An article about Mormon Missionaries in Philadelphia

[_Always Thinking]

http://www.Philadelphia.com/Philadelphia/hp/news_update/20070819_For_Mormons__a_trying_mission_in_Phila_.html

Also, at the end is a link for a video clip of the 2 missionaries being interviewed.

While this would have seemed so normal to me at one point, the whole thing just seems so absurd now.

I am glad that I did almost NO tracting at all on my mission. We did everything but tract. While I wasn't in Utah, I was in an area with a lot of members and we were able to keep busy without tracting. We still annoyed a heck of a lot of people, though.

[_Runtu]

http://www.Philadelphia.com/Philadelphia/hp/news_update/20070819_For_Mormons__a_trying_mission_in_Phila_.html

Also, at the end is a link for a video clip of the 2 missionaries being interviewed.

While this would have seemed so normal to me at one point, the whole thing just seems so absurd now.

I am glad that I did almost NO tracting at all on my mission. We did everything but tract. While I wasn't in Utah, I was in an area with a lot of members and we were able to keep busy without tracting. We still annoyed a heck of a lot of people, though.

A couple of observations:

The sheer futility of it all is striking. "Tell them I'm not home," "I'm an atheist," etc. I'm sure some believers chalk it up to hard-heartedness or whatever, but it's just apathy. The "gospel" simply isn't particularly attractive. If you think about it, who wants to become one of these nameless guys in white shirts and ties?

Second, the one thing the elder got out of his mission was that he was determined not to be like the people he saw in Philadelphia. Can you say, Rameumptom? Maybe if missionaries were taught more compassion and empathy, they might have more success.

[_Mercury]

Reading the account of tracting gives me flashbacks. I hated it. HATED it. It was as if there was no one but those with sub par IQ's that would even give us the time of day. Those interested in arguing could be spotted warly and I usually antaginized them because i had "the truth", as my companion usually did as well. Its kind of sad that I wasted over 3500 man hours doing this useless, demoralizing activity.

Oh well, at least I got some exercise.

[_Roger Morrison]

Interesting. Every thing old is new again. Seems the four respondents, to this point, are all ex-mo ex-missionaries??? It would be very informative to know the percentage of LDS (0r ex-mo) who would fit into that category--to some degree...

As a new convert, i could not imagine ANY Missionary EVER leaving THE Church!!! Wonder about those two? Any stats on that category, and on walk-aways in general? Always made a BIG thing about the growth rate. What about the retention rate?? Warm regards Guys. I always enjoy your posts... Roger

[_Mercury]

Interesting. Every thing old is new again. Seems the four respondents, to this point, are all ex-mo ex-missionaries??? It would be very informative to know the percentage of LDS (0r ex-mo) who would fit into that category--to some degree...

As a new convert, I could not imagine ANY Missionary EVER leaving THE Church!!! Wonder about those two? Any stats on that category, and on walk-aways in general? Always made a BIG thing about the growth rate. What about the retention rate?? Warm regards Guys. I always enjoy your posts... Roger

A high percentage of elders stop attending after they return honorably from their mission.

[_ajax18]

Why is that do you think? I know the things that bothered me. I don't think it was the same as what bothered others. At least they've never let on to it that way.

It is a perplexing statistic because you really can't accuse a returned missioary of not be willing to try to it or put the effort in. At least in my mind you can't. If you did two years of Church every day, you tried it.

[_The Nehor]

Interesting. Every thing old is new again. Seems the four respondents, to this point, are all ex-mo ex-missionaries??? It would be very informative to know the percentage of LDS (0r ex-mo) who would fit into that category--to some degree...

As a new convert, I could not imagine ANY Missionary EVER leaving THE Church!!! Wonder about those two? Any stats on that category, and on walk-aways in general? Always made a BIG thing about the growth rate. What about the retention rate?? Warm regards Guys. I always enjoy your posts... Roger

A high percentage of elders stop attending after they return honorably from their mission.

High percentage? I'm thinking not more than 5%, maybe 10%. Is that high to you or do you think it's higher.

[_Sethbag]

I can't back this up with any printed material, but I do recall a conversation a long time ago with a guy who had a GA tell his mission that 1 in 5 of them would go inactive sometime after their missions, the idea being to scare them (who'd want that to happen to them?) so that they'd get their butts in gear and be even more faithful than they already were.

If that's true, then maybe the stat is 20%. That could be high, or not high, depending on your point of view.

[_The Nehor]

1 in 5 going inactive is believable but it sounds like a lifelong statistic not in the first few years after coming home. Someone going inactive at 40 probably can't list going on a Mission as the main cause.

[_Roger Morrison]

Hi Nehor, you might be right in that... But, the Mission didn't prevent the change of mind either. I didn't get the idea that the Mission 'caused' inactivity, generally... Wonder about the 'posters' here: In what time frame did "your" awakening take place? Warm regards, Roger