Church in China

[Jennerstein]

I don't know about that.

I know you're going for the less-educated meme, but I imagine the rural folks are much more traditional (not as open to new ideas) and more likely to stick with their roots, whether that is Buddhism or whatever the communists have beat into them.

I'm more apt to agree with SoonerCoug. Communism was an overall negative, but the one thing it did do was wipe the slate clean. The difficulties the church will face in China is not traditionalism but secularism.

My parents served between 2003 to 2006 as Mission Presidents in Hong Kong. One Sunday, there was a mainland Chinese teenager who was in the Wan Chai building, asking about getting a box of BofMs. The Asia Area Authority Seventy happened to be in the vicinity and heard her inquiry. A bit concerned, he asked her why she needed a box. She told the following story:

Her mother had heard about the church (this part I don't remember, whether it was from a friend while in Singapore, or while she was in Singapore). She wanted to take the discussions in Hong Kong, but the husband was a not quite comfortable with it and decided to accompany her. While in Hong Kong, he felt the Spirit and also wanted to get baptized. They went back to their small town in China changed.

The box the daughter wanted was for the rest of the village. The village members were amazed by the change in this man, who they had known as a wifebeater and drunkard. They wanted to know what caused such a wonderful change in this man.

The Asia Area Authority told her that she knew the rules and that she was not allowed to bring the box of Book of Mormons back.

I tell that story because I have a firm belief that there are many people in China who are being prepared for the gospel. The ones who will be most receptive are those who live humble lives and aren't caught up in the mammonism that is starting to encircle China.