OREM — Most LDS missionaries make it a point to let people know about their farewells. That wasn't the case for the 20-foot-tall inflatable "elder" tethered atop the Missionary Mall store on University Parkway.

He left Sunday (as near as anyone can tell) with a departure in the still of the night. Whether it was a prankster who lured the missionary away or someone with less noble intentions is unknown.

But all is right now. The missionary returned to an honorable homecoming Tuesday evening.

Store owner Jon Theobald remains perplexed about who would steal his large white-shirt-and-tie advertising piece.

"He's basically visible from space," notes Theobald, whose store specializes in supplying goods for missionaries headed out to proselytize.

"Elder Buns" — so named by the operators of a nearby store that specializes in outfitting sister missionaries, who spent all day looking at his backside — was found reposing near the Richards Building on the Brigham Young University campus Tuesday afternoon.

It's possible he was simply headed back to the Missionary Training Center for a refresher course, although the red spray paint on his pant legs indicates he ran into a bit of trouble along the way.

Theobald was more than up to the task of re-outfitting the prodigal elder — after all, missionary needs are his specialty. By 6 p.m., the elder had been changed out of his "tracting" attire and he was back to doing his "street" routine from atop the store.

"Only in Utah Valley would you have . . . (one,) a business that would buy a 20-foot missionary and, two, someone that would steal an inflatable missionary," Theobald said ruefully. He said he had expected the elder would turn up, more than likely as a prank on someone's lawn, complete with the usual toilet-paper adornments.

The inflatable elder has been very well received in his missionary calling, he said. During slow times at the store, 210 E. University Parkway, Theobald and his employees would watch the reactions of the passing motorists when they noticed the giant figure tethered to the store's roof.

"He brought a lot of joy to the people of Orem," Theobald said with a chuckle.

"The jokes are just endless from everybody that I know," Theobald said. When "Elder Buns" turned up missing, family and friends teased that the elder had been given an emergency transfer.

Theobald, who also owns a restaurant in the same shopping center, said the employees there harassed him about the extra-large advertising purchase.

"Did you really pay money for that?" they asked.

"I paid $4,700 and it was worth every penny," Theobald replied.