That’s an interesting question, especially since you hear a lot of talk about leaving the church, and not a lot about joining, or in my case, coming back. There’s a lot to it, but in short, I would say that there is an overall goodness—an overriding sense of purpose and decency—that exists in the church, and ironically, I believe that this is not despite of its numerous and obvious shortcomings, but because of them. I would often say in conversations over the years when Mormons and their seemingly whacky theology came up, “yeah, but there’s something to it…” because I couldn’t readily explain away the feelings or experiences that I had there, and which are unmatched anywhere else. I find this even more interesting because, unlike many here, I wasn’t raised in it (in fact, I was raised with an active distrust/dislike of Mormons from my parents), and I experienced many of the same things that people who have familial or cultural bonds do. The theology, sure, but I haven’t quite been able to shake the other stuff. And now, raising my toddler son, the environment in which he grows up becomes increasingly important, so there’s that too. I have often wondered sometimes if that the ultimate appeal is that the LDS church is so deeply flawed—and thus deeply human—that makes it more accessible. A lot to think about.
