For some reason, I missed these articles in The Christian Century (August 21, 2007) on Mormonism. Again, I am behind the times.
I am sure that most of you have already read “A Mormon president? The LDS difference” by Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp.
But it is the second article in the magazine, “Counting Mormons: Study says LDS numbers inflated” by John Dart that provided totally new information for me to consider.
I had never seen a chart sharing LDS statistics on defection and apostasy. And I didn’t know this:
Every baptized but lapsed Mormon–whereabouts unknown–is kept on the rolls until age 110.
John writes,
But many researchers say that the official figures for Mormon membership in the U.S. – as well as the church’s claims of having 13 million members worldwide – are greatly inflated or overstated. At fault, studies say, is the church’s policy of counting as members nearly all baptized Mormons, including those who are lapsed in membership or who cannot be located.
If more customary church tallies and membership estimates were used, scholars say, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the official name of the church) would have to cut its publicly announced figure nearly in half – to just a little over 3 million. For the sake of comparison, that would put Mormon membership on a par with that of the 3.1-million-member Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (p. 26).
Here is my conclusion. If LDS think they are alright and safe, just because they have experienced a water baptism, they are in serious peril. And for the record, I would tell any Baptist this.
The I-15 corridor is a huge mission field.
Jesus in Idaho Falls 
Oh yes.
During my mission in Japan, I found myself so terrified of street contacting that I had to find other non-traditional ways to proselyte. I eventually ended up ministering to “inactive” members.
That labor managed to occupy me for almost the entirety of my mission. It’s a wonderful area for proselyting. Very rewarding and it made the local membership extremely grateful.
My areas ran an 80% inactivity rate.
“80% inactivity rate” . . .
Now, I am curious to see what are the stats for Ammon, Idaho.
No doubt if lapsed, Christmas-and-Easter attending, non tithe-paying members of other Christian denominations were dropped from their rolls, their numbers would be also be deflated — but by more than half.
Until a member asks that his name be removed from the rolls, Latter-day Saints continue to try to minister him. Two of the four families to whom I minister as a home teacher would otherwise have no contact with the church, and they they still identify themselves as “Mormons.” If they were not on the rolls I would not be aware of them nor praying for them.
The Book of Mormon explains why we do this:
“And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.”
(Moroni 6:4)
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/6/4#4
Tracy Hall Jr
hthalljr’gmail’com
Tracy, I do find these stats on the LDS church surprising, because usually LDS friends will question me, “How can faith be a saving faith if it is not a continually active faith? Can one be a Christian if they don’t live the Christian life throughout the week?”
It is a false assurance to allow someone to be a member of a local Christian church, knowing that he or she has no desire to fellowship with the brothers and sisters, except on rare occasions. What kind of faith is that? James would confront us with the matter of a dead faith rather than nurse any “carnal Christianity without fruit”. In desiring purity and holiness among the body of Christ, I/we could not in good conscience allow such inactive and inflated membership rolls. To be a member you are part of a covenant with a local church family. To not attend and serve with others is to mock one’s own covenant with the Christian community.
Yet just because one is not recognized in fellowship with the local body of Christ, this does not mean you stop loving or caring or visiting. People on the church family prayer sheet go way beyond local membership rolls.
Todd,
I’m sorry I failed to respond to notice your reply, so long ago. Hopefully this reaches you.
As I understand it, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints retains less-active members on its rolls primarily so that it can minister to them. Otherwise they would be not even be on the radar. The experience of Seth R. using the membership records in Japan clearly illustrates this purpose. My wife and I have just submitted our application for a two-year “senior” mission. Wherever we are called, I expect that much of our ministry will be to less-active members. We could not do that if they were stricken from the rolls.
I am not familiar with the membership practices of other Christian denominations, but I would be surprised if many of them strike members from their rolls for low levels of activity. And where would we draw the line? Are we not all, in some way, less active than others in some part of our spiritual life?
If a member does request that his name be removed, the request is honored. The Church of Jesus Christ does have a procedure for excommunication, but it is only exercised for flagrant apostasy or for serious sins that would bring the church into disrepute and would bring condemnation on the individual, were he to continue to profess membership.
The teaching of Jesus about the lost sheep come to mind. (Luke 15:4) Anyway, wouldn’t you rather that we go after our own lost sheep than try to “steal” yours?
🙂
Hope this helps,
Tracy Hall Jr
hthalljr’gmail’com