converts leaving the church

[dahlia]

I was surprised to learn that a good number of converts don't stay converted. Some anti-Mormons use this info to refute the Church's membership numbers or that people finally 'wake up' and realize that Mormonism isn't what they thought.

So my question for today is twofold: Do you think it's true that many converts leave, and if so why? It takes a lot to change one's religion; why would one go through all of that just to leave the Church? I guess I'm looking for possible landmines.

Second, considering how America-focused the Church is, to what do you ascribe the growth of the Church world-wide? Why would an African or Latin American want to be a Mormon? As a former Catholic, I find it amazing that so many in the Catholic countries have left the Church and become Protestant. When I was growing up, we used to pray for the conversion of the world back to Catholicism; it is very hard to imagine people leaving in such large numbers to become Protestant, and yet they do.

So with this in mind, and referring back to my original question, do you think people with such backgrounds and without connections to the US and the pioneer history are more likely to revert after conversion?

Do you see the Mormonism changing with so many members outside of the US?

Thanks again.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by dahlia

Second, considering how America-focused the Church is, to what do you ascribe the growth of the Church world-wide?

Truth.

[pam]

Second, considering how America-focused the Church is, to what do you ascribe the growth of the Church world-wide? Why would an African or Latin American want to be a Mormon? As a former Catholic, I find it amazing that so many in the Catholic countries have left the Church and become Protestant. When I was growing up, we used to pray for the conversion of the world back to Catholicism; it is very hard to imagine people leaving in such large numbers to become Protestant, and yet they do.

I ditto what Wingers said. Truth. Truth doesn't change from country to country. The LDS Church is the same no matter the country. Doctrine doesn't change country to country.

[prisonchaplain]

LDS membership is now slightly over half non-U.S., if I'm not mistaken. My own church is headquartered in a town that is 140K, and about 98.6% white. Yet our membership is now 95% non-U.S. I often do wonder what it is that specifically draws internationals. One Filipino told me that it was our missionaries continuing belief in the supernatural, including the demonic, and their willingness to engage in spiritual warfare against that which is evil. Some modernists would dismiss all such as superstitious and primitive. Perhaps the LDS missionaries are also more open the spiritual worldviews of other lands.

[crazypotato]

Yes, I have heard a lot of converts go inactive after converting. I think that there are a number of reasons why this happens.

I can't tell why people leave, but I know in some cultures, they never really converted to get baptized. For example, my dad served a mission among Native Americans on a reservation and said that they would baptize just to be polite to the missionaries and that they believed in lots of different religions at once. They had lots of members on their rolls that never came, but if he asked them to come, they would say yes to coming and yes to doing a calling, just to be polite, and then never do it.

I think to become an active member is usually a large lifestyle change for people, too, and maybe they are not ready for it. I really don't think it has anything to do with them not believing anymore, but maybe having to make so many big changes, like having a calling, going home and visiting teaching, paying tithing, giving up drinking, smoking, and coffee, just being immersed almost in a totally different culture than what they are used to?

[UrbanFool]

There is also the fact of the LDS keeping a lot records that other churches can only guess at. If I hadn't converted, I would still mark on a form that I was Lutheran although I had not been to that church for 30 years.

I was well aware of the life changes of the church years before the missionaries showed up at my doorstep. I think the quitting cigarettes has been the hardest, although coffee is nearly neck and neck. That's not because I think I need my caffeine in the morning to wake up, but I have enjoyed iced cafe mochas just because they're wonderful, or the odd caffee Diablo. It's strange to think of them as sinful literally rather than figuratively.

[rameumptom]

Many people do leave the Church. Most, though, just stop attending, though still maintain their belief.

For those who completely leave the Church, I think it is due to the same reasons people leave any Church. 1. They disagree with the doctrines. 2. They've had a negative experience with members or leaders. 3. They are not living consistently with the commandments (morality, etc) and choose to withdraw.

The reality is that there are more Christians and other religious people that leave their churches to become Mormons than there are Mormons leaving the church to join other religious or atheist groups. I'm thinking it is most often for reason #1, they agree with the LDS teachings, and therefore disagree with some teachings of their old faith. I can't imagine someone joining the LDS Church due to some immoral issue they are involved with....

[ryanh]

Hummm. I think that most people that try to stop smoking give up their efforts and go back to the ways they are used to, and don't make that big change in their lives the first time they try.

So, does that prove that smoking cessation is bad for one's health and lifestyle?

A pretty foolish argument.

Major life changes are not so simple. Many simply don't have the fortitude to do it. Not all ground the sower casts seeds upon is fertile ground.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while
(see Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23)

[kimiko]

As a recent convert, I've felt and observed that a lot of new members are left hanging once baptism and confirmation have been completed. You go from constant contact with at least the missionaries to basically nothing. It's like, "Yay! You're baptized; it's such a blessing," and that's it... At least that is how it was for me.

Apparently there are "new member lessons" that are suppose to help people make the transition into LDS, but I never received those. I've been a member for a year now, and I still haven't received a visit from my home teacher. It wasn't until 7 months after I joined the church that I finally learned what visiting teaching was, and the teacher who was assigned to me never called or visited. She would just copy the message out of Ensign and send it to me in the mail.

I'm not sure if other new members in our ward are experiencing the same situations, but I have noticed that within a month or two of someone's baptism, I stop seeing them at Sacrament meetings.

There have been several times I've considered leaving the church because of problems like these. I don't really feel like I fit in and that everyone has forgotten about me since I joined the church. But the truthfulness of the church keeps me a member. I remind myself that people aren't perfect, and while the people of the church may have overlooked me since my baptism, the Lord hasn't forgotten about me, and I still have a purpose here.

[FunkyTown]

Kimiko:

You're not alone in this. I have a family of people who are good friends of mine. They just received their first home teachers they've had since before I was baptized.

I was baptized 8 years ago.

It's tough, Kimiko: I'll admit that. You feel like you're lost, or alone, or forgotten. You aren't.

The first year after you're baptized, things get tough. Don't give up on it. There are people who care and people who love you, even if it's difficult at times. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you face difficulties; Everybody needs a hand sometimes, even the most spiritually strong-appearing member in your ward.

I've been through it. I know what you're going through and you're certainly right that it gets difficult, but you don't have to do it alone.

Originally Posted by kimiko

As a recent convert, I've felt and observed that a lot of new members are left hanging once baptism and confirmation have been completed. You go from constant contact with at least the missionaries to basically nothing. It's like, "Yay! You're baptized; it's such a blessing," and that's it... At least that is how it was for me.

Apparently there are "new member lessons" that are suppose to help people make the transition into LDS, but I never received those. I've been a member for a year now, and I still haven't received a visit from my home teacher. It wasn't until 7 months after I joined the church that I finally learned what visiting teaching was, and the teacher who was assigned to me never called or visited. She would just copy the message out of Ensign and send it to me in the mail.

I'm not sure if other new members in our ward are experiencing the same situations, but I have noticed that within a month or two of someone's baptism, I stop seeing them at Sacrament meetings.

There have been several times I've considered leaving the church because of problems like these. I don't really feel like I fit in and that everyone has forgotten about me since I joined the church. But the truthfulness of the church keeps me a member. I remind myself that people aren't perfect, and while the people of the church may have overlooked me since my baptism, the Lord hasn't forgotten about me, and I still have a purpose here.