The prospects for Mormonism becoming a major world faith are beyond reach

[drumdude]

TLD[a TBM]: "I wish we had a police state to take care of these vermin [opponents of new Mormon temples in their area]!"

That attitude might be one of the reasons there is so much push back from areas targeted for new temples.

An interesting article published by LDS researcher David Stewart in the Journal of Mormon Social Science Association entitled: The End of Growth? Fading Prospects for Latter-day Saint Expansion. His article does a very detailed analysis of the declining growth rates in the church during the past several decades and identifies several factors.

He also notes that the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses are completely blowing the LDS out of the water when it comes to world growth, with only a fraction of the resources and no missionary programs.

Final concluding paragraph:

"Trends point to continued underperformance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compared to its competitors. While a range of possibilities exist, the default path is for further decline of growth rates. The LDS Church is unlikely to regain its former growth trajectory. Prospects of becoming a major world faith have faded and are likely beyond reach."

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/T ... b68848b7b2

[Gadianton]

He also notes that the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses are completely blowing the LDS out of the water when it comes to world growth, with only a fraction of the resources and no missionary programs.

Both of these religions have an advantage believing the Bible is the standard. Mormon missionaries I'd guess are better received than JWs, JWs aren't always friendly, but they are more serious about their job. The Mormon testimony that gets borne so often, that MG is proud of, is a failed tool for conversion.

The church ought to try a pilot program that takes some of the better educated missionaries and teach Mormon doctrine from the Bible only, and downplay the Book of Mormon. Let's be clear: there is no "message" to the Bible. You can make it say just about whatever you want it to say. I think Mormons have as good of a chance as anyone else teaching their beliefs by Bible proof-texting, along with some minimal scholarly information to build credibility.

No singing hymns and useless testifying. Perhaps prayer, but more general regarding the understanding of the "word" meaning the Bible only. The other scriptures would still be a liability and breaking the reputation wouldn't be easy, but it would be worth a shot to see if it would generate more serious interest in the message rather than the main interest of being friends with the missionaries.

[Morley]

Neither the Seventh Day Adventists nor the Jehovah Witnesses have the malodorous albatross of polygamy hanging about their necks.

[Res Ipsa]

Our old friend Phillip Jenkins had this figured out over 20 years ago. He's done lots of writing on demographics and the future of world religions. Here's an excellent article he published in 2002. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/ar ... ty/302591/

The LDS church started expanding in Africa way behind evangelicals and charismatics. The future of Christianity is black and African. Excluding black Africans from the priesthood for so long makes Moronism a tough sell. So does the stodgy meeting format and content of correlated Mormonism. Read Jenkins' description of what Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa was like 20 years ago and ask yourself how attractive LDS worship services are going to be to those folks. It hasn't changed. I don't think American LDS folks appreciate how different Christianity in Africa -- the continent with the greatest projected population growth rate -- is from what the COJCOLDS has to offer.

This may behind a paywall. Let me know if it is, and I'll post some excerpts.

[Moksha]

Read Jenkins' description of what Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa was like 20 years ago and ask yourself how attractive LDS worship services are going to be to those folks. It hasn't changed. I don't think American LDS folks appreciate how different Christianity in Africa -- the continent with the greatest projected population growth rate -- is from what the COJCOLDS has to offer.

Mormons are not allowed to visit other church services to see what the competition has to offer.

[Dr. Shades]

Excluding black Africans from the priesthood for so long makes Moronism a tough sell.

Freudian slip?

Mormons are not allowed to visit other church services to see what the competition has to offer.

That's a false statement, and I'm pretty sure you know it. What's the point of doing that?

[msnobody]

Excluding black Africans from the priesthood for so long makes Moronism a tough sell.

Freudian slip?

Mormons are not allowed to visit other church services to see what the competition has to offer.

That's a false statement, and I'm pretty sure you know it. What's the point of doing that?

I know LDS missionaries visit non-LDS churches.

[Moksha]

Mormons are not allowed to visit other church services to see what the competition has to offer.

That's a false statement, and I'm pretty sure you know it. What's the point of doing that?

I thought it was true. I can't remember it ever being suggested as something to do. Do they say "Go see for yourself if it is the most true"?

[Dr. Shades]

That's a false statement, and I'm pretty sure you know it. What's the point of doing that?

I thought it was true. I can't remember it ever being suggested as something to do. Do they say "Go see for yourself if it is the most true"?

I can't remember bird watching ever being suggested as something to do either, but that doesn't mean Mormons are not allowed to do it, now does it?

[I Have Questions]

That's a false statement, and I'm pretty sure you know it. What's the point of doing that?

I thought it was true. I can't remember it ever being suggested as something to do. Do they say "Go see for yourself if it is the most true"?

It’s certainly not encouraged. Visiting an old church is fine, have a look around at the stained glass windows etc. But pitch up for a Methodist Church service? A Quaker gathering? Catholic mass? Absolutely taboo. At least that’s the situation this side of the pond.