Some data suggest that the number of new converts each year is matched by the number of members who go inactive. For example:
http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/images/image019.gif
(If you're an active Mormon, you must know full well that general authorities themselves are deeply concerned about the growing numbers of inactive Latter-day Saints--suggesting that the data above are believed even by them.)
Isn't this a problem for people who believe Joseph Smith was a prophet?
2007-12-10 13:36:13 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The truth will always a problem for those who believe in perpetuating lies.
2007-12-10 13:43:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
The stats you use I assume are for the US. Yes, they show no gain in Mormon numbers with a loss for most other denominations. Sorry to disappoint you, but most new members of the Church are outside the US, and not shown in your numbers. So, it would fulfill the prophesy that the Church will fill North and South America and the whole world.
2007-12-11 01:20:31 · answer #2 · answered by Isolde 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The only people who believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet are the people who haven't bothered to study the early history of the church. Not surprisingly, none of my active Mormon friends have bothered to do so.
There are 13 million people who have been baptized into the Mormon church, this is a fact. However, over half of those people are inactive and don't consider themselves as members.
The rate of members leaving the church is faster than the rate of people being baptized into the church today.
2007-12-10 21:49:49 · answer #3 · answered by squidboy1976 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋
The Lord gave us our free agency to make our own decisions. Doesnt necessarily mean we will make the right ones. Most churches probably have concerns about the people who do not attend regularly and I am sure they reach out to those people and let them know they are welcome and loved just like we do. The general authorities know about the number of people who become inactive just as they know about the number being baptized and becoming members, but they also know all we can do is pray for others and hope for the best. The rest is up to them.
2007-12-10 21:51:14 · answer #4 · answered by Laura Duck 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Um....he started with a congregation of about a dozen people and prophesied that it would become a world-wide church.
And that's exactly what happened.
Why would the fulfillment of a prophecy be a problem for the LDS church?
2007-12-11 08:17:57 · answer #5 · answered by Ender 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The only thing they hear is there is 13 million of us. They are never told the truth about how many are leaving the church.
2007-12-10 21:40:12 · answer #6 · answered by 2telldatruth 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I wonder if in the number of new converts still included things like them baptizing the dead like they tried to do with holocaust victims.
2007-12-10 21:42:42 · answer #7 · answered by Gawdless Heathen 6 · 2⤊ 5⤋