The more Christians learn about the LDS missionary program, the more they realize these are young people who need to hear the truth of the gospel. They are not threats to be feared but souls to be loved.

Age & Background

Most LDS missionaries are young men and women, often fresh out of high school. Males can begin serving at 18 and typically serve for two years. Females, who now make up about 30% of the missionary force, may serve starting at age 19 and typically serve for 18 months.

While most missionaries are young adults, you may occasionally meet older converts or late starters. For many, this is their first experience living away from home.

Titles

During their mission, they don’t use their first names. Male missionaries are addressed as Elder [Last Name] and female missionaries as Sister [Last Name].

Some Christians may find this strange. It’s tempting to insist on using their first names to “cut through the formality,” but that rarely helps build trust. Some missionaries may grow more comfortable over time, but it’s best not to make it a point of conflict.

Motivation & Commitment

Not every missionary is equally convinced of Mormonism. Many are on a mission because of family expectations or the cultural prestige of being a “Returned Missionary.” In LDS culture, serving a mission enhances marriage prospects and leadership opportunities.

That said, many sister missionaries tend to be deeply committed, often serving out of conviction and enthusiasm for their faith.

Working in teams

LDS missionaries always work in teams known as “companionships.” Typically, a more experienced missionary (the “senior companion”) takes the lead in conversations. But in recent years, it has become increasingly common for missionaries to show up with three or even four people—sometimes including an older adult or a local church leader.

While this may feel normal to them, it often feels intimidating to Christians trying to build a relationship or have a meaningful spiritual conversation. It’s difficult to connect personally or ask deep questions when a group is present, and most Please Open the Door participants have found that the larger the group, the harder it is to lovingly share the gospel.

You have every right to ask for a smaller group. In fact, we strongly encourage you to do so.

You can say something like:

“I’d really love to get to know just you two. I find that having more people present makes it harder to have an open and personal conversation. Would you be willing to keep it just the two of you for now?”

Most missionaries will honor your request—and some may quietly prefer it themselves.

It’s also important to note that LDS missionaries will not enter a home where only members of the opposite gender are present. If that applies to your situation, you can ask to meet in a public place such as a park or a quiet restaurant or even offer to take them out for ice cream (just not coffee, which many missionaries avoid due to LDS health guidelines).

The key is to remove barriers to the relationship. The more comfortable and personal the environment, the more open the conversation will be.

Missionary Calling and Training

Receiving a “call to serve” is a major event in a young Mormon’s life. They believe this call comes directly from God through the living prophet. After receiving it, missionaries enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC)—usually in Provo, Utah.

Those called to English-speaking missions train for about three weeks. Those serving in a foreign language mission receive up to nine weeks of training. Most of their training focuses on mission procedures and role-playing—not on LDS doctrine or biblical study.

There are three important things to keep in mind:  

1. Many are excited and honored to be missionaries—even if not fully convinced. 

2. Many do not know Mormonism or the Bible well. Don’t assume they understand or agree with official LDS teachings. What they do hold tightly is this core belief: their ability to live eternally with Heavenly Father depends on what they do.

3. Most don’t know biblical Christianity. They often assume it’s just a more relaxed version of Mormonism. Be patient—helping them understand the difference is a journey worth taking.

Bearing Their Testimony

The most important thing a missionary has is a “testimony.” All testimonies are basically the same: they say they know that 1) Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, 2) the Book of Mormon is true, and 3) the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true church. They often state this with great emotion and end it with “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” This is called “bearing their testimony.”

Their testimony is based not on a study of Scripture (including LDS scripture) but on their feelings. Some will even reference a specific time when they received a special feeling—a “burning in the bosom.” Mormonism teaches that the Holy Ghost gives revelation through feelings. Their testimonies are based so much on their feelings that some missionaries will readily admit they don’t know much Scripture.

Their testimony is a staple of their presentation, and they bear it regularly. Sometimes, they bear it as a last resort when they don’t know how to answer you. Other times, when they feel their faith is threatened, they bear it as a defense. In some cases, the bearing of their testimony may be a sign that your words have affected them.

The best response to their bearing their testimony is to bear your own testimony lovingly and confidently. We encourage you to spend time writing out your testimony—a brief statement that emphasizes your joy and confidence in Christ. If you’re unsure how to begin, we’ve provided guidance and examples here. As you prepare, be alert to the danger of mocking their testimony. It is unloving, for example, to say: “I know there are false prophets. I know there are false churches,” etc.

Isolated & Controlled

Despite Mormonism’s emphasis on family, LDS missionaries experience an intense degree of isolation and control during their missions.

They cannot return home while serving, and family or friends are strongly discouraged from visiting them. Since 2019, they’ve been allowed to call, text, or email home weekly, which offers emotional relief—but also increases homesickness for some.

They are also largely cut off from the outside world. Missionaries may not watch TV, browse the Internet freely, listen to secular music, read novels, or play video games. Their online use is limited to mission-related tasks on church-approved websites and apps. They are expected to “devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all personal affairs” (Missionary Handbook, p. 4).

Even their companionship—a central part of missionary life—can feel isolating. They are never to be apart from their assigned companion, with few exceptions, like bathroom breaks or interviews with the mission president. Companions often rotate every few weeks, and missionaries are regularly transferred to new areas, disrupting any sense of stability.

Their daily schedule is strictly regimented, running from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Every minute is accounted for—waking, studying, teaching, eating, exercising, and sleeping. On their one “preparation day” each week, they may shop, clean, do laundry, and contact family—but they’re still expected to proselytize in the evening.

Even music is restricted. Headphones, even for approved church music, are prohibited because they “isolate you from your companion” (Missionary Handbook, p. 25).

Missionaries are assigned to a specific mission area and cannot leave it without direct permission from their mission president. Their personal finances are also tightly controlled. Regardless of their family’s income, all missionaries receive the same modest monthly stipend, typically funded by their families. Any unused portion must be returned to the mission (Missionary Handbook, p. 44).

All of this makes missionaries deeply dependent on the church—emotionally, financially, socially, and spiritually. Many endure stress, anxiety, or loneliness, and the number of missionaries who leave early due to emotional struggles has been rising.

This context helps explain why kindness and compassion can be powerful witnessing tools. Many of these young people are quietly burdened, weary, and longing for connection. You may be the first person who treats them as people rather than projects.

Difficult Experiences

On top of everything else, LDS missionaries regularly encounter difficult experiences. Many people, including Christians, treat them rudely. Besides visiting investigators (prospects), they also visit inactive Mormons. These less-than-faithful members (also known as “jack Mormons”) often treat them no better. Even faithful LDS members, especially those who have served on a mission, sometimes aren’t very sympathetic. They view the mission experience as a rite of passage to be endured by missionaries.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this brief overview helps you see LDS missionaries for who they really are. Most are young people with little training, isolated and controlled, regularly being treated poorly by others. Almost all miss being home.

Their situation gives us wonderful opportunities to shower them with love. In various ways, we can give them a little taste of home away from home. For example, you can’t go wrong feeding these young people since they often prepare their own meals. Eating a meal around a table can feel like home. They especially appreciate a caring, motherly presence. Sisters appreciate establishing emotional connections and doing activities (like baking) that remind them of home.

Most will respond very favorably to people who treat them kindly. Once they know we care, most will listen to what we have to say about Jesus. Our job is to witness to Christ. Then, we leave it up to the Holy Spirit to do the converting. May God move you to see LDS missionaries as a fertile mission field.

The LDS Missionary Handbook was frequently quoted in this article. You can read this little booklet online at churchofjesuschrist.org. Type “missionary handbook” in the search window.