[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Less

Please don't tell me it is your 'calling' or your 'duty' to attempt to convert me to the paths of righteousness and I in return won't call such people for being the hypocrites I believe them to be.

Seriously Less, why do you believe them to be hypocrites? Our missionaries believe 100% in what they are telling people. They don't get anything out of it personally. They serve for 2 years, do so voluntarily and finance themselves. They are not paid a penny for it and most of them have been saving a 'mission fund' from Saturday jobs and holiday jobs for ages before they go. Some get help from parents or other members of their family and in some cases other members of the church donate to help. This just pays for their keep (food and shoe leather) whilst they are on their mission.

So why do they do it? Well we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to hear the gospel even if they choose to reject it. At least then they can't complain that they missed out on something because nobody told them.

Imagine if you lived at the bottom of a valley and further up the hillside a dam was about to burst - the people who lived near it saw it and moved away but didn't bother telling people further down the valley so when the damn burst the waters flooded down and their houses were destroyed and the people drowned whilst those from up the valley looked on from higher ground saying "They should have moved out." Maybe they would have moved out if they'd known. Maybe they'd have told the warning visitors to clear off and stop pestering them - but at least they'd have had the opportunity. This is why they do it.

Actually they much prefer not to go 'cold calling' or 'tracting' as it is referred to within the church and would prefer to be referred to people who genuinely want to know what they have to say so they are chuffed to little mint balls when any of the members have friends who ask questions who they can then go and talk to by invitation.

Yes, I agree with Garinda that street meetings are far less intrusive into people's personal lives and maybe with leaflet handouts that give people a contact number if they want to know more - we've done that in the past but I think it tends to be the council that doesn't go a whole hog on the idea.

In truth every member of the church should be a missionary and talk to everyone they know about the church so I suppose I let the side down because I don't do that - but then again I also appreciate how frustrating it must be for someone who doesn't want to know as I have the same problem with Jehovah's Witnesses who try to convert me. So I will happily answer anyone's queries about Mormons but I'm not into pushing my religion onto anyone else without them asking.

You may occasionally get a lad who has been 'pushed' into serving a mission by his enthusiastic family but those are few and far between and can be spotted a mile off.