Sorry to start another thread, but we all need to be aware of this. TSCC put out bogus numbers to the census service that just ranked them the fastest growing Christian religion in the US (45.5% over the last decade). As Simon in Oz pointed out, this is totally bogus:

http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,490639

Peggy Fletcher Stack reported glowingly on the bogus numbers she was supplied, as did the Des News, USA Today and others.

The actual growth over the last decade was less than 20%, not 45.5% as everyone is reporting. Peggy was informed by many of us, and has called out TSCC on the bogus info. Here is her retraction/followup article: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54036926-78/church-lds-membership-percent.html.csp As you can read, TSCC is trying to say they changed the way they keep track of numbers, but none of what they are saying makes any sense at all. They were trying to put one over on everyone, and got caught.
Anyone wanting to help should go to the story link provided, and put in your opinion. Also perhaps send USA today the link to Peggy's most recent article, so they will do a proper retraction of their glowing report on TSCc's growth.
Even the guy doing the census in the article is trying to downplay it, calling it 'no big deal'. He got taken in by TSCC's phony numbers! It is a big deal!

I doubt that Dale Jones is downplaying it because he was taken in by TSCC. He is probably downplaying it because to him it really is a small thing.

It might be a big thing to us, but it doesn't have to be for him.

It should be, though, because this makes him look like an idiot who didn't do his homework. Sounds more to me like he's trying to sweep it under the rug.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2012 10:52PM by snb.

They tried to compare statistical apples and oranges, and made a confusing explanation to hide it. I was rather annoyed by Stack's getting quotes from those trying to downplay it like everyone's doing it and not even mentioning Simon Southerton, who pointed it out to her on Facebook.

BTW, the population growth of Utah between 2000 and 2010 was 23.8%.

By no means do I disagree with you, but the Trib has said many times before that the blogs are not to be considered news. Obviously Stack has an agenda.

It's in the News section. If it's a blog, it's really hard to tell.

You know: sustain and support the Bruthern. And their lies.

I'm really pissed off at her for saying that the Mormon church does not teach the "prosperity gospel" when my parents and I are not speaking to each other over that very issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFpRQ3C7smg

I avoid reading her "work" because I lurk here and everyone seems to post some pap she churns out fairly regularly. All that is to say I think she's less a journalist than a dingbat tool. She's already on record in that video for not being a scholar, or I would have said something about that. LOL!

MORmONS continually rape language in their pathetic attempts to justify and rationalize MORmON practices. Words are twisted and brutally misused at best. ( "We are not a cult!!!") Many Other times its just outright lies. ("There are no secret handshakes in LDS temple worship!!!!")

ANyone who knows much about MORmONISM and who is also honest with themselves and others also knows just how contrived and convoluted things really are in MORmONISM.

MORmONISM does teach the prosperity gospel. That simply means that MORmONS believe that those who follow the rules will be blessed financially. I will give examples to back up that statement. I am sure there are tons of others. No doubt there are tons More.

Paul Dunn in the 1970s: " do you want a 30,000 $ a year job? -take care of the lord's (MORmON JESUS INC) business first"

Teachings of Gordon Hinckley: Gordon Hinckley tells of a poor Mexican family who farms for a living, they join the MORmON church. by living the MORmON gospel, the family changes from farming to a being a scrap recycler and the family becomes much more prosperous.

the mighty glenn beck claimed that his LDS conversion resurrected his dead broadcasting career.

It is in the news section and it is not part of her blog. Sorry for that, it was my bad.

Good eye!

from the article..."left out numbers of members who, although baptized, were not currently associated with a specific congregation. This year, we included total membership numbers to more accurately reflect all of those found on church records."

What a load of crap...the church has counted people to the age of 110 but they didn't count those not currently associated with a specific congregation? Liars.


"Any group can define [its membership] however they like...Mormons are not the only ones to change, and it's not a big deal."

So we now know mormons are not the only dishonest group. I also bet these other groups don't have to declare their honesty with their fellow men in order to enter the higest form of worship their group practices.

Their excuse is totally bogus, it makes no sense whatsoever. I hope someone holds their feet to the fire on this.

Cynthia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> from the article..."left out numbers of members
> who, although baptized, were not currently
> associated with a specific congregation. This
> year, we included total membership numbers to more
> accurately reflect all of those found on church
> records."

So this year's data are higher than they would have been, had they used their previous methods? Uhh, ok, but that's not the problem. The problem is that their numbers for the year 2000 are too low, not that they are too high. The numbers they gave to the survey group are lower than their own numbers for that year as reported in their own almanac. This is what has inflated the percent growth rate, more than any rise in current numbers caused by a more thorough reporting method.

But I don't buy that they did not previously count those who weren't affiliated with any congregation. In the Mo church system , EVERYONE is assigned to a congregation. And does TSCC expect us to believe that they didn't include the membership who have been sent to SLC COB because they cannot be located? Highly unlikely. And how many are they talking about here? Have they lost track of a million? They are blowing smoke, and Stack is inhaling deeply.


>
> What a load of crap...the church has counted
> people to the age of 110 but they didn't count
> those not currently associated with a specific
> congregation? Liars.

Agree...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2012 12:25AM by hello.

This makes me feel better. I read that news today of increased membership and did not jump for joy.

Breaking news, Morg has the largest number of members over the age of 100 years old, in the whole country. Claims it has nothing to do, with claiming the dead as active members until age 110.

Note this was sarcasm.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2012 10:53PM by forbiddencokedrinker.

They just live a long time, as per the faith promoting rumor.

No, but seriously, that would be something wouldn't it? If you could figure out how many Mormons on the rolls were over 100 years old then run a story saying how many there were. It would cause people to say WTF? And hopefully start digging.

The problem is that Mormons are boring to most people they aren't actively annoying. Only a handful of the sharpest people get what those of use who were trampled by the Morg are trying to say.

How can he say it is not a big deal? It is a huge deal! The church loves to trumpet the claim about how it is the fastest growing church! Why would they want to do that if it was no big deal? What I want to see is how many people have asked to have their names removed from the church roles. That would be an interesting statistic to see.

The only numbers that have any basis in reality are the Pew numbers that are based on self reporting of religious affiliation, not what any church reports about its numbers. There is a clear incentive for the church to lie about the numbers. There is little incentive for the individual to lie about their religious affiliation (at least in the US).

Agree. Particularly in light of the fact that there has been so much opining with regard to people leaving the church in droves, their timing could not be better for them if they had gotten away with this, but couldn't be worse if they were outed, as they have been. They will do all they can to downplay this. This is a huge deal!

sayhitokolob4me,

Thanks for following up and posting this. Whether they're talking about membership numbers, evidence for their beliefs, or whatever, the Mormons have no credibility. They always have some sort of excuse, but they can't be trusted. The most pathetic thing is that they actually think they can get away with it -- like no one can figure out the truth.


I also like the comments posted after the article. It seems like the Morg has very few friends these days.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2012 11:24PM by canadianfriend.

Yes, they totally have no respect whatsoever for their members. Of course the members probably don't give a crap, so maybe they shouldn't have any respect for them.

anyone with the letters "L", "D", "S", "M", "O", "R",or "N" in their name...

Always look to the motive:

there is no reason to play games with numbers if the desired growth actually exists.

Several years ago I was told by Peggy that for a time she was inactive in the church but returned to be a active again. I always take this in consideration when I read her coverage on the chuch. I think she got burned on this story

See new topic, http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,491496,491496#msg-491496

The original press release is the culprit.

Yeah, it's a good article. Apparently she is well aware of how much heat she's been taking. People like me have really been flaming her.

"... none of what they are saying makes any sense at all."

Who says that the church is inconsistent?