I really enjoyed Dieter Uchdorf's talk in the church's priesthood session tonight.1 It goes so contrary to all the other talks, sound-bites and press releases. I hope they make the video available such that I can share it here. It would not do it justice to read it and miss all the other non-verbal expressions. This is not the first talk of his I've heard of his that has been light-filled.2

Meanwhile, the standard stance is taken by Quentin Cook:

"Some have asserted that more members are leaving the Church today and that there is more doubt and unbelief than in the past. This is simply not true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has never been stronger. The number of members removing their names from the records of the church has always been very small, and is significantly less in recent years than in the past. The increase in demonstrably measurable areas, such as endowed members with a current temple recommend, adult full tithe payers, and those serving missions has been dramatic. Let me say again, the Church has never been stronger."

Lets assume that is true, and that the "Google Apostasy" that Elder Jensen referred to has not ended in many members removing their names from the records, but simply going their way and having nothing further to do with the church. Elder Cook is saying : "Don't worry, we have numbers on our side, that's why we're right. A broad, safe road." He says the church is strong, but he's measuring, as Dieter suggested, the wrong thing. The bigger our numbers, the weaker we've gotten.

While the voting often is declared as appearing to be "unanimous" there are approximately 11 out of 15 million members that do not vote. Actually they have voted with their feet. The standard answer to them, is to dismiss them and say, "well, they're inactive, unfaithful, their vote doesn't count." It is incomprehensible to these "active, believing" five million that they may actually be wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.3 Those who abstain from voting or choose vote in opposition are not counted, they are referred to their Stake President, where they are told to get in line because they are unfaithful. Their motives which are judged as rebellion are in many cases something that brings them bitter sorrow to do.

One person asked, "So are you holding out hope for the organization?" Another responded:

"My current understanding of the scriptures is that the final gathering will not happen through any organization of man. I believe Christ himself will do the gathering. I am holding out hope that as many from the LDS church, including leadership, will repent (as we all need to and are still doing) of our unbelief and hopefully connect with heaven again."

 

Notes

1. See video here.

2. See conferece talk: Come Join with Us, October 2013.

3. "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:19)