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Subject: "Growth of the church"
Date: Aug 31, 2000 - 07:46:20
Author: Aramis
(Taken from the exmormon.org BBS)
I found the posting below about the "high growth" rate of the church very interesting. I know the church likes to brag about how fast they are growing, and indeed, they are baptizing quite a bit in the Third World. There isn't a general conference that goes by that GBH [Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church President] doesn't in his own special smug way tell us how many new converts they gained in the previous year. What they don't mention is most of these converts leave within a year and never step foot in a LDS church the rest of their lives.
I saw Goku's response that a very small percentage of the converts in Chile, for example, remain in the church. Bearing that in mind, it is really hard to say they are doing all that well, even in the Third World. I've been in the church just over five years, and I can honestly say, that I can count on one hand how many converts I've seen that have remained active in the church in my short duration. No exaggeration, there is only one I can think of that is still active. And there was another one who joined in the hopes of landing a husband, but from what I understand, she is no longer active either. However, I"ve literally seen dozens leave, who have never bothered to have their names removed. Yet, GBH proudly touts them as part of that "special eleven million".
I noticed that alot of the converts were recent immigrants that knew nothing about the church, and they were practically pushed into the baptismal font. Not surprizingly, none of those converts remained after six months. In this country, the church isn't doing all that well. As I said, from what I can see, the vast majority of new "converts" in this country are inactive within a matter of months too.
I noticed the responses about the church's stagnant growth in the US, and how certain areas, such as San Francisco, the church is in a state of stagnation. I live on the East Coast, and there is now such a problem with some of the wards in our area(in fact in our stake), that the missionaries are being pulled out, because of "lack of support" from the members. I overheard one of the Mormons in our area say it was because of the "weak leadership" in those wards, but I think it's more because the church has peaked, and they are losing members. I never thought I would live to see a day where missionaries are being pulled out of US wards because of lack of support. And in the US is where the church's bread and butter is. That is where the high almighty ten percent (which is all the church is interested in anyway) really matters. This has got to be a source of great frustration to the church. It also helps to explain why the church is getting increasingly pushy about telling their members here to throw the church at our family, friends, and co-workers.
I don't know about the other wards, but here, the ward mission leader has met with each family and asked us to supply names for the missionaries. I refused. I politely explained that in my case, both family and friends don't even like or respect the Mormon church, much less want to recieve discussions! I'm wondering. With the church obviously peaked in this country, and the church getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of growth with "Bread and butter converts", do you think the leaders will start demanding most of the members to become missionaries at some point? Not just the nineteen-year olds, but adults too.
I know some Mormons would dispute the statement that the church has peaked in this country, but to me it is obvious. They are gettig more pushy than ever about throwing the "gospel" at non-member friends and family. Also, why doesn't the church ever tell how many members have left the church, and why does the church constantly drag their feet when a member asks to get their name removed (You have to practically threaten them with a lawsuit).
To listen to those idiots at General Conference, you'd think not one member has ever left the church. Does anybody else have any ideas on this?
And let's not forget the Internet-sites like this, which will ensure that the church growth will remain stagnant. If I had access to a computer six years ago, I wouldn't have been in the mess I'm in right now.
I can remember the great shame and embarrassment that I felt when I first came across this site, that I could be a member of such a church. When you factor in sites like this, the Internet, the DNA evidence, and the "legendary" support members give to new members, I can easily visualize the church in for some major rough times in the coming years, losing members by the droves. Just my thoughts.
Page Modified September 2, 2000