Holy crap there are a lot of new posts. I'll start way back at page 35. Please give me time to catch up, as I can't answer everything in one post.
@MageGrayWolf (page 35) the trolling part was the "on a site with games". Again, I mostly ignored that. Everything else you said was logical.
@Avorne (page 35) you make a good point.
I made a few posts I probably shouldn't have, looking back. I've been advised to calm down. If you could, it would really help me if you would tell me what exactly you want to know, because I've kind of lost track. I will do my best to provide [new] answers for you.
(pages 36 to 38-ish)
On the topic of missionary work. From most of what I hear about missionary work, missionaries get a lot of doors slammed in their faces. From my point of view, the door to door thing is because there are people who are looking but don't know where to start. If a missionary is rude, that's the missionary's problem. I also would like to say that not all missions are proselyting missions. The one I will likely go on will be maintaining records in the Granite Mountain Vault.
@MageGrayWolf (on page 39) Yeah, I was afraid that would happen. Often, the people are the major turnoff for an investigator. In some places, the missionaries have to tell people to greet the investigators so they feel welcome (assuming the missionaries know the investigators are coming). Other places will welcome newcomers immediately, and make them feel welcome. I try to make it a point to do the second.
@sprooschicken (on page 39) where do you live? That seems like an odd situation. Are you sure there are no churches, or are you thinking of temples?
@314d1 now you're just trying to be a jerk. Yes, some of the things we do are strange to outsiders - I fully admit that, but that does not mean we deserve to be mocked.
@Avorne (on page 40) Being serious about a religion doesn't necessarily make one a hardcore fanatic. In some cases, it does, but not in all cases. I've had friends from the South, and boy do they have some stories. I won't go into it now, but there is quite a lot of harassment between religions down there.
@Kasic (on page 40) the church does not pay their missionaries. Most, if not all, missionaries save up and pay their own ways - i.e. clothing, food, room & board (if applicable), travel expenses. Does that change your perspective of missionaries at all?
@MageGrayWolf (on page 41) It would defeat the purpose of faith if he were to just come down and show himself to all the world. Also, it's a ton more than a handful. We have thousands of missionaries in several countries. I'd have to look up the statistical report from General Conference to give you exact numbers, but do let me know if you want them. Armed_Blade makes a good point here. God coming down himself and making everyone one single religion would defeat the purpose of Agency and Accountability.
@Kasic (on page 41) actually, missionaries are required to report their activities to their Mission Presidents (I think that's who they report it to). Also, I could tell you off the top of my head that the success rate is much higher in Latin American countries than in European countries. Most European countries are considered the hardest missions because very few baptisms ever occur. We do keep pretty good records as a church. If the missionaries did not keep a record, how would they be held accountable for what they've done? Certainly we wouldn't use an honor system where we trust that they did something good that week or trust that they "baptized 7 people" or something like that. Now, I can tell I'm starting to ramble here, so I'm just going to cut to the chase: we do keep pretty accurate records.
@sprooschicken (on page 42) I'm sorry, but we don't try to force our way in. We knock, and if they reject, they reject. And we move on. Often, the door is closed right when they look at us. Are you implying that we try to open the door again? That would be ridiculous.
Also, oftentimes missionaries do stand out in the street. They don't strictly do door-to-door stuff, and not all missionaries do go door-to-door.
You also seem to be missing the point. There are obviously going to be people who couldn't care less what we have to say. We leave them alone for the most part. You're also assuming that everyone is busy all the time, even when they're home - or at least it seems that way to me. And one more time: you tell us to leave, we will leave. And no, knocking on your front door is not an invasion of personal space. Walking into your house uninvited would be.
but when you come to my house, uninvited when you feel like it, you are invading my personal space, you have no right because you think it is right
You seem to assume that we come at the most ungodly hours. If we had no right to knock on your door, then door-to-door salesmen would also be barred from doing so. You're taking a small thing and making it something that it's not. You are not obligated to let us into your house; you are not obligated to even answer the door. It's not like the missionaries will just stand there for hours waiting for you to come to the door.
We don't have a lot of money as a church, so we wouldn't much be able to advertise everywhere. Most of our money goes to building churches and temples, humanitarian aid, and to paying church employees. We don't have money to spare on missionaries. Again, missionaries pay mostly for themselves. Very little money is spent by the church to send a missionary out.
@ShonaFurey (on page 43) you have a good point - one that I wish the others would see.
@Avorne (on page 43) Unlike door-to-door salesmen, we don't have some sort of quota to fill. We're much more inclined to leave when you tell us to, whereas a salesman will try to keep talking as long as he can to try to sell you something and get paid commission.
@sprooschicken (on page 43) Pro tip: a NO SOLICITING sign is a wonderful invention.
And finally, page 45. Kasic has an excellent point. Many of those pages I read were not conversation. It was bickering. Now, if there are any questions about what I have just said, please, let me know. For now, I have to get back to work.
