In this podcast, we have examined a lot of issues relating to the credibility of Mormon doctrines and history. This might leave you wondering: why would anybody join the LDS Church? And does anyone ever leave it?

Why People Join 

• LDS Church has 16 million members at present, roughly doubled in the past 25 years
• LDS Ch grows by birth of children AND baptizing converts
• About 30% of church members are converts
• About 4 in 10 converts were raised Protestant / same raised Catholic
• Growth rate has decreased = from 5% per year in late 1980s → 1.5% per year in 2017
• People join LDS Church for a myriad of reasons
• Many → testimony experience received while studying Mo’ism
• Some, M provides satisfying answers re: meaning of life
• Some like emphasis on righteousness & achievement
• Others like idea → everyone goes to some form of heaven
• Or that there is 2nd chance for salvation after this life
• Many find that LDS Church makes God comprehensible
• Compared to the biblical doctrine of the Trinity
• For others, emotional reasons play a role
• The appeal that families can be united forever
• Or a dead loved one has 2nd chance for salvation
• People find security in the structure & authority of Mo’ism
• Some encounter LDS Church when searching spiritually
• Or while looking to fill a void in their hearts
• Others find a welcoming, supportive community 
• When going through tough times emotionally
• LDS Ch → safe haven from society’s evils for families
• Some join for relational reasons
• Young ppl growing up in LDS majority → join to fit in
• Others join through a romantic relationship with a Mo
• Some join during a time of material need
• After Church provided practical or financial help
• But MOST LDS are members bc they were raised in Mo’ism
• Officially → church members at age 8, when baptized
• The majority stay in the Church
• Though probably experience periods of increased/decreased activity
• Regardless of why people join…
• M provides a positive way of life & caring community
• Gives sense → bldg something significant in this life & next
• ALL LDS are urged to experience a personal conversion
• Both those who grew up in it and those who join it
• Conversion is not moment of spiritual regeneration as in traditional Xianty
• But the moment they come to know with divinely-inspired certainty
• That JS is a prophet, the BOM is true 
• The LDS Church is the only true church
• Church membership is important, but faith journey starts at this point of conversion
• By gaining assurance / testimony of truth of LDS Church
• Application: to those outside, the LDS Church may seem irrational or strange
• Might have a hard time understand why ppl believe it
• Let’s have some empathy due to the powerful forces at work that confirm the LDS identity and commitment in ppl

The Role of Missionaries

• Serving a mission is a vital rite of passage that strengthens the commitment of young Mos
• In 2022, ~ 90,000 missionaries worldwide, from many countries
• Serving in 407 different geographical missions.
• Seen as an expectation / duty for young men
• As an opportunity but not obligation for  young women
• On the “mission field”
• Go in pairs: junior & senior companion
• Frequently transferred - every few months
• A day in the life
• Rise at 6:30 am → 1 hour to pray, exercise, prepare for the day
• Personal & companion Study - 2.5 hours of scriptures, lessons, manual, language, etc.
• Teaching People - begins at 10:00 am
• Referrals from members, knock on doors, pass out tracts, speak to anyone
• Follow-up visits → formal lessons / push toward baptism as an LDS member
• Work with members → activate inactives / help members reach out
• Return to lodging at 9:00 pm → planning, journaling, prayer = until 10:30
• Everyone who joins the LDS Church will go through the missionary lessons
• Designed to convince them of LDS truth claims
• Also: to prepare them for the commitments involved in living as a Mormon
• Application: being an LDS missionary is a tough gig
• Long hours, far from home, lots of rejection
• Treat them with kindness
• But don’t be afraid to engage in open, truthful but loving conversations

Why People Leave

• In spite of positive elements of LDS life, ppl are leaving Mo’ism in unprecedented numbers
• Up to 50% of converts in the US drop out after a year
• When it comes to lifelong members → retention rate in adulthood is about 5 in 8
• Of those who leave, only ⅓ find a home in a new religion → ½ of those in some form of Protestant faith
• Many factors that contribute to LDS deconversion
• Some don’t want to live demanding LDS lifestyle
• Constant busyness, time & money pressure
• Tire of stress of living up to high expectations / pressure to be worthy
• Pressure to be worthy
• Discover unsavory episodes in Church’s history → cast a bad light on LDS prophets
• Or contradict official Church accounts
• Converts uncover info they were unaware of when baptized
• Such as temple practices / the idea of becoming gods
• Honest Qs go unanswered / discouragement sets in → people told not to question the faith
• Some leave bc they discover that LDS truth claims can’t stand up to intellectual scrutiny
• Others decide that Mormon doctrines don’t stack up to BIble
• More & more → leave due to LDS conservative stand on social issues
• Patriarchal vs feminism / traditional marriage vs. LGBT inclusion
• Some leave bc LDS Church feels like big business to them
• Others find Church too monolithically white and American
• Many leave because they never fit in culturally
• Some are poorly treated and don’t come back
• As many LDS have their faith confirmed by warm spiritual experiences
• Some also leave because of an experience → a dream or spiritual feeling caused them to doubt
• Application: don’t think your LDS friend is impervious to the gospel, or even to deeper friendship
• But realize → they have to trust you a lot to open up about their doubts / questions / concerns
• Closet doubters: some Mos reject claims & teachings of LDS Church
• But choose to stay in the church → quiet about their doubts
• Disaffected Mos stay in the Church for various reasons
• May appreciate some, if not all, Mo teachings & practices
• Marriage compels some to stay for family stability / to avoid divorce
• Some stay because of their family history / traditions
• Job security is an issue for many, esp in Utah
• One’s boss and co-workers may be LDS
• Many → no idea where to go / what to do w/o Mormonism
• Some hope to influence the church to change
• Others → church still seen as a safe place to raise kids w/values
• Application: your LDS friend might not be as convinced or loyal as it seems on the surface

Leaving Is Difficult

• For those raised LDS, leaving Mormonism is hard
• Going vs. tide of deep roots & strong group identity
• When a person rejects authority & truth claims of Mo’ism…
• Considered apostate → a very negative label
• LDS are taught to fear apostasy
• Warned that if they leave the Church...
• Abandon safe umbrella of priesthood care & authority
• LDS sources claim → ppl leave the church out of pride, sin, or pettiness
• Or because they were deceived by Satan
• When people do finally leave, they do so at a cost
• Ex-Mo may suffer sense of anguish over loss of ID
• Family life and personal relationships are disrupted
• Those who leave are often stereotyped & slandered
• A doubting Mormon may go through agonizing transition period - perhaps years long
• Marked by insecurity, alienation, anger, and confusion
• Before ultimately accepting a decision to leave Ch
• Application: have compassion on ppl as they navigate a difficult faith transition
• Patience / kindness
• Give them space to sort things out
• Empathize with the emotional disequilibrium & relational challenges
• It’s not like going from Baptist to Presbyterian church