Every year, the Mormon church sends out over 60,000 young men and women on missions that last 18 to 24 months. Their assignment? Knock on doors, strike up conversations, and invite people to learn about their faith. For a time, door-to-door work slowed down, but it has returned, now paired with significant online outreach.
When they knock on your door, you might be tempted to ignore them or brace for an argument. But what if you saw it instead as God bringing the mission field right to your doorstep? You don’t have to travel overseas to meet people who need to hear about Jesus—he sends them right to you.
At Truth in Love Ministry, we’ve seen how powerful it can be when Christians open their doors with love and courage. Here are ten things to do when the Mormon missionaries knock.
1. Please Open the Door and Welcome Them In
Missionaries face rejection almost every day. Simply opening the door, smiling, and inviting them in shows uncommon kindness. As you welcome them, silently pray that God would fill your heart with compassion and patience, and that he would give you the right words to point them to Jesus.
For the missionaries, being invited in may be the most surprising part of their day. It tells them, “You matter. You are welcome here.” That simple act can begin breaking down walls before the conversation even starts.
2. See Them as People in Need of Rescue
Missionaries are not opponents to be out-argued. They are young people shaped by a religious system where Jesus is not enough. Many wrestle with guilt, fear, and a crushing sense of never being good enough.
When you remember that they are precious souls in need of rescue, not adversaries, your whole posture changes. You’ll be moved not by the desire to “win” but by compassion for their eternal future.
3. Show Genuine Love and Respect
Missionaries are sincere, disciplined, and often very knowledgeable. They are not unintelligent or naïve. Treat them as honored guests. Listen carefully, avoid sarcasm, and take their questions seriously.
However, love and respect don’t mean avoiding truth. They mean speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Genuine kindness prepares the soil of their hearts so that when you share the gospel, it can be received as good news rather than an attack.
4. Feed Them
It’s hard to underestimate the power of food. Missionaries are away from home, often on limited budgets, and rarely enjoy a home-cooked meal around a table with a family. A plate of cookies, a hot dinner, or leftovers to take with them shows Christian love in action.
Ask about their favorite foods or what they miss most. Preparing a meal for them is more than kindness—it’s a way of saying, “You are seen, you are valued, you are cared for.” Jesus himself often paired meals with ministry. So can you.
5. Build a Relationship
Relationships are the soil where gospel seeds take root. Ask about their families, interests, and future. Tell them about your life too—your joys, your struggles, your faith. A relationship built on mutual care is what allows spiritual conversations to go deeper.
Sometimes they’ll invite you in return, asking you to attend a Mormon sacrament meeting. You don’t need to be afraid of this—it can be an opportunity to strengthen the relationship. At the same time, invite them to your church. There they can hear the gospel clearly proclaimed and experience the love of the body of Christ.
6. Listen Carefully to What They Believe
Don’t assume every Mormon missionary believes exactly the same thing or explains things the same way. If you only respond to generalizations, you may end up addressing caricatures rather than their actual convictions.
Ask open-ended questions: “How would you explain salvation?” “What does grace mean to you personally?” “Where do you find peace with God?” Then listen. Listening demonstrates respect, builds trust, and ensures that when you respond, you are speaking God’s truth into their actual understanding.
7. Clarify What Salvation Really Means
For Mormons, salvation is often defined as universal resurrection, while exaltation means eternal life in God’s presence—a reward for only the most faithful. Asking them, “What’s the difference between salvation and exaltation? What does it take to receive the best God has to give—life with him forever?” helps uncover these distinctions.
Once they share, gently bring them back to the Bible’s good news: there is no partial salvation. You are either saved all the way or not at all. Eternal life is not earned by faithfulness—it is given as a gift of grace through faith in Christ alone (John 3:16–18).
8. Ask Who Jesus Is to Them—Then Share Who He Is to You
For many Mormons, Jesus is primarily an example and the one who made it possible for people to be saved if they do their part. After they explain who he is to them, share who he is to you.
Tell them that Jesus is not just your example—he is your substitute. He lived the perfect life you could never live, died the death you deserved, and clothed you with his righteousness. Because of him, you are forgiven, reconciled to God, and assured of eternal life. Share personally what that means in your daily life: freedom from guilt, peace with God, and hope that cannot be shaken.
9. Trust in the Power of God’s Word
You don’t need to have all the answers or out-debate them. Your confidence rests not in your ability but in God’s Word. He promises that his Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and that it always accomplishes his purpose (Isaiah 55:10–11).
Even if a missionary doesn’t respond right away, God’s Word may take root long after they’ve left your home. Your role is to plant seeds of the gospel; God’s role is to make them grow. This truth frees you from pressure and fills you with peace as you witness.
10. Keep the Focus on Christ, Not Debates
It can be tempting to dive into Joseph Smith, polygamy, or Mormon history. But even if you convinced them that Mormonism is wrong, that doesn’t mean they know Jesus. Many who leave Mormonism without hearing the gospel drift into atheism or agnosticism.
Keep the focus on the sufficiency of Christ. Share his work for us. Help them marvel at God’s greatness—that he is holy, completely unlike us, and yet loved us enough to send his Son. Let your words leave them not just with questions about their religion, but with awe for the Savior who is enough.
Bonus: A Few Things Not to Do
- Don’t offer them coffee. They abstain for religious reasons, and offering it can feel dismissive.
- Don’t ask about their sacred undergarments. It’s impolite to ask anyone about underwear.
- Don’t bring up polygamy. It hasn’t been part of official Mormon teaching for over 150 years and only distracts from the gospel.
- Don’t expect immediate conversion. Your role is to plant seeds and trust the Spirit to work.
- Don’t be surprised if they don’t disagree. Missionaries are trained to nod politely even when they’re unsure. That’s okay—God’s Word is still working.
- Don’t just wait for them to come. You can invite them yourself through the LDS website. Our Please Open the Door program shows you how.
Conclusion
When missionaries knock, you have a choice. You can close the door and miss an opportunity, or you can welcome them in and let your home become a mission outpost. By showing love, asking thoughtful questions, and keeping the focus on Jesus, you can plant gospel seeds that may change eternity.
To be equipped for these conversations, explore our Please Open the Door program. It’s filled with practical training and resources to help you share Jesus with confidence, clarity, and compassion.