DiscussMormonism.com

I live too far from what would have been my ward zone if I had not moved approximately two years ago, and too far away from what would be my new ward zone if I were LDS. I’m probably 15 miles equidistant from both wards. So, the missionaries cannot come to my home, due to mileage allowances. So, I’m guessing that if you’re ex-LDS or questioning and want to be left alone, my neighborhood may be just the right place.

You’d think with the bazillion dollars the church has, they’d let out the reins a bit.

In the 7 years since I left the church I have had zero missionaries knock on the door.

Not even to dust their feet.

Some missionaries knocked on my apartment door unannounced: The asked some questions and they were really nice. About a week later they showed up again unannounced with the bishop. I asked the same type of question where an Orthodox Jew feels terrible buying a bacon cheese burger after the sun went down on a Friday night while missionary’s behind are very happy. They said nothing. I met others at a pizza place and bought them food. While talking to one the other day was busy with his phone. They took turns looking on their phones and talking. When I had some questions that were difficult they referred me to the church website. Things have changed. They have these fantastic 4 wheel drive cars and they dress more casual. No black, brown and blue suits, white shirt and conservative tie.

drumdude wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:44 pm

msnobody wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:11 pm

I live too far from what would have been my ward zone if I had not moved approximately two years ago, and too far away from what would be my new ward zone if I were LDS. I’m probably 15 miles equidistant from both wards. So, the missionaries cannot come to my home, due to mileage allowances. So, I’m guessing that if you’re ex-LDS or questioning and want to be left alone, my neighborhood may be just the right place.
You’d think with the bazillion dollars the church has, they’d let out the reins a bit.

In the 7 years since I left the church I have had zero missionaries knock on the door.

Not even to dust their feet.

I haven’t seen any out on the streets in years either.

yellowstone123 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 13, 2023 11:44 pm

I asked the same type of question where an Orthodox Jew feels terrible buying a bacon cheese burger after the sun went down on a Friday night while missionary’s behind are very happy.

Different religions have different health and/or dietary requirements. That's why missionaries were happy to have a bacon cheeseburger after the sun went down on a Friday night, while an Orthodox Jew wouldn't be.

Why is that in any way difficult to understand?

I told a story on here back in 2013 about how my first husband invited the missionaries over under the promise to not try and convert his extremely tired post-partum non-Mormon wife. He kicked out the lying little snots when they wouldn't stop pressuring me to read the Book of Mormon (again) and pray about it.

I got divorced, legally changed my last name, got re-married, and moved four times in the decade since that happened. In that time, not once has a missionary knocked on my door or otherwise tried to visit me. A few have reached out on Facebook, but I have ignored them.

Perhaps that's because of what happened in 2013, but I was under the impression the missionaries don't go door-to-door all that much anymore.

I am likely having the local stake president and his wife over sometime in the next few weeks. Positive and mutual interfaith friendships, yes; 18-year-olds mansplaining praying about the Book of Mormon to a grown woman with a degree from BYU, no.

MsJack wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 14, 2023 4:40 pm

18-year-olds mansplaining praying about the Book of Mormon to a grown woman with a degree from BYU, no.

The internet age in general hasn’t been kind to missionaries. If you haven’t been exposed to Mormonism before, after the missionaries leave you can quickly google the religion to find out everything they left out of their narrative.

Hell, within 5 minutes you can be watching the entire endowment ceremony on YouTube.

msnobody wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:11 pm

I live too far from what would have been my ward zone if I had not moved approximately two years ago, and too far away from what would be my new ward zone if I were LDS. I’m probably 15 miles equidistant from both wards. So, the missionaries cannot come to my home, due to mileage allowances. So, I’m guessing that if you’re ex-LDS or questioning and want to be left alone, my neighborhood may be just the right place.

You’d think with the bazillion dollars the church has, they’d let out the reins a bit.

From what I’ve read on this thread it sounds like the prayers of the critics have been answered. Missionaries now rely more on positive contacts through social media and member referrals rather than going out and knocking on doors.

Technology to the rescue, right?

Although, msnobody, if you’re hankering for a visit from the missionaries I’m sure you could reach out and they would visit you. Especially if you offer to feed them.

Regards,
MG

MG 2.0 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 5:34 pm

msnobody wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:11 pm

I live too far from what would have been my ward zone if I had not moved approximately two years ago, and too far away from what would be my new ward zone if I were LDS. I’m probably 15 miles equidistant from both wards. So, the missionaries cannot come to my home, due to mileage allowances. So, I’m guessing that if you’re ex-LDS or questioning and want to be left alone, my neighborhood may be just the right place.

You’d think with the bazillion dollars the church has, they’d let out the reins a bit.

From what I’ve read on this thread it sounds like the prayers of the critics have been answered. Missionaries now rely more on positive contacts through social media and member referrals rather than going out and knocking on doors.

Technology to the rescue, right?

Although, msnobody, if you’re hankering for a visit from the missionaries I’m sure you could reach out and they would visit you. Especially if you offer to feed them.

Regards,
MG

What is a "positive contact through social media?" I recently received a "cold call" from an LDS missionary through Facebook. The initial contact didn't identify the missionary as LDS, but I recognized the pitch. Is that what you mean? I handled it as I would have handled a knock at my door. I guess it's more efficient than going door to door.

Res Ipsa wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 5:53 pm

MG 2.0 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 16, 2023 5:34 pm

From what I’ve read on this thread it sounds like the prayers of the critics have been answered. Missionaries now rely more on positive contacts through social media and member referrals rather than going out and knocking on doors.

Technology to the rescue, right?

Although, msnobody, if you’re hankering for a visit from the missionaries I’m sure you could reach out and they would visit you. Especially if you offer to feed them.

Regards,
MG

What is a "positive contact through social media?" I recently received a "cold call" from an LDS missionary through Facebook. The initial contact didn't identify the missionary as LDS, but I recognized the pitch. Is that what you mean? I handled it as I would have handled a knock at my door. I guess it's more efficient than going door to door.

I don’t know how it works anymore. I’ve been home from a tracting mission many years now. Positive may not be the appropriate word to use in all instances of missionary related contact. I was referring to what I would guess is the modus operandi of contacting friends of friends via Facebook and/or other social media platforms that have links to other people.

Missionaries may see this as a more or less ‘positive’ contact as it is linked to what might be an active member and/or someone friendly to the church.

My guess is that you are a friend to someone on Facebook and that’s how you were found and then contacted. Overall it seems to me that contacts via social media are much less obtrusive than someone standing on your doorstep.

So in that way it might be considered a positive contact rather than being seen as negative. But it may be in the eye of the beholder I guess.

Regards,
MG