I spent all of 2 weeks in the sales industry. It was 20 years ago, but I remember this maxim.
The Mormon missionaries are sales people. They’re trained in sales, and they’re fairly good at it. Oftentimes, they come back to the normal world and get a sales job to get them through their schooling.
When a Mormon missionary talks to you (or mows your lawn, or helps you move), the goal is to get you “dunked.”
As soon as there’s a commitment on the calendar, they will say they’re got you “on date.” Goal accomplished.
If you’re not showing signs of moving forward toward baptism, they will drop you from their “teaching pool” like a hot potato!
It’s all about the numbers.
It’s all about the baptism!
So much so, that missionaries in South America have been known for “baseball baptisms,” where they gather the youth in a neighborhood for a fun morning of sports, and then get them all baptized afterward without really explaining it or fellowshipping them … just for the numbers.
(The only exception to this rush would be when the individual isn’t yet living a “worthy” lifestyle and isn’t permitted to be baptized.)
Now, compare that approach to the Christians I know.
My family is involved with two Christian churches. I’ve been going to the first for 16 months and nobody has ever said anything suggesting me to get baptized. I’ve been going to the second for 3 months or so, and nobody has ever asked if I’m baptized.
Can you imagine if an outsider was attending the LDS church for over a year, and no one ever sat them down with the missionaries to try to get them “on date”? That would never happen.
Yesterday I brought up baptism with my pastor, and he said “no rush, go at your own pace.”
This striking contrast between Mormons and Christians trying to get “investigators” dunked is even more exacerbated and shocking when you remember that Mormons allow this to happen in the next life, and Christians only allow for this life.
But fear isn’t the driving force in Christianity, and neither are sales or numbers.
In Christianity I see an appreciation for each individual on their own journey, and a respect to allow them to be their own driving force on that journey.
Or rather, to let God be that driving force, and a patience to sit and watch Him do His amazing work!
And yes, I’m hoping to be baptized soon!
All I Possess 