Section 43: The Faith Crisis Member — A Different Conversation

The LDS church's internal stress is producing a significant and growing population of members who have encountered the historical evidence — the multiple First Vision accounts, the Book of Abraham papyri, the seer stone translation method, the history of polygamy — and are in various stages of a faith crisis. These members may be attending church while privately doubting, may have stopped attending, or may be in active transition out of the institution. They represent a distinct pastoral situation from the committed, engaged LDS member who has not yet encountered these questions.

The faith crisis member is not looking for more evidence that their system has problems. They are often drowning in it. What they are looking for — whether they can name it or not — is a place to land. The apologetic mode that serves the committed believer (here is the evidence, here are the implications, let the implications do their work) can add to the burden of someone who is already in free fall.

The pastoral mode for the faith crisis member is different. It begins with presence, not argument. It asks what the person is experiencing, not what they know. It acknowledges the real cost of what is happening — the loss of community, the disruption of identity, the grief of finding out that the world they built their life in is not what they were told it was. It does not rush to fill the vacuum the departing system has created with a new system.

What it does, at the right moment, is point toward the Person. Not the institution. Not the argument. The Person who was there before the LDS system gave this person a substitute, who is there now that the substitute is collapsing, and who will be there when the dust settles.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

— Matthew 11:28

This is the word for the faith crisis member. Not a new institution. Not a new set of requirements. Rest. From someone who is actually there and can actually give it.

★ Disciple Tip: Ask: "Now that the system that was supposed to connect you to God seems to have failed — what do you actually believe about God? About Jesus? Separate from what you were taught to believe?" The question creates space for the person to find out what they actually hold, rather than just what is collapsing. What they hold may be closer to the real Jesus than they know. Your job is to help them find out.