The Church is Losing Millennials?

[smac97]

Here:

Quote

Mormon millennials are the focus of a symposium at Utah Valley University this week.

Research shows Mormon millennials are becoming more Republican than their parents, but leaving the faith in larger numbers than previous generations.

BYU researcher and associate professor of political science, Quin Monson, was a presenter Tuesday at UVU and said millennials Mormons are "Republican with a twist." They like smaller government but tend to follow religious leaders on issues like immigration, a decidedly more left-leaning issue.

When it comes to their faith, more millennials are taking a break from formal Sunday worship.

Mormon millennials, 18 to 35, have stuck with their religion in larger numbers than millennials of other faiths, but they follow national trends in leaving behind organized religion.

"We are now at 64 to 65 percent, which is very good nowadays, but not as good as it used to be with in this tradition."

Jana Riess is starting to look at Millennials in the LDS church and quotes numbers from Pew Research showing a retention rate of Mormon millennials at 64 percent. Compare that to the 1970s and '80s when retention was at 90 percent for born-and-raised Mormons,

Riess, the author of "Flunking Sainthood" is a senior columnist for Religion News Service and spoke on a panel at UVU Tuesday. She spoke of change within the LDS church, to which she belongs.

"Many of the values of the millennial generation have stated inclusion, tolerance, and are not values they feel are being reflected." Millennials are more supportive of social change like gay marriage than their parents and don't agree with some of the stances the LDS church has taken in recent years.

"Yes," Riess says "that is a factor, but on the other hand, Mormons are doing some things right. Some innovative things to retain young people that are working wonderfully: like lowering the missionary age and just having singles wards."

The missionary age was lowered recently to 18 for men and 19 for women who respectively had to wait until they were 19 and 21 for decades before.

...

"In the wider culture, disaffiliation from religion is the trend. People are organized religion and it is very hard to resist what is going on in the host culture."

When Mormons leave their faith, it's not in search of something else Reiss said.

"It's not that they are leaving Mormonism and primarily becoming Evangelical or Catholic. They are not becoming anything. They are just leaving."

Interesting stuff.  I also think it's interesting that Jana Riess is speaking on the issue of "leaving behind organized religion," since she has publicly advocated doing just that.

I recognize that activity in the Church can be a burden on a busy person's life and schedule.  But then, so are other important things, like being married, having and raising children, exercising, eating healthy, and so on.  And yet I don't think any reasonable LDS person would endorse the deliberate decision to abandon these activities, to take a long-term sabbatical from one's obligations to their spouse, children, body, and so on.  Over and above the violation of sacred covenants that would be caused by abdicating such responsibilities, doing so just doesn't make sense.  There are all sorts of ways to manage one's responsibilities toward family, health, etc. without utterly abandoning those responsibilities.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

-Smac

[carbon dioxide]

Being a Gen Xer, I sort of get tired of hearing about the Millennials these days.  Of course probably the generations before me probably got sick of hearing about Gen X back in the day.  The Millennials are pretty much addicted to their phones and texting.  Why go to Church on Sunday when there is that all important Facebook post that they might miss?  It pretty is much all they care about.  They don't need organized religion as they have found a new religion and new god they discovered recently from  the Apple store. 

[Wanderer7]

I'm honestly frustrated with my generation. We've learned to revere the wrong values and to question everything. Following principles is considered a downfall. Civil rights reigns supreme among a generation that has no idea what "civil rights" actually are. In terms of the church, I personally believe the Lord is sifting out the weak in preparation for trying times, kind of like what happened in the Kirtland and Nauvoo periods.

[carbon dioxide]

1 hour ago, Wanderer7 said:

I'm honestly frustrated with my generation. We've learned to revere the wrong values and to question everything. Following principles is considered a downfall. Civil rights reigns supreme among a generation that has no idea what "civil rights" actually are. In terms of the church, I personally believe the Lord is sifting out the weak in preparation for trying times, kind of like what happened in the Kirtland and Nauvoo periods.

It is a race to the bottom and some in the Church want to be a part of the race.  I suspect that many will return as events start speeding up and get more severe.  When the real bad earthquakes, wars, droughts, and other disasters come and they will not be allowed to be happy in their wickedness, many will be compelled to return.  Fear is a great motivator that gets people back to God.

[Duncan]

I am 37, there were 7 guys in my priests quorum, 3 of us served missions, 2 of us are active out of the 7. Besides guys my age ditching the church is guys who attend church but aren't interested and go for their wives and kids

[california boy]

The research on this is pretty clear.  67% of the people leaving organized religion say it is because of religions involvement in politics.  The past couple of weeks we have seen another round of religion using its hammer to legalize discrimination.  The anticipated result will be even more people walking away from organized religion.  The Mormon church is not immune to this.  It is been just as politically involved as any other religion.  Perhaps more.  Seriously, what do you expect to happen.

[readstoomuch]

1 hour ago, smac97 said:

Here:

Interesting stuff.  I also think it's interesting that Jana Riess is speaking on the issue of "leaving behind organized religion," since she has publicly advocated doing just that.

I recognize that activity in the Church can be a burden on a busy person's life and schedule.  But then, so are other important things, like being married, having and raising children, exercising, eating healthy, and so on.  And yet I don't think any reasonable LDS person would endorse the deliberate decision to abandon these activities, to take a long-term sabbatical from one's obligations to their spouse, children, body, and so on.  Over and above the violation of sacred covenants that would be caused by abdicating such responsibilities, doing so just doesn't make sense.  There are all sorts of ways to manage one's responsibilities toward family, health, etc. without utterly abandoning those responsibilities.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

-Smac

Wasn`t Jana Riess talking about a sabbatical?  

All Churches are losing Millenials.  It could be something that we could united about, despite our differences.  

[Hamba Tuhan]

If the stats are accurate, I'm not convinced it's all the fault of the 'Millennials'. We lost an entire generation of YSAs in our stake because we moved away from the clear guidelines in the handbook regarding Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes. As soon as we got back on track in our ward, we stopped losing most of our young people. Are our classes and quorums functioning the way they should be, led by engaged youth presidencies and merely advised by adults? Are Duty to God and Personal Progress taken seriously and implemented in all we do? Etc.?

I fear that if we think this is all inevitable because, well, Millennials ... then we won't see what we could be doing better/differently.

Edited April 14, 2016 by Hamba Tuhan

[carbon dioxide]

1 hour ago, california boy said:

The research on this is pretty clear.  67% of the people leaving organized religion say it is because of religions involvement in politics. 

Which is evidence that those people where not serious about the religion they were involved with.  For LDS it is like "yeah I believe the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet, the Church is true....Oh wait, the Church is getting involved in politics?  That is it!! I am done"   If one believes the doctrines of the Church, they don't blow their eternal salvation and exaltation promises over more trivial things. 

Overall I think this could be good for religion.  A healthy religion is not based on how many people are part of it but how committed those that are in it are.  Just as a 400 pound man has to lose 45% of his weight to become healthy, perhaps some religions have to lose 45-50% of the people to become healthy.  Religions have to lose some fat and in the process will gain more muscle.

[Hamba Tuhan]

47 minutes ago, california boy said:

67% of the people leaving organized religion say it is because of religions involvement in politics.

Well then clearly the Church had better stop speaking out in favour of treating illegal immigrants with kindness and respect and encouraging its members to get intimately involved in serving refugees.

[Storm Rider]

I don't really have a lot of compassion or regret over this issue.  We have doctrine and teachings that the Church cannot, must not, ever retreat from at any time.  If individuals will leave over these doctrines and teachings then so be it.  It has always been so since the beginning of God's dealings with humanity.  Some can hold to the rod and others will feel the sting of rebuke from those in the big house.  Others still will get caught up in regrets and other influences that cause them to release their hold of the iron rod and end up walking in darkness.

There will be others that regardless of trials and tribulations will remain faithful to Christ and his teachings.  

There are a lot of itching ears right now and pure doctrine stings for them - they would much rather forfeit the Holy Spirit in order to be entertained with pats on the back about how good they are; how much more enlightened they are; as they calmly, patiently are led down to hell and damnation.   

[california boy]

59 minutes ago, carbon dioxide said:

Which is evidence that those people where not serious about the religion they were involved with.  For LDS it is like "yeah I believe the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet, the Church is true....Oh wait, the Church is getting involved in politics?  That is it!! I am done"   If one believes the doctrines of the Church, they don't blow their eternal salvation and exaltation promises over more trivial things. 

Overall I think this could be good for religion.  A healthy religion is not based on how many people are part of it but how committed those that are in it are.  Just as a 400 pound man has to lose 45% of his weight to become healthy, perhaps some religions have to lose 45-50% of the people to become healthy.  Religions have to lose some fat and in the process will gain more muscle.

Then I guess it is not a concern

[ttribe]

1 hour ago, carbon dioxide said:

Which is evidence that those people where not serious about the religion they were involved with.  For LDS it is like "yeah I believe the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet, the Church is true....Oh wait, the Church is getting involved in politics?  That is it!! I am done"   If one believes the doctrines of the Church, they don't blow their eternal salvation and exaltation promises over more trivial things. 

Overall I think this could be good for religion.  A healthy religion is not based on how many people are part of it but how committed those that are in it are.  Just as a 400 pound man has to lose 45% of his weight to become healthy, perhaps some religions have to lose 45-50% of the people to become healthy.  Religions have to lose some fat and in the process will gain more muscle.

 

24 minutes ago, Storm Rider said:

I don't really have a lot of compassion or regret over this issue.  We have doctrine and teachings that the Church cannot, must not, ever retreat from at any time.  If individuals will leave over these doctrines and teachings then so be it.  It has always been so since the beginning of God's dealings with humanity.  Some can hold to the rod and others will feel the sting of rebuke from those in the big house.  Others still will get caught up in regrets and other influences that cause them to release their hold of the iron rod and end up walking in darkness.

There will be others that regardless of trials and tribulations will remain faithful to Christ and his teachings.  

There are a lot of itching ears right now and pure doctrine stings for them - they would much rather forfeit the Holy Spirit in order to be entertained with pats on the back about how good they are; how much more enlightened they are; as they calmly, patiently are led down to hell and damnation.   

So much for the whole leaving the ninety and nine in search of the one who was lost, right?  I mean, really, just cull the heard and all is well in Zion again.

Lovely sentiments.

[california boy]

42 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Well then clearly the Church had better stop speaking out in favour of treating illegal immigrants with kindness and respect and encouraging its members to get intimately involved in serving refugees.

 It doesn't appear to be just one issue.  I think it is the total involvement religion seems to be injecting itself from presidential elections down to immigration issues.  What happens when your religion gets involved in a political issue or a candidate that you do not agree with?  It seems people walk away from their churches.  While the Mormon church doesn't endorse candidates, it does choose issues to become politically involved with.  

[california boy]

31 minutes ago, Storm Rider said:

I don't really have a lot of compassion or regret over this issue.  We have doctrine and teachings that the Church cannot, must not, ever retreat from at any time.  If individuals will leave over these doctrines and teachings then so be it.  It has always been so since the beginning of God's dealings with humanity.  Some can hold to the rod and others will feel the sting of rebuke from those in the big house.  Others still will get caught up in regrets and other influences that cause them to release their hold of the iron rod and end up walking in darkness.

There will be others that regardless of trials and tribulations will remain faithful to Christ and his teachings.  

There are a lot of itching ears right now and pure doctrine stings for them - they would much rather forfeit the Holy Spirit in order to be entertained with pats on the back about how good they are; how much more enlightened they are; as they calmly, patiently are led down to hell and damnation.   

Do you believe that all doctrinal issues should become political?  Is it not enough to teach correct principles and let others govern themselves?  That seems to be the question at least according to the data.  

[The Nehor]

3 hours ago, carbon dioxide said:

Being a Gen Xer, I sort of get tired of hearing about the Millennials these days.  Of course probably the generations before me probably got sick of hearing about Gen X back in the day.  The Millennials are pretty much addicted to their phones and texting.  Why go to Church on Sunday when there is that all important Facebook post that they might miss?  It pretty is much all they care about.  They don't need organized religion as they have found a new religion and new god they discovered recently from  the Apple store. 

Previous generations were saying the same thing about pagers and cell phones when I, another Gen Xer, was young.

This too shall pass.

[Hamba Tuhan]

11 minutes ago, california boy said:

 What happens when your religion gets involved in a political issue or a candidate that you do not agree with?

I think that can vary depending on whether one sincerely understands her/his religion to be the Restored Kingdom of God, led by authorised prophets and apostles.

And it is certainly a bridge every faithful Latter-day Saint will have to cross sooner or later.

[Yirgacheffe]

3 hours ago, smac97 said:

 

I recognize that activity in the Church can be a burden on a busy person's life and schedule.  But then, so are other important things, like being married, having and raising children, exercising, eating healthy, and so on.  And yet I don't think any reasonable LDS person would endorse the deliberate decision to abandon these activities, to take a long-term sabbatical from one's obligations to their spouse, children, body, and so on.  Over and above the violation of sacred covenants that would be caused by abdicating such responsibilities, doing so just doesn't make sense.  There are all sorts of ways to manage one's responsibilities toward family, health, etc. without utterly abandoning those responsibilities.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

-Smac

You say "say the church can be a burden on a busy person's life and schedule" and then list list things like, family, exercising, eating healthy and so on.  The trouble is, family, caring for self and family, earning a live is a busy person's LIFE.  I think more and more people are seeing an obligation to family (particularly as something accomplished by spending time with them), living a more healthy life, done through proper nutrition and exercise as having a higher priority than living an involved religious life.  Work is taking up much more  of the very limited time parents have to spend with their spouses and children and fulfilling the goals of a healthy lifestyle and developing the potential of their children.  Constant connection to work and the ability to "put out fires" from home has put the office/shop in the kitchen and demands attention now. 

Young people seem to be looking at religion and saying "I don't buy this obligation idea, I didn't ask to be born a Baptist/Catholic/Mormon" or what ever.  Many are looking at organized religion and saying "I have responsibilities to work, family, self, an organized church with it's own resources not so much.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

52 minutes ago, california boy said:

Do you believe that all doctrinal issues should become political?  Is it not enough to teach correct principles and let others govern themselves?  That seems to be the question at least according to the data.  

I don't often agree with CBoy, but he has a good point here. Perhaps it is the involvement in politics, and trying to enforce morality through fiat, and not the teaching of moral principles, that is the issue driving them away.

[why me]

Generation Y is not doing very well either. I do think that the current generation faces terrible obstacles these days. It is not just about the US but all over the West and developed world. The world is much more liquid for them and not very solid. Also, postmodern values seem to have a foundation in many of their lives: a rejection of metanarratives (such the lds church) and a belief in idenitity politics and issues or in no issues at all. Just survival.

The lds church 'imposes' certain restrictions in how to live life. I assume that many do not want such control in their lives. They desire the freedom to live their lives the way they wish to live it. And they may wish to discover their own identities whatever these may be. Here is an interesting article about generation Y from the guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/series/millennials-the-trials-of-generation-y

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/11/the-guardian-view-on-millennials-a-deepening-age-divide-and-the-growing-pains-of-gen-y

One would think that this generation would welcome a lds metanarrative. But it may just seem that among all the turmoil and all the chaos, they choose to go it alone with their own identity contructs. And by labeling generations as baby boomers, generation x and generation y and not the labeling of the currect generation shows the power of identities labeling. At the end of the day, we are all human beings and should work for the betterment of all generations without divisive labels.

Edited April 14, 2016 by why me

[The Nehor]

16 minutes ago, why me said:

Generation Y is not doing very well either. I do think that the current generation faces terrible obstacles these days. It is not just about the US but all over the West and developed world. The world is much more liquid for them and not very solid. Also, postmodern values seem to have a foundation in many of their lives: a rejection of metanarratives (such the lds church) and a belief in idenitity politics and issues or in no issues at all. Just survival.

The lds church 'imposes' certain restrictions in how to live life. I assume that many do not want such control in their lives. They desire the freedom to live their lives the way they wish to live it. And they may wish to discover their own identities whatever these may be. Here is an interesting article about generation Y from the guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/series/millennials-the-trials-of-generation-y

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/11/the-guardian-view-on-millennials-a-deepening-age-divide-and-the-growing-pains-of-gen-y

One would think that this generation would welcome a lds metanarrative. But it may just seem that among all the turmoil and all the chaos, they choose to go it alone with their own identity contructs. And by labeling generations as baby boomers, generation x and generation y and not the labeling of the currect generation shows the power of identities labeling. At the end of the day, we are all human beings and should work for the betterment of all generations without divisive labels.

That sounds good but it is probably easier to blame all our problems on Baby Boomers squandering the west's post war advantage to live in relative luxury and throw them all to hungry sharks for robbing the following generations.

[rodheadlee]

1 hour ago, ttribe said:

 

So much for the whole leaving the ninety and nine in search of the one who was lost, right?  I mean, really, just cull the heard and all is well in Zion again.

Lovely sentiments.

You can't force them to come back.

[why me]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

That sounds good but it is probably easier to blame all our problems on Baby Boomers squandering the west's post war advantage to live in relative luxury and throw them all to hungry sharks for robbing the following generations.

That is one theory. But I do think that it is also an ideological problem. The economic situation is not good for the x'ers and the y'ers. But also values have changed along the way. There is very little solidarity and yet, we do see protests by these groups and many are reaching out to Sanders to show frustation. But values have changed and the lds church has not changed with the times. It keeps holding on to its metanarritve as it should. And so, some members of these generations leave. Also, for these generations with see special interest groups sprouting up such as occupy, black  lives matter, democracy spring etc. However, when you ask these people for an alternative, they have no idea except some platitudes. Lets give them a new identity: the lost generations.

But where does the church fit into the needs of these two generations? It does give an answer but some don't want to listen. The mormon identity is not valued except on their own terms.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/listen/series/mormon-identities-audio

http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20121008,00.html

 

Edited April 14, 2016 by why me

[CV75]

8 hours ago, california boy said:

The research on this is pretty clear.  67% of the people leaving organized religion say it is because of religions involvement in politics.  The past couple of weeks we have seen another round of religion using its hammer to legalize discrimination.  The anticipated result will be even more people walking away from organized religion.  The Mormon church is not immune to this.  It is been just as politically involved as any other religion.  Perhaps more.  Seriously, what do you expect to happen.

So the people leaving religion because of its involvement in politics are apolitical? Which is it -- they don't want to be involved in politics, or in religion?

[Storm Rider]

7 hours ago, california boy said:

Do you believe that all doctrinal issues should become political?  Is it not enough to teach correct principles and let others govern themselves?  That seems to be the question at least according to the data.  

I think this is an excellent question.  If there has been a problem with those who are against gay marriage they did not effectively, clearly explain why gay marriage may be unhealthy for society.  I think any entity should be able to share their opinion.  I have a degree of discomfort when churches contribute funds to any political endeavor - that is just me.  

It seems best to simply teach correct principles, as you said above, and let the chips fall where they may.