"The Historic Announcement" speculation.

[Donuthole]

So I was reading this article on KSL the other day. "One church analyst" predicts that there will be over 100,000 missionaries in the near future. As has been discussed on here before, surely such a number is unsustainable, but even if for only a few years, that's a lot of white shirts and and unflattering jumpers.

Not all missionaries get to play basketball on P-Day, FYI.

[SoonerCoug]

Tracting will always have its place.

Tracting is intrusive and rude.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Tracting is intrusive and rude.

I had two CenturyLink sales people on my door step last week when I got home from work. I talked to them for a few minutes because it was hot and they could use some water. They gave me a quick pitch on swithing my Internet and satelite while saving me about $40/month. They could have been offering free cable for life for all I cared. I didn't want to listen to them. In my mind, if it has to be sold door to door, then the product doesn't speak for itself and there's some sort of gimmick involved that will sooner or later, screw me. I prefer my religion not be on that team.

[thesaint258]

So excited that he's written a 500 page book about tracting. Essentially. You can download it straight from the website.

Well, I think Dwight has found the one thing more boring than doing doors.

[smokymountainrain]

Tracting is intrusive and rude.

Then you did it wrong. I met a ton of great people, found some great service opportunities and made several friends (people who in most cases had zero interest in the church) through tracting. IOW, tracting is only intrusive and rude if you are intrusive and rude.

[SoonerCoug]

Then you did it wrong. I met a ton of great people, found some great service opportunities and made several friends (people who in most cases had zero interest in the church) through tracting. IOW, tracting is only intrusive and rude if you are intrusive and rude.

You are thinking in terms of how you think you were perceived, which I'm sure is different from how you were actually perceived.

Why don't you go poll some non-Mormons about tracting and see how they feel about it? It doesn't matter how nice you are--knocking on someone's door to talk to them about God is a stupid, rude thing to do.

[SandYFan]

You are thinking in terms of how you think you were perceived, which I'm sure is different from how you were actually perceived.

Why don't you go poll some non-Mormons about tracting and see how they feel about it? It doesn't matter how nice you are--knocking on someone's door to talk to them about God is a stupid, rude thing to do.

I think you're projecting.

Are you saying no one on earth would welcome the chance to discuss religion with two strangers?

[Indy Coug]

You are thinking in terms of how you think you were perceived, which I'm sure is different from how you were actually perceived.

Why don't you go poll some non-Mormons about tracting and see how they feel about it? It doesn't matter how nice you are--knocking on someone's door to talk to them about God is a stupid, rude thing to do.

Your participation in this thread is intrusive and rude.

[wuapinmon]

Why don't you go poll some non-Mormons about tracting and see how they feel about it? It doesn't matter how nice you are--knocking on someone's door to talk to them about God is a stupid, rude thing to do.

That depends on your culture. You have to admit that.

[All-American]

Why don't you go poll some non-Mormons about tracting and see how they feel about it?

No need. You just told us yourself.

[Topper]

You are thinking in terms of how you think you were perceived, which I'm sure is different from how you were actually perceived.

Why don't you go poll some non-Mormons about tracting and see how they feel about it? It doesn't matter how nice you are--knocking on someone's door to talk to them about God is a stupid, rude thing to do.

You are combining two concepts.

Is the simple act of "tracting" inherently rude? In some cultures, it is perceived so.
Can one perform an act which may initially be considered rude in a polite manner negating the initial rudeness? I believe so.

Example: Germans loathe speaking about religion in public, and tracting is negatively perceived. However, in my experience, it is possible to have conversations about religion if one is creative, friendly and sensitive to this cultural aversion. It is not very effective, but in some cultures, it may be all the missionaries have.

[San Juan Sun]

Sooner doesn't deserve all the vitriol. I know how I feel when JWs, Vivint guys, pest control salesmen, and Girl Scouts come to my door.

[Topper]

Sooner doesn't deserve all the vitriol. I know how I feel when JWs, Vivint guys, pest control salesmen, and Girl Scouts come to my door.

No vitriol here, and he has a point to an extent. He failed to consider the entire universe of perception.

[SoonerCoug]

If people wanted Mormons to knock on their doors, they would invite them over.

It isn't hard to request a visit from Mormon missionaries.

Even in the 1990s, we were taught that tracting was the LEAST effective activity. (I was taught this 15 years ago and all missionaries were even required to listen to a talk explaining this in 1998 or 1999.)

Advocates of tracting are totally clueless. The damage far outweighs any benefit. You are not winning hearts and minds by waking people up with a knock on the door at 9:30 on a Saturday morning.

[All-American]

Advocates of tracting are totally clueless.

We believe that a man born 2,000 years ago rose from the dead, speaks to living men, told one man where to find a gold book, had him translate it into English, and then had us go door to door to try to give the book away. Pray tell, at what point did we lose you?