Comments on: Tracting: Is It Worth Doing?

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:41:28 +0000

I’ve actually seen the hard data, what you would call the yield statistics.

My mission was in the 70s, but I see our missionaries tracting now. Honestly, the ones that work hard at it seem to be more successful all the way around.

Should it be the preferred course of action? No. But as a way to refine yourself when there is nothing else to do? Yes.

I had one area where we had the first baptism in the area in five years, the first in the district in several. We got that one by tracting, though it was a miracle. As the worst area in the mission the area had been a dumping ground of sorts and the missionaries were not well regarded.

About seven months in the area (I spent nine there) attitudes started to change towards us. We got the first dinner invitations offered in years. In a large part it was the steady tracting that we did, day in day out, that changed perceptions about us.

By: mmiles

mmiles — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:53:47 +0000

Late to the conversation, but all the people I taught and were baptized on my mission were found through tracting–every single one.

By: Terina

Terina — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:27:46 +0000

i served in france, and tracting was the least effective way to find people. i saw zero baptisms on my mission. one lady got baptized after i left her area, so i don’t know if it counted or not. people frequently would not open their doors. they had bells on their gates, and we would have to speak loud enough to their door. they would confuse us with JW’s all the time. we taught english classes, we did service, and a few other random type things. we did find one family from tracting. typically, french people aren’t terribly receptive. and the members are willing to help with missionary work, but not always willing to refer anyone. that said, i loved my mission and often wish i could still be a missionary. life was easy then…..

By: E

Fri, 30 May 2008 05:35:03 +0000

Although I believe tracting is not generally the very most productive use of a missionary’s time, it is way more productive than sittig in the apartment or sight-seeing. During my US mission, we tracted quite a bit and baptized some wonderful people that way.

By: eljee

eljee — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:52:07 +0000

I served in Kansas in the early 90′s. We did not tract in my mission, though street-contacting (we called it GQ’ing) was encouraged.

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I do believe that tracting is not very effective, and in a way I am glad I didn’t have to do it (I think I tracted maybe 2 hours my entire mission). On the other hand, ours was an extremely “rebellious” mission, and I think that the humility and self-discipline that comes from tracting would have been a huge benefit to most of the missionaries.

Street contacting has its pros and cons. I think it’s easier to strike up a casual conversation when someone is out working in their yard or on their porch, and then the conversation can turn to religion. But on the other hand, the amount of people available to talk to is much more limited through street contacting, especially since anybody who sees you coming down the road is going to go inside their house to avoid you.

We most definitely had greater success in inner-city type neighborhoods as far as meeting and talking to people and being invited to give discussions. But like someone said above, I think it was mainly that people were lonely and wanted someone to talk to. There was little actual commitment. If someone got baptized, they generally did not remain active very long. With that said, I do believe that some of these people we taught truly did feel of the Spirit and were interested in our teachings. They partly did not have the history of commitment to anything to stay active, and they partly were not welcome and fellowshipped by ward members who did not feel anything in common with them and were honestly afraid to go into many of these neighborhoods.

People who were middle class and above were less likely to entertain a visit or even a conversation with the missionaries, yet if they did progess to be taught and baptized, they were far more committed. Again, was it that they were used to hard work and effort, goal-setting and taking life more seriously, or was it that (tracted or not) they were simply better fellowshipped? I think it’s a mix of the two.

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 30 May 2008 01:16:25 +0000

I served in Massachusetts in 2000. My companions and I scheduled most things including tracting. We had three baptisms that resulted from tracting. I think those three baptisms were worth all the hours of fruitless tracting we did and even the few doors that were slammed in our faces. It also helped me learn to not be so shy and open my mouth to share my testimony. That was not something I ever did before my mission. I never talked about religion before, I was too afraid and shy to. Tracting got me over that quickly and I had to learn to use everything I had learned, believed, and had been taught in a few moments. I grew and learned from it. I served the spanish people on my mission and definately was grateful I did. Most of the spanish people opened their homes to us, even if it was to just to give us a glass of water in the 100+ heat. We made lots of friends and I feel spread good feelings about the church. My goal was to show these people how much God loved them and we had meaningful conversations about the gospel even when they didn’t result in return appointments. I think every way of contacting people is important and can be meaningful, even tracting. I think it is important for missionaries to be aware of the Spirit while doing anything and not just fall back on tracting because there is nothing else to do.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:14:15 +0000

I love tracting! There is nothing like preaching the gospel to everyone you come across! It is a way to lift your voice like a trump (D&C 29:4), it is a way to testify to all, giving them the opportunity to accept or reject the gospel (and saving yourself) (D&C 88:81-82), and it is exciting. You never know what is behind each door you knock. I loved tracting while in Portugal, and about half of the converts I saw enter the waters of baptism were tracted into. Nothing like knockin’ doors.

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:51:15 +0000

sol, what part of Ohio?

By: sol

sol — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:49:29 +0000

I’ve been thinking about your post and my own experiences. As a missionary in Ohio I would say our best success came from member referrals. Retention and fellowshipping are much more likely to happen. However, I had some great experiences tracting. Here are some pros:

-As mentioned by yourself and others, tracting provided a great way to debunk myths with people who may never have otherwise bothered to ask those questions.

-Tracting was a good way to allow people a glimpse into our non-freakdom (though missionaries are freaks among their peers)

-Part way through my mission we were given the directive to focus on tracting around less-active members. Active members neighborhoods were regularly tracted, but less-active members were generally tracted around if there was time. We made it a habit and one of the most powerful baptisms I saw came this way, so I have a tender spot in my heart for this counsel.

-Tracting gives missionaries great practice at thinking on their feet. This can really come in handy in the middle of a discussion.

-I truly believe in the planting of seeds. We taught many people through tracting we would not have taught otherwise. While they weren’t baptized the experience was positive and gives a greater chance for a positive experience the next time they come in contact with the church.

That’s about all I’ve got right now. As I said, the best success came through members and we had some great wards that kept us very busy. I feel guilty when I think about how willing those members were to open their mouths and how much I don’t make that a focus now.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:54:23 +0000

I think the most common theme here is that while tracting does serve a purpose, it is not the most effective way to find, teach, and prepare others for the conversionary process necessary for them to not only get baptized, but continue faithful to the end. There have been some studies done on this, one of which is referenced in the exceptional article by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in March 2003 Ensign, “The Role of Members in Conversion.” He indicates that only 2-3 % of those found by missionaries get baptized, while 20-30% of investigators found through members get baptized-a huge difference.

While finding will always be a challenge, members really need to get on the bandwagon, and missionaries would do well to help teach members how to share the gospel, live it, and provide the necessary example and opportunity for friends and family to grow comfortable enough to desire to hear about the gospel. Ultimately, it is still up to the investigator, but the burden is on us.