I don't think the two bishop who I served under as membership clerk in the 1990s collected fast offerings. One bishop took naps at home on Sundays and the other one would go visit members who might be confined to hospitals.
I only went once as a deacon. As I have previously mentioned, asshat Bishop Steel really loathed me. It was mutual. We didn't talk much on the drive and we visited 5 inactives who had no idea why we were bothering. I think we collected a dollar.
I had never knocked on people's doors to ask for a donation. I didn't know what to say. It was a very rainy day in 1983 so Steel stayed inside the car. One guy answered the door only wearing his boxer shorts with Coors in one hand and a Camel cigarette in the other. He asked his scantily dressed girlfriend to grab her purse and pay the nerd. The other people told me to get lost.
I would guess that it's a very poor use of time and probably not practiced anymore.
I've never seen it practiced regularly out in "the mission field". It's one of those things that the bishop, leader, and deacons/teachers could get enthusiastic about. It was so lame, especially when we weren't in mormon-land. It wasn't just a walk down the block. It was driving for 2 or 3 hours. More was spent on gas that what was collected. I don't believe I ever did it as a kid, and probably only once or twice as a youth leader/parent in the 90's.
Generally door to door was only done in Utah. Out here in Tuscaloosa (mission field) we would have deacons drive to members houses to collect only during times when we had Utah people in leadership positions. You know? The kind of people that wanted a campout in July along with a ward service project outdoors. I have news for you. Nobody in their right mind goes out in the woods in Tuscaloosa during July!
In many cases I doubt that much money is actually collected. I think its more of a busy work thing to keep youth (and their parents) in the Church as they keep them busy with Church work.
Agree. They get to spend time with busywork feeling all righteous. It's the same with 90% of the other stuff they do at church. Busy, busy, get it done!
We lived in the Mojave Desert, and got very poor very fast when my father became a hopeless drunk and could not get or hold a job. The stupid deacons would come around collecting fast offerings, and I was embarrassed at what my mom would do. She would smile and take the envelope, then say, "Just give me a minute." She'd then leave the guys on the porch, and go from the living room to the kitchen, linger for a minute, then come back out through the other entrance to the kitchen, and give them the envelope with no money inside, smile, and say good-bye. Smart woman.
It was the year about 2011 or so I was active in an LDS ward in Texas and deacons came to the door to collect fast offerings. Not sure if they are still doing it and I will not ask my active family about it lol my cousin would see me asking if deacons come to the door to collect fast offerings as an invitation to get me back to Christ.