babies college educashuns."

I dedicate this dissertation to my mother Martha Jane Cox.
So say we all.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is imperative that I acknowledge the contributions and service of the members of the
graduate faculty committee, M. Burnett, PhD; S. Irvine, PhD; K. Machtmes, PhD; and S. Verma,
PhD. I must also acknowledge the significant contributions of Krisanna Machtmes, PhD. In
addition to serving as my committee chair, Dr. Machtmes was also my coach, my mentor, my
counselor, my sounding board, my confessor, and my own personal cheering section. I truly
could not have made this dissertation a reality if it were not for her enthusiasm, her advocacy,
her tireless dedication to excellence, and her ability to keep me on track - even if it meant giving
me an occasional kick in the pants. She never offered me anything less than unconditional,
positive regard and she never failed to stop smiling. Some of the most memorable moments in
my pursuit of this doctorate are of the rich, thought-provoking conversations with Dr.
Machtmes. Whether we were discussing the field of human resource education, the intricacies of
Mormon faith, or the nuances of the modified van Kaam method, Dr. Machtmes always treated
me as a colleague, as someone who offers something unique to the scholarly community. Her wit
is beyond compare and her pep talks are priceless.
I also extend a special acknowledgement to the countless missionaries of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who, for nearly three years, worked with me, prayed with me,
laughed and cried with me, and who shared their faith with me. For nearly three years, they
taught me countless lessons about the Book of Mormon and about the history and wisdom of
their beautiful and uniquely American church. These young women and men are bright and
shining examples of Christian charity and faith in action. They are also the embodiment of
selflessness, tolerance, and humility. They inspire me to be a better Catholic and I dedicate this
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dissertation in part to their unflappable spirit. Without them, this dissertation would not have
been possible.
I acknowledge the support and encouragement of my brother in faith and my friend Loren
Marks, PhD. I have lost count of how many "deep conversations" he and I have had on any
number of topics over the past few years. Inevitably, those conversations turned to Mormon
thought and practice. I cannot thank Loren enough for his patience in answering all 1,000,000 of
my questions, for his prayers, and for his steady encouragement. I cannot thank him enough for
his friendship. Loren's dedication to his students is rivaled only by his dedication to his family
and to his faith. I also acknowledge the special contributions of three individuals, all of whom
have made a lasting impression on me. Mary Belleau, Mary Feduccia, PhD, and Patricia Pizer,
LPC made significant and unique contributions to my professional and personal development. I
am forever in their debt. Women have always been my heroes.
I acknowledge the Baton Rouge Third Ward for their support and prayers. The members
of the Third Ward welcomed me into their faith community without question. They never failed
to remind me that obedience to the Word is golden, that forbearance is fundamental, and that
hard work and faith go hand-in-hand. They are my adopted family and I am grateful for their
kindness, their warmth, and their love. I also acknowledge the faith community of St. Gabriel the
Archangel Parish in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Regardless of how long I stayed away - whether it
was the result of some circumstance of life or some crisis of faith - each time that I returned, I
knew that I had come home. I dedicate this dissertation in part to the parishioners, to the rectors,
both past and present, to the countless good memories, and to the friendly faces in St. Gabriel
Parish. They are my family and St. Gabriel Parish will always be my home.
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I acknowledge my family and friends, namely Babsie, Yvette, Mimi, Belinda, Debbie,
Karla, Amy, Leigh, Dana, Arronza, Jesse, Lee, Sarah, Holly, Alicia, Mary Joyce, L.G., Bill,
Matthew, Jo'lene, Ryan, Angie, Sandy, Janie, and James. Love and support of this magnitude can
only come from such close associations. I also acknowledge those friends and family who were
not able to see me through the final leg of this journey. Though they are not with me to share in
this moment, I still feel their love and their support. This dissertation is dedicated in part to the
memory of my grandparents, Angelle and Greely Cox, my Aunt Betty Cox, my Uncle Maxie
Cox, my cousin Ruthie Cox, to the father that I never knew, Gene Bordelon, and to the other
members of my family who have gone to their rest, including Koko, Mary Lewis, Corrine Pride,
Vilma DeOliveira Rager, and our beloved Judith Triche Lill.
I acknowledge the special support of two friends, Brenda Pepitone and Travis Dickerson,
both of whom provided me with the best counsel, constant encouragement, validation, and a
patient, enduring friendship. These people exemplify a wisdom and a serenity that I have yet to
master and I am humbled by the examples that they have set.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ iv
LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... x
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... xi
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ 1
Purpose Statement ................................................................................................ 5
Significance of the Study ..................................................................................... 5
Definition of Terms .............................................................................................. 7
Limitations ........................................................................................................... 9

2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .................................................................... 10
A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .................. 10
Defining Burnout ............................................................................................... 13
The Nature of Burnout ....................................................................................... 15
Who Gets Burned Out? ...................................................................................... 18
Advancing the Study of Burnout ....................................................................... 19
Missionaries, Religious Orientation, and Religious Coping .............................. 22

3 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................. 26
Qualitative Research .......................................................................................... 27
Phenomenology and the Phenomenological Method ......................................... 28
Phenomenological Processes ............................................................................. 30
Epoche .................................................................................................... 30
Phenomenological Reduction................................................................. 31
Imaginative Variation............................................................................. 32
Synthesis ................................................................................................ 32
Data Collection Preparation ............................................................................... 33
Conceptual Model. ................................................................................. 33
Credibility .............................................................................................. 36
The Researcher’s Role ........................................................................... 37
Guiding Questions .................................................................................. 45
Sampling Strategy .................................................................................. 46
Informed Consent, Confidentiality, and the Selection Process .............. 48
Pilot Study .............................................................................................. 51
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Data Collection................................................................................................... 52
The Interview Process ............................................................................ 52
Ethical Dilemmas ................................................................................... 54
Organization, Analysis, and Synthesis of Data ................................................. .56

4 ANALSYIS OF DATA ...................................................................................... 58
Horizonalization ................................................................................................. 58
Meaning Units .................................................................................................... 59
Themes ............................................................................................................. 114
Individual Textural-Structural Descriptions .................................................... 115
Tim ....................................................................................................... 116
Marty .................................................................................................... 121
Alex ...................................................................................................... 124
Paul ....................................................................................................... 129
Henry .................................................................................................... 135
Brandon ................................................................................................ 140
Chip ...................................................................................................... 144
Charlie .................................................................................................. 149
Mika ..................................................................................................... 154
Robert ................................................................................................... 159
Composite Thematic Textural-Structural Descriptions ................................... 164

5 SUMMARY, OUTCOMES, AND IMPLICATIONS ..................................... 175
Summary .......................................................................................................... 175
Outcomes ......................................................................................................... 179
Attitudes Toward Mission .................................................................... 180
Changes, Growth, and Development ................................................... 182
Protective Factors, Motivation, and Coping Skills .............................. 183
Success and Efficacy ............................................................................ 186
Implications ...................................................................................................... 187
Implications for Training of Missionaries............................................ 187
Implications for Research .................................................................... 190

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 191
APPENDIX .................................................................................................................. 201
VITA ............................................................................................................................ 202

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LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1 ...................................................................................................................... 115

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