Do mormon missionaries feel failure after a mission?

Feel failure after a mission? That woulsd depend upon the individual. You cannot overgeneralize feelings to all missionaries.

I know some missionary friends who never found one convert their entire 2 year missions, yet felt the experience of being a missionary and defending God and their faith to be the most wonderful thing they have every done. On the other hand, I know missionaires that had over 50 converts and yet felt discouraged that they couldn't have done more.

It depends upon the missionary. For the most part, most missionaries look to their experience as being the most personal growth promoting, faithful building experience of their young lives.

I dont think so.

On my mission the only time I felt like I "failed" was when I didnt live up to my own expectations, it had nothing to do with other peoples actions.

I really only remember the good experiences now. The people I helped. Whether they joined or not.

The negative ones, well.... they are pretty much just gone from my memory.

Missionary work is freaking hard. I have no desire to sugar-coat it. But I would never in a million years have traded that experience.

No, they will not feel like failures. They might be sad that you were unable to soften your heart and be receptive to the message. They will not feel like failures, they will probably feel like they have shown you some important information that you might use in the future.

You listened to them and opened the door for a reason, whether you want to admit to that reason or not.

Oh yeah, the former Mormons bashing missionaries and the concepts of missions in general sound like Cowards.

Seems to me that you were pretty far from God already, and while they may be surprised if you've been lying well enough, I doubt that they'll blame themselves. After all, if you're this determined to stand against God, isn't it only because you've chosen it for yourself? You went with them already determined to hate what they had to offer, and they'll know that.

...but while we don't believe people are necessarily damned in the burning in hell sense, you're obviously angry and bitter. You seem almost proud of it, but can you really say that you're happy?

They do sometimes. But they are used to having the door slammed in their face 988.5 times out of a thousand. The are used to seeing 10 open the door and 1 of those join the church. Slim pickings overall indeed.

I agree with Hally that they are trying to be obedient to their religion. I think that is something to respect, even if you don't agree with their beliefs. They will not feel like failures because they accomplished their purpose which was to give you the opportunity to learn about the gospel. They would have been happy if you had been receptive, but not despondent at your rejection. You certainly are not the first person to pretend to be interested in our religion and you definitely won't be the last. We don't believe in "damnation" in the sense that other Christian religions teach, so I doubt they will think you are damned.

No, they won't feel like failures. In fact, they will count anything as a success, if it gets you to church, or talk to them or whatever. They have planted seeds.

They are not going to think you are "damned" in the sense that you'll go to hell and burn. To us Mormons, "damned" means lack of progression.

They are not going to stew about your decision to hate God. That's between you and God.

They are not going to feel like failures.

It's not up to them to "convince" people to love God and to believe their message. That is the job of the Holy Ghost and so that is why your decision is not going to make them feel like failures.

They have shared the message and now it is up to you and God.

My son just left on a mission 2 weeks ago. He's going to run into all kinds. He's young, and sure, lots of people are going to be total jerks to him and treat him badly. But, I still let him go. It's a good, humbling experience. I hope he understands that it's not about him. It's God that they hate.

They'll get over it. No really, they will. They are used to rejection by potential converts. It is just part of being a missionary.

I know they can be annoying sometimes, but I have a lot of sympathy for them. They are young kids just fresh out of high school, far from home, working incredibly long, thankless hours for no pay, and giving up two years of the time they could be in college, earning their degree, to have doors slammed in their faces and people to be rude to them, and sometimes even kill them.

No, we don't ask to have them knock on our door, but I could never be cruel; I blame their church for sending them out, not them. If you want to do something nice for them, I'm sure they would appreciate it. Even letting them borrow your computer for five minutes to email home, or giving them a glass of lemonade would mean a lot to them.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll have many interesting discussions with them. Be sure to let them down easily. :)

No. They've probably met worse people than you trying to make them feel like failures.