MrStakhanovite wrote:# of people I lead out of the Church: 0
# of people I’ve helped stay in the Church: 0
# of people I’ve convinced in joining the Church: 0
What am I doing with my life!
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
(Take Your pick...)
- Whenever a poet or preacher, chief or wizard spouts gibberish, the human race spends centuries deciphering the message. - Umberto Eco - To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin. - Cardinal Bellarmine at the trial of Galilei
I think people de-convert themselves quite well, if they spend much time really looking at it. It's very likely that none of the people I brought in as a missionary were still involved a year later.
When it comes to family, I actively avoid any remarks that might affect their faith negatively. Recently my older sister gave me an opening where I could have expounded on evolution, the Ark, dinosaurs, and the age of the earth. I gave her a short opinion and changed the subject. If anyone asks more directly, of course I explain why I no longer believe. But no one tries to re-convert me, so I return the favor.
Even though it would be great to have a fellow apostate in the family, it's not my place to make it happen. All I do is try to provide an example of how a person can move on from Mormonism and still be happy, love his family, and be just as good a person as they are. Perhaps a few of the inactives in the next generation (nieces and nephews) have been influenced by that example. I don't really know.
"The DNA of fictional populations appears to be the most susceptible to extinction." - Simon Southerton
I've had eight different home teachers in the three years since I've been at this residence. I have no idea why the turnover, as I've not been interested enough to listen to their separate stories. I always explain that I am quite satisfied in my spirituality, and that if they desire to return, I believe the chances are better that I will convert them.....than vice versa. They always assure me that this will never happen....Testimonies get bared, as I'm thinking, 'never is a long time'. For not one yet has been an Internet Morm.....and they all get a link to MAD and MDB in their inbox that night.