Comments about ‘LDS one of nation's largest, fastest growing churches’

Most of the "growth" comes from 9 year old children of innactive members, they count them as converts.
Most of the adult converts never go to an LDS church again, within a few months of their baptism date.
Combine the lack of retention and those who remove their names from the records of the church and the net growth is zero or slightly negative.

This is like bragging about being one of the fastest growing multi-level marketing scams!

LOL!

Of course, we, the LDS church is growing in these last days as our Heavenly Father collects his children and shares his plan of salvation and eternal life. Truly, "the truth will set you free".

Brother Paul Marcel-Rene', Akron (Ohio) North Ward

I joined the Mormon Church in California--for all the wrong reasons. I then came to Utah and knew that I had made a mistake--the Mormons I encountered here in Utah were a self righteous, holier than thou bunch, who did not behave as charitable Christians & I returned to my original faith/church. I will tell anyone who asks that I am no longer a Mormon. My name is still on their rolls. I understand that I must request a removal of my name in writing. Now why should I adhere to those rules? What can they do? Maybe excommunicate me? I suspect my experience may well be typical.

Mr. Bass, your figures are all wrong. Most of the growth last year came from convert baptism, more than twice the number of children of record baptized. This has been the case for many years. Your other figures are wrong also.

Despite all the missionary work and rampant reproduction, the stats are really not all that impressive. All oppressive religions will soon go the way of the dinosaur.

I am also someone who is counted in this erroneous tally but wish I was not. Why doesn't the Deseret News publish the PEW study in which people in the US were asked to self report their religious identity? The fastest growing "denomination" was no religious affiliation at all. The number of people reporting they were Mormons came in at numbers slightly higher than those who reported that they were Wiccans. The church likes to make up numbers to make the members feel good.

Mr. Bailey:
The church counts 9 years olds as convert baptisms, not as child of record.
One year after baptism, only 50% of converts in the US are active. That number dips to only 25% outside the US.
Combine the two figures and that comes out to more than 50% of the convert baptisms are inactive after one year.
A large percentage of "coverts" are of the 9-year-old variety.
The adult inactivity rate combined with those resigning (80,000 to 90,000 per year) make the actual growth either flat or slightly negative.

It is surprising to me and mind-boggling, as well, to read the hate-filled messages on this blog. I will be a breath of fresh air to future readers, for I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church in the world today.

I am a convert to The Church. 28-yrs now. My testimony is stronger now than it was when I joined. I wasn't expecting the members to be perfect, only to be perfecting themselves. I pray daily to forgive my trespasses, as I know they are many. At the same time, I pray to forgive the slights of others.

Jesus only, is my Savior. I am thankful that we have a Prophet to guide us in these latter days.

I would suggest that each of the nay-sayers look to the truth of the restored gospel, rather than the frailties of members. I'm sure that The Church would grow at a faster rate if you had a testimony and shared it with others.

Father, forgive them, they know what they do. I pray to forgive the harm that you are doing too.

Actually there are fewer 9 year olds that are baptized than children of record. Generally 9 year olds are in part member families or less actives. The retention rate that Earnest relates has been highly inflated. In our Ward we had 18 baptisms last year. Of those all are currently active in the Church. Through out our stake the activity is the same. Why because people are beginning to learn that the LDS Church has a standard that many of the rest of the world wish they had or could maintain.

The problem withe Mr Bass' statistics is based on his own facts not those produced by the Church. These are from nay sayers not those who have the actual statistics. Regardless, anyone and I mean anyone can make statistics lie. The question is who are you going to believe, the actual people making the count or those who are using hate and bias to make a count.

If you refuse to remove your name because of self-centered ideas shows selfishness on your part. Remove your own selfishness and look deep inside yourself.

This is the only true Church upon the Earth.

Many are called, few are chosen!

I love you all as brothers and sisters and my hope is you will all be able to experience the happiness and joy that is in my life as a result of my Savior, Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Church in these latter days. Come on in, the water's just fine.

"Ernest T. Bass | 8:17 a.m." and "Anonymous | 8:40 a.m." are like two peas in a pod. Always sharing such uplifting and noble messages. They're almost never critical or negative like the neocons they abhor. And never try to sow division or make negative comments about the people or group they oppose. Nothing like Rush Limbaugh or the other talk radio nuts :-)

What is mind-boggling to me are those people who choose to "leave" the Church but who refuse to take the step of doing this in writing. Joining the Church is a personal choice one makes at the time of baptism (with the candidate or parent signing the baptismal form), so why should it seem odd that the Church ask members to affirm in writing the choice to leave it? Is it because you're afraid the Church might be true and you want to cover all of your bases? Or is it because you know this is what the Church requires, so you won't do it just out of spite? I am a bishop and have two members who say they don't want to be members, but who refuse to give me the letter (out of spite). While I never want anyone to leave the Church, I also believe that everyone has the freedom to choose. We have a scriptural duty and obligation to watch over our sheep, and while they are still members, they are part of our flock. Do yourself, your bishop and the Church a favor and send the letter to your bishop.

I have been so blessed by the Lord for being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His kingdom will roll forward like Daniel prophecied in the Bible. It will roll forward with or without us. Prophets are real! That is the same pattern the Lord has always used throughout the thousands of years of history. Why would He deviate from that today, when a prophet is needed despratly in this ever increasing generation of people that think they are smarter than the Lord. He is in control, He is doing His work the way He always has, and there will always be nay sayers and bashers. No one can say that I don't know this church is true.

It's so amusing that anyone who disagrees with official church statements is apparently "filled with hate."

Many of us think the church promotes excellent values and certainly does more good than harm. Most reasonable people would agree with that.

The problem is that many of us have delved into the history of the origins of the church and have learned that it didn't exactly happen as we were led to believe.

We have chosen to remain Mormon in name. It's part of our heritage, but we just don't believe it's the Kingdom of God here on earth. We weren't offended by members. We didn't leave because the members or the bishopric didn't fulfill some supposed expectation of perfection.

We left because we've come to believe (through much study and prayer) that the church just wasn't what it claimed to be.

We'll see if my comment gets posted.

Numbers...schmumbers.

I could careless about the numbers, it's the level of faith that is the real measurement of any religion and I'm afraid that the LDS today are a far cry from those who forsook everything to escape persecution.

I pray for the day when those who have those monster 5,000 - 10,000+ sq ft homes and gas-guzzling SUVs and boats, are asked to consecrate it all to the poor and needy.

There will be a sifting of the wheat from the tares, and those numbers will mean nothing.

Those who came to Utah to build Zion were the poor and destitute, but rich in faith -- it will be the same for those who leave Utah to build the real Zion.

It will happen, it will happen....

Membership in the Church is not based upon attendance, it is based upon the making of sacred covenants at the waters of baptism. While this covenant is administered by the Church through the priesthood, the covenant is between the individual and the Lord, not with the Church. The Lord has dictated that all those who have made this covenant be counted as members of the Church (Moroni 6:4). Should a person decide to no longer attend church, they have not necessarily renounced this covenant. This is why the removal of membership must be communicated to the local bishop in written form. It makes the persons intentions clear, as many people who were once inactive members of the Church return to full activity later in their lives.

It took me awhile, but when I learned more about Brigham Young and how bad this man truly was, and that the LDS people had statues all over the place of him, and some worshiped him, i was out of the church at a moments noticed. Brigham young's history was a bit more than i could accept.

Letter sent or not, the Lord knows our heart. It is by our actions that we will be judged, not our membership card. A Bishop is a Bishop to all within his boundaries, members or not. Imagine that even those hateful to the church are remembered in the prayers of the faithful. I have lived long enough to see the love of our Savior expressed even to those who vilify the church by answering their needs through others. The Gospel is true, the members are striving for perfection by trying to live by it's principles and ordinances. Of course they will fall short, they are human. All are invited to come to the feast, but we know that many will refuse because they think that they have more important things to do with their lives, that is why we have free agency.
This is what makes the Atonement of Jesus so much more meaningful. He submitted his 'will' to that of his Father. So few chose or are capable of following this example.