Gender Gap Widens In The Church

[Peppermint Patty]

A recent study showed that approximately 60 percent of Utah Mormons are women, up from 52.5 percent two decades ago. http://www.sltrib.co...mormon.html.csp

I wouldn’t be surprised if the gender gap is even more pronounced in other parts of the world. For example, I served a mission in Sendai, Japan in the 90’s and in every ward or branch I served in, the women outnumbered the men by significant numbers.

As a mother of three daughters, this concerns me a little. It appears that many LDS women will now have to marry outside their faith or choose not to marry.

Solutions? Future implications?

[jcake]

It has always seemed somewhat this way to me. The odds do seem to favor the men, when it comes to finding a companion firm in the faith.

[Peppermint Patty]

It has always seemed somewhat this way to me. The odds do seem to favor the men, when it comes to finding a companion firm in the faith.

You are probably right. It just seems more than a litte discouraging to me that many LDS women will have to marry outside the LDS faith or not marry at all. I would be very sad if this happened to my daughters.

[Kenngo1969]

And (please forgive my cynicism here) some will "have" to marry outside the faith because they look beyond the mark.

P.S.: And I know that because I'm one of the ones they look past as they do that.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Kenngo1969

[katherine the great]

I don't remember a time when active LDS women didn't outnumber active LDS men. I think it's probably that way in most religions.

[Nofear]

As of 2007, the Pew Forum's data suggests that a 56% female 44% male ratio is present for Mormons. This trend seems to hold up pretty closely for most Christian denominations. The gender ratio basically flips for Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and non-affiliated's.

pdf link of the statistics

[Craig Paxton]

A recent study showed that approximately 60 percent of Utah Mormons are women, up from 52.5 percent two decades ago. http://www.sltrib.co...mormon.html.csp

I wouldn’t be surprised if the gender gap is even more pronounced in other parts of the world. For example, I served a mission in Sendai, Japan in the 90’s and in every ward or branch I served in, the women outnumbered the men by significant numbers.

As a mother of three daughters, this concerns me a little. It appears that many LDS women will now have to marry outside their faith or choose not to marry.

Solutions? Future implications?

Seems like an ideal excuse to reinstate Polygamy...

[The Nehor]

Solutions?

$5000 bonus per companionship for every at least moderately attractive single male baptized?

Edited January 9, 2012 by The Nehor

[Pahoran]

Seems like an ideal excuse to reinstate Polygamy...

That presumes that anyone actually wants an "excuse to reinstate Polygamy."

Cynical much?

Regards,

Pahoran

[Senator]

That presumes that anyone actually wants an "excuse to reinstate Polygamy."

Cynical much?

Regards,

Pahoran

Well I know of at least two prominant LDS families in my community that wanted it enough to leave and join Harmston's group in Manti.

[Sky]

My thought is to utilize online dating service sites such as LDS Mingle, and hope and pray that eventually everyone (women and men) will be paired with a suitable mate. I believe there is somebody out there for everybody, no matter how long it takes or how hard some people have to try.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Sky

[mbh26]

Just to be clear, we're talking about the number of single women versus single men, right? It doesn't surprise me that more men who find themselves indefinitely single would choose to drop out of the church or be excommunicated than the number of women who find themselves indefinitely single. I'm sure most of these men are lost before they turn 30. By the time they get their career going and they become more attractive as a potential breadwinner and mate, they probably decided they couldn't handle such a long term of celibacy many years ago. I bet most Catholic men aren't really capable of truly living the code as monks/priests, even if it were only for 10 or 15 years. And a celibate Catholic priest actually leads the congregation unlike a celibate Mormon man who is viewed by the Church as unfit for the higher leadership positions his married brethren are.

If you only counted single people under 25 years of age, I wonder if the ratios wouldn't be more even in the U.S. Granted I saw entire wards of young adult females in Latin America who became interested in the Church at least somewhat do to their relationship with the young male missionaries. That shouldn't be surprising. In places where we had sister missionaries in my mission we saw an even greater effect on the young local men. But it's tough to do that in as many places with sisters because of the increase in safety risks. There's lots of crazy men in the world.

[Lightbearer]

Solutions? Future implications?

Makes this scripture seem rather appropriate:

"AND in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach." (Old Testament | Isaiah 4:1)

I was 43 before I found my eternal companion and I did not and would not marry out of the Church. In my area there was a shortage of worthy LDS women so I think it varies from area to area and from generation to generation.

[Duncan]

Just to be clear, we're talking about the number of single women versus single men, right? It doesn't surprise me that more men who find themselves indefinitely single would choose to drop out of the church or be excommunicated than the number of women who find themselves indefinitely single. I'm sure most of these men are lost before they turn 30. By the time they get their career going and they become more attractive as a potential breadwinner and mate, they probably decided they couldn't handle such a long term of celibacy many years ago. I bet most Catholic men aren't really capable of truly living the code as monks/priests, even if it were only for 10 or 15 years. And a celibate Catholic priest actually leads the congregation unlike a celibate Mormon man who is viewed by the Church as unfit for the higher leadership positions his married brethren are.

If you only counted single people under 25 years of age, I wonder if the ratios wouldn't be more even in the U.S. Granted I saw entire wards of young adult females in Latin America who became interested in the Church at least somewhat do to their relationship with the young male missionaries. That shouldn't be surprising. In places where we had sister missionaries in my mission we saw an even greater effect on the young local men. But it's tough to do that in as many places with sisters because of the increase in safety risks. There's lots of crazy men in the world.

Elder Oaks is on record as saying that the Church loses men at around age 30, which coincides what I have read from other sources

http://lds.org/study...christ?lang=eng

Edited January 9, 2012 by Duncan

[Jaybear]

Marriage as a calling?

[mbh26]

Makes this scripture seem rather appropriate:

I was 43 before I found my eternal companion and I did not and would not marry out of the Church. In my area there was a shortage of worthy LDS women so I think it varies from area to area and from generation to generation.

That's a very impressive demonstration of faith and perseverance IMHO. But I think you would be in the minority of men able and willing to pull off such a feat.

[Acris Venator]

Forcing singles to re-integrate with family wards at age 31 probably doesn't help.

[The Nehor]

Forcing singles to re-integrate with family wards at age 31 probably doesn't help.

Keeping them in Single's Wards has its own set of massive problems. When I was executive secretary in a Single's Ward there were a few 29-30 year olds we wanted gone as soon as possible. Not most of them but there were a few.

[Sky]

Elder Oaks is on record as saying that the Church loses men at around age 30, which coincides what I have read from other sources

http://lds.org/study...christ?lang=eng

Thanks for sharing!

Signature worthy:

He said that as the Church receives greater public attention than ever before, members should not feel obligated to try to explain obscure matters from remote history. “Their answer should be, ‘We have a living prophet. Look at what our leaders are teaching us today.’ ” He also counseled Church members to turn unkind or misinformed comments into opportunities to focus on the real doctrine of the Church and on clearing up misperceptions.

[Calm]

Makes this scripture seem rather appropriate:

I was 43 before I found my eternal companion and I did not and would not marry out of the Church. In my area there was a shortage of worthy LDS women so I think it varies from area to area and from generation to generation.

Don't know too many women in the Church who are willing to have a marriage in name only as implied by the scripture:

"We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach"

[The Nehor]

"AND in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach." (Old Testament | Isaiah 4:1)

That is not much of an endorsement of polygamy. That verse should be in Chapter 3 and close out the punishment of the daughters of Zion.

[Sky]

When I was executive secretary in a Single's Ward there were a few 29-30 year olds we wanted gone as soon as possible. Not most of them but there were a few.

That's awfully harsh. I was also in a singles ward, and the 30+ year olds were some of the finest and brightest people I knew. They had solid testimonies and many talents, and it would pain me greatly to see any of them go. They are as much a part of the kingdom of God as any married person, and I feel that the Brethren would agree with me. Perhaps we need to do a better job of convincing the 30+ year olds that the Church cares about and loves them.

[Pahoran]

Well I know of at least two prominant LDS families in my community that wanted it enough to leave and join Harmston's group in Manti.

Well, maybe they did merely "want" it. But it has occurred to me that they might have actually believed in it, instead.

Either way, the apostasy of a couple of apostates says nothing at all about what faithful Latter-day Saints actually want. Nor does it validate the rather nasty cynicism you have attempted to support.

Regards,

Pahoran

[The Nehor]

That's awfully harsh. I was also in a singles ward, and the 30+ year olds were some of the finest and brightest people I knew. They had solid testimonies and many talents, and it would pain me greatly to see any of them go. They are as much a part of the kingdom of God as any married person, and I feel that the Brethren would agree with me. Perhaps we need to do a better job of convincing the 30+ year olds that the Church cares about and loves them.

It is harsh but was also true. Not all of them or even most of them but some of them. They were the creepy ones who spent most of their time hitting on 18-19 year olds. "Arrested development" types. We couldn't really deinvite them from the ward but we had sisters stop coming because of their stupid antics.

[Sky]

It is harsh but was also true. Not all of them or even most of them but some of them. They were the creepy ones who spent most of their time hitting on 18-19 year olds. "Arrested development" types. We couldn't really deinvite them from the ward but we had sisters stop coming because of their stupid antics.

Your attitude worries me, but to each their own.

Maybe you should let us know what ward you are in, so all the single people over 30 will know not to come...