JohnnyL wrote: ↑May 13th, 2017, 1:29 pmOk, and I've just seen that AI 2.0 already responded well... Anyway, I'll leave this up.Sunain wrote: ↑May 13th, 2017, 8:30 am ...
I think that Transparency is one of the main issues Millennials have. Church stats and tithing have always been secretive. Anything secretive or not available to public view is viewed with skepticism because there is a lot of corruption in the world in business and churches.
I personally believe that the reason the church is losing so many youth/millenials is it's own fault and the leaders of the church will be held accountable for the decisions they have made. There is so many things the church could have done to support these members over the years. Contrary to what the popular opinion is in this thread, Millennials are a neglected generation in various different ways than previous generations.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens sums up the situation in our day, the same issues that were occurring in his day.Missionary exchanges in our area are focused on reactivating members. When we are able to talk with people about the issues they have, a lot of them are doctrine that we really can't dispute like: Word of Wisdom, LGBT, Law of Chastity, Polygamy, Priesthood for males only, ect.It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
There are a lot of points that are also brought up though where there are issues in the church. Almost all the issues come up on this list:
http://www.whymormonsleave.com/wp-conte ... y-2014.pdf
There are a few issues though that I hear quite often where I can understand why these younger members have left the church because they feel like it was like they had no real logical choice but to leave.
- [1]Members do not treat other members with Christlike love. Gossip, Nepotism, Caste system in the church, cult like culture, bullying. No difference between the world and the church. Bishoprics aren't doing anything about members that are causing these sinful issues.
[2]Church no longer allows younger members of the church in leadership positions. They feel left out in the decision making process.
[3]Hound the youth like it's a sin to use Facebook, Twitter and social media to talk to their friends yet don't have their own online social system to talk to other members of the church. Told the only productive reason to use social media is to spread the gospel.
[4]Deceptive church stats and no full disclosure of funds. By not doing so means they have something to hide.
[5]Temple ordinances: Doesn't allow non-temple worth members or non-members to attend marriage. Hidden Second Anointing ordinance. Changes to the temple ceremony over the years.
[6]Single members are treated as second-class members and aren't considered adults unless they are married and have children.
Transparency is a problem, but it's much more perceived than real. I'd say when people talk about transparency, it's more an attitude by leaders of "I don't care enough to research and learn more" as a sign of "plausible deniability" from leaders. It's like when you talk to someone about a problem and they kind of throw you off with "Oh yeah, blah blah blah" and nothing of what they are saying has any real connection to your problem and you just want to grab them by the shoulders and shake them out of their politicalness and say, "LISTEN!"
I agree much with AI 2.0 that the problem is mainly testimony, but... there are definitely things that could be very helpful.
ALL of those problems mentioned can not only be disputed, but answered decently convincingly. It WOULD be more helpful for leaders to get it right ahead of time, and get better information (good information usually helps inspiration). And it would help to counter some things nicely but straight on and forcefully.
I can only think that the first on the list is really problematic.
I have no idea what 2 is even referring to.
Three is more "right time, right place--and three hours of FB during church is NOT it", nor is hours a day playing video games, especially when your grades are falling, you can't connect or even talk to people face to face, etc.
Four--church stats are pretty open; the funds part isn't coming out, and it shouldn't.
Five isn't much of a problem for anyone who basically understands (has a basic testimony).
Six--well, I think it goes back to one. I don't see it as a problem much where I've been.
Same.