I certainly wouldn't trust the numbers released by a church founded by a convicted con-man. Not that Mormons are all that much more dishonest than other religions. Self-preservation is a key feature of all bureaucracies, and the Mormon bureaucracy is better at it than most. The thing I find gratifying is seeing the church's grip relaxed on the state, which is consistent with the diminishing power of religion in this country, generally. Mixing religion and government is the same terrible idea it has always been. This country has come a long way over the last fifty years, but we still have far to go.
This is a bit surprising to me, though also very welcome. Mormonism has had such a stranglehold on Utah that one might wonder when or even if that grip could be loosened. Still, the secularization which has impacted the rest of the US clearly hasn't ignored the Salt Lake State.
What bothers me about this, though is that said secularization will very likely have the same impact as it has had on other religions: making those who stay in it more fundamentalist and radical. Combine that with the $100 billion socked away that Hemant mentioned and there remains a whole lot of trouble those Latter Day Saints can cause.
While I do expect the amount of Mormons are declining overall, the lack of a majority in Utah may only mean the increase in Mormons in other states. Idaho has a large population of Mormons that has affected the way that state governs itself.
Of course, the LDS church is well known for padding its numbers. Most famously the conversion of Jewish people killed in the Holocaust decades after their deaths. But padding numbers is a game all religions practice, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to escape their churches, especially the Catholic Church.
We now have six Mormon churches within 5 miles of us. In fact they are all closer than all of the other churches except for a ONE community church (one of those 'franchised' churches) and a mega church building with a sign out front that says "coming soon". But that sign has been up for over 10 years so I don't know what their definition of "coming soon" is. We also have one of the 335 temples only 10 miles from us. When we moved here 16 years ago, I didn't realize what an enclave of Mormoninity* this area had become. I don't know why either. Is it because we were kind of isolated from the rest of the Phoenix metro area? Is it because we are actually in a different county than the rest of the metro area? According to the Church website, 4 of those are in Maricopa county and only two are in Pinal county. (We live about 3/4 of a mile from the county line.) The Temple is in Gilbert. Which indicates that there is no advantage for the church itself to be in the next county.
It's good news to me that the Mormon population is declining in Utah but I fear most of them are now my neighbors.
The LDS snapped up 370,000 acres of farmland in Nebraska that's worth $2 billion dollars and sparking a backlash by local farmers in the Cornhusker State.
For a Christian sect on the downswing in their own state, this seems audacious...and a bit suspect.
As an ex southern Baptist all the churches I attended in the area padded all their membership numbers like crazy. I remember being shocked to see members on the roll who hadn’t attended in decades.
Here in North Carolina, we have a large Mormon church just down the road from us. On walks I often wander around their massive parking lot. Some see me but they leave me alone. On Sundays when I see all of the families gathering in the parking lot, it does my heart good to know that among all those children there will be a few future free thinkers among them!
Mormoninity?
Perfectly cromulent.
I certainly wouldn't trust the numbers released by a church founded by a convicted con-man. Not that Mormons are all that much more dishonest than other religions. Self-preservation is a key feature of all bureaucracies, and the Mormon bureaucracy is better at it than most. The thing I find gratifying is seeing the church's grip relaxed on the state, which is consistent with the diminishing power of religion in this country, generally. Mixing religion and government is the same terrible idea it has always been. This country has come a long way over the last fifty years, but we still have far to go.
This is a bit surprising to me, though also very welcome. Mormonism has had such a stranglehold on Utah that one might wonder when or even if that grip could be loosened. Still, the secularization which has impacted the rest of the US clearly hasn't ignored the Salt Lake State.
What bothers me about this, though is that said secularization will very likely have the same impact as it has had on other religions: making those who stay in it more fundamentalist and radical. Combine that with the $100 billion socked away that Hemant mentioned and there remains a whole lot of trouble those Latter Day Saints can cause.
While I do expect the amount of Mormons are declining overall, the lack of a majority in Utah may only mean the increase in Mormons in other states. Idaho has a large population of Mormons that has affected the way that state governs itself.
Of course, the LDS church is well known for padding its numbers. Most famously the conversion of Jewish people killed in the Holocaust decades after their deaths. But padding numbers is a game all religions practice, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to escape their churches, especially the Catholic Church.
We now have six Mormon churches within 5 miles of us. In fact they are all closer than all of the other churches except for a ONE community church (one of those 'franchised' churches) and a mega church building with a sign out front that says "coming soon". But that sign has been up for over 10 years so I don't know what their definition of "coming soon" is. We also have one of the 335 temples only 10 miles from us. When we moved here 16 years ago, I didn't realize what an enclave of Mormoninity* this area had become. I don't know why either. Is it because we were kind of isolated from the rest of the Phoenix metro area? Is it because we are actually in a different county than the rest of the metro area? According to the Church website, 4 of those are in Maricopa county and only two are in Pinal county. (We live about 3/4 of a mile from the county line.) The Temple is in Gilbert. Which indicates that there is no advantage for the church itself to be in the next county.
It's good news to me that the Mormon population is declining in Utah but I fear most of them are now my neighbors.
* (eh why not)
Wait, are we saying that a church is lying about membership numbers?!?!? *gasp*
/s
They must have figured out that truth is religion's Kryptonite or something.
The LDS snapped up 370,000 acres of farmland in Nebraska that's worth $2 billion dollars and sparking a backlash by local farmers in the Cornhusker State.
For a Christian sect on the downswing in their own state, this seems audacious...and a bit suspect.
As an ex southern Baptist all the churches I attended in the area padded all their membership numbers like crazy. I remember being shocked to see members on the roll who hadn’t attended in decades.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
― Upton Sinclair
https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/414973187_3111112939022051_7326266653368610651_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3635dc&_nc_ohc=JzDzwCftJj8AX-oxYHb&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&oh=00_AfBUFaJcgLMZBaZlzXq9JCK8SpFBOc7MDjf7CzNg_sePtQ&oe=65985694
Starting off the new year with optimism, are we?
Here in North Carolina, we have a large Mormon church just down the road from us. On walks I often wander around their massive parking lot. Some see me but they leave me alone. On Sundays when I see all of the families gathering in the parking lot, it does my heart good to know that among all those children there will be a few future free thinkers among them!
MAGA meltdown
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/trump-supporters-meltdown-green-day-153605864.html
Quick OT for us oldies:
Gifted comedian and improv master Shecky Greene died yesterday. He was the final celebrity to die in 2023.
The LDS inflates its numbers? You mean...Mormons lie? Ooooh, that's not good. Here's what the Book of Mormon says about lying and its consequences:
"Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down into hell"
-- 2 Nephi 9:34
Mormons are no match for Agnes Brown in Ireland...
https://youtu.be/QarofaycN3c