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Mormon Missionary Work
The Mormon Church has over 5,000 service missionaries (another site said 3,000) that work without pay to aid the poor. (Accurate as of ~2003.)
Aside from providing service missionaries, the Church also has 61,000 proselytizing missionaries in over 300 missions in 165 countries, distinct from those mentioned above, that also work without pay. Trained in 17 missionary training centers scattered across the globe, these proselytizing missionaries provide those who are seeking God with more information about our beliefs. 93% of LDS missionaries are college-age, and 22% are female. Proselytizing missionaries are instructed to donate half a day each week doing non-proselytizing community service.- Some are offended by this missionary program, likely because they confuse our religion with others that proselytize more aggressively.
- Mormon missionaries are instructed not to aggressively force their beliefs on others but instead to find and teach those interested in our message. While an occasional Mormon missionary many erroneously fail to follow this instruction, most follow it closely.
- Truth be told, this missionary activity is probably the most impressive of our humanitarian programs. I personally know of many individuals who were seeking God and whose spiritual lives have been forever enriched because a Mormon missionary left the comfort of his home to share something that had brought him great joy. Some of the experiences I had as a missionary illustrate this point. Please see my personal essays entitled The Prayer, The Chain, The German, Whisperings of the Spirit, The Sacrifice, and The Real Difference.
(Accurate as of ~2003.)
2 Comments » Leave a comment
- Pd
7-4-2010, 09:26:32 PM
I must confess that I've fallen in love with an Elder in my area. He doesn't know how I feel, and I don't want to mess up his mission. I think it would be better for me to distance myself from him. I'm not a member of the church. Can you give me any advice?
El Santo Gringo: Hi Pd. Thank you for the recent message you left on my website, AllAboutMormons.com. I think your decision to hide your romantic feelings from your missionary friend is a good decision. It would not be right for you to distract him from his important work. Right now, his life is dedicated only to God. However, that doesn't mean that you need to distance yourself from the missionaries. They have a very important message to share with you, the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I've been a member of the “Mormon Church” for over 20 years, and it's been a great blessing in my life. I'm sure it could bless your life as well. Continue talking to the missionaries about your spiritual life. Visit the church to see how we worship. God has a great spiritual blessing to give you, even if now isn't the right time for romance. Good luck. - Daniel
7-4-2010, 09:43:14 PM
I thank God that the Mormons are in my country. I think it is a true church even though I'm not Mormon. One afternoon my family was very sad because of the death of our cousin. Two days later the missionaries visited my house. They were so helpful during this time because they gave us hope and encouragement. I think they were sent by God because they were so helpful and are such excellent people. One of them was recently transferred to another region of the country. I'm eternally thankful for them. In the future I'm thinking about participating in the Sunday worship services.
El Santo Gringo: Hi Daniel. I'm so happy you've had such a positive experience with the missionaries and that they've helped you find a measure of spiritual peace after the death of your cousin. I've been a member of the Church for many years, and I've experienced that same spiritual peace time and time again. Being a member of the church doesn't make all my problems go away, but it gives me spiritual strength to better face those problems. I'm so happy that you're interested in the Church of Jesus Christ as well, and I hope it brings you that same peace.
One way to improve your spirituality is to worship with the members of the LDS Church in your area. I'd like to invite you to come to one of our Sunday worship services. I'm sure the missionaries would be happy to help you plan your visit. May God bless you, Daniel!