Why So Many Missionaries?

Why does the church continue to send out thousands of missionaries even though, worldwide, their numbers are dropping?  It seems they are fighting a losing battle.

There are a few reasons, in my opinion.

First, the Mormons believe they are the fastest growing religion in the world.  While it is clear from many sources that they are not, you can't convince them of that.  The church is fighting a losing battle... their conversion rates are dropping.  Why?  Beacuse any potential convert can easily get online and do a quick Google search to find out anything they want about Mormonism.  Their long-kept secrets are now public information and not only are their conversion rates dropping, their born-in-the-covenant members are leaving as well.

In order to maintain this illusion of the "fastest growing religion in the world", they send out thousands of missionaries and proudly publish the number serving.

Secondly, and probably the most important reason, is the pure conditioning that missionary service provides.  In the church, the young women are taught to only date and marry a returned missionary.  By creating a family "stong in the gospel", it decreases the chances that they will fall away.  There is certain prestige by being a returned missionary and a missionary who leaves the church is especially looked down upon.

Church leaders are perfectly aware that by creating strong Mormon families, the truest of converts are those born into it.  If you can condition them from birth that it's all true, then you'll have a submissive tithe payer for life.  Sending a man on a mission when he's young and then convincing him to get married and start popping out babies right after he returns will keep him strong in the gospel.  Even if he encounters "opposition" and his testimony wavers, he will stay strong for the sake of his family. 

Therefore, the strongest convert they are hoping for is the missionary himself.  They want him to return home in all his glory, find his eternal companion, and start raising the next generation of future missionary-converts and tithing payers.

The LDS church uses its members like pawns for money and greed by convincing them that they are serving the lord.  So, their faithful members never question, never doubt.  They give of themselves gladly and willingly their whole lives.  They defend the prision which keeps them captive.  They love the feeling of being persecuted because it means the are fighting for the truth against Satan.  They pay money to the corporation with the promise that they will get blessings in return.

These days, a missionary has very few converts.  I only had one on my mission.  But the church doesn't really care.  If converts come of it, great.  Whether he has converts or not, they want that missionary fully emmersed in Mormonism himself.  They want him so hooked that he'll never leave and will do anything to make sure his kids never leave.

As long as the church has young people, they will continue to send them out on missions.

Only Mormons Are Capable of Good Works

"It is through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means."

David Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

What the hell?

Is he seriously trying to say that good works ONLY come from people who believe in Jesus and repent?  Or that without a belief in Jesus it is impossible to do anything good?  It seems Bednar is implying that the only good works done in this world are done by LDS people. 

True repentance can only come from LDS church authority, so only those who are members of and forgiven by the church can do good works.

So, Bednar, good works have nothing to do with the intent of your heart or the ability of your muscles to do work?  It all has to come from Jesus.  I guess every work of charity that is done by non-LDS people or athesists must be the work of Satan and counts for nothing. 

As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Bednar is considered by millions of Mormons to be a prophet, seer, and revelator.  Anything they say IS the word of the lord. 

To all my non-Mormon readers, sorry.  Your good works and charitable acts mean nothing in the eyes of god.

This is an example of Mormon arrogance at it's finest!

Ignorance Is Bliss

This is just sad.  I've recently become acquainted with an LDS girl who hasn't exactly followed the rules but wants to get back strong into the church.  Our discussions, among other things, have been on the topic of religion.

I shared my views how religion causes hate and intolerance (which she, of course, disagreed with).  That got us on the topic of the LDS church's shady history.  Her reply to that, and I quote, was, "Do me a favor and don't educate me on Mormon history... I honestly like ignorance on things like that."

I said, "...if the church really wasn't true, wouldn't you want to know?  What if it [the church] all really was just a made up story by a clever and charismatic con man?  Wouldn't you want to discover that before you live your whole life devoted to it?"

Her reply, "Nope, not really."

So sad.  This person's mind is forever trapped in the magical Mormon mindset.  A person like me is the agent of Satan who is tempting her to fall away.  She must remain strong!  Resist those evil lies!  Live in ignorance!

I wonder what they are all so afraid of?  If their religion is so true, I would think they'd gladly take on any challenge and defend it..  But no, they all just want to bury their fingers in their ears and yell, "LA! LA! LA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!"

Either that or excuse it all away as a "clever lie of the devil."

Ignorance is not bliss and the LDS church wants it's members to blindly follow without question.  Truth is not found in blind ignorance and yet the LDS church makes a virtue of it!

I can't respect any organization that purposefully deceives it's members by withholding information and teaching them to stay ignorant.  That is not a virtue.  It is not what "god" would want his children to do.  The Mormon's own doctrine instructs them to gain knowledge.  And they do... Expect about their own history.  That part is okay to conveniently leave out of their education.

Just like Boyd K. Packer said, "Some things that are true aren't very useful."  Yep, especially when it is the REAL TRUTH about the awful things the church has done and now covers up.

"We believe in being honest..." ~ 13th Article of Faith.  How ironic, considering that the LDS church has a rich history of dishonesty and then lying about it later!