Why Mormons Leave

[All-American]

http://whymormonsleave.com/2012/01/3...-faith-crises/

Some people put together a survey asking inactive and nonactive members of the church why they left. I'm reading through it right now.

http://whymormonsleave.com/wp-conten...0Jan2012v4.pdf

[All-American]

One surprise for me, so far: lack of meaningful friendships within the church is among the three lowest reasons for leaving. I'd have guessed that it would have been much higher.

[TripletDaddy]

Fascinating. Obviously historical issues play a big part in leaving. I wonder how many folks would have stayed had they just been told from the get-go.

Seems like the loss of faith comes not so much from finding out that Joseph married 30 women, but that while growing up, the member was either not told or was told something that was contrary to what actually wound up being true. The perceived deceit is likely what causes the loss of faith, not so much the contents of the truth itself. I only make that distinction because as a Church, we can basically completely eradicate that reason as a cause for exodus by....well......being honest and open about our history.

I also found it interesting that for those that have checked out, the majority seem to feel ok telling their spouse and family but have the least amount of confidence in their ward and bishop. Another syptom of a greater problem. Do members at large feel unable to go to their Bishop for help during a spiritual crisis? I don't think the answer is knowable, of course, but the survey is interesting, nonetheless.

[Eddie]

One surprise for me, so far: lack of meaningful friendships within the church is among the three lowest reasons for leaving. I'd have guessed that it would have been much higher.

That one doesn't surprise me. I think the church does a relatively good job at creating an environment where meaningful friendships can develop.

My best friend now is someone that I spent a lot of time with as a youth on various scout camps, etc. With the various service opportunities, church calling obligations, etc., there are always opportunities to meet and develop relationships.

I guess I'm just saying if I were to leave the church, it wouldn't be because I don't have friends there. It would be because believing is something I no longer have in common with my friends there.

[Clark Addison]

One surprise for me, so far: lack of meaningful friendships within the church is among the three lowest reasons for leaving. I'd have guessed that it would have been much higher.

Lack of friends isn't a reason to leave, it is a reason not to stay when other reasons come into play.

[jay santos]

One surprise for me, so far: lack of meaningful friendships within the church is among the three lowest reasons for leaving. I'd have guessed that it would have been much higher.

This poll was not a random poll of inactive members, of which certainly things like lack of meaningful friendships would rank high. This poll was targeted at the Mormon Stories type person, who typically is very absorbed into Mormonism at a family and cultural level, and then leaves due to apostasy/historical issues.

[Moliere]

This poll was not a random poll of inactive members, of which certainly things like lack of meaningful friendships would rank high. This poll was targeted at the Mormon Stories type person, who typically is very absorbed into Mormonism at a family and cultural level, and then leaves due to apostasy/historical issues.

If that is true (meaning the method of sample selection) this poll is practically meaningless.

[Tim]

If that is true (meaning the method of sample selection) this poll is practically meaningless.

Really? That's 3,000 generally-intelligent people who had faith and then lost it. I think it's quite meaningful. I've read it a few times this week and continue to take comfort in the validation I feel in knowing that something I've believed for a while is now backed up with real data: an overwhelming majority of people who had faith in the church and then lost it did so not because of a desire to sin or because they were offended, yet we hear those two reasons more than any others when people at the pulpit attempt to describe why people leave. I think it's a great study and it gives me even more courage to continue to ponder my future in the church.

[jay santos]

Really? That's 3,000 generally-intelligent people who had faith and then lost it. I think it's quite meaningful. I've read it a few times this week and continue to take comfort in the validation I feel in knowing that something I've believed for a while is now backed up with real data: an overwhelming majority of people who had faith in the church and then lost it did so not because of a desire to sin or because they were offended, yet we hear those two reasons more than any others when people at the pulpit attempt to describe why people leave. I think it's a great study and it gives me even more courage to continue to ponder my future in the church.

Agree, it's an interesting study, but if the methodology is this much of a surprise to people, they should probably do a better job prefacing it.

I knew about the study and the methodology before I saw the results. Utah Dan has been talking about it in other threads.

[Moliere]

Really? That's 3,000 generally-intelligent people who had faith and then lost it. I think it's quite meaningful. I've read it a few times this week and continue to take comfort in the validation I feel in knowing that something I've believed for a while is now backed up with real data: an overwhelming majority of people who had faith in the church and then lost it did so not because of a desire to sin or because they were offended, yet we hear those two reasons more than any others when people at the pulpit attempt to describe why people leave. I think it's a great study and it gives me even more courage to continue to ponder my future in the church.

I'm just saying that it's (statistically) impossible to say this is representative of all people that have left the church. People who leave and the go to MoSto and listen to Dehlin and Co. are of course going to say the majority of things in this survey. I'd be more interested to know what the whole population of exmos think since I already know what the MoSto group thinks.

[San Juan Sun]

I'm just saying that it's (statistically) impossible to say this is representative of all people that have left the church. People who leave and the go to MoSto and listen to Dehlin and Co. are of course going to say the majority of things in this survey. I'd be more interested to know what the whole population of exmos think since I already know what the MoSto group thinks.

You are right. While some find the results of this survey to be interesting, it has serious methodology issues.

"In God we trust. All others bring data." - W.H. Deming

[Non Sequitur]

I'm just saying that it's (statistically) impossible to say this is representative of all people that have left the church. People who leave and the go to MoSto and listen to Dehlin and Co. are of course going to say the majority of things in this survey. I'd be more interested to know what the whole population of exmos think since I already know what the MoSto group thinks.

It's pretty much the same. I know a lot of exMos, and none of them are Dehlin cultists. People leave because they no longer believe. It's that simple.

[Non Sequitur]

You are right. While some find the results of this survey to be interesting, it has serious methodology issues.

Yeah, of course it's the methodology. Because no faithful person could ever lave the Church unless he/she had some moral defect. Why is it so difficult to believe that good, virtueous people can come to the conclusion that the Church isn't true?

[CardiacCoug]

Yeah, of course it's the methodology. Because no faithful person could ever lave the Church unless he/she had some moral defect. Why is it so difficult to believe that good, virtueous people can come to the conclusion that the Church isn't true?

I think he's just saying that it's not a random sample of ex-Mo's. It's a sample of ex-Mo's with an interest in Church history and Mormon Stories.

[Uncle Ted]

I'm just saying that it's (statistically) impossible to say this is representative of all people that have left the church. People who leave and the go to MoSto and listen to Dehlin and Co. are of course going to say the majority of things in this survey. I'd be more interested to know what the whole population of exmos think since I already know what the MoSto group thinks.

I pretty sure the church has much better data but rather than publishing it they are apparently working hard on a rescue package. I think we will all know why folks are leaving when this is published.