Many Missionary Attempts are Seemingly Unsuccessful

From personal experience I know as well as anyone else that missionary work can seem to be demoralizing, discouraging, and deflating. In my experience much of the time it has been so (as a full-time missionary before and now as a member missionary). When these feelings do come, perhaps we can take some consolation in the fact that missionary work has never been easy, and brave old missionaries have had to "go against the grain" and appear unpopular and endure rejection since the beginning of time. Just look that Amulek's first missionary trip in Alma 10:

 16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.

and...

24 And now it came to pass that the people were more angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile against our laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have selected.

and...

28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it.

And so it goes for each of us at times. Ever has been the nature of missionary work. So will it ever be. Sometimes people are receptive. Sometimes they are not. But if I let the bad experiences stop me from trying again I'll never hope to have those great joys that come when people are receptive to the Gospel message. I can experience great joy and exhilaration even doing the small and simple things of missionary work. Just extending a simple invitation, answering a single gospel question for one who is curious, or humbly praying and looking for my next missionary opportunity are very rewarding and uplifting activities in and of themselves. And I can count each one of those experiences as a success!