DiscussMormonism.com

One common experience when someone decides they don't believe the church is true, is they are encouraged to remain active by their spouse, Bishop, stake president, etc. but under no circumstances are they allowed to share their disbelief with others in the ward. By "encourage" I mean coerced since the cost of actually leaving the church, either through inactivity or resignation, is so high because of the threats off divorce, loss of contact with children, being cut off from family, and ostracized by the community. Many people in this situation accept these terms and become active non-believers. Often, few people within the ward actually know this member is a complete non-believer. This can go on for years before the person finally breaks because of the hypocrisy of it all. So why does the church want this person to remain active? What's the point of holding him or her hostage? They're taking up a seat, but they will not offer anything to help the ward. They won't magnify any calling they are forced into accepting. They probably won't pay tithing. And the church runs the risk that this person will start sharing their opinions with others. Some of these people even exist in the COB and are leaking documents to Mormon leaks. Maybe in the short term they think they can change the mind of the disbeliever, and also save the rest of his or her family. But in the long term they've ended up with a huge number of "wolves in sheep's clothing", and the church is responsible for putting the sheep costume on and invited them in. Why?

The only explanation I can reasonably come up with is that faith levels fluctuate.
People don't believe, then believe and get baptized, then stop believing. Perhaps the hope is that they will start believing again.
It's rare but it does happen. Take a look at Bill Reel for one example.

But I understand your question. Is it better for the Church to keep non-believers in attendance?
I am not convinced that it is.

Active non believers still pay tithes....... it's all about the Benjamins.

SteelHead wrote:Active non believers still pay tithes....... it's all about the Benjamins.

Agreed. My experience has been that once you stop paying and showing up for Tithing Settlement, they look for ways to ostracize you.

Because I worked with and neighbors with so many in a small ward, they did not want me associated all. I am one of those that once I stepped out..I was not love bombed at all. This is okay with me..but they hurt my son on different levels..who is still a member.

SteelHead wrote:Active non believers still pay tithes....... it's all about the Benjamins.

That has to be the main reason. Why would the leaders risk their precious lambs being exposed to the less active apostates unless there was a financial gain to be had?

DarkHelmet wrote:One common experience when someone decides they don't believe the church is true, is they are encouraged to remain active by their spouse, Bishop, stake president, etc. but under no circumstances are they allowed to share their disbelief with others in the ward. By "encourage" I mean coerced since the cost of actually leaving the church, either through inactivity or resignation, is so high because of the threats off divorce, loss of contact with children, being cut off from family, and ostracized by the community. Many people in this situation accept these terms and become active non-believers. Often, few people within the ward actually know this member is a complete non-believer. This can go on for years before the person finally breaks because of the hypocrisy of it all. So why does the church want this person to remain active? What's the point of holding him or her hostage? They're taking up a seat, but they will not offer anything to help the ward. They won't magnify any calling they are forced into accepting. They probably won't pay tithing. And the church runs the risk that this person will start sharing their opinions with others. Some of these people even exist in the COB and are leaking documents to Mormon leaks. Maybe in the short term they think they can change the mind of the disbeliever, and also save the rest of his or her family. But in the long term they've ended up with a huge number of "wolves in sheep's clothing", and the church is responsible for putting the sheep costume on and invited them in. Why?

I would guess it is to keep up the façade of happy intact families. That helps impress outsiders as well as keep members under the impression that the church is true.

They don't.

They are liars.

candygal wrote:Because I worked with and neighbors with so many in a small ward, they did not want me associated all. I am one of those that once I stepped out..I was not love bombed at all. This is okay with me..but they hurt my son on different levels..who is still a member.

had you been a big or small tithe payer in the two years before you stepped out, measured in terms of dollars within your ward?

The church relies heavily on the effects of conformity. Every time someone leaves they weaken the church's continuation of the Asch conformity experiment.