After The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially established in 1830, some of the members were called to be missionaries to spread the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and introduce the "same orginazation that existed in the primitive church [with] apostles, prophets" (Article of Faith #6, see other tenets of the church in the 13 Articles of Faith). In fact, there is a story about a man named John Taylor who was a Methodist preacher in Toronto:
In 1836 Elder Parley P. Pratt, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, was called to serve a mission to Canada. On his way to Toronto, Canada, “a stranger gave him a letter of introduction to John Taylor, a Methodist lay preacher in Toronto. Taylor was affiliated with a group who believed existing churches did not correspond with New Testament Christianity. For two years this group had met several times a week for the ‘purpose of seeking truth, independent of any sectarian organization.’ In Toronto, Elder Pratt was courteously received by the Taylors, but they were not at first enthusiastic about his message.
“Discouraged at being unable to secure a place to preach, Parley decided to leave Toronto. Before going he stopped at the Taylors to get some of his luggage and to say goodbye. While he was there, Leonora Taylor told her friend Mrs. Isabella Walton about Parley’s problem and said she was sorry he was leaving. ‘He may be a man of God,’ she said. Mrs. Walton replied that she had been inspired by the Spirit to visit the Taylors that morning because she was willing to let Elder Pratt stay at her home and preach. He did so and was eventually invited to attend a meeting of John Taylor’s group, in which John read the New Testament account of Philip’s preaching in Samaria. ‘Now,’ said he, ‘where is our Philip? Where is our receiving the Word with joy, and being baptized when we believed? Where is our Peter and John? Our apostles? Where is our Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands? …’ When Parley was invited to speak, he declared that he had answers to John Taylor’s questions.
“For three weeks John Taylor attended Elder Pratt’s meetings, making detailed notes of his sermons and carefully comparing them with the scriptures. Gradually he became convinced that the true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. He and his wife, Leonora, were baptized on 9 May 1836” (Church History in the Fulness of Times [Church Educational System manual, 1993], 157; see also Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt [1975], 134–40, 151).
John Taylor was ordained an elder and served faithfully as a missionary. Later he became the third President of the Church.
What John Taylor was looking for is what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims to have, that is, that the church organization that Jesus set up in his day with baptism, laying on of hands receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost using the Priesthood of God, with apostles and prophets and more. Teaching the gospel is not so much an effort of heavy persuasion and convincing, but an actual teaching environment where doctrines are taught and then people are encouraged to ask God himself for a confirmation of doctrines. One may think that if this really is the true gospel of Jesus Christ, then of course they would receive a positive answer from God and everyone would be converted. While the answer may be the same for people - yes, this is the true gospel, perhaps on the human side of receiving the answer there is fear of change, other temptations, traditions or habits that are hard to turn away from, that preclude one from following through with a positive answer from God. And that must be respected as a human right, as God also respects (and intended) the agency of humans. For why would He count among his followers a person who chose the gospel unwillingly.
I suppose I could've chosen to talk about many things regarding the missionary efforts of the church and the purposes behind it. I guess I'm just feeling it's important to know that missionary effort is to educate and not force, to offer but not coerce, to love and offer the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a world full of despair. We can live in a hard and rough world, but still have the joy and hope by following Jesus Christ and the direction he sends through his prophets and apostles, through continuing revelations. The heavens are not closed. There is a purpose to your life. You are loved.
For more information about why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends missionaries throughout the world go here: A Missionary Church
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