Do you know why 50% - 75% of the church members leave the Mormon Church? Or why church records in Brazil put membership at 743,182 while the 2000 Census put it at only 199,645?

Right now the LDS Church puts its membership at 12.5 million, but the true number is around 4 million. (Salt Lake Tribune) It could be said based on these numbers that the Mormon Church is the fastest shrinking church on earth. People join it because of The Book of Mormon, but leave it because of something else.

The world is indebted to Mormons for bringing the Nephite record to the public's view, in sponsoring scholarly research, and for defending it over these many years.

Mormons should know there are big differences between what the Mormon Church practices, and what The Book of Mormon teaches. The following are some key differences that exist between the doctrine prescribed in The Book of Mormon and what the Mormon Church is practicing.

After reading these things, we would invite Mormons to consider the other doctrines listed on this site and realize the simplicity that The Book describes. We feel the public should know there are differences between what the Mormon Church practices and what The Book of Mormon teaches, that the two are different, therefore they should be held separate.

Key Things Every Mormon Should Know:

1. Baptism

a. A person is baptized for the remission of sins after repenting. Eight year old children need no repentance. Eight year old children who are routinely being baptized in the Mormon Church for the remission of sins are doing so contrary to the teachings of The Book of Mormon. [See: Doctrine>Baptism>Children Don't Need]

b. A person is baptized into the body of Christ, not a particular denomination. Many people were baptized during the time Joseph was dictating The Book of Mormon - before he started a church. Those baptisms were performed for the remission of sins, not for membership in a denomination.

c. Baptism and Denominational membership are two separate things. Most Protestant churches today understand this and hold the two separate. One Protestant church will respect the baptism of another.

d. Points of age, methodology, and authority are stated clearly in The Book of Mormon, and both Mormons and Christians could learn from them. [See: Doctrine>Baptism]

2. Communion

The Book of Mormon is very clear who is to receive the sacrament of the bread and wine - only those who have been baptized for the remission of their sins. Current Mormon and many Protestant churches are allowing the unbaptized, the unworthy, and even little children to partake. Such practices are making a mockery of the atoning power of Christ and the love of God. [See: Doctrine>Communion]

3. Church

In the Summer of 1828, two full years before Joseph started a church, and prior to him dictating The Book of Mormon, the Lord defined for Joseph who his Church was:

Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. (D&C 10:67 - dated Summer 1828.)

You will notice there is no mention of a denomination. In fact, in the same revelation Jesus said his Church was already present:

52 And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up.
53 And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them.
54 Now I do not say this to destroy my church, but I say this to build up my church;
55 Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.
56 But it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments but build up churches unto themselves to get gain, yea, and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the devil—yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center. (D&C 10)

The Lord was clear that The Book of Mormon was sent forth to build up his Church, and this was two full years before Joseph started his own. "Church" is nothing more than the community of believers as many protestant churches have correctly defined it.

In the Old Testament, the Lord's people were known as "The House of Israel." Today they may rightly be called "The House of Believers" a "Spiritual House" (1Peter 2:5), or simply - "The Church."