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'Tis the day before Christmas, and for some New Yorkers, that means last-minute shopping, airport delays and hectic trips out of town. But for the 212 Mormon missionaries who call this city home, this is a season of intense faith, and a chance to bring others into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. WNYC's Arun Venugopal followed two young men who are known as Mormon Elders.

REPORTER: Elder Ang and Elder Raymond start their day at 6:30, with a morning prayer, and exercise, after which they eat, shower, and study the Bible together. By 10 they're in their suits, and on their knees, before setting out on the city.

RAYMOND: Father, please bless and prompt us to talk to those people that are willing and more apt to receive our message this morning.

REPORTER: Elder Raymond - his full name is Cody Raymond - is 20, and comes from a traditional family outside of Salt Lake City. Now, he lives near Avenue D, in the East Village.

RAYMOND: My name's Elder Raymond. Hey listen, today we're talking to people about the meaning of Christmas and how the birth of Christ can bless our life. How does Jesus Christ influence your life?

WOMAN: Huh?

REPORTER: Raymond's a year and a half into his two-year mission, and thinks of New York as the world's greatest city.

RAYMOND: You get everyone who's coming to try to get a better life, trying to make it, whether it's in drama, whether it's in music, whether it's in journalism or in Wall Street. And I just thought how exciting that would be, to be able to try and work with these people.

REPORTER: Raymond's partner, Elder Matthew Ang's family is originally from Singapore, then moved to the US, where they joined the Church of Latter Day Saints. He had already studied at Brigham Young University when he left on his mission.

ANG: You come out here as a missionary for two years, you leave behind music, movies, TV, hanging out with your friends, going on dates, snowboarding. Do you really want to do this? You're out serving the Lord, you're out dedicating your time to Him, talking to people on the streets. It sounded easier not to do it. But I knew I had to do it.

REPORTER: Today the temperature's in the 20s but the elders aren't wearing coats, or gloves, or hats... or anything that would cover their dark suits and Elder badges.

ANG: Just walking by this park reminded me that Elder Raymond and I would play kids in basketball at times. We walked onto the court, and there's a couple 17, 18-year-old kids just playing basketball. We walk out in our suits and ties, and we're like, We beat you, you need to come to church and listen to us talk. "You guys not going to beat us. Two little kids, in ties. You kidding me." We beat 'em. They came to church. It was pretty cool.

REPORTER: Like other missionary pairings, Elder Ang and Elder Raymond have to always be together. They must sleep in the same room, shop in the very same aisle, ride the same subway car. And of course, proselytize with each other.

ANG: Is there ever a time maybe we can come by, maybe share this message with you, in that hope in Christ?

LUCIUS: I don't think so. Like I said, it was good talking to you.

ANG: Lucius, thank you. Hey, if there's anybody you know that can use this message...

REPORTER: The two missionaries greet just about everyone they pass, gauging from body language and other cues whether a person is open to being won over. Sometimes, they say they just rely on their spirit. Like Lucius, most people are polite. Others just ignore them. Or confront them, aggressively, on doctrine, or the church's vocal stance against same-sex marriage.

RAYMOND: There has been times on my mission where someone's either turned and spit in our direction, or said colorful language, that is definitely derogatory.

REPORTER: We reach Union Square and head into the subway. The elders are meeting up with other missionaries at the temple, as it's known - the local headquarters of the church, across from Lincoln Center. Out on the sidewalk, a group of young missionaries are handing out hot chocolate to pedestrians, and trying to pique their interest in the church. Sometimes they're just setting the record straight...

WOMAN: It's not birthdays, right? You don't celebrate...

ANG: No, no, no... that's the Jehovah's Witnesses.

WOMAN: Sorry. I'm a Christian but I'm not a member of your church. Merry Christmas!

ELDER: A lot of times people think we don't go to parties... but we go to lots of parties. And we dance.

REPORTER: After a while we get on the subway again and head up to Morningside Heights, joined by two of the sisters, or female missionaries. And we file into the small, crowded home of Irene Butler. Irene is originally from Belize, and has eight children, and 25 grandchildren. She first encountered the missionaries several years ago, when they knocked on her door, and invited her to the church. Five years ago, she was baptized.

IRENE: When you are dunked in the water, believe me, you FEEL the Holy Ghost. You feel the difference. It's for real, and this is what I try to share with people.

REPORTER: Irene has health problems, and asked the elders to give her a blessing.

ANG: What are some elements of a blessing you need to do?

IRENE: Having total faith.

ANG: She caught it. She's quick.

RAYMOND: You're absolutely right, Irene. When Christ himself performed miracles...

REPORTER: As the two young sisters watch on, Elder Ang and Elder Raymond administer the blessing. They stand over Irene, dripping oil onto her head, and praying.

ANG: Let's sing.

IRENE: Sure why not, a Christmas Carol!

GROUP: Singing "Hark the Herald"

ANG: You get rejected by thousands and thousands of people, but when that one person accepts your message and listens to what you have to say, and feels the joy that comes from receiving and accepting the gospel, and just seeing it and witnessing their lives change and witnessing the joy that comes to their family, that's what makes this experience worth it.

REPORTER: Elder Matthew Ang's mission ends in April, and Elder Cody Raymond's, in October. After that, they head home.