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JodyTJ

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Posts posted by JodyTJ

  1. I can't wrap my head around this ...

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    The problem here, of course, is that the Church doesn't report such numbers. The mechanism to do so is there - clerks actually do count those in attendance each Sunday and that number is actually reported to SLC and it is used to determine funding for the ward/branch. Also you have to take into consideration what is considered "active." You might consider the member who attends only Christmas & Easter as active, I don't. So in some respects, you're right - your guess is as good as anybody else's.

    There are sometimes things published about activity rates - usually when there is a concern. Chile, apparently, has a very low activity rate between 10% & 20%. Utah's is apparently in the range of 70%. Utah, however, has many more total members than Chile, so even if Chile's rate matched Utah's, Utah would still have more actual active people.

    The other thing you can do is figure out how many people are listed as members of your ward (the bishopric, clerk, and perhaps some others have access to that info) and simply count how many are actually there. In our ward (east coast US), using this method reveals an activity rate of about 45%. There again, however, our small east coast ward is smaller than a small Utah ward - so that same 45% activity rate elsewhere might actually be more members or less members.

    I don't consider them necessarily active, but I do consider them a Mormon. Btw, would you happen to know the activity rate in Canada? I heard from someone it's one of the highest, rivalling Utah's.

  2. I can't wrap my head around this ...

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    The Church claims 14.7 million members, and I believe those numbers. But you got critics of the church who claim only 4-5 million members go to church regularly (and that's a large number in and of itself). But they don't take into account people who attend church once or twice a month, once or twice every few months, members who go only for important dates (like Christmas, Easter, etc) and members who consider themselves Mormons. I'm not a statistician, but I'd guesstimate that with all those added up, you could have a active and semi-active membership of 7-8 million? I just don't buy some of the statistics that some people through out. That's just me.

  3. Why no mention of the Pearl of Great Price?

    in Learn about The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints

    Posted

    it gets lumped with the doctrine and covenants. most likely because its the Book of Mormon that makes or breaks the deal- either we are what we say we are or we're really off our rocker. It comes down to the Book of Mormon and Joseph smith 99% of the time and so that's generally what we push to the outside world.

    Doesn't the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price have a lot of LDS theology in it (such as exaltation, three degrees of heaven, rules, etc)? More so then the Book of Mormon?

  4. Should I tell my parents, or no?

    in Advice Board

    Posted

    If it were me I would say take the lessons with the missionaries...possibly do it at another members house? Being that you are 19 you are aloud to do things on your own,(definitely don't lie about it though) but when you are done with the lessons and choose to convert, thats when I would tell them in a respectful way, if you haven't read the BOM then read it, if you have tell them how you feel about it all and that you feel this is the path you need to take, and that you hope they respect your decision.

    My lessons are coming up pretty soon (two and half weeks, roughly), but I may take this route. I did plan on telling my mom tomorrow (her and I are going on a 1-on-1 two hour drive), but I may hold off until I finally make the decision to get baptized. I guess I'll have to wait and see. :)

  6. My baptism worry

    in Learn about The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints

    Posted

    I had no idea how they did the dunking until I was changing for the baptism. I asked the guy baptizing me and the guy confirming me. Bend your knees and let the guy baptizing you control you. Trust me, I way more than 160 and it worked out fine. Though I do remember the witnesses whispering "Bend your knees" like 3 seconds before being dunked.

    it's not all that bad.

    K, for the next two months, I'll just keep on thinking "bend my knees!" :P So the person baptizing you is the one controlling you, so to speak?

  7. Mormon Missionary Numbers reach 75,000 milestone

    in Church News and Events

    Posted

    I saw those numbers and thought they were amazing.

    I hope I can be a Sister Missionary at the MTC when I retire, though I am a little afraid I'd get sent to Outer Mongolia, or Alabama. Same thing.

    They say the missionary force will increase to 85,000 by fall of this year. You're right, it's amazing. :)

    Edit: And they say by early or mid 2014, the missionary force will stabilize at 100,000.

  11. My baptism worry

    in Learn about The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints

    Posted

    I will be getting baptized in the Church this October (starting lessons this September), but I have one worry. I don't want to fall! I'm not the most sturdy person out there, so I am worried that when I am lowered into the water, I'll trip and fall. I know that the person baptizing me is holding me, but I weigh 160 pounds, and have no idea how strong the person will be.

    So, do they lower you down, or do you lower yourself down? And what should I do to stop me from falling?

    This is a fear of mine, I don't wanna look like an idiot. :lol:

  12. This Church is true

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I was bummed when I heard that baptisms aren't all that different from one another

    I think most people feel at peace, and feel the the Holy Ghost. When I watched The District (still got one episode left), a lot of the converts felt like they were clean. I expect I'll feel the same way. Though, I was baptized as an infant, so this'll be something I've never done before.

  14. Mormon, Christian, or Latter-day Saint?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    There was a thread like this a few years ago, but I don't think everyone understood what the poster was trying to ask. A lot of people were making jokes. :lol:

    Anyways, if someone came up to you, and asked what religion you were apart of, what would you say?

    Mormon,

    Christian,

    Latter-day Saint/LDS, or

    something crazy you like to call yourself :D

    Since I am Catholic, I tell my friends I am Catholic. However, when I am baptized into the LDS Church, I will most likely say Mormon, or Latter-day Saint.

  15. This Church is true

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Jody, as a non-member, I find it interesting that you gained great inspiration from President Monson. Do you mind sharing what he said or did, and how it helped you? The closest I could imagine in someone being inspired by Billy Graham or Mother Theresa.

    It's hard to say. Whenever I watch President Monson speak at General Conference, dedicate a temple, or deliver a special message, I just get this feeling of peace. I find his words to be inspired, and always enjoy listening to him speak. His dedication to building up the church in Canada has also contributed to me finding him an inspirational figure. He has done a lot for the church and I can't wait for what else he does in the future.

  16. How much time do (and should) you spend studying scriptures?

    in Scripture Study Forum

    Posted

    I have a little over a week until school starts up again and only three days until my baptism! So I am trying to get through as much of the Book of Mormon as I can until my baptism and until school starts. Sometimes it's only a chapter, sometimes more. I am currently on 2 Nephi 24 and hope to finish 2 Nephi today.

    Once school starts, ideally, I hope to wake up early and read a chapter or two a day. On my commute from the main campus to the downtown campus, I am planning on reading on the shuttle and between classes. This semester I want to immerse myself in the scriptures!

    Hopefully I can accomplish this and read all the Standard Works of Scripture!

    I have about two weeks and a bit til high school starts, and I'm on 1 Nephi still. I hope to finish by early September. Oh, and my baptism is in October. :D I like to read at least 5-10, even 50 pages a night. I just love the Book of Mormon.

    I hope your scripture reading goes well. :)

  19. Hi Everyone

    in Introduce Yourself

    Posted

    I'm not a member yet, but I've been an investigator for well over a year. For the most part, I was never on this site, and always lost interest in converting. However, once I became active on this site, (after three weeks of posting, I have nearly 100 posts), my interest has skyrocketed. I am now on my way to converting and will soon be a member in October.

  21. Quad or Triple Combination?

    in Scripture Study Forum

    Posted · Edited by JodyTJ

    Genuine Leather Quad Combination, Regular, Thumb-indexed, 2013 Edition - store.lds.org

    the 2013 Edition is available now!

    (Why did I have to glance at the prices of the simulated leather? Lol

    I just checked, and it says only the regular is shipping. My bad. :P Well, looks like I don't have to wait til October after all. :D

    Btw, does store.LDS.org use missionaries to deliver products or just normal shipping companies, like UPS or Canada Post? That's one reason why I am hesitant to use store.LDS.org because I don't want my parents knowing I am buying LDS scripture.

    What colour are you getting, black or burgundy? I'm torn, because both look really nice.

  23. Quad or Triple Combination?

    in Scripture Study Forum

    Posted · Edited by JodyTJ

    Yeah, the triple looks more durable, but as far as getting matching triple and Bible set, it's more expensive and a quad leads to more opportunities to evangelize (or at least start a conversation) among nonLDS friends ("why is your Bible so HUGE?!").

    were the ones you used on your mission leather or the standard paperback?

    If you want the genuine leather and you also want the new editions of the scriptures, you'll have to wait till October. However, if you want the stimulated leather, you can get them now. I would rather get the genuine leather, but like you, I am very excited. :D

  25. This Church is true

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Jody, you feel this way because the Holy Spirit is testifying it to you as a Investigator. It did the same for me. :) Hold on to that feeling and remember it always. It is a source of strength when Satan tries to whisper to you otherwise. He will, and that's why I say to hold on to the Spirit and stay close....always. It's so lovely to hear of you being so filled with the Spirit. Isn't it a wonderful feeling? I remember first experiencing it and just wanting to burst with knowledge, truth, peace, joy and so forth. It truly changed who I was as a person.

    I can't explain the feeling, and the only physical reaction I get is goosebumps. I only get goosebumps when it's cold, or someone singing is really good. But for some reason I get goosebumps when thinking of how this church is true. I just got some goosebumps writing that.. :eek: I can't deny that this church is true, there's no proof that proves it's not true.

    I love the feeling that I get... I feel happy and at peace with Christ.