DiscussMormonism.com

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_st ... JYnRA.cspx

More than a few years ago I posted a thread on the FAIR boards entitled, "Member Enthusiasm Dying on the Vine". The main thrust of the post focused on current members loosing faith due to church history, as well as our inability as member missionaries, during this new information age, to convert our social, educational, and economic peer groups. The conclusion being that if the church had not already reached a point of regression with its number of "active" members , that it soon would.

Since this thread was posted over on FAIR, there were plenty of replies to the contrary. It seemed as if everyone had an anecdotal story about how their very own ward or stake had just split, or how missionary work was just gangbusters in their neck of the woods. Many faithful posters stopped in just to comment that I was simply mistaken. My favorite faithful response went something along these lines;

"Due to new multimedia capabilities across the internet, I feel the church is on the cusp of a missionary explosion".

I guess when the glass really has been emptied and dried out, the faithful still find a way to view it as full. Today I raise an empty glass to toast Brother Jensen and ABC news.

Obviously the church isn't going anywhere, but it's pretty clear that in some respects the growth over the past few decades has been an illusion. It's probably a good thing that the church is acknowledging some of the problems, but I don't know that there's anything they can do about it.

Impossible. Back in the 90s I was told by my bishop that the Internet was put on earth by god to spread the gospel.

I think that the missionary effort should focus on reactivation rather than trying to pull in new members. Let's find out why members are leaving and give them reason to stay.

It seems like if the Church really cared about its members, the focus would be on the current members rather than outside growth.

liz3564 wrote:I think that the missionary effort should focus on reactivation rather than trying to pull in new members. Let's find out why members are leaving and give them reason to stay.

It seems like if the Church really cared about its members, the focus would be on the current members rather than outside growth.

Interesting perspective. Mine is quite different.

All of the inactives I know, and I know a lot of them, would not start attending again on a bet. Like me, they have figured it out and see support of the LDS Church as general indication of a lack of basic ethics and morality.

They point out the racism, homophobia, disregard for women's rights, indoctrination of children with false teachings and information, the demonstrably fraudulent nature of the LDS scriptures, and the colossal waste of time and money involved and simply decide to lead a life of reason based on rational and evidence based beliefs.

This is a long way of saying that any serious attempt to "bring back" the inactives I know would result in those involved from the Church receiving a great deal of accurate information about the LDS Church that they may have a difficult time processing.

DrW wrote:

liz3564 wrote:I think that the missionary effort should focus on reactivation rather than trying to pull in new members. Let's find out why members are leaving and give them reason to stay.

It seems like if the Church really cared about its members, the focus would be on the current members rather than outside growth.

Interesting perspective. Mine is quite different.

All of the inactives I know, and I know a lot of them, would not start attending again on a bet. Like me, they have figured it out and see support of the LDS Church as general indication of a lack of basic ethics and morality.

They point out the racism, homophobia, disregard for women's rights, indoctrination of children with false teachings and information, the demonstrably fraudulent nature of the LDS scriptures, and the colossal waste of time and money involved and simply decide to lead a life of reason based on rational and evidence based beliefs.

This is a long way of saying that any serious attempt to "bring back" the inactives I know would result in those involved from the Church receiving a great deal of accurate information about the LDS Church that they may have a difficult time processing.

Amen, +1, CFR, Whatever :)

If missionaries were actually focused on service (teaching people about the LDS church is not service), that might actually make me pause...Not come back, but...pause and maybe think about coming back for 1 sacrament meeting on a non-stake-rep sunday...maybe...just to give them a single thumbs up and give them some unfounded hope. Also, I would most likely show up drunk.

liz3564 wrote:I think that the missionary effort should focus on reactivation rather than trying to pull in new members. Let's find out why members are leaving and give them reason to stay.

It seems like if the Church really cared about its members, the focus would be on the current members rather than outside growth.

I think the missionary effort should be on a service. Only.

We haven't had a convert baptism in my ward for almost 2 years. And the last guy to get baptised doesn't live here any more.

My house seems to have become the "place to go when you have no appointments" for the missionaries. I have no idea why. I see a lot of the missionaries. Maybe because I always have food and we laugh a lot?

liz3564 wrote:I think that the missionary effort should focus on reactivation rather than trying to pull in new members. Let's find out why members are leaving and give them reason to stay.

It seems like if the Church really cared about its members, the focus would be on the current members rather than outside growth.

Stay in which way, Liz? As temple-worthy tithe-paying calling-holding members? Or on our own terms - you know, a glass of wine with dinner, beer or two while watching the game, pay what I want, maybe volunteer a night or two per month?

H.

LDSToronto wrote:
Stay in which way, Liz? As temple-worthy tithe-paying calling-holding members? Or on our own terms - you know, a glass of wine with dinner, beer or two while watching the game, pay what I want, maybe volunteer a night or two per month?

H.

Yeah, but then you'd be a Baptist.
:-)

Jersey Girl wrote:

LDSToronto wrote:
Stay in which way, Liz? As temple-worthy tithe-paying calling-holding members? Or on our own terms - you know, a glass of wine with dinner, beer or two while watching the game, pay what I want, maybe volunteer a night or two per month?

H.

Yeah, but then you'd be a Baptist.
:-)

Or a Catholic!

H.