Comments on: Member Missionary Technique #17: Don’t Tell Them You’re Mormon

By: Kullervo

Kullervo — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:59:01 +0000

Wanna see someone who does a bad job of springing the good news on you all of a sudden?

http://billphillips.wordpress.com

I think there’s a difference between what this guy does (and what I uselessly did on my mission) and what most of us think about when we think of tipping our hand early.

By: Bret

Bret — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:03:30 +0000

Don and Peter LLC,

Good points!!

Fifthgen,

Oh, I totally agree. i just don’t want to discount that as one of the many many ways someone can and HAVE recieved the Gospel:)

By: mondo cool

mondo cool — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:16:51 +0000

The technique depends upon the member and the non-member. I think it a problem to conclude that “one” technique is best to use in every situation. As noted above, some have such a distorted view of Mormons that the approach suggested in this post is the best for them. For others, asking them directly is the best choice. For some members, it might be best if they were “good examples” first rather than “good inviters.” I’ve done both and seen both work and both not work.

By: JA Benson

JA Benson — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:44:48 +0000

My oldest son before his mission was living away at a nearby university. His roommate was very friendly the on first day until he noticed my son’s Book of Mormon on his bookshelf. Then the poor kid clammed up and refused to speak to my son for the entire two semesters. My son would try to engage him in any kind of conversation and the kid just ignored him. My son felt that his roommate was not trying to be mean, but was actually terrified of him. So on the last day my son tells him that he is leaving the university for two years to serve a mission and to have a nice life. The poor kid bolts out the door.

By: Seth R.

Seth R. — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:36:02 +0000

Missionaries are meant to teach discussions and testify of the Restored Gospel - period.

For mostly structural reasons, they make terrible cultivators of new investigators. That really ought to be the members’ game.

By: fifthgen

fifthgen — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:17:25 +0000

Bret: Full time missionaries have a different role to play than the “member missionary.” But, as Kullervo points out, even they have less success if they do not develop some kind of relationship of trust (where have I heard that?) with their investigators. I do not profess to be a great missionary, but someone who brought up their religion before I had some basic relationship with them would make me a lttle uncomfortable. I probably would not move into their apartment.

By: Kullervo

Kullervo — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:19:55 +0000

I agree that this is in no way remarkable but “springing” the Gospel on people isn’t really that weird or silly, either. What do you think missionaries do every day? I bet that happens to thousands who join the church every day.

Well, it never worked on any Germans I contacted…

By: Don

Don — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:49:54 +0000

Do any of the roommates every ask where she is going on Sundays for 3 hours? Or who are those 2 ladies that come every month to see you? Or where’s the coffee? Or do you want me to bring you a Starbucks on my way home?

It seems like it would come up sooner than a few months!

By: Peter LLC

Peter LLC — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:10:42 +0000

What, no Book of Mormon on the nightstand? An Ensign article taped to the fridge? A MormonAd tacked to the front door?

By: Bret

Bret — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:54:30 +0000

fifthgen,