There was once a very eager missionary in Chile who sat in a small gathering of missionaries in the Mission home in Santiago and listened to Bruce R. McConkie talk about the difficulties the Church faced with membership growth in South America. At that time there was only one stake in Chile. Upon hearing Bruce talk about the problems with hundreds of new members joining the church each month in Chile, the missionary raised his hand and asked "what the Church would do when we're baptizing thousands each month?"
From the activity figures we see there now, I guess the answer was "not much."
"Any over-ritualized religion since the dawn of time can make its priests say yes, we know, it is rotten, and hard luck, but just do as we say, keep at the ritual, stick it out, give us your money and you'll end up with the angels in heaven for evermore."
Fence Sitter wrote:There was once a very eager missionary in Chile
Lot's of eager baseball players have served in Chile baptizing anyone and everyone so they can take pictures and write home about how great their missions are. "Look at me, mom & dad -- we're baptizing and the church is growing"!
