More on "Mormon" Habits: The Secret to our Growing and Lasting Membership

A lot is expected of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a topic I’ve addressed before. My belief is that by requiring much, the church actually retains members because they are committed and involved. I also think that deep involvement is beneficial because of the friendships we develop. From a sociological view, requiring much creates commitment. Of course I know that much is required, because we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and need to be good and do good. But then why isn’t it enough to just do good occasionally? Why do we attend so many meetings, serve in church callings, have several prayers each day, read scriptures as a family and individually, hold weekly Family Home Evenings, and pay 10% in tithing plus other donations?

I found the answer in The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. He studied a church that grew rapidly in membership and analyzed its habits. I asked my husband what he thought were the three habits that Rick Warren, the Baptist pastor of the Saddleback Church, implemented. He said, “Pay tithing and attend church.” That’s really close. Here’s what Duhigg found out: “‘If you want to have Christ-like character, then you just develop the habits that Christ had,’ one of Saddleback’s course manuals reads. ‘All of us are simply a bundle of habits…Our goal is to help you replace some bad habits with some good habits that will help you grow in Christ’s likeness.’ Every Saddleback member is asked to sign a ‘maturity covenant card’ promising to adhere to three habits: daily quiet time for reflection and prayer, tithing 10 percent of their income, and membership in a small group. Giving everyone new habits has become a focus of the church’” (pg. 238).

Mormons have something similar to the maturity covenant card. It’s a temple recommend. In the temple, we make covenants or promises between us and the Lord. In order to have a temple recommend, we must be worthy. That worthiness is determined as we meet with a member of the bishopric and then a member of our stake presidency and answer a series of questions. These include questions about our testimony of Jesus Christ, paying tithing, and supporting our church leaders.

Notice that the Saddleback Church manual teaches habits that develop Christ-like character. The answer to why so much is required is so we can become like Christ. And the best way to do that is through habits and routines of Christ-like behavior. It is a sociological principal and a religious principle. I would say it’s a law. A spiritual law and a physical law. A law that followed will bring you closer to your Savior, Jesus Christ, and give you happiness in this life.