Comments on: Mormons as monsters?

By: JZ

JZ — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:09:14 +0000

Does that mean that they would be more likely to join or less?

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:14:06 +0000

Require people to worship with us for at least two months prior to baptism. That would fix most retention problems.

By: JZ

JZ — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:20:57 +0000

Antonio, I agree with you completely. I also think that until we fix the reasons for the retention problem with the converts we get, it doesn’t matter how much missionary work we do. We have a “hole in the bucket,” as it were. Any ideas as to why?

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:39:42 +0000

Antonio, I respect what you are saying and agree with much of it, but we already do amazing humanitarian work with senior missionaries. Our younger full-time missionaries do more service than ever before. We still are the largest group actively involved in the clean-up of Katrina – that is still happening on a weekly basis. We do MUCH that is not widely publicized – and much that is.

I suggest we quit putting the responsibility on the missionaries and start taking charge of sharing the Gospel ourselves – letting the missionaries focus on teaching. If the membership were more open and inviting – even if it was just invitations to attend church with us, I think much of what you address would happen naturally. Imho, our biggest problem is not the structure of our full-time missionary program but the apathy of our general membership in regard to sharing the Gospel and opening up our worship services to anyone – as Elder Withlin encouraged us to do.

How many people see out lives of quiet Christian discipleship and assume we aren’t Mormon – because of their negative perceptions of Mormonism? I know in this area, nobody is going to think more highly of the Church no matter what I do as long as they don’t know I am a member. If they don’t know we are Mormon, our good examples actually can damage the Church by reinforcing negative stereotypes that Mormons only take care of their own. They will see my example, assume correctly I am Christian and think, “See, Christians are good people.” Then when they hear us called secretive cultists, they will think, “That’s right. You never see Mormons doing things like that.”

By: Antonio Parr

Antonio Parr — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:51:42 +0000

Our missionary program is an extension of our PR program. Since a significant number of people of good will and character view us in such a negative light, it appears that our current approach is failing. Not to mention the fact that there are precious few convert baptisms, at least east of the Mississippi. (Contrast our limited success with the growth of many Evangelical communities — they seem to be growing in leaps and bounds, and are doing so without the well-organized army of missionaries found in our much beloved Church.)

We are not trusted as a people, and this will not change over night. Why not shift our emphasis on straight proselytizing to an emphasis on our magnificent vision of service of our fellow men/women as being service of God, and go out and try to make the world a better, safer place. I am absolutely convinced that we will have more genuine teaching opportunities about distinctive doctrines with this approach then we will ever find with our current hardcore proselytizing model.

I support the Church’s efforts either way, but would love to see a time when we are able to move past the public mistrust that is clouding the otherwise glorious aspects of the Restoration.

By: Seth R.

Seth R. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:59:38 +0000

Ronan, I think the problem is that we’ve been so focused on getting rich and fitting-in.

That’s no way to win a place for your distinctive voice in society.

By: Ray

Ray — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:20:18 +0000

My take, fwiw. (Not meant to address Natalie’s situation, since I understand completely the limitations on a school teacher, but to address “sharing the Gospel” in general.)

http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2008/04/righteousness-being-good-example-is-not.html

By: Ronan

Ronan — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:14:48 +0000

As Dave said in #117, it’s going to take a few generations to clear up these conceptions.

Ivan, trouble is, we’ve already been trying to clear up these perceptions for a few generations already. Something ain’t working. And if you have this problem in the Mormon homeland, what chance does the rest of the world have?

By: CW

CW — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:57:03 +0000

Ivan, #126. Your comment interests me. I also agree that our missionary program is pretty good the way it is. I have 2 kids out on missions right now and they are baptizing quite a few people. However, realistically, I am not going to get and read the book you refer to. Would you be willing to give a 2 or 3 paragraph summary?

By: Ivan Wolfe

Ivan Wolfe — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:26:06 +0000

Antonio:

suffice to say, I do not agree. If you want to know why I think that your proposal would actually be detrimental to the health of the church, read “The Churching of America: 1776 – 2005″ by Roger Finke and Rodney Stark.