That being the case, it could be accomplished just as well without ever leaving one’s own country; and at much less cost.

Think Mormon Monastery.

And, I think it is intentional that we send out green children as opposed to seasoned professionals — we are warned in the scriptures about “learned men” and the like. By small and simple things shall great things come to pass, and very few things qualify as smaller or simpler than some of the missionaries I’ve seen serving. Perhaps you’re right that a professional missionary would make a better impression, but the Lord’s word will be accepted based on a simple testimony and a witness of the spirit far more often than a logical explanation, no matter how eloquent or solid.

Besides, I say again that I do think it’s probably as much for the missionary’s benefit as for anyone else’s.

The cost provided by the missionary or his family is only a small portion of the costs involved. At most, your contribution covers your food, some travel expenses, and a portion of your apartment rent. Think of all the other costs.

I submit that it would be more impressive to talk to a ‘seasoned’ representative from the church than a 19-27 year old with no experience. If anything, the full-time missionary is cheap labor, and not very effective on his/her own. No matter how much missionary work you accomplish on your mission, it won’t amount to a hill of beans if the ward members aren’t doing their part. And if they were, we wouldn’t need to have their efforts be supplimented by full-time help.

Although, if you are sending missionaries to areas with no church infrastructure, then you would have an arguement for having them there. But not where the church is well established.

Is Rick suggesting LDS prospects could feel the spirit at less cost if sales people sold the religion like they would sell time shares or a new car?

How would you pay the sales reps? 10% of the tithing (donations) their converts pay or would you suggest a flat fee like $1,000 per head? Would it be a pyramid scheme perhaps?

Would the church be able to handle the huge increase in members if sales people took the place of missionaries?

Is being on a mission more for the missionary or more for the converts?

And on the other side of the coin, I think that the effect of having missionaries in the field alone is worth the cost. Sure, videos, pamphlets, and whatnot would probably both cost less and even reach a larger audience, they’re simply not as impressive to the public eye. It’s one thing to tell an interested friend, “Yes, I’m Mormon, and if you’re interested I’d like you to watch this video on YouTube,” and quite another to say “If you’re interested I’d like you to talk to these two young men who care so much about the gospel that they spend almost every hour of every day learning of it and teaching it to others, and hold a priesthood calling to spread the word.”

I saw it and I think there are better ways of doing it. Certainly less expensive ways of doing it.

Kim got REALLY well fed on his mission.

If you need to send someone to a green field, then perhaps you have an arguement for sending a missionary. But really, how many missionaries do we need to send to Idaho or Utah or any place where the majority of the population has T.V. and Internet access?