SALT LAKE CITY - They come here every April and every October from all over the world. They gather with fellow believers to discuss God.
But they do not call it General Conference; they call it Mormon Blitz.
"It's like a gathering of all street preachers," said Rob Monroi, a Baptist who flew from New York last week to preach at pedestrians for four days.
No organization officially backs the blitz, he said. Protestant pastors spread an informal invitation among their congregations.
Monroi and two friends spent $300 each for plane tickets to Mormon Blitz.
When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built a church over Monroi's favorite preaching spot, he was angry. But Monroi learned about the beliefs of Church members and developed a "burden for their souls."
"If it was up to me I'd be home laid back watching TV," he said. Monroi sacrificed time and money because he believed it was God's desire.
"If God needs you to do it, you do it," he said.
"These street signs and all these things, they might look very ridiculous," Monroi said. "But the Bible says people who find it foolish are those that perish."
Gyney Solomon from Micronesia preached with Monroi on North Temple Sunday afternoon. The job is "truly challenging" but worth it if souls are saved, he said.
"These people need to be waked up," Solomon said. "They're trusting in their self-righteous religious works instead of the Lord Jesus Christ."
"They're on their way to hell," he said.
Another protestor, Gerald Jackson, is from Kearns, Utah. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ for more than 25 years until 2 years ago.
"I found out it was a lie," he said. "I got on the Internet and I investigated Mormon History," Jackson said.
Since then, Jackson has shown up at every General Conference to warn Church members about hell.
But talk of hell did not fluster Stefan Waggoner, a member of the Church from Seattle who drove hundreds of miles to attend the conference. Exiting the Conference Center, Waggoner hugged one of the protestors.
"It's just amazing how much money they would spend," Waggoner said.
Waggoner said he thinks the demonstrations strengthen members' testimonies because they encourage them to learn more about the doctrines of the church.
Waggoner and his friend Jeremy Swaser said persecution is a sign of the Church's truthfulness.
"If there wasn't any persecution, it wouldn't be fulfilling prophecy," Wagonner said.
Neither Wagonner or Swaser said they are bothered by the demonstrators' arguments against the Church.
"I talked to a few of them and I find they haven't educated themselves as far as LDS doctrine," Swaser said.
Swaser dislikes the demonstrators' methods.
"I can't imagine Jesus Christ out here doing what they're doing with their signs."
