A recently leaked presentation on TSCC goals in 17 West Africa countries is interesting.

https://mormonleaks.io/wiki/index.php?title=File:Africa_West_Area_Overview.pdf

What I found most insightful is the number of convert baptisms, on slide #6. If my math is right, the growth in convert baptisms from the previous years is as follows:

2011 13%

2012 20%

2013 47%

2014 20%

2015 2%

Lagos, we've got a problem.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2017 01:32PM by left4good.

"Local traditions that can hinder:
• lack of equality between spouses."

Ah yes, mormons work so hard towards the equal treatment of women, right?

Heh.
Not to mention: claimed 270,000 members, but only about 80,000 attending Sacrament meetings. Less than 1/3rd.

Oops.

It's really, really easy to gain a religious convert in any of the African Christian countries. Problem is, they'll easily convert to any Christian religion, not just Mormonism. So, while the numbers count is encouraging, retention is no better than any place else. The best retention that Mormons have anywhere is about 25 to 30%. So in the end, it really remains a very unsuccessful religion.

Come on guys, in most of Europe and Latin America, double digits is already above average. 30% would be the stuff of legend.

What struck me was Slide 21: Helping members rise from poverty through payment of tithes and offerings and the application of "self-reliance" principles. Or, in other words, give us your money and we'll teach you how to fend for yourself (which you're already doing, but we've packaged it differently so it sounds revolutionary), and magically you'll rise out of poverty.

By self reliance they mean don't ask the church to help you.

Hmmm..."give us your money and we'll teach you 'self-reliance principles."

Scientology?

Maybe one place they'd be better off using a more historically accurate depiction of a first-century Galilean.

Here is one opinion from a forensic anthropologist hired by the BBC...
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35120965

Look to the Saviour: Increase tithing!!
Look to the Temple: Increase members with TR (aka full tithers)!
Slide 21: Rise from poverty by payment of tithes!

numbersRus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Slide 21: Rise from poverty by payment of tithes!

Typical MLM-speak: make millions by paying into the pyramid scheme!

It doesn't actually work...but people still buy the scam.

From the link:

"Helping members rise from poverty through the
payment of tithes and offerings and the application
of self reliance
principles."

Yeah, how is payment of tithes going to help these people rise from poverty?

How can Mormons, in good conscience, go into a poverty area and TAKE MONEY from starving people--where other churches, groups, and individuals try to offer real aid?

Mormons are as masterful at lying to themselves as they are at lying to others.


And some of you think I'm too harsh, when I say that the Mormon cult is EVIL. >:(

That's a big drop in just one year for the rate of increase in baptisms.

Does anyone have any anecdotal information from anyone serving in these missions? Surely the mission presidents and missionaries have discussed the downward trend.

Is the field not as white to harvest or is the church intentionally pulling back? Does anyone know?

I felt for those kids looking up to that whiter than white portrait of Jesus. Yes, children, we must worship this Idaho version of white authority figures.


They must not simply be  "satisfied with attendance at Church but rather true conversion and service". Translation: Don't be satisfied until they are completely church broke and masochistic martyrs.