Relative the the population of the USA, Mormonism is isolated.  Mormonism and the Baptist revival movement in North Carolina occurred at the same time. Early Baptist leaders did not violate cultural / religious norms and evangelical based faiths have enjoyed sweeping success. It has become the dominant religous expression in the USA (or is a close second to Catholicism).

 

In contrast, Mormonism has never acheived the spectacular growth that their early leaders forecasted (they forecasted the USA becoming a Mormon theocracy). Instead, Mormonism was forced to a remote area (Utah) and remained there for decades. Even recent growth has been slow. Mormon leaders have acknowledged that creative accounting and creative use of terms has led to significant exaggerations in the numbers of true converts.

 

Here is a Mormon source stating that true growth rates have been "wildly overstated" and that convert retention rate is very low.

http://www.mormonwiki.org/Population_and_growth_rate - http://www.mormonwiki.org/Population_and_growth_rate

 

An article out of Salt Lake City also reporting that the true growth rate has been significantly overstated.

http://www.sltrib.com/lds/ci_2890645 - http://www.sltrib.com/lds/ci_2890645

 

In my opinion, the reasons for the wild over statements are:

1.) Successful missionaries are given alot of social prestige in the Mormon Church. This has led to individual missionaries or the directors of missionary efforts using stretched definitions of "convert" to increase their scores. 

2.) The intensive door to door missionary efforts attract converts who join due to either pressure or to resolve personal issues.  They then leave once the pressure ends or their problems have been resolved.

3.) Mormon internal prophecy forecasts spectacular growth.  So it must be happening....right?

 

I have seen other statistics showing a 20% retention rate for Brazillian converts and a 10% retention rate for Russians. Both of these figures are "at best estimates".  The true numbers retained are probably even lower. The Mormon church, however, has claimed the full 100% figures in past counts.

 

 

 

I was using the term "isolated sect" in the historical context. Mormonism was forced to a remote state and did remain there until recent decades.  Yes, you are correct, Mormonism has become more acceptable in the last fifty years. Also, 3 million is one percent of the U.S. population.

Originally posted by opuslola No! You have to admit that the words "Isolated sect" does no good as a method to demean this religious group!

I did not mean to demean Mormonism. I am interested in Mormonism as a part of U.S. history. I have nothing for or against Mormon theology.