Member Missionary work and the "bait and switch"

[_Mercury]

So I was talking with a coworker yesterday about Mormonism. She said that her boyfriend had met missionaries and I was intrigued. It was a standard missionary tactic wherein a member would invite someone over and...Surprise! The missionaries were also there with discussions in hand, tracts ready. My coworker stated, without my prompting that this was unethical, a bait and switch tactic.

This method was common on my mission. I hated doing it. the peter priesthood companions I had would try to teach a lesson, almost forcing it down the marks throat. They would talk over them when they would try to change the subject or the member would add insult to injury and play along with the douche missionary. I would quietly sit and eat, usually striking up a conversation with the kids about unrelated topics.

It is sad to know that Mormons have to do this in order to fulfill member missionary work and the asinine "every member a missionary" command compelling individuals into threatening relationships with coworkers, neighbors and other relations. When will Mormons cease and desist with pushing their faith via unethical means?

[_asbestosman]

During conference, Elder Ballard said we should be careful with our answers. Some people are just curious about generalities and don't want a full discussion.

[_Mercury]

During conference, Elder Ballard said we should be careful with our answers. Some people are just curious about generalities and don't want a full discussion.

Careful with our answers? That sounds like doublespeak, as in "be careful that you don't expose them fully to the Mormon church", lest they laugh and say 'Seriously? you believe that?'. You know, kind of analogous to applying KY before you bend them over the barrel.

[_Dr. Shades]

Ahh, the ol' "bait-and-switch."

I think the missionaries are too naïve to know that it's a tool of deception, and as long as it keeps yielding numbers, the leadership will simply look the other way.

In my mission it was done by inviting the mark over to the missionaries' apartment directly under the pretense of cooking them dinner, then springing the invitation to listen to the lessons on them afterward. Of course, the mark couldn't refuse, since he had just received dinner.

Although I didn't know the word for it at the time, my instincts told me that this missionary tactic was unethical, so I never practiced it. I had a junior companion that did it on my watch once, though.

[_Jason Bourne]

So I was talking with a coworker yesterday about Mormonism. She said that her boyfriend had met missionaries and I was intrigued. It was a standard missionary tactic wherein a member would invite someone over and...Surprise! The missionaries were also there with discussions in hand, tracts ready. My coworker stated, without my prompting that this was unethical, a bait and switch tactic.

This method was common on my mission. I hated doing it. the peter priesthood companions I had would try to teach a lesson, almost forcing it down the marks throat. They would talk over them when they would try to change the subject or the member would add insult to injury and play along with the douche missionary. I would quietly sit and eat, usually striking up a conversation with the kids about unrelated topics.

It is sad to know that Mormons have to do this in order to fulfill member missionary work and the asinine "every member a missionary" command compelling individuals into threatening relationships with coworkers, neighbors and other relations. When will Mormons cease and desist with pushing their faith via unethical means?

I know you think I always say this or that never happens but I really have never seen this. I never did it as a missionary and would not have. How incredibly uncomfortable that would be to surprise a potential investigator that way. I have never done it with a friend nor seen my ward or stake expect it. What a great way to lose friends and turn them off from the Church forever. I am not saying this did not happen to you nor that the story above is a lie. Just that I have never seen such a thing.

[_Mercury]

Ahh, the ol' "bait-and-switch."

I think the missionaries are too naïve to know that it's a tool of deception, and as long as it keeps yielding numbers, the leadership will simply look the other way.

In my mission it was done by inviting the mark over to the missionaries' apartment directly under the pretense of cooking them dinner, then springing the invitation to listen to the lessons on them afterward. Of course, the mark couldn't refuse, since he had just received dinner.

Although I didn't know the word for it at the time, my instincts told me that this missionary tactic was unethical, so I never practiced it. I had a junior companion that did it on my watch once, though.

I can't see a relationship coming out better after someone pulls this stunt. I always felt bad for the mark and discouraged my juniors from practicing it.

Sadly, the rule on missionaries only being able to eat at members if there is a nonmember present was instituted in 1999 in my mission. The embarrasing game spiked but the members caught on quick that it was stupid. The psycho missionaries and members who still practiced it months after it was instituted made their character evident by continuing to bring in the dupes to "have dinner" with the missionaries. We were REQUIRED to teach a lesson or face an angry ward mission leader/mission president.

[_Mercury]

So I was talking with a coworker yesterday about Mormonism. She said that her boyfriend had met missionaries and I was intrigued. It was a standard missionary tactic wherein a member would invite someone over and...Surprise! The missionaries were also there with discussions in hand, tracts ready. My coworker stated, without my prompting that this was unethical, a bait and switch tactic.

This method was common on my mission. I hated doing it. the peter priesthood companions I had would try to teach a lesson, almost forcing it down the marks throat. They would talk over them when they would try to change the subject or the member would add insult to injury and play along with the douche missionary. I would quietly sit and eat, usually striking up a conversation with the kids about unrelated topics.

It is sad to know that Mormons have to do this in order to fulfill member missionary work and the asinine "every member a missionary" command compelling individuals into threatening relationships with coworkers, neighbors and other relations. When will Mormons cease and desist with pushing their faith via unethical means?

I know you think I always say this or that never happens but I really have never seen this. I never did it as a missionary and would not have. How incredibly uncomfortable that would be to surprise a potential investigator that way. I have never done it with a friend nor seen my ward or stake expect it. What a great way to lose friends and turn them off from the Church forever. I am not saying this did not happen to you nor that the story above is a lie. Just that I have never seen such a thing.

Typical Jason. Are you that out of touch with Mormonism, Mormon culture and Mormon behavior that you never saw this happen? I have seen it, shades has seen it, my coworkers boyfriend was ambushed by it. Are you really that inexperienced in Mormonism? Your preemptive "i know your going to say otherwise" is an inclination that you are pulling this from your nether region.

[_Some Schmo]

Makes you wonder...

Which came first: the missionary or the Amway salesman?

[_Mercury]

Makes you wonder...

Which came first: the missionary or the Amway salesman?

They were both hatched under the same muddy clutch of rocks.

[_Jason Bourne]

So I was talking with a coworker yesterday about Mormonism. She said that her boyfriend had met missionaries and I was intrigued. It was a standard missionary tactic wherein a member would invite someone over and...Surprise! The missionaries were also there with discussions in hand, tracts ready. My coworker stated, without my prompting that this was unethical, a bait and switch tactic.

This method was common on my mission. I hated doing it. the peter priesthood companions I had would try to teach a lesson, almost forcing it down the marks throat. They would talk over them when they would try to change the subject or the member would add insult to injury and play along with the douche missionary. I would quietly sit and eat, usually striking up a conversation with the kids about unrelated topics.

It is sad to know that Mormons have to do this in order to fulfill member missionary work and the asinine "every member a missionary" command compelling individuals into threatening relationships with coworkers, neighbors and other relations. When will Mormons cease and desist with pushing their faith via unethical means?

I know you think I always say this or that never happens but I really have never seen this. I never did it as a missionary and would not have. How incredibly uncomfortable that would be to surprise a potential investigator that way. I have never done it with a friend nor seen my ward or stake expect it. What a great way to lose friends and turn them off from the Church forever. I am not saying this did not happen to you nor that the story above is a lie. Just that I have never seen such a thing.

Typical Jason. Are you that out of touch with Mormonism, Mormon culture and Mormon behavior that you never saw this happen? I have seen it, shades has seen it, my coworkers boyfriend was ambushed by it. Are you really that inexperienced in Mormonism? Your preemptive "I know your going to say otherwise" is an inclination that you are pulling this from your nether region.

Hey merc

Kiss my a... I tried to be polite about it, I did not deny it your story I just said I have never even seen it. I am telling you the truth here. And you come back with more of your crap. I have no question that I have a hell of a lot more experience with Mormonism then you. I am older, I have served in every ward position of leadership that there is to serve in, including ward mission leader twice. I have also served is stake positions. My whole life from birth in Utah and spending my first 20 years there, to a mission to my adult life has been wrapped around LDS Culture.

I repeat, I have never done this and never saw it done and never saw it encouraged. Had I, I would have put a stop to it. Just because my experience differs from yours does not mean I am in denial.

You are an immature angry neophyte that could not handle things that were not the black and white you though they were. So you went off and cried about it and now you gnash your teeth and wail every chance you get. Well guess what cry baby. Grow up and learn to deal with some uncertainty in life and roll with things. I am sorry you were so harmed by the LDS Church. I have my own concerns and issues to deal with and will do so in my own way that is best for me and for my family. If yours works for you, as noted before, I am pleased for you and have no issue with it other then your seeming hang ups about the Church. If the LDS Church is the worst thing that ever hurt you in your life you really have it pretty easy. I know there were other abuse issue in your past. Those are far worse. But life sucks most the time and is really hard man. Get used to it and be a man about it. If you have really left the church move on and stop bitching about it.