{"id":40421,"date":"2017-03-09T22:52:07","date_gmt":"2017-03-10T05:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=40421"},"modified":"2017-03-09T22:52:07","modified_gmt":"2017-03-10T05:52:07","slug":"people-leaving-mormon-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2017\/03\/people-leaving-mormon-church.html","title":{"rendered":"“Why are People Leaving the Mormon Church?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"RLDS<\/a>
Although I\u2019ve experienced nothing but friendly kindness from members of the Community of Christ, theirs is not the path that I wish for my own church. \u00a0(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

This item will provoke some discussion, I expect:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.churchistrue.com\/blog\/why-are-people-leaving-the-mormon-church\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are four\u00a0quick reactions of my own:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

1)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not eager to toss people from the Church for\u00a0regarding\u00a0the Book of Mormon as ahistorical. \u00a0I don\u2019t seek to drive them out. \u00a0But I also strongly disagree with that view of the Book of Mormon, and, because I believe it to be false (and somewhat incoherent), I don\u2019t believe that the Church should ever welcome it as a viewpoint on a par with belief in Lehite historicity. \u00a0Moreover, it doesn\u2019t seem remotely likely to me that acceptance of a fictional-but-inspired Book of Mormon is a path toward the flourishing of the Church, the strengthening of the commitment of the Saints, or the success of our missionary mandate. \u00a0As Exhibit A in support of my skepticism, I submit the example of the Community of Christ (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

2)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I strongly believe in being kind and charitable to members of the Church (and others)\u00a0who experience same-sex attraction. \u00a0(I hope and am confident\u00a0that those with whom I\u2019ve interacted who are so inclined can attest that I\u2019ve been respectful and sympathetic to them.) \u00a0I do not believe, however, that the Church can relax or change its standards regarding sexual behavior without direct and powerful divine revelation. \u00a0And, frankly, I don\u2019t expect such revelation \u2014 if what is expected is, say, authorization for sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

3)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe that we can back away from our exclusive claims without effectively transmuting Mormonism<\/a> into another faith and casting aside the claims of the Restoration. \u00a0Personally, if I ever became convinced that the Restoration isn\u2019t what it has always announced itself to be, I would stay home on Sundays. \u00a0I would see very little point in a continuing (and often sacrificial) commitment to Mormonism. \u00a0Which, I think, is what often<\/em> happens in liberal churches. \u00a0And, once again, I offer the Community of Christ as\u00a0Exhibit A in support of my thinking on this. \u00a0I know and like a number of adherents\u00a0of the \u201cReorganization,\u201d including some of their leaders, but I don\u2019t see their path as one that leads to growth or, overall, to vigorous member commitment.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

4)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I cannot, frankly, regard\u00a0Gina Colvin as a reliable guide to the Church\u2019s optimal future.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 This item will provoke some discussion, I expect: \u00a0 http:\/\/www.churchistrue.com\/blog\/why-are-people-leaving-the-mormon-church\/ \u00a0 Here are four\u00a0quick reactions of my own: \u00a0 1) \u00a0 I\u2019m not eager to toss people from the Church for\u00a0regarding\u00a0the Book of Mormon as ahistorical. \u00a0I don\u2019t seek to drive them out. \u00a0But I also strongly disagree with that view of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n"Why are People Leaving the Mormon Church?"<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"    This item will provoke some discussion, I expect:   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