DiscussMormonism.com

I was talking with a friend today, and we got into the fun topic of the Mormon population. What are the current numbers? I haven't done the math in a while, and I don't really feel up to it tonight.

The last time I did the numbers, I had come up with generous estimates being around 8 million, with tighter estimates around 4.5 million. That was a few years ago though.

keene wrote:I was talking with a friend today, and we got into the fun topic of the Mormon population. What are the current numbers? I haven't done the math in a while, and I don't really feel up to it tonight.

The last time I did the numbers, I had come up with generous estimates being around 8 million, with tighter estimates around 4.5 million. That was a few years ago though.

Are you referring to the total number of people on the rolls of the LDS Church? Or the number of U.S. members? Or the number of actual, tithe-paying, Church-attending TBMs? Because each is quite different.

I've always had great difficulty with what the definition of "Mormon" really was. It seems in the LDS church, more than any other religious organization, a member is defined by official paperwork--not by belief. In my opinion, a person has to define themselves as such to be considered one. The humongous 14 million or so number is flaunted around with pride--but how many of those people are believing or active? Much less--isn't it somewhere in the range of 30% activity rate worldwide? Most non-believers (ex-Mormons) just go inactive without taking steps to officially disavow their membership (which is a complicated process, and not really worth the time or energy--especially to the indifferent).

Yes...I am one of those "14 million" (haven't taken the time to resign yet), but I can guarantee you nobody considers me a "believer!"

I and my preschool age children are also counted in that number. We are all atheists.

My wife, children and I have not attended or believed in over 5 years, but I am sure all 6 of us are still on the rolls.

John Larsen wrote:I and my preschool age children are also counted in that number. We are all atheists.

I heard a big reason why so many non-Mormons are counted as Mormons is because children born to members on the rolls are counted (like your children you mention here), but when they turn eight and are not baptized, they aren't taken off the records--they just stay on...like your children still will be.

Since, on average I think about 30% of members are active, and only 5% of them actually take their callings seriously, there are only 210,000 people causing Mormonism to move forward and maintain a presence in the world.

Pretty impressive, in my opinion.

(Tongue-in-cheek... maybe... maybe not).