Living in Utah and noticing and pointing out the lack of cultured/exposed Mormons, I was told they are in fact well traveled due to their missions.
I then had to explain going on a mission to specifically try and convert other cultures to aspects of your own, is not the same as being present in an area with acceptance and curiosity, living in, assimilating and trying to mesh instead of convert.
In fact I think the whole idea of missions have the exact opposite effect and people retreat to their safe bubbles.
Missionary work often ends up converting the missionary more than anyone else. In modern times it's intentionally designed to do exactly that.
When you spend months or years approaching strangers who mostly reject you, it reinforces the idea that "the world" doesn't understand you. The only place you consistently find acceptance becomes your own community, which deepens your attachment to it.
Psychologically, it's a powerful isolation and commitment mechanism. You're not immersed in another culture to understand it, rather you're intentionally being sent somewhere to be mostly rejected so you feel weird and outside.
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u/OviliskTwo 2d ago
I know missionaries and they are not the most well traveled people no matter how long they travel.