We Gather Together

[Coreyb]

In my limited experience i have observed that Mormons tend to be more "faithful" when they are a minority group within a larger population rather than the majority. This is disapointing in light of our early doctrine of "the gathering". Have y'all noticed this, or the opposite, or is it completely irrelevant?

[Freedom]

Why then are there more missionaries per capita from central utah than from any other region of the world?

[The Nehor]

Why then are there more missionaries per capita from central utah than from any other region of the world?

 

Per capita counting only members or per capita of the whole population?

[Tsuzuki]

Why then are there more missionaries per capita from central utah than from any other region of the world?

Social pressure could be part of the picture.

[mnn727]

In my limited experience i have observed that Mormons tend to be more "faithful" when they are a minority group within a larger population rather than the majority. This is disapointing in light of our early doctrine of "the gathering". Have y'all noticed this, or the opposite, or is it completely irrelevant?

Yes, hence the jokes about 'Utah Mormons'  

Seriously I think its easier to disappear outside of Utah as you can blend in with the general population and no one has to ever know you were Mormon. One ward I was in had 450 members listed, but only about 120 ever showed up to Sacrament. How is that different than areas that have large LDS population bases having less faithful members?

[Rain]

In my limited experience I have observed that Mormons tend to be more "faithful" when they are a minority group within a larger population rather than the majority. This is disapointing in light of our early doctrine of "the gathering". Have y'all noticed this, or the opposite, or is it completely irrelevant?

Haven't noticed that. Have noticed lots of people think that so they notice things that confirm their hypothesis.

What I have noticed is in smaller populations faithful people stand out more. If "faithful" people are usually 50 percent of the lds and there are only 10 lds then you have 5 faithful people. If you have 800 lds people then you will have 400 faithful lds. In a population of 1000 people 5 faithful lds are going to stand out compared to 400 faithful lds because with the 400 "faithful" will start to seem normal.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Rain

[Coreyb]

I guess what I mean by faithful can't be measured by activity or missionary rates. For example, when I was a missionary, the missionaries from certain parts of utah and Idaho would get together and brag unapologetically about their pre mission exploits with sex, drugs, and alcohol. Whereas the missionaries from places like Peru or the Marshall Islands would seem shell shocked to hear these from mormon missionaries.

[Duncan]

I guess what I mean by faithful can't be measured by activity or missionary rates. For example, when I was a missionary, the missionaries from certain parts of utah and Idaho would get together and brag unapologetically about their pre mission exploits with sex, drugs, and alcohol. Whereas the missionaries from places like Peru or the Marshall Islands would seem shell shocked to hear these from mormon missionaries.

 

 

I would agree with that as being my experience as well

[JLHPROF]

In my limited experience i have observed that Mormons tend to be more "faithful" when they are a minority group within a larger population rather than the majority. This is disapointing in light of our early doctrine of "the gathering". Have y'all noticed this, or the opposite, or is it completely irrelevant?

 

I think the faith is stronger when people are in smaller groups than large, it can almost become a social tradition instead of a hard arrived at belief.

However I think that the opportunity to be led astray is stronger without a large support group providing protection from influences.

 

So I think both aspects have their place.