Comments on: Engagement Survey Results

By: Matt W.

Matt W. — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:24:14 +0000

Exactly so Ziff. I think converts are much less likely not only to not participate in the church when they do not find it satisfying, but they are also much less invested into participating in an online community regarding the church. Selection indeed.

By: Ziff

Ziff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:04:57 +0000

Thanks for posting this, Matt. Fascinating stuff!

One possible take on why lifelong members generally rate the Church lower than do converts is that lifelong members tend to have more external pressure to keep them in the Church than converts do. Therefore, lifelong members are perhaps more likely to stay in the Church even if it’s not as satisfying. Converts might find it easier to walk away if it doesn’t work out. So I’m guessing it might be an effect of selection.

By: Rico

Rico — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:22:09 +0000

I think I linked straight to the survey site. Regardless I am sorry it was not more effective.

I also think it would be useful to carry out in a my local ward.

By: Matt W.

Matt W. — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:31:01 +0000

Rico: Just to be clear, if you linked to the NCT post and not directly to the survey site, all I can see is NCT. And I don’t disagree with your opinion. One of the things that makes our church distinctive is thefeeling of being part of something world-wide, but we do all still feel someone at church cares about us as a person. I think these questions may have an issue of phraseology, as others have suggested.

Eric: Excellent point on the hometeachers! I think we’ve too long feared going to inactives, feeling they’ve rejected us and not just our faith, but this survey seems to hint at otherwise.

By: Eric Nielson

Eric Nielson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:13:40 +0000

Thanks for this result Matt.

I am kind of stingy when it comes to ‘best friend’ status.

I was also interested in the less active giving their fellow members a decent score on doing quality service. This seems to indicate that most of them probably do not blame their home teachers (for example) for the inactivity. Which is what the church seems to suggest sometimes (where were the home teachers?!)

By: Rico

Rico — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:03:38 +0000

I surprised that only NCT readers participated, I know I put the link on MM on the sidebar. I would have thought some people would have come through. Moreover, I am excited that there is at least one other NCT reader in britain.

On the results:

I don’ think it is surprising that we know what we are supposed to do but struggle to feel part of the community. GC provides us all with ver clear direction but the expressions of gratitude and friendship are transferable. Thus perhaps there is a disconnect between the people we interpret as the ones giving instructtions (GA’s) and that we can’t then feel their localised support.

By: Matt W.

Matt W. — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:15:31 +0000

Floyd, I mainly wanted to use that question to distinguish those brought into the church by missionary work vs. those who’s parents were members, if that makes sense. Baptismal age seemed the easiest way to do that.

By: Floyd the Wonderdog

Floyd the Wonderdog — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:22:48 +0000

I wonder about the age at baptism question. I was baptized at 8, but converted at 16. My siblings, although all baptized at 8, were IMHO were never converted and are all inactive. They had periods of activity, but were never really converted.

By: Matt W.

Matt W. — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:11:01 +0000

Scott B.- this from the zeitcast guy…?

By: Scott B.

Scott B. — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:25:19 +0000

This may be low for bloggernacle types vs other members. I think we tend to self-select for people who don’t have a real kindred spirit in our ward and seek LDS socialization on the web instead. That is certainly the case for me.

Translation: SB2 lacks social skillz.