Most common reasons people consider leaving/leave the Church

[_sock puppet]

#1 reason, having the convictions of one's beliefs that the Mormon Church is not what it claims to be. In other words, integrity.

[_Tchild]

1) apathy - disengagement - converts

The vast majority of converts fall into this category. They are interested enough to take the discussions and become baptized, but the teachings and/or culture of the religion are not meaningful enough. They never become fully converted or committed. Millions fall into this category.

2) Apathy - disengagment - members.

Same as above. They grow up in the church, either partially active or merely members of record, but never become fully interested and/or integrated into the beliefs and fail to make the necessary committments to the religion. Hundreds of thousands fall into this category.

The Wasatch front has tens of thousands of people like this.

And in my opinion a very distant 3rd and 4th:

3) Member at some point finds either that the foundational claims are not what were claimed or they fail to be energized and feel spirituality (as they understand it) even after full engagement and committment. Darth J. per his confession is a good example.

4) Personal issue with other member(s): feel marginalized, difficult to socialize, insulted or some derivative thereof, etc etc.

[_Tchild]

8. They make a deal with the devil for wealth and fame in exchange for their soul (Rare, I've only met one).

I remember thinking this same thing. A mission friend of mine years ago was lamenting his stake president father having an affair, getting divorced and "falling away". He blamed it on his high powered corporate job earning him hundreds of thousands a year.

We both shook our head and agreed that he had traded the gospel away for the lure of wealth.

Of course now, I laugh uncontrollable at such a thought.

[_DarkHelmet]

A few reasons why people quit

You are taught the Bishop has the spirit of discernment, but during your worthiness interviews as a teenager when you tell the bishop you don't masturbate, he believes you.

When some lady gets up during fast and testimony and starts crying and saying the spirit is so strong in the building, and everyone that follows her agrees the spirit is so strong in the building, but you don't feel anything and wish they would hurry up so you can go home and watch football.

You go to the temple and it feels like a fraternity initiation ceremony.

You read the Book of Mormon, it takes a year because it's so boring, and it reads like bad fiction, but when you finally finish you decide to pray about it anyway, and you don't feel anything except a little stupid for asking god if this obviously fictional book is true. As a test, you then read Curious George, pray about it, and get the same feeling.

When you bring up questions about serious issues with the church's beliefs, instead of getting a reasonable explanation, you are told to pray about it. When you do pray about it you don't feel anything except a little stupid for asking god if this obviously fictional church is true. As a test, you ask if the Jehovah's Witnesses are true, and get the same feeling.

[_Ceeboo]

Just wanted to post and let you all know that I am indeed reading all the replies (Much appreciated).

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Quasimodo]

Yeah, the guy was pretty crazy. He's made the deal a year ago and claimed the devil accepted it. He was impoverished and unknown when I talked to him. When I tried to suggest he should ask for a refund due to the devil not fulfilling his part of the bargain he kicked me out of his house telling me 'it is all coming'.

Where does one go to meet Satan? Did your friend have a "crossroads" sort of thing, or did he have to drive to Vegas? I've been assured that Satan has offices there.

I don't believe in Satan, but the myth has always interested me.

I hope your friend got it all in writing. What lawyer would you hire to sue Satan for breach of contract? My guess is that Satan already has all the best lawyers under permanent retainer.

[_Darth J]

3) Member at some point finds either that the foundational claims are not what were claimed or they fail to be energized and feel spirituality (as they understand it) even after full engagement and committment. Darth J. per his confession is a good example.

Ceeboo:

Tchild has me pegged. It was the "fail to be energized and feel spirituality (as they understand it) even after full engagement and commitment" that started it. The reason I was not energized/spiritualized (is it a word?) is because church leaders have nothing particularly insightful, inspiring, or relevant to say, and because the stifling bureaucracy is not conducive to personal spiritual growth. As I have previously quoted on the board:

Government cannot be religious and self-assertive at the same time. Religious experience needs a spontaneity which laws inevitably suppress. And you cannot govern without laws. Your laws must eventually replace morality, replace conscience, replace even the religion by which you think to govern. Sacred rituals must spring forth from praise and holy yearnings which hammer out a significant morality. Government, on the other hand, is a cultural organism particularly attractive to doubts, questions and contentions. I see the day coming when ceremony must take the place of faith and symbolism replaces morality.

---Frank Herbert, Dune Messiah

The paternalistic bureaucracy obsessed with arbitrary Pharisaical diktats about Mormon social conformity (number of earrings for girls, rated R movies, etc., etc.) would be the "government" in the quote above.

It was a while (but not a really long while) after I determined that the modern Church is not the church of Jesus Christ that I accepted that the foundational claims are not supportable, either.

If The Nehor or someone of his mentality comments on the above, you will be told that it is entirely my fault/I didn't try/never understood/wasn't committed/was offended by someone/was neck deep in some sin or other/blah blah blah.

There are few believing Latter-day Saints who acknowledge that a person of good conscience could rationally, knowingly come to the conclusion that the Church is not true few.

[_Darth J]

8. They make a deal with the devil for wealth and fame in exchange for their soul

I would have missed this if Stak didn't mention it. Simply put, this is by far the coolest reason. I wish I could say as much.

A deal with the devil is a very hard bargain! Kudos to the person that can hold their end!

You have made your Faustian pact, Zeezrom.

I hear that they take their coffee black in hell.

[_Kishkumen]

The paternalistic bureaucracy obsessed with arbitrary Pharisaical diktats about Mormon social conformity (number of earrings for girls, rated R movies, etc., etc.) would be the "government" in the quote above.

It was a while (but not a really long while) after I determined that the modern Church is not the church of Jesus Christ that I accepted that the foundational claims are not supportable, either.

My story is very similar.

[_sock puppet]

8. They make a deal with the devil for wealth and fame in exchange for their soul

I would have missed this if Stak didn't mention it. Simply put, this is by far the coolest reason. I wish I could say as much.

A deal with the devil is a very hard bargain! Kudos to the person that can hold their end!

You have made your Faustian pact, Zeezrom.

I hear that they take their coffee black in hell.

We do, indeed, take it black here.