Rumor: US Missionaries No Longer Tracting

[wuapinmon]

John Dehlin posted on facebook that he had

heard from a credible source last week that tracting on U.S. LDS missions has been discontinued. Can anyone confirm?

Anyone else know if this is accurate or an isolated thing?

[woot]

John Dehlin posted on facebook that he had

Anyone else know if this is accurate or an isolated thing?

It would sure make for an interesting experiment. I sincerely doubt it would show up much in the baptism statistics, and over time would do a lot to enhance Mormonism's image.

[SteelBlue]

I doubt it's true, but hope that it is. I think tracting does more harm that good in developed countries. I spent most of my time in Netherlands/Belgium being confused for a JW and generally making the church look weird. The sad truth is that we worked very hard at wasting the majority of our time.

[Jacob]

John Dehlin posted on facebook that he had

Anyone else know if this is accurate or an isolated thing?

That would be interesting. But what will the missionaries do? I suppose this will reduce the numbers needed in the missionary force by about half? Send them to poorer countries, i guess. Then you save a bunch of money and get more converts. Win-win for the church.

[wuapinmon]

That would be interesting. But what will the missionaries do? I suppose this will reduce the numbers needed in the missionary force by about half? Send them to poorer countries, i guess. Then you save a bunch of money and get more converts. Win-win for the church.

Maybe, but you could also organize a Mormon Corps to respond to service projects and natural disasters. Imagine the good it would do young people to go and serve for two years building schools, cleaning streets, reading to kids, and helping people cleanup after tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other Acts of God.

[Sullyute]

John Dehlin posted on facebook that he had

Anyone else know if this is accurate or an isolated thing?

I assume that this just means that they are going to spend more time hitting members up for referrals.

[Jacob]

Maybe, but you could also organize a Mormon Corps to respond to service projects and natural disasters. Imagine the good it would do young people to go and serve for two years building schools, cleaning streets, reading to kids, and helping people cleanup after tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other Acts of God.

Change it to 1 year, let BYU athletes opt in, and you've got a deal!

[creekster]

It certainly isn't true in our stake unless it happened in the last 5 days. I think it is very unlikely as a matter of prohibition. I could see it being de-emphasized in many or all areas, but I doubt it would ever be prohibited.

[Maximus]

it will happen right after we make the switch to 2 hour sunday services.

[San Juan Sun]

I assume that this just means that they are going to spend more time hitting members up for referrals.

Awesome. Because being hit up once a month now jus isn't enough.

Why can't my branch have missionaries that like to watch BYU football and just be pleasant to be around? Instead, every time I talk to one of them I feel like I'm about to get mobbed for more favors.



"Brother SJS, could you give us a ride to our district meeting on Tuesday afternoon?"

"Sorry Elders, but just like thelast seven weeks you've asked, I have a job that requires my attention mos weekdays."

"Well how about a ride the mall on our p-day?....."

"Monday is also a weekday."

[Pheidippides]

Maybe, but you could also organize a Mormon Corps to respond to service projects and natural disasters. Imagine the good it would do young people to go and serve for two years building schools, cleaning streets, reading to kids, and helping people cleanup after tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other Acts of God.

I think this is an excellent idea. I'd tweak it a bit - change it such that missionaries are a formal service brigade who teach the gospel almost on the side as needed. IOW, replace the tracting with service. MPs would contact local authorities to see where service is most needed and a lot of time is spent doing that.

[wuapinmon]

I think this is an excellent idea. I'd tweak it a bit - change it such that missionaries are a formal service brigade who teach the gospel almost on the side as needed. IOW, replace the tracting with service. MPs would contact local authorities to see where service is most needed and a lot of time is spent doing that.

That exactly what I was thinking. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Mormon Corps.

[Jacob]

I think this is an excellent idea. I'd tweak it a bit - change it such that missionaries are a formal service brigade who teach the gospel almost on the side as needed. IOW, replace the tracting with service. MPs would contact local authorities to see where service is most needed and a lot of time is spent doing that.

This is a great idea if you don't believe in the foundational principals of the Mormon church and missionary work.

[San Juan Sun]

That exactly what I was thinking. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Mormon Corps.

MormoCorp

[beelzebabette]

I think this is an excellent idea. I'd tweak it a bit - change it such that missionaries are a formal service brigade who teach the gospel almost on the side as needed. IOW, replace the tracting with service. MPs would contact local authorities to see where service is most needed and a lot of time is spent doing that.

Regardless of the merits of this idea, I don't see this happening for a similar reason to the marriage push: member retention and activity. That many hours spent proselytizing causes an emotional investment in the message for some people.