They were not asked or persuaded to immigrate to America, but the unseen power of gathering rested upon them as they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. You gather not only from choice, but by actual commandment. As the spirit of gathering did move people to gather, the missionaries were given specific instructions to gather their converts. Our mission is to preach the Gospel, and then to gather the people who embrace it. Brigham Young explained a major difference in the mission of preaching the gospel in this dispensation compared to the ancient Christian church.
Some people have an idea that they are simply emigration agents to gather out people to Utah.
There is no need to coax them to come. In 1880 out of total church membership of 160,000 only 11,000 remained in Europe. A 1911 message of the First Presidency urged members not to emigrate. During the administration of David O. McKay, the policy was clarified further that every nation is now the gathering place for its own people. There are many lands and many places where Israel shall gather.