Mormons to Spend Less Time at Church on Sundays, Leaders Say

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Mormons will spend less time at church each Sunday after a change announced Saturday aimed at making worship more manageable for members around the globe.

Oct. 6, 2018, at 8:18 p.m.

By BRADY McCOMBS, Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mormons will start spending less time at church each Sunday — two hours instead of three — after a change announced Saturday aimed at making worship more manageable for members around the globe.

The switch, which takes effect in January, is a significant one for Mormons, who since 1980 have been expected to attend all three hours each Sunday to be considered active members of the faith.

The news triggered widespread applause from members, with some posting celebratory memes on social media. It came during The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' twice-yearly conference, where a leader also reaffirmed the faith's opposition to gay marriage and its belief that gender is God-given and eternal.

"The senior leaders of the church have been aware for many years that for some of our precious members, a three-hour Sunday schedule at church can be difficult," said Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, church leaders who help run the faith. "This is particularly true for parents with small children, primary children, elderly members, new converts and others."

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2018-10-06/mormon-conference-begins-a-day-after-choir-name-change

[jberryhill]

1. Okay, so how about we just close the liquor stores for that two hours?

God’s inability to compete against alcohol without legislative intervention by humans has always puzzled me.

And, in fairness, we will also not allow churches to be open when the bars are.

[RockRaven]

2. In other words: "if we don't loosen up, they're gonna leave"

The reality is that it has become easier and easier to learn that this crap is a fraud, so pushing people to their limits poses a greater and greater risk of them pulling the wool *from* their own eyes.

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. so they get to engage in reality for an additional hour?

[democratisphere]

4. Also the word "Mormon" will transition to "LDS" (Latter Day Saints)

in an attempt to modernize to attract new members.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. They have to try and stop the

exodus of Members one way or the other,apparently.

[Andy823]

14. Exactly

Many churches are losing their members. Jehovah's Witnesses used to have three meetings s week, now they are down to two. They used to condemn the internet, now they use tablets when going door to door to show short videos. In larger cities they have people with carts standing on street corners instead of going around door.

I think in the more "controlling" religions things are not looking so good.

[Wellstone ruled]

15. Economics has

played a major role in the rise and fall of Religions around the world. Religion is used by the Wealthy to protect them from the poor. And Education is the key to controlling Religion. Said this before, Ignorance is Bliss. And the Ruling Class will exploit this Bliss.

[Freethinker65]

6. So no reduction in tithing?

Shows you what the Church really thinks is precious. Hahaha.

[dalton99a]

7. Do it online and use PayPal

[LiberalFighter]

8. I hear it will be one hour on Sunday and

two hours at 1 pm on Tuesdays.

[roamer65]

9. They should modernize and make it just Christmas and Easter.

Or do they believe in those?

[k-dub]

10. In a related story

Mormon intelligence on the rise.

[customerserviceguy]

11. I lived in Utah for about six months back in 2005

and it was said, if you quit the LDS religion, you get a 10% raise, and an extra day off per week.

[LuvNewcastle]

12. What about the undies?

Would you rather spend 3 hours at church on Sunday or wear weird, confining underwear all the time? I think my top priority would be making my own decisions about what I wear, especially down there.

[Demovictory9]

16. they've been modernizing the underwear also. youtube video shows a store

with all the sizes and genders stack on shelves. Talked about how the materials and designs had changed over the years to be more modern, not show through clothing, etc

[DeminPennswoods]

18. Their undergarments are really no different

than Jewish men wearing yarmulkes or covering their heads, or Islamic women covering their heads or Catholic nuns wearing a habit or Amish men having beards without moustaches and so on. It's part of their religion.

[Socal31]

13. I think Kansas was pulling away as the #1 per-capita porn consumer in the US.

Utah is just looking to re-claim their spot from 2009. A couple hours may do it.

[Marengo]

17. Unwelcomed news for us non-LDS who live in Mormonia. Sunday just got less quiet.