Why Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Send Out Missionaries?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-02-2000-mormon-missionaries?category=missionary/introduction-to-mormons&lang=eng

I've heard that some people say that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints send their young men out on missions because it is a "rite of passage". Obviously, they haven't been around many young men. I've not yet met any young man who would give up his job, car, music, cell phone, and laptop, leave his girlfriend, and postpone his college plans, so he could travel to a strange place where he would have doors slammed in his face all day, just for a "rite of passage". 


Right now, there are 67,000 full time missionaries serving around the world. Many young men even earn money to help pay for their mission. Why would these young men and young women make such a sacrifice at a time in their life when most young people their age are myopically concerned only with their own life?

I can answer that in one word -- Love!  These young people know that The Book of Mormon has the fullness of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ leads His Church through his Prophets on the earth, and that through priesthood ordinances performed in Temples, families can live together forever with their Eternal Father. These young people are willing to give their time, energy, and resources to share this message of hope and peace with the world. Motivated by love, the missionaries are fulfilling the Saviors command to teach all nations.