It’s important not only to share God’s truth with LDS missionaries but also to reflect Christ’s love in how we treat them. When missionaries encounter kindness and genuine care, they’re much more open to listening. Sadly, many have experienced Christians who are rude or unkind, so, understandably, they may be cautious at first.

Building trust takes time. It’s rare for a meaningful connection to happen in just one visit. That’s why our goal is to build a relationship over several conversations. As we show them respect, take an interest in their lives, and treat them with compassion, they often become more comfortable—and even eager—to hear what we have to share.

We often describe our approach as building bridges, not barriers. It’s centered on five key pillars:

#1: See Mormons as victims, not enemies.

The way you view the missionaries will shape how you interact with them. If you see them as the enemy, your instinct will be to argue and win. But if you see them as victims—people who’ve been misled and burdened by a false system—your goal shifts to helping and loving them. The more conversations you have, the more you’ll begin to see just how much they’ve been weighed down by Mormonism.

#2: Treat Mormons with genuine love and respect.

One of the most powerful ways to show someone respect is by listening. Listening also helps you understand what the missionaries actually believe. Don’t assume they know or agree with all LDS teachings. Even if you’re well-versed in Mormon doctrine, you can’t know what these specific missionaries think unless you ask thoughtful questions and listen closely. The more you understand their personal beliefs, the more directly and lovingly you can share the gospel with them.

#3: Focus on Mormon stress points.

Christians regularly talk to the missionaries about things that bother them about Mormonism, like their view of God or the fact that Mormons have additional scriptures. But these topics aren’t typically issues that trouble missionaries—and they often have rehearsed answers for such challenges.

Instead, we’ve found it far more effective to focus on personal stress points like worthiness, perfection, and forgiveness. Many missionaries silently struggle with these heavy expectations. Since they rarely hear Christians speak about these topics, they often don’t have ready-made responses. These conversations make them stop and think.

#4: Speak the Mormon language.

Christians and Mormons often use the same religious words but with very different meanings. That’s why it’s essential to ask for definitions and be clear about what you mean. For example, instead of saying “heaven,” we often say “living eternally with Heavenly Father.” Mormons believe in different levels of heaven, and most people, in their view, will go to one of them. So, the word can feel vague. Being specific helps them see we’re talking about the joy of being with God forever—not just any afterlife. Being aware of language differences helps avoid confusion and opens the door for deeper conversations.

#5: Witness Christ rather than debate Mormonism.

The gospel is powerful—God’s power to bring people to faith (Romans 1:16). That’s why our focus isn’t on tearing down Mormonism but on lifting up Jesus. We begin by showing how serious our problem with sin is and then point to God’s beautiful solution in Christ. Rather than debating doctrine, we share the joy of being fully forgiven and unconditionally loved. When missionaries see the freedom and peace found in Jesus, they’re drawn to the truth of the biblical gospel.

Want to explore these five pillars further? Our free video course, Build Bridges Not Barriers, walks through them in detail. We highly recommend starting there.