Mormon missionaries knocking doors, some guidelines:

1. Don't. It's interruptive proselytizing and there are lots of reasons this is counterproductive to everything you're trying to accomplish.* (more later)

2. If you insist, you shouldn't knock. Leave a small note.

2a. The note might give contact information about offering scripture study lessons, if you insist on still proselytizing. (Still likely to be more counterproductive than productive; I'd advise against this.)

2b. Better yet, the note should offer your ability as Mormon missionaries to connect people to community support. You're available to assist with many kinds of service projects. Involve the ward mission leader and bishop when anyone responds. Again, don't overpromise.

2c. The note should not use adhesive that could harm the door. It should not use the church's logo unless you have permission. It should not promise too much.

2d. Basic diplomacy dictates that it should use "Mormon" because this speaks the language of strangers who as of yet don't know to call you a "member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." For better or worse, they'll think it a bait-and-switch to avoid "Mormon."

3. If you insist on door-knocking, do not knock more than once. Do not ring the bell after knocking. Do not manipulate the person who may answer the door into letting you in. (Again--counterproductive!) If a child answers, ask for an adult; DO NOT converse with the child.

4. If any person asks you to leave the premises, express your willingness to leave immediately. Then leave immediately. Do not return to the premises. Leave a note for future missionaries not to return to the premises. Respect any red flags recorded by previous missionaries.

5. Instead of door-knocking, develop relationships with people who can help you find opportunities to serve the community. This takes a lot of time. You won't be baptizing. So what. Be a missionary, not an interruptive salesperson hunting after a quota.

** OK, why interruptive proselytizing is counterproductive to your missionary work:

I. In the U.S., bias has deepened toward Mormonism. Interrupting people only confirms biases. Ergo, counterproductive.
(See Pew Forum data, Gary Lawrence, _How Americans View Mormonism_.)

II. In the U.S., something like half the population sees you as more a salesperson than a teacher. Knocking doors confirms this perception. Teachers don't knock doors. Build relationships, not sales calls. (Lawrence, 35)

III. 10x as many people would be interested in learning about the church from a friend than from a missionary. (Lawrence, 65) When you knock doors, you are a stranger interrupting people, obviously not in the category of friend.

IV. For every American who strongly likes Mormons, more than four strongly dislike Mormons. (Lawrence, 22) Interrupting people is almost universally perceived as ill-mannered, forceful, or unfriendly. Knocking doors reinforces dislike rather than like.

V. LDS proselytism has reached market saturation in the U.S. When new missionary personnel surged after 2012, increased proselytism had no correlation with baptism rates. Door-knocking is wasted energy if what you hope to achieve is more lessons or baptisms.

Therefore, instead of spinning wheels canvassing neighborhoods interrupting people, spin your wheels seeking out charitable, authentic relationships through personal networks and word-of-mouth. Don't feel guilty when this means stretches of time feeling idle.

Use downtime planning with others how to be of service. Organic conversations with friends and friends-of-friends are significantly more edifying and community-building than interruptive promoting.