Posted by:
SusieQ#1
(
)
Date: March 31, 2013 10:09PM
Members have been leaving the LDS church individually, or in families to some extent for decades - or more accurately, since the church was begun, even starting up many factions after the Smiths deaths.
Now days, we are more aware of these kinds of changes in membership partially because of the Internet.
Whatever the reason, there is a core of believers, that most likely, will continue to keep the church beliefs alive and vibrant in their circles for decades to come.
It's my view that if it was really an extreme cult, it would have dissolved long ago. But, in my view, because it functions, in the main, as a hereditary,cultural, religious, patriarchal tribe, it is not going to disappear. It's possible but, in my view, not likely.
As I understand how Mormonism began as an American God Myth, and how it fits in the Big Picture of world religions, even though it is rather small, it is how it functions, in a tribal fashion; that keeps it moving from generation to generation, especially in highly populated Mormon areas. Once it takes hold of the population, as a majority it is not just a religion, it takes a level of control of the political climate, the schools, the government at all levels.
It this point, I don't have any evidence that members are "leaving in droves." Some areas may see some big losses, but others are growing and in a building mode to satisfy their needs.
If and until we have accurate information on membership we will continue to speculate based on what we observe.