What draws people to the Mormons?

[Ben W]

Going on from a Fastest Growing Churches thread, it has been mentioned several times that the mormon church are often the group growing the fastest in different areas.

But why them? What is it about them that draws people to them over all of the other groups?

They do evangalise heavily, yet not as hard as the Jehovahs Witnesses who call several times per year, the Mormons only call once every two years. They do have a geanealogy research facility in there churches, yet I cant see that being much of a carrot for conversion.

I have never been to one of there meetings, yet I am guessing that they must be super friendly and make people fit into their group easily?

 

[Bro. James]

The attraction of Mormonism--

Is the flesh--just like many other worldly religions promulgated by Satan and his angels.

The Mormons do not "convert",they "proselytize". That is, souls probably "unconverted" and certainly "ungrounded" are allured from the "unchurched" and those "ungrounded in the faith" from various denominations.

What is the big allure? Many people become "mesmerized" by the promise of "godhood" with a personal planet with many wives and children--if one is faithful(another salvation by works)

This theology "appears" to be validated by the big emphasis the Mormons put on family values. This is probably as big a selling point as an eternal "harem"--we live in a time when many families are disfunctional to non-existant. Many souls are attracted to a "family oriented" religion.

"Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing..."

Mormonism stands or falls on the testimony of Joseph Smith Jr., the founder. He has testified that God revealed to him that all religions were apostate and that the priesthood would be re-established through Joseph Smith Jr.

If that be true, then only Mormons have the authorized religion. If that be false, then Joseph Smith is another false prophet and his religion is necessarily false.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

[FBCPastorsWife]

Ben,

Very good question. We just went through a series on cults and false religions recently in Sunday school. We had two ladies in our class that had been part of the Mormon church and were saved out of it. They said the reason they were so fascinated with the people and drawn to the church was because when those people go "witnessing," they are so genuine and seem to really care about your welfare. They don't knock on your door and say, "Hi, are you sure when you die that you will go to Heaven?" They feel out and study just how much you really know and then they start talking "Bible."

They said that it was not until being in the church for several months that they learned of the doctrines that Bro. James speaks of above.

 

[Bro Tony]

The are very effective in their presentation of their church. The have put forth the picture of a family centered people where there is a church that will take care of its own. They have not become beligerant when someone has clearly shown their doctrine to be anti-christian. They just keep on going and stating their false teachings as if they are orthodox. They know how to present theirselves in a very positive manner and that has a great impact on a world that is in chaos. They are dedicated to what they believe.

Bro Tony

 

[TaterTot]

And almost everyone thinks family values are important. I think that draws, too. I come from a Mormon background, and they are very nice people. We used to host the "missionaries" about once a month when I was a child. I never even thought about it then (nor did my dad) that they are just kids themselves. I believe they indoctrinate the young who eventually carry on the cause.

 

[gb93433]

About 25 years ago standing at my door were two Mormon missionaries. After they talked a little while I asked them two questions. The first was, Are you guys Christians?" The reply from one of them was "We are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." The next question I asked them was, "If the Book of Mormon was written in 1830 was does parts of it have 1611 language?" They stood looking at each other and said that they didn't know.
Then about three years ago they came by my home and talked to me in my yard. Again I asked those missionaries if they were Christians. Their reply was, "Yes." I told them about how much their own religion had changed. They were not even aware of the changes their church had made in trying to come up with a good image. About eight years ago the Mormon church hired a consulting group to help them improve their image. The consulting group came back reporting that they needed to talk more about Jesus and use the Bible more.

But we do know that the one reason people join the Mormon Church is because they don't know their Bible. We also know that the two denominations they are drawing most of their people from is the SBC and RCC.

I once pastored a Baptist church where most of the deacons actually thought the local Mormon bishop was a Christian and we should invite him in. Some of the people in the congregation got mad at me because I took a stance against Mormonism. One of the deacons who was also the music leader stood up at a deacons meeting at yelled at me about taking a stance against Mormonism. He thought I should just leave the issue alone. About ½ of the people in the area were Mormons. Not one Mormon ever gave me trouble. Every evangelical church in town and other neighboring town supported me in having a conference. But it was the Christians in the Baptist church that gave me trouble.

Some of us decided to host a conference on Mormonism. One of the men posted flyers and the next day he had to replace them because they would be gone. The conference was held at the Baptist Church. People came from all over except the Baptist church. There were only a few from the Baptist church there. It was the best conference I had ever attended on the subject of sharing your faith and especially Mormon. Those who were there said the same thing.

We talk a good game about reaching people but so often we are afraid to take any risk and let people go on without ever giving them the greatest news ever told that is absolutely life changing both temporally and eternally.

The people who did the conference were Dennis and Rauni Higley at www.hismin.com

 

[Dr. Bob]

The appeal of LDS -

Strong families. Some of the best in town. Lots of kids, well dressed, well mannered.

Submissive wives. While our ifb women are trying to run the church, LDS don't. Women know their place in a society where men feel threatened by the women's lib movement.

Church community. If an LDS loses a home or job or has problems, the church family steps in and offers real care.

Works religion. Things a person can DO to make them feel a part of the religion, earning their way to heaven instead of being passive. Baptism for the dead is esp fulfilling for young people who research family trees, etc.

Sexuality. How many men don't like the idea of plural marriages (celestial unless in parts of Utah). Had one LDS man tell my wife she was going to be HIS wife in Paradise. I hit him (last man I hit, as I recall) I was so angry with such lechery.

No "stupid" rules. They do have rules/regs for living a "godly" LDS life, but none of the hair, clothes, versions, - well, about half the stuff discussed on the BB - that Baptists fight over.

The largest single group converting to LDS are former Baptists. Many were reached (kinda) and made a profession of faith (kinda) and were baptized in a Baptist church (kinda), then adrift. LDS gobbles them up.

To our shame.

 

[Marcia]

A lot of good responses here - I think Dr. Bob really nailed it.

I've also heard that Mormons will come in and help out a family in trouble -- financial problems, house destroyed in a tornado or something. They help out, make friends, and because of this, people get interested in their church. Most people join false religions (and cults) because of wanting a community and friendship.

 

[Marcia]

Speaking of which, the growth of the Mormon church is being recognized by retailers (news item is from Desert News). Now you can get a statue of Moroni at some Wal-Marts:

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/9486-Mormons_pocketbooks.html
On a shelf at Wal-Mart's Sandy store on State Street — next to a line of jewelry boxes and figurines — sits a 15-inch statue of the Angel Moroni, boxed and ready for holiday shoppers, many of them predictably members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who recognize the Book of Mormon character as the figure perched on more than 100 LDS temples worldwide.

Complete with removable trump, it's touted by the packaging as "a unique keepsake to brighten any decor" that "makes an especially thoughtful gift. . . . The statuesque pose of the hornsman gives an essence of revelry. A great addition to your precious collection."

While many may well be turned off by the hawking of one of the faith's signature symbols — made in China for Wal-Mart and selling at $19.86 — there are few better clues about the growing market for LDS products, and the money to be made from some 12 million Latter-day Saints. Once considered a tiny niche market, the church's rapid growth in the past two decades portends more targeted marketing by both LDS and secular retailers to an ever-growing audience.

The sculpture — now marketed by the world's largest retailer — provides some context for both the rapidly growing LDS product market and the potential challenges it poses for both retailers and the church.
.............MORE.....................

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Ben W:
But why them? What is it about them that draws people to them over all of the other groups?

While I've never had any Mormons as close friends, I've known several. Off the top, their adherence to family values is high. The rate of divorce among Mormons is considerably lower, as is the rate of premarital sex. Also, the sense of community amongst Mormons is high. When was the last time you saw a homeless Mormon? The church takes care of their own, and takes that commitment very seriously.

Gospel errancies aside, they could teach us mainline Christians a thing or two.

 

[Marcia]

Interestingly, the rate of suicide among young men in Utah is very high. From a 2003 article:

From
http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/news/2003/04/08/Feature/Utah-Ranks.High.In.Suicide.Rates-411761.shtml
In 2002, Utah ranked ninth highest in the nation in suicide rates, according to a study published by the American Association of Suicidology. The association reports that Utah is consistently hovering around nearly 300 suicide-related deaths yearly.

And things are not getting better, according to John McIntosh, a professor of psychology at Indiana University South Bend.

McIntosh says that Utah has been in the top 10 states for instances of suicide for several years. McIntosh reports that in 1999, Utah had a suicide rate of 13.2 cases per 100,000 people, a rate substantially higher than the national average of 10.7.

The association confirmed the negative trend when it reported that in 2000, Utah had the 10th highest suicide rate nationally, with 66 Utahns between the ages of 5 and 24 taking their own lives, and has increased its current ranking to ninth.

 

[Gina B]

Satan. That's the short answer.

Dr. Bob nailed it pretty good, so I'll simply go a bit more in depth with some of what he brought up.

Many people who weren't born into Mormonism turn to it during a vulnerable time in their lives such as divorce, illness, or depression. People have questions and the LDS church has answers. They offer love and security and a place for everyone to fit in. Those are very important things to human beings.
They also follow biblical principles in many respects, principles that Christian churches ignore. The LDS community is self sufficient and has their own welfare system for their own poor, and instead of a handout they are given a handup.
Instead of preaching on family values they provide you with ways to do it. On this day you will spend this evening doing this activity.
Instead of preaching on repenting of your sins you're required to do it to maintain your temple pass. This, along with blessings and the opportunity to be married in the temple, do the baptisms, etc.. provides a person with real "rewards" here and now instead wondering if that was a blessing you got the other day or waiting until you die to receive rewards for good behavior.
Long story short, you don't have to think to much and you feel like a good person when you are in the LDS church. The true beliefs of the church may never be heard by you if you don't get into theology too much. They are given little by little and by the time you get to something ridiculous, it doesn't sound at all ridiculous since you've been being led up to that belief and in light of the other "truths" you've accepted it makes sense.
They look and act more like Christians than most Christians, and that makes them appealing. Sad, but true. They live what they believe and that speaks volumes for them and makes them look good. If we as Christians could pull together and be united in our beliefs and live them regularly we'd not be on this board wondering why people are so drawn to the Mormons.
Gina

 

[LadyEagle]

Great post, Gina!

 

[Ben W]

This has proved to be a really interesting thread, I have studied carefully each response and it really amazes me about some of the things mentioned.

I think that they do give the family impression alot, the harmony amongst them is interesting to look at as well. They do seem to genuinley care for one another and help meet each others needs when there brethren are struggling.

Doubtless there are plenty of bad stories about mormons and how they have behaved though to balance that out, yet I am looking more at an overall impression.

The thing that upsets me, is why are we not more like the mormons when it comes to friendships and helping each other? What I see all the time is Christians that just cant help themselves but to launch attacks on one another. No one needs garbage like that, and if there was a church where people actually took a step back from behaviour like that and actually genuinley cared about and helped one another, well that would be a church to shift your membership too!

I suppose I get a little discouraged sometimes when I feel that churches are just losing the plot usually in efforts to raise funds, rather than helping people. There are no answers in the world, and the Christian Church is divisive, so the Mormons by acting in a type of Godly manner could appear appealing to people who are searching for answers, I can see that the more I think about it.

As I recall there has never really been any bad press on the Mormons in Australia, the same cannot be said for the JW's who have broken up a number of families and people have been on TV trying to get there kids back. The SDA and the Christadelphians have had there share of bad media also. Yet it surprises me to realise that there has never been much said in a negative way about the Mormons, they are always just there in the backround.

So the big question is, how do we ever get Christians to come into some type of unity and to stop the attacks on one another?

 

[Bro. James]

The Big Question is:

"What fellowship hath the Temple of God with Belial?"

"If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel, than that which we have preached unto you, let them be ANATHEMA."

Selah,

Bro. James

 

[untangled]

"What draws people to the Mormons?"

Forgive me for being honest, but IMHO:

Ignorance or stupidity.

Not trying to hurl insults but even people that don't know hardly anything about the Bible know enough to stay away from the mormons. There is a very dark side to their teachings. If you ever have the chance to read about their "secret ceremonies" then do it. One such includes their temple marriages. Its disturbing to me.

 

[Gina B]

Sorry untangled, but that isn't quite accurate. If given the chance to present the LDS church to you I bet most anything that I could seriously shake your faith in your current beliefs. Not that I'd want to, but don't be prideful enough to think that you're "smarter" than the average person who falls for the LDS church.
Gina

 

[Jimmy C]

I would like to recommend you all read an excellent book by Jon Krakauer (who wrote Into Thin Air - his account of his ascent of Mt Everest)

This book is about a group of Mormon Fundamentalists (belief in plural marriage) who believe that they have received a revelation from God commanding them to kill thier blameless victims - he also analyzes the abduction of Elizabeth Smart and looks at some Mormon communities who to this day practice plural marriages.

I read this book a couple years ago and could not put it down.

By the way, some of my coworkers are LDS - live in Salt Lake - fine people, salt of the earth types. We have had numerous conversations about the difference in thier works religion and my salvation by grace. I believe that Satan has truly clouded thier minds.

 

[gb93433]

We know that if we knock on X number of doors we wil get people to come to our church. They know those numbers too.

Have you noticed their approach lately? They will ask if any missionaries have come by before and what you thought of them. That is a quick way for them to find out about you before you know anything about them.

 

[timothy 1769]

They are (appear?) sincere and moral, friendly and loving. They are dedicated and hard working. Honestly many do a better job acting like Christians than we do.

This is all based on my first-hand, personal observations. I don't know how to explain it. (shrug)