For simple Likert-scale or multiple-choice polls, a relatively small sample can still get you a relatively small margin of error.
I don't know what the question format is, though. If it's freeform, there are other analytical tools that can be run (ie, length tends to correspond to strong feelings about the matter, and so on). Typically, freeform answers will be evaluated with a rubric by more than one person to categorize them. However, freeform makes the statistical analysis much more difficult.
In any case, a 1,000 adult survey is fairly meaningful, particularly when one considers that there likely aren't more than 3-4M active LDS adults to survey.
This is exactly the kind of corporate Bullsh*t I struggled with as a believer. Why doesn't my family/friends see it? Its so obviously not what it claims to be. Mega malls, hotels, universities, corporate holdings firm over dozens of other corporations, attorney's, official spokes people, PR departments and not to mention an obscene amount of propaganda material. Tommy or anyone else hasn't said sh*t about anything except the old lady he home taught, or how someone paid tithing and then got a new job.
How much can you apologize for such a ridiculous church/corporation?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2014 08:36AM by gazelam.
It's the restoration of Jesus's church. Didn't Jesus instruct us to do all those things in the Sermon on the Mount? Isn't that how He set things up? Or maybe the Great Apostasy came when they didn't have malls, condos, land, PR departments, legal teams, SMCs, hundreds of expensive temples to save dead people, hidden finances, polygamy, racism, etc....
But, this being the cult of Mormonism that information will never be known to anybody but those in charge. If any information filters down to the masses it will be very carefully word-crafted and controlled.
As a former LDS member, mother and grandmother, I often contemplate what type of woman I want to be. I see LDS women who stand up on the steps of the Utah State Capitol and boast of having a concealed carry gun permit, organize with the NRA etc. and are members in good standing. While they organize so they can hold loaded guns in their hands, the LDS Church excommunicates women who want to hold the Priesthood so they can give blessings to sick infants.
The LDS Church, to keep current with the changing world is going to have to make some changes.
My view is that the main problem is that the members generally don't know enough about what is doctrine and what is policy. In this information age, with easy access to the Internet, it is easy to find the church's position on anything and everything.
Instead of taking a poll from 'random' people maybe they should just drop some acid or take some mushrooms or whatever hallucinogen JS dosed the early 'saints' with. Guarantee they'll get some sort of revelation/vision.
Combine the wonderful idea of a poll for the Doofus-l5 with the suggestion that if they haven't tried the mushrooms or alcohol that ole Sleezy kept on hand to facilitate talking to ON HIGH. that it is highly recommended by their own founder! This is how he accomplished it all.
The dry spell from the Profit's lips would surely end.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2014 01:52PM by presleynfactsrock.
No, you see, they talked directly to Jesus, face to face, the last time he dropped by the temple to shower and change robes, and he said to do a survey.
Been a long time, but as I remember... In the book of kings (OT) it is reported that King Ahab, Jezabele's boy, had driven out 300 prohets - men, women and children. The were living in caves at that point and Ahab was seeking to kill them. Prophets? Men, women and children? Perhaps, god will speak to whom god will speak to.
The brethren seeking the input of the least of these seems like a godly idea to me.
It's a good thing the lds church has diversified into cattle ranches, shopping malls and Hawaiian resorts. It will need that extra money as wealthier members vote with their feet and leave the church. The BORING one-size-fits-all services are driving people away. Other churches allow people to pick the times they wish to attend. They also may offer different types of 1 hour services (contemporary or traditional), and they often offer a social time before or after with free refreshments. If the mormon church wants to whittle its membership down to members who will pay 10% of their income and put up with whatever crap the church throws at them, that's just fine. It can just fudge the numbers to show it's the fastest growing church.
It may also find plenty of mormons and ex-mormons attending other churches at Christmas and Easter.