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LDS conversion is a process, study indicates

If you can't keep up with the JONES, why even bother?

"Many end up feeling like they do not belong anywhere, neither to the new LDS culture nor to their previous culture." This has been my experience. As people told me at UVU "why not go back to your people?" and now in NYC as people tell me "you've changed to the point that it's hard to relate to you anymore". It feels very much like being a man without a country.

The upside then: I sacrifice (like my grandparents who came to America so that I could choose my path) so that my children might have the opportunity to be a part of Mormonism or not. The bottom line: converting to Mormonism is much trickier than I realized in the beginning. Stepping away from it is much more painful than I understood in the middle of it all. Synthesizing all of this, in the end, is much more important than I can truly know.

The journey has gone from the sweet to the bittersweet - kind of like the chocolate we love as kids to the type of chocolate we come to appreciate as adults. The key for me: what did I want from all this?

I too have lived a life of solitude even now that I have moved to Utah. I have never really fit in any social or economic status. At one time I was homeless and lived out of my car. All the time, I kept my nose clean and focused on one Mormon friend at a time from one city to the next until I got married. Now in my 40's I find it hard to relate in a "group", but have plenty of fellowshipping to share as I realize most people feel alone, even when they have been members their whole life.

Let Us Not Forget to include the Lord in our struggles through prayer.

Many times others, who don't understand, are like the people in the Great and Spacious Building in Lehi's Dream. They will pick at those who are different. Satan loves it when he can drive a wedge between a new person who has recently tasted the fruit, but hasn't yet developed the immunity against criticism for enjoying the fruit of the tree of life.

God Bless those with this type of struggle.

Don't forget that Jesus, Himself, had the Devil annoying Him with temptations to Not Stay the Course.

Sometimes criticism can be like a flu shot. It can make one stronger. It can be painful for a while, but in the long run One Is Stronger.

Remember to stay close to the Lord. Jesus Does Love those who want to be good followers.

Good Luck and God Bless...

I'm a convert too. I think that when it comes to conversion there becomes something that is key....you shouldn't of converted for the people or the atmosphere. There has to be a time you reach the place inside no matter how painful it is to get to, and no matter the sacrifice- that you did this to get closer to God. You can't live for even the Mormon Culture because even many times it can be wrong and worldly. Like President Eyring said, we have to be the Fellowship of the Unashamed and sometimes that means lonliness and frustrations. Everyone is going to go through this period, convert or grew up in the church. No group really truly has it easier than the other because we each have to live the gospel for ourselves...

Mormons lose about 80% of those they get baptised.
In my family, of those raised Mormon, there hasn't been one devout Mormon since my grandmother's death in the early 80's. There's four generations since her, that have only remained Mormon in name only.

I think it's a little easier to be a convert when you live outside of Utah. Members out here know what it's like to be in the minority. Most are converts themselves and even transplanted Utahns know what it's like to be ostracized or how it feels to be a little different. Still, about 40% of the converts go back to their old lives - I think many of them were looking for something better but realized they would have to make changes and changes are uncomfortable.

It's the same when you leave mormonism. You lose family/friends going in and you lose family/friends going out of it. Felt lost in it and glad I left it.

I have been blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints all my life. I learned years ago that I am a member because I know it to be true. Not because of the people, in the church. People are human and not perfect like I am not perfect.Like me, people make many mistakes in life which is part of growing and learning. When someone leaves this church, they were never really converted. It is Gods church and requires a higher standard than other churches, therefore is harder to live. Like me, many people work hard everyday to meet Gods Standards that he requires. No matter how much we love and care about converts and everyone else, there will always be rebellious people, too full of pride to humble themselves before God and accept his laws. No church or organization has perfect people and will neglect someone, sometime. The strength comes in realizing that you are as good as anyone else, then make the effort to be accepted. The choice is with you and me. No one is going to babysit us. Hopefully, God will bless these people in their endeavors.

Your facts show your lack of reasoning. Maybe in your particular family where there apparently was no powerful testimony is the apostacy rate 80%, but Church-wide it is far lower than that. When the Savior gave the parable of the sower and the tares he knew some would not have a strong enough testimony, nor take the time to develop a strong testimony and then when something small happens they fall away because they don't have the deep roots. We have a child who is not active, but now says she feels she needs to come back to the church, because that is where she was truly happy and sees her sisters with happy marriages, even though they have their struggles, and she wants that for her family.

I don't think it is any easier for converts outside Utah.
I live abroad and of the 20 new converts to our ward this year,
Maybe 2 or 3 are active.
This is a problem that has existed for years.
Perhaps there is no solution.
It would be interesting to know how many Muslims stay active after
Joining.

Look neither to the left nor the right.
With God anything is possible don't doubt and look forward to the Light of Christ.
Let the Holy Ghost be your guide.
Man, including prophets can be fallible, just read the Scriptures, but the Holy Ghost will never leave you alone.Start up a study group, a Family Home Evening group of like minded individuals and share your talents. Everyone has an opinion, but the Holy Ghost is the Source of all truth.

To "Anonymous 11:18" and "I could be wrong but"....I would certainly be interested in knowng where you got those statistics. Could you cite which study you are quoting? People often throw statistics around without any real basis.

Please, everyone just remember that we all have to go through the refiner's fire whether we are lifers or converts. In fact, we're ALL converts. And it doesn't make any difference whether you live in Utah or somewhere else. Our faith will be tested in some way. That's why we must hold to the iron rod and walk by faith.

The gospel is TRUE. That's why we all need to endure to the end. If we do, we'll find our way no matter what tests we are put through.

So, hang in there. There is ALWAYS light at the end of the tunnel.

Sounds like the scientific study has confirmed the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Every new member needs a friend, a calling, and to be nourished by the good Word of God." Unfortunately for us established members, our balancing act of personal, family, church, and employment responsibilities leaves little time for "socialization." Oh that we could learn to do better.

I came from another country to Utah, and joined the Church here. I felt welcomed, did not feel alienated, and found a home in the Church. After I was married, we moved to other places; the Church was always our home, even though in some wards we felt more a part of it than others. Everyone's experience is different, of course, but it was not a hard one for me.

Maybe Mormonism is a culture; man's learned behavior. As such, the person who joins must join the culture; the culture club.

In Christianity a person is saved; by grace.

It is easy to see the problems that converting others to Mormonism will and has created. It is a culture.

Interesting story. I wonder if they have ever done a study of those who live in Utah and then for some reason have to move to where Mormons are in the minority and how many of them struggle. Our ward is mostly converts and come from several different countries. Most of the leadership are converts so we do not have a "Mormon" culture like in Utah. When someone from Utah moves in they are ususally the ones who are withdrawn and have difficulty because it is not like back home.

being a new convert was easy,but it's the attitudes of THE "i was born into a mormon family" members that are hard to accept.help me to learn;don't be condescending,have patience,not a smug and patronizing attitude.yes,i am descended from the lamanites,but welcome me.YOU want us as converts,but DESPISE us as people!!!!that is what is the most disheartening of being a convert.

Better to not convert at all!!!

I agree that we can all feel alone at one time or another. There is some issue in everyone's life. the trick is to have faith to step inside and partake of the fellowship that is there, realizing we are all in the same boat, rather than to hold back and suffer alone.