Why Are Youth Leaving The Church?

[Duncan]

I think people leave due to boredom or if you are a single person "it's a married people church"

 

in 1999 Elder Ben B. Banks of the 70 said, 

 

"As part of another study, a group of active members who previously had been less active were asked why they did not attend church. The most common reasons given were:

• Feelings of unworthiness.
• Personal or family problems.
• Parents or spouse were less active.
• Teenage rebelliousness or laziness.
• Conflicts with work schedules.
• Church too far away, lacked transportation."

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/10/feed-my-sheep?lang=eng

 

 

I don't know if they are listed in order of why people leave i.e more people have feelings of unworthiness than have had problems getting to Church. I think to with youth they see their friends living a better life or appear to be much happier then them and so what is the advantage of being in the Church? I think too people do something wrong and they don't know how to repent and think they are cast off forever or something, an all or nothing mentality

Edited January 2, 2015 by Duncan

[webbles]

It didn't include porn or masturbation.  They were about actual sex.  Do you really think that youth who masturbate leave the church?  If that were true, there would be no guys in the church.  There is an old saying.  There are two types of young men.  Those that masturbate, and those that lie about it.

 

I would love to hear from any male poster who can state that they never masturbated when they were in their youth.

I'm male and I've never masturbated.

[Stone holm]

I would guess we lose about 75% of the kids who go off to college other than one of the colleges controlled by the Church, mainly because they marry outside the Church and we are viewed as politically bout the same as the Southern Evangelicals which makes it difficult for their non-member spouses to accept the Church. For the kids who don't go to college, I think we do somewhat better as long as they manage to stay off drugs and don't get caught having premarital sex by their Bishop.

[california boy]

I'm male and I've never masturbated.

wow I am totally impressed.  Thanks for coming forward.  I wonder if anyone else can.

[VideoGameJunkie]

I'm male and I've never masturbated.........this year. The year is young.

 

Continued talk like this will result in thread bans.

[Thinking]

I'm male and I've never masturbated.

 

A bishop in one of my BYU wards claimed that he didn't know what masturbation was until he was called to be bishop. He made this claim during a priesthood lesson on morality.

[The Nehor]

I would love to hear from any male poster who can state that they never masturbated when they were in their youth.

I know of a few cases.

I AM NOT SO sure that LDS have higher rates of pornography addiction. I think such studies are wrong.

Are they talking clinical addiction or what many people in the church call addiction (ie viewing it at all).

[Scott Lloyd]

Too much sexually explicit conversation going on in this thread.

 

As thread originator, I can lock it if and when I so choose, and will do so if the discourse continues in this vein.

[Scott Lloyd]

The young men and young women's programs of the church used to be called the Mutual Improvement Association and the name stuck around describing the one night a week the youth meet.

Actually, it wasn't so much that the name "stuck around." It was discontinued for many years after the MIA was renamed Young Men and Young Women. Then later, the name "Mutual" was officially reintroduced as the name for the weeknight activity program of the Young Men and Young Women organizations.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

One of the points in John Gee's blog post that I have yet to see addressed here is the matter of diversity, which was one of the elements in his list of factors leading young people in general (not just LDS youth) to reject the faith of their childhood.

 

For at least two generations now, American youth have been indoctrinated in the public school system and elsewhere to worship at the holy alter of diversity. The notion has been ingrained that any and all forms of diversity are to be sought after and embraced. Yet, as Gee points out, while some diversity is desirable, not all of it is. This should be self-evident. The example he uses is that, while it is a good thing to have doctors, lawyers, plumbers (and, I would add here, even newspaper reporters) in society, criminals are one class that is neither necessary nor desirable. Hence, not all diversity is good.

 

So, quite naturally, youth are apt to encounter tension between a religious faith that draws boundaries and the worldly conventional wisdom which says, as did Korihor, that "whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:17). With mass media propaganda, desire to fit in and peer pressure coming to bear upon the minds of youth, the religious faith quite often does not prevail.

 

What to do about it? The best suggestion I can offer is more vigilant and effective teaching of correct principles, since, in the final analysis, we can hardly do other than let them govern themselves.

[Teancum]

Colossians 2:21-23New International Version (NIV)

21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Only transformation by the Spirit changes a human heart.

 

 

No Mormons would disagree.

Read Alma Chapter Five... it is all about the Mighty Change.  Read Mosiah 27 or 28 about Alma the younger being Born of God.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Teancum

[why me]

I am not disagreeing with you about Mormons being influenced by society.  But that has always been true. I am probably not being clear.  Let me try again.  Recent polls show a DECREASE in sexual immorality in youth overall.  So if Mormon youth are simply following society trends, then sexual immorality among Mormons should also actually be DECREASING.  If sexual immorality is causing Mormon youth to leave the church, then the number of youth leaving should actually be decreasing.  But that is not the case.  Studies are showing that Mormon youth leaving the church is actually rising.  So there must be other reasons other than sexual immorality which is NOT increasing for this increase in youth leaving.  You mentioned a few other possible reasons.  Perhaps you are right about those.  I don't know.  I haven't seen any statistics.

I don't think that the youth are leaving the lds because of sex. Some do of course but most do not. We need to remember that sex can be viewed by typing certain sites in the keyboard. Most youth perhaps leave because the lds life is rather restrictive. Modest dress, abstaining from alcohol. No piercings, no sex before marriage, no cussing, etc. All of these do hamper individual choice and many youth are involved in most of the things that I have listed. Many youth wish to exercise their freedom of individual choice without consequences. And they are driven by impulse these days.

 

I also tend to think that globalization as led us into a post-secular society. A society where secularization is central to individual choice and religious belief becomes an individualized consumer product. No need for organized religion that may restrict their freedom of choice.

 

http://www.transactionpub.com/title/Post-Secular-Society-978-1-4128-4610-3.html

 

Post-Secular Society argues for the experience of living in a secular world and a secular age and the experience of living without religion as a normal condition.

 

However, as western youth enter adulthood they may be more influenced by their own individualized religious beliefs and not by organized faiths. In other words, religion becomes their own commodity, a way and a means to express their own individualized identity. More intune with spirituality not with a religion.

Edited January 2, 2015 by why me

[why me]

One of the points in John Gee's blog post that I have yet to see addressed here is the matter of diversity, which was one of the elements in his list of factors leading young people in general (not just LDS youth) to reject the faith of their childhood.

 

For at least two generations now, American youth have been indoctrinated in the public school system and elsewhere to worship at the holy alter of diversity. The notion has been ingrained that any and all forms of diversity are to be sought after and embraced. Yet, as Gee points out, while some diversity is desirable, not all of it is. This should be self-evident. The example he uses is that, while it is a good thing to have doctors, lawyers, plumbers (and, I would add here, even newspaper reporters) in society, criminals are one class that is neither necessary nor desirable. Hence, not all diversity is good.

 

So, quite naturally, youth are apt to encounter tension between a religious faith that draws boundaries and the worldly conventional wisdom which says, as did Korihor, that "whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:17). With mass media propaganda, desire to fit in and peer pressure coming to bear upon the minds of youth, the religious faith quite often does not prevail.

 

What to do about it? The best suggestion I can offer is more vigilant and effective teaching of correct principles, since, in the final analysis, we can hardly do other than let them govern themselves.

The youth have been influenced by globalization and also by secularism. Freedom is important for them and individualized choice is apart of that freedom. To belong to an organized faith means that one needs an organized belief system where one must follow the dictates of others. The youth being influenced by the media, and by the marketization of private life, may see the lds way of life as being too limiting when compared to the friends that may surround them. Also, the marketization of private life means that one can express one's own individualized spirituality and mold god in that image of individualized spirituality. No need for organized religion telling them what to do and what not to do.

[Rob Osborn]

http://www.secular-humanism.com/

[california boy]

One of the points in John Gee's blog post that I have yet to see addressed here is the matter of diversity, which was one of the elements in his list of factors leading young people in general (not just LDS youth) to reject the faith of their childhood.

For at least two generations now, American youth have been indoctrinated in the public school system and elsewhere to worship at the holy alter of diversity. The notion has been ingrained that any and all forms of diversity are to be sought after and embraced. Yet, as Gee points out, while some diversity is desirable, not all of it is. This should be self-evident. The example he uses is that, while it is a good thing to have doctors, lawyers, plumbers (and, I would add here, even newspaper reporters) in society, criminals are one class that is neither necessary nor desirable. Hence, not all diversity is good.

So, quite naturally, youth are apt to encounter tension between a religious faith that draws boundaries and the worldly conventional wisdom which says, as did Korihor, that "whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:17). With mass media propaganda, desire to fit in and peer pressure coming to bear upon the minds of youth, the religious faith quite often does not prevail.

What to do about it? The best suggestion I can offer is more vigilant and effective teaching of correct principles, since, in the final analysis, we can hardly do other than let them govern themselves.

Actually I think you have identified a significant reason why youth are leaving the church. Mormons view Christ and his teaching as being exclusionary. While they view his gospel as being inclusive and embracing. Excluding anyone seem wrong to them. And you are right. They don't want to be in a. church like that.

Edited January 2, 2015 by california boy

[The Nehor]

Actually I think you have identified a significant reason why youth are leaving the church. Mormons view Christ and his teaching as being exclusionary. While they view his gospel as being inclusive and embracing. Excluding anyone seem wrong to them

As a Mormon I disrespectfully disagree. If Christ and the gospel were exclusionary I would have been booted by God a long time ago.

[Garden Girl]

 

For at least two generations now, American youth have been indoctrinated in the public school system and elsewhere to worship at the holy alter of diversity. The notion has been ingrained that any and all forms of diversity are to be sought after and embraced. Yet, as Gee points out, while some diversity is desirable, not all of it is. This should be self-evident. The example he uses is that, while it is a good thing to have doctors, lawyers, plumbers (and, I would add here, even newspaper reporters) in society, criminals are one class that is neither necessary nor desirable. Hence, not all diversity is good.

 

So, quite naturally, youth are apt to encounter tension between a religious faith that draws boundaries and the worldly conventional wisdom which says, as did Korihor, that "whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:17). With mass media propaganda, desire to fit in and peer pressure coming to bear upon the minds of youth, the religious faith quite often does not prevail.

 

What to do about it? The best suggestion I can offer is more vigilant and effective teaching of correct principles, since, in the final analysis, we can hardly do other than let them govern themselves.

 

And don't forget, Scott, religion and Chist have been stripped from the public schools so that they no longer have Christmas carols or programs that refer to the Savior's birth... no nativity scenes... only Santa Claus, etc  so as not to "offend " anyone... Christmas vacation became Winter Break... Christmas trees became "holiday" trees... Merry Christmas became Happy Holidays, and on and on until there is no honoring or reverence for the Christ... public places can no longer display the Ten Commandments without a fight... even Christian public prayer is no longer acceptable (but Muslims demand special rooms where they can pray several times a day like at the airport, etc).  In those LDS homes that do not have regular gospel centered family activities, or parents are inactive, it's even more understandable that the children would not continue in the faith.   

 

When I was a girl in Rialto, CA., the main thoroughfare was divided by a wide, grassy median about several blocks long... every Christmas the city put up a nativity scene on the block where the median intersected with the main highway... in the median all along the block leading to the nativity scene, there were life sized, painted wooden figures of the three wise men, the shepherds, their sheep, all moving toward the scene... I loved those figures and they were part of every Christmas holiday as I was growing up... today... of couse they are no longer... they might "offend" someone... or to leave the scene up they'd have to give equal time to any other group wanting to make a statement, including atheists, etc.

 

GG

Edited January 2, 2015 by Garden Girl

[why me]

And don't forget, Scott, religion and Chist have been stripped from the public schools so that they no longer have Christmas carols or programs that refer to the Savior's birth... no nativity scenes... only Santa Claus, etc  so as not to "offend " anyone... Christmas vacation became Winter Break... Christmas trees became "holiday" trees... Merry Christmas became Happy Holidays, and on and on until there is no honoring or reverence for the Christ... public places can no longer display the Ten Commandments without a fight... even Christian public prayer is no longer acceptable (but Muslims demand special rooms where they can pray several times a day like at the airport, etc).  In those LDS homes that do not have regular gospel centered family activities, or parents are inactive, it's even more understandable that the children would not continue in the faith.   

 

 

 

 

I don't think that the public school system had much to do with it. It has to do with the values that the neoliberal ideology advocates: consumption, individualism, free choice, ego worship, narcissism, self-centeredness, self-absorbtion. The youth are living in the age of the great selfie. However, parents are also affected by such an ideology too. Religion is becoming only nominal in many people's lives. 

[cinepro]

Actually, it wasn't so much that the name "stuck around." It was discontinued for many years after the MIA was renamed Young Men and Young Women. Then later, the name "Mutual" was officially reintroduced as the name for the weeknight activity program of the Young Men and Young Women organizations.

 

 

If anyone is wondering whether they should take Scott's word on the subject, I would...

Edited January 2, 2015 by cinepro

[california boy]

As a Mormon I disrespectfully disagree. If Christ and the gospel were exclusionary I would have been booted by God a long time ago.

You do realize I was agreeing with scot loyd and his take of Mormonism

[why me]

Here are some examples of the impulse society in one particular country when it comes to religion and resignations:

 

http://yle.fi/uutiset/church_resignations_a_long-term_trend/6736606

 

Church resignations a long-term trend Church resignations are a long-term trend in Finland, with peaks caused by Päivi Räsänen’s recent comments a small fluctuation in the overall movement away from Finland’s established religion, according to one professor of comparative religion. Lack of enthusiasm for the church is shown by low turnout figures in church elections.

 

Last week 3,500 people resigned from the church in just two days via the eroakirkosta.fi website. The spike came after Interior Minister and Christian Democrat leader Päivi Räsänen made controversial comments about abortion, and suggested that people should break the law in certain circumstances if it conflicted with their Christian religion.

The resignations are down to wider societal changes, according to Helsinki University professor of comparative religion René Gothóni.

”People’s commitment to the church is generally weaker, and religion does not have such a great significance in everyday life any more,” said Góthóni, who attributes the phenomenon to urbanisation and individualism.

”The main thing in the Lutheran service is the sermon, and if that isn’t to your taste then the church is easy to leave.”

 

Tens of thousands of Finns left their church in 2013. And most was based on impulse since they basically left because of comments by a christian democratic politician, who had nothing to do with the lutheran church.

 

http://yle.fi/uutiset/church_membership_continues_decline/7084965

 

Church membership continues decline Membership in Finland's national Evangelical Lutheran Church continued to decline in 2013. Even so, three-quarters of the Finns do still formally belong to the Lutheran Church.

Approximately 59,000 people resigned from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in 2013. At the end of the year, membership totaled around 4.1 million

At 53%, over half of those leaving the church were young adults between the ages of 20 and 29. On the other hand, 46% of new members were in the same age group.

The lowest rate of church membership was among 30-39 year-olds. In that age group, 65% were on the Lutheran Church's rolls at the end of the year. The highest rate of membership was 89% among people over 80 years of age.

Fewer than half, 49%, of marriages in the country last year were Lutheran ceremonies. However, while down slightly, almost exactly three-quarters of all children born in the country were christened in the church.

 

Such is the impulse society.

Edited January 2, 2015 by why me

[The Nehor]

You do realize I was agreeing with scot loyd and his take of Mormonism

I do and many Mormons might even believe that God is exclusionary. They are wrong.

[california boy]

I do and many Mormons might even believe that God is exclusionary. They are wrong.

[california boy]

I do and many Mormons might even believe that God is exclusionary. They are wrong.

I. Agree and evidently some youth do as well

[Garden Girl]

I don't think that the public school system had much to do with it. It has to do with the values that the neoliberal ideology advocates: consumption, individualism, free choice, ego worship, narcissism, self-centeredness, self-absorbtion. The youth are living in the age of the great selfie. However, parents are also affected by such an ideology too. Religion is becoming only nominal in many people's lives. 

 

I guess I should have said public schools and numerous other venues... the point was that we've just about stripped Christ from all of the public (not necessarily just govt) areas that affect us, and children as they grow up... so why wouldn't "youth" not feel a particular connection to faith, and just see the restrictive nature of religion, so they turn to the secular... and are influenced in the areas you cite...

 

GG

Edited January 3, 2015 by Garden Girl