'Less knocking, more clicking': LDS missionaries proselytizing more on social media
SALT LAKE CITY — (KUTV) - Less knocking and more clicking and chatting on computers for missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are sharing their message on social media.
According to the latest numbers from the LDS Church, released at a Thursday press conference, more than 140,000 people were taught in 2017 by more than 600 missionaries from 20 online teaching centers from across the world.
“This is how people are communicating today,” said Elder Brent Nielsen, executive director of the missionary department.
“Instead of us trying to stop someone and saying are you interested in the gospel these people are actually contacting us. It’s amazing. Very effective”
Elder Nielsen says online teaching centers are located in church visitor centers across the country. He says the messages the sister missionaries are answering come from those who have shown some interest in wanting to learn more about the church through Mormon.org.
The media got a peek inside the teaching center in the North Visitor Center on Temple Square.
There we found Sister Fedotova from Ukraine and Sister Clue from England working the phones and on the computer talking to people.
“This is actually a very good way for us to share the gospel,” said Fedotova. “If they physically cannot be with us technology helps us to reach out to these people. To help them find peace and joy and happiness in their lives.”
“They are coming to us,” said Clue. "The world we live in now everyone is using social media. everyone has a phone everyone is using Facebook so this is a pretty great tool to really connect the people that are living in this modern day.”
