Briefly discusses missionaries as a folk group and explains that missionaries enjoy sharing stories about their experiences with other missionaries. Includes stories about initiation pranks played on new missionaries, stories about disobedient missionaries who suffer some kind of mishap or obedient missionaries who receive blessings. Also includes stories about tragedies that happen to people who reject the missionaries' message or blessings that come to people who accept the message. These stories serve three major purposes: first, helping missionaries feel part of the larger group, second, motivating them to follow the rules, and third, giving them a sense of comfort and a hope of success. Concludes that these stories are important to missionaries, whether or not they are true. Related materials: These materials are part of the William A. Wilson Folklore Archives. Biographical sketch: Cowley grew up in Oregon. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ecuador. He was a student at Brigham Young University at the time of submission of this project. He was married and had one son. Custodial history: Created by Jared Cowley while he was enrolled in Jill Terry Rudy's English 392 class during Winter Semester 2002.