Mormons: converting or assimilating?

Question

I'm not Mormon, but I have nothing against it. I just thought it was interesting to know.

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13196/rise-revisits-fastest-growing-religion-claim

The way I put it, if we have 13 million mormons now and 267 by the end of the century, that's more than 20 times more than what we have today so the question came to mind. I only wanted to pass it on.

"We are Mormon. You will be assimilated. Resistance is Futile."

Answer 1

Lol, don't you just love that?

The rate of conversion has dropped from 300,000 per year to about 230,000 per year, and somehow that adds up to an additional 254 million by Fiscal Year-End 2099.

They use the aggregate past rates of conversion as a total average to come up with those "200+ million" projections; this, of course, conveniently includes Year 1, when membership skyrocketed from 6 to approximately 250... that's a 4067% increase.

Edit: Upon reading the article again, it's Fiscal Year-End 2079, not 2099.

Edit2: Thumbs-down for this answer? I don't see anything controversial here. Weird.

Answer 2

One thing the rest of the world just doesn't understand is how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can believe the church president is a prophet of God, yet there is no compulsion in the faith. It's not that resistance is futile; it just isn't in our universe.

I don't think non-Mormons can ever understand how you can have a hierarchy without dominance, but this is really the way the church works.

One poster is correct in pointing out that the baptism rate has fallen from about 300,000 to about 250,000. There are a number of reasons for this.

First, we are working hard on retention. You can’t join the church today without attending church, and giving some indication that you’re going to be an active, participating member.

Second, the number of missionaries is down. Mostly, this is because the children of the baby boomers have already served their missions now, so there are fewer Mormons who are missionary age, usually 19 years old. We’ve also raised the requirements for missionary service. The missionaries now in missions are there because they want to serve Jesus Christ. They are more spiritual, and more effective as missionaries.

Third, we now have established missions in every country where we can legally send missionaries. Those who were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the missionaries (such as those in Africa or behind the old iron curtain) have now been baptized. In a recent trip to Ghana, we attended wards where the local leadership consisted of the children of members who joined the church in the early 1980s. These “children” are returned missionaries who are now serving as bishops and stake presidents. The personal growth is inspiring, but the number of baptisms has leveled off, allowing us a brief lull to build the necessary chapels and train a new generation of leaders. Muslim countries, China and a few really dangerous places remain off limits, and it doesn’t look like that will change soon.

Of course, convert baptisms don’t tell the entire story of church growth. Mormons continue to have families that are larger than average, and the relatively young population means the birth rate is much higher than the death rate. With 13 million members, growth may come as much from new births as from new baptisms.

Answer 3

Interesting comparison.... Though I don't ever recall being forced to do anything I didn't really want to do.
Norris Penguin - you're right, it was only your opinion so there wasn't anything wrong with what you said....
I don't believe anyone is coercing to join the Church, I certainly gave the people I taught the opportunity, and still some converted and some didn't. It is a choice and decision between the person and GOD.
May all find what they are truly looking for, and have the respect for us that they demand for themselves.

Answer 4

I guess I don't understand your question...

The gospel HAS to spread to the whole earth before the Savior comes again... it would not be fair if some did not have the chance to hear the gospel...also it is a fulfillment of prophecy that the gospel would be spread to the whole earth.
So obviously, the more people who have the chance to hear and accept it, the more will convert.
I do believe that one day - most likely during the millenium - there will be one religion...not necessarily "mormonism" but those same principles and gospel truths that are taught, I don't know if it will be called "mormonism" because that is this world's definition of our religion...

Answer 5

So you are saying that the Mormon prophet is like the Borg Queen? Ahahahahahaha good one! I am picturing Mormon missionary drones in a big cube spaceship bearing down on Cap'n Janeway...aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh, there is no escape!

Answer 6

JWs maybe, not Mormons. Only the Borg would probably ever get to Spock in real life.

Answer 7

What is the purpose of bashing other religions? What have we done to you - NOTHING! Your disrespect for people you don't know isn't funny.

We CONVERT people. It is their CHOICE. Missionaries are all over the world. Many are in countries that would have been impossible 30 years ago.

I personally know of one young man that is working hard with the people in Montreal. He loves the people up there and shares his testimony with them. He has been on his mission for 22.5 months. I can't wait for Steven to come home!

Answer 8

I say converting. I used to be a mormon and they are very weird which is why I left... They don't believe in drinking coffee or Tea because they think its bad due to caffeine. But their missionarys drink Pepsi or other soda's.. Or take certain meds which most of them contain caffeine.

They also make you wear special underwear when you go to the temple even when you laying with your spouse in bed. Kinda like a borg..

I was able to resist them...

Answer 9

Unlike the Borg, we give people the choice.

Answer 10

Hehe. That reminds me of a picture I saw on my mission. It had two hands, one pointing and one holding a gun, pointed at the viewer. Under it is says, "We have two types of baptism, for the living and the dead. Which would you prefer?"