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When It’s Time to Say Goodbye
At some point, your conversations with the missionaries may come to a close. This isn’t a failure—it’s normal.
Missionaries are trained to focus on progress. If they sense that you’re not likely to convert, they may be reassigned to pursue more “promising” prospects. That may feel disappointing, especially if you’ve developed a warm relationship. But remember: you’ve already planted seeds of truth. And God’s word never returns empty.
Here are a few signs that your visits may be wrapping up—and some things you can do to finish well:
When a Third Person Joins the Conversation
After a few visits, don’t be surprised if another, older LDS member joins your meeting. This might be a ward missionary or a local church leader. Sometimes, this person has been brought in because your missionaries aren’t sure how to respond to your questions. Other times, it’s a sign they’re preparing to wrap up the visits.
You are welcome to say:
“I’d prefer to keep this conversation just between the three of us, if that’s okay. I’ve appreciated the time we’ve spent together.”
They may honor your request, but also insist on involving someone else. That’s okay. Stay gracious, and keep your tone warm and curious.
Suggest a Church Visit Exchange
If you sense the visits may be ending soon and haven’t done this already, you can propose a church swap. Invite them to attend a worship service with you, and offer to visit a Latter-day Saint sacrament meeting in return.
This may provide new opportunities to discuss gospel topics afterward, and it shows that you’re genuinely interested in understanding their world, not just preaching yours.
Leave Them with a Gift
Even if they never return, you can give them something to take with them, both spiritually and physically.
- A readable Bible. Many missionaries are only familiar with the King James Version. A copy of the NIV or ESV can be a meaningful gift. If you’ve had a chance to talk about Bible reliability, this is a perfect follow-up.
- A personal note. Take a few minutes to write something heartfelt to each of the missionaries. Thank them for their time, affirm your respect for them, and gently point them to the reason you care so deeply.
Example:
Dear Elder/Sister [Name],
I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know you and learning more about what you believe. I’m grateful for the time you’ve spent sharing with me, and I hope our conversations have been meaningful to you as well. Before we part ways, I wanted to leave you with something personal: a few thoughts about why I believe what I do—and why I’m so confident in the Jesus who gave me rest….
Don’t Miss the Bigger Picture
You might never see these missionaries again. You may never know what fruit grows from the seeds you planted. But this isn’t the end of the story.
You’ve shown them something different—someone who listens, cares, and believes with quiet, unshakable confidence in Jesus. That matters.
You’ve planted the gospel in their memory. And sometimes, that seed comes to life long after they’ve left the mission field.
Next Steps
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