Mormon church losing members….

I think it’s “yellow journalism.” I don’t doubt people are leaving the church, that’s obvious here. The question is how pervasive it is. If history is any indicator, the church is not going to release those numbers. Unnamed sources – even those of the high ranking variety – don’t cut it for me. Seriously, anyone could make that up.

The Trib is usually the bearer of bad news, they seem to have a good handle on who and what. Yes the LDS boat is rocking, and it may yet for a while, there may even be some bumps up top, it won’t crash the religion. We have already passed Hans Mattson, the Trib referenced a member of the General YM leadership as having disaffected. The church is still pushing forward. Where it ends up remains to be seen. I imagine that a lot of discussion about where to go is being had in the halls of COB.

I heard Elder Marlin Jensen say something similar, and I see he’s also quoted in the article. I know the rate of church growth is slowing – you can see that from the statistics released in general conference each year.

Audio of Elder Jensen Q & A at USU

http://www.fileswap.com/dl/5iKOuShH9D/ElderJensenQandAInterlacedEdited.mp3

Reuters: Special report – Mormonism besieged by the modern age

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/30/uk-mormonchurch-idUKTRE80T1CP20120130

Why are some people leaving the church? I assume it’s a combination of increasing wickedness in the world, plus people having a problem with stuff they see on the internet.

With increasing wickedness in the world, you have to make a more conscious decision to be a Mormon. Also, it seems some members are listening to worldly philosophies more than they are to the prophet. Neal Maxwell said that as the church grows the opposing wickedness in the world will also increase.

With the internet, I guess people find out stuff they’ve never heard before (even assuming it’s true, some isn’t) and decided they’ve been lied to. This is harder for me to understand. Just because you haven’t heard something before doesn’t mean the church lied to you. It just means your knowledge and idea of the church and gospel has been limited, maybe even naive.

So the Sunday School manual never told you Joseph Smith had 50 wives. That’s not the purpose of Sunday School. People have always been free to learn about things like this on their own.

In recent years the church has apparently been opening its archives more, which is great. And internet is getting info out there that in the past wasn’t as easy to find.

Truth is truth – I’m not afraid of it. So far I’ve not learned anything that would disprove that Joseph Smith was a prophet who re-established God’s church in the latter days. It still comes down to faith. I expect the church will weather this storm and come out stronger.

cwald,

Apologies for the double post – I thought I was editing my first one. A bad habit.

I certainly didn’t intend to be condescending. The OP asked for opinions. This is what I believe. When I joined this group it was my understanding that believing members were also welcome here. Maybe off off base on that.

So sorry if I offended you. Of course feel free to ignore me if you like.

You did not offend me. I’m simply stating that your comment came from ignorance of the situation in most cases of the people who post on this site.

When I joined this group it was my understanding that believing members were also welcome here…

Yes.

I was one who made such a comment.

Glad you are here. Now I’m challenging your perception of why most people are on this site.

May I suggest you read Urchtdorf’s GC talk from October where he explains why people are leaving the church, and come back to the table.

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You will not believe me. Perhaps you will listen to a mormon prophet. Here is what Uchtdorf said.

” To Those Who Leave

The search for truth has led millions of people to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, there are some who leave the Church they once loved.

One might ask, “If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?”

Sometimes we assume it is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations.

Some of our dear members struggle for years with the question whether they should separate themselves from the Church….

Unanswered Questions

Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past. We openly acknowledge that in nearly 200 years of Church history—along with an uninterrupted line of inspired, honorable, and divine events—there have been some things said and done that could cause people to question….

And, to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine.” -Uchtdorf

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shoshin,

I believe there is no God. Now, you and I can get along just fine as long as we don’t make it our business either to justify our own beliefs or to disparage the beliefs of others. This site is about coping, not convincing.

FWIW, I defend people who are believers all the time. You believe differently than I do. Not only is that your right, but it is also understandable and even admirable. Perhaps you could look to defend people like me. I didn’t stop believing because of something I read on the internet and I didn’t decide I’d been lied to. I’m grateful for my upbringing in the Church, for my mission, for my temple marriage. But ultimately, I came to believe that the Church was a fabrication. In light of that, I couldn’t be a believer any more. I haven’t left the Church physically, but I have left it mentally. I didn’t choose for this to happen.

http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5057

Well said.

I did not choose for this to happen to me either. I blame/give the gods all the credit.

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