Christmas Mission is a 1999 short Christmas film written and directed by Michael L. Schaertl about two Mormon missionaries. The film starts with Elder Tomberline sneaking into his apartment at night. His companion Elder Wood notices this and becomes suspicious. They go knocking on some doors to spread a Christmas message about Jesus Christ but with no success. Frustrated, Tomberline says he wants to go home, saying he needs to be with his girlfriend, whose father just died. Then they meet the Hunt family, and Tomberline becomes friends with their son Matthew, who is deaf. They teach this family the True Meaning of Christmas.
Christmas Mission contains examples of:
- Book Ends: The film starts with shots of Christmas decorations and ornaments, with the last one being the baby Jesus. It ends with a shot of the same decoration.
- Cynic–Idealist Duo: At the start of the movie, Elder Tomberline pretty much gives up on his mission, and Elder Wood is optimistic about his prospects.
- Fake-Out Opening: The first scene appears to be a burglary, but it turns out it's just Elder Tomberline sneaking back into bed.
- Heel–Faith Turn: The Hunt family, especially the father, goes from viewing Matthew's deafness as an embarrassment to approaching it with faith.
- Knocking on Heathens' Door: The missionaries go knocking on some doors to deliver a Christmas, but nobody is interested.
- Mirror Monologue: Elder Wood gives one after he wakes up to motivate himself. His says there are people only he could touch, though it turns out Elder Tomberline is the one this applies to.
- The Missionary: The two main characters are LDS missionaries.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Subverted. Elder Wood says he wants to go home, but he decides to stay after the Hunt family invites the missionaries into their house.
- Took a Level in Idealism: Elder Tomberline considers returning home after his girlfriend's father dies, but after meeting the Hunt family he starts to take his mission seriously.
- True Meaning of Christmas:
- The opening sequence includes shots showcasing the commercial aspects of Christmas, and concludes with a shot of an ornament of the Baby Jesus.
- The missionaries go around trying to deliver a Christmas message about their Savior, and a woman mostly brushes them off. Later, at the Hunts, Elder Tomberline explains that Christmas actually about their Jesus Christ.
- Voiceover Letter: Elder Wood's journal provides the film with some narration in this form.
