100% Convert Retention Action Guide

Version of August 26, 2001

This action guide was created to assist member-missionaries, stake missionaries, and ward missionaries in the implementation of effective member-missionary efforts. It is provided "not...by way of commandment, but by wisdom" (D&C 28:5), and the author is solely responsible for the content. However, we have seen the one-year retention of new converts rise to virtually 100% in areas where these principles have been implemented. We appreciate feedback on how we can make this guide more useful. Please email us at webmaster@missionaryhelper.com with comments or suggestions.

The most current version of this document is available for download at MissionaryHelper.com. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document for private or pro-LDS Church related use. However, this document may not be posted to other websites without written permission.

Challenges of Retention

Inactivity is a great cause for concern among both missionaries and the general membership of the Church. Some representative LDS activity rates are listed below.

"Attendance at sacrament meeting varies substantially. Asia and Latin America have weekly attendance rates of about 25 percent, Europe averages about 35 percent...Canada, the South Pacific, and the United States average between 40 percent and 50 percent" (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, 1992, 4:1527).

In Mexico, only 19% of the male members remain active long enough to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. In Japan, the figure is 17% (Lowell C. Bennion and Lawrence Young, Dialogue, Spring 1996, p.19).

Activity rates where the church has been established more recently are similar: 28% in Hungary, 25% in the Czech Republic, 25% in Poland, and so forth. In some areas of the world, 30-40% of new converts never return to Church after baptism.

The highest area-wide rates of weekly LDS sacrament meeting attendance in the world are 54% in the West Africa Area and slightly higher in the Utah South Area (E. Dale LeBaron Devotional, Ricks College News Release, April 5, 2001)

80% of convert inactivity worldwide occurs within the first two months after baptism. (Church Missionary Department statistics).

According to the 2000 Mexican national census, only 205,229 Mexicans identify themselves as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is less than one-quarter of the 850,000 nominal members in Mexico officially on the rolls of the Church. While the fact that someone identifies himself or herself as a Latter-day Saint does not necessarily mean that he or she is a faithful member, it would be difficult to claim that the large majority who do not even identify themselves as Latter-day Saints are active or are contributing to the Church in a meaningful fashion. (Arizona Republic, July 10, 2001, http://www.azcentral.com/news/0710mormons10.html)

We speak of great future harvests, when the all-too-frequent reality of the present is that the considerable majority of those modest numbers who are baptized are leaving out the back door of the Church almost as quickly they are being brought in the front. There is a large discrepancy between President Hinckley's counsel that "it is not necessary that we should lose [any of] those who are baptized" and what occurs in actual practice in the great majority of missions, wards, and branches of the Church. The prophet's counsel is not unrealistic, nor does it apply only to areas with particularly favorable circumstances. It is the will of the Lord, and it applies to all.

Every member and every missionary has a responsibility to work to understand how the Lord's mandates through President Hinckley can be fulfilled, and then work concertedly to realize those goals. In areas where basic principles of retention have been applied, retention rates rise dramatically and can approach 100%.

Understanding and Avoiding Inactivity

The first step toward preventing inactivity is understanding when and why inactivity occurs. There is a helpful model for understanding the great majority of inactivity. While not all inactives may fit this simplified model perfectly, and there is some overlap between areas, this model does provide valuable principles in understanding and avoiding inactivity.

Inactivity occurs in three main peaks:

1) Within the first month after baptism

2) From the first month to the first year after baptism

3) More than a year after baptism.

There is also a separate peak of inactivity that can occur after release from leadership callings.

1. Pre-baptismal Teaching: Inactivity within the first month

"A convert is a 'precious person. He or she will make a tremendous decision in coming into the Church. Retention will primarily be the work of the local wards and branches. However, you have a very, very important part in this. Your missionaries must be sure that conversion is real, that it is life-changing, that it is something that is to last forever and go on through generations...There is no point in baptizing people if they do not become solid members of the Church." President Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church News, Saturday, July 4, 1998

The first peak of inactivity occurs within the first month after baptism. In areas with poor retention, most converts share one or more of the following characteristics:

1. Have attended church only once, twice, or a few times (often with gaps) before baptism.

2. Have read a few chapters in the Book of Mormon (generally with considerable prodding from missionaries), but do little independent daily reading.

3. Have not established meaningful relationships with active members prior to baptism.

Often, such fulfill their pre-baptismal commitments only with considerable prodding, and not out of true conviction. They may demonstrate a superficial acceptance of basic principles, but very rarely have demonstrated a genuine degree of pre-baptismal conversion as demonstrated by consistency in keeping the commitments. They may be able to give the "right answers" to superficial interview questions, but they have not developed basic gospel habits prior to baptism and have demonstrated little real commitment to the Church.

Converts with this profile usually become inactive rapidly without ever giving the Church a chance, in spite of efforts which may be made by active members to reach out and fellowship them. This type of inactivity is generally not due to member failure. It is a missionary failure. The seeds of inactivity were sown well before baptism in the casual attitude of missionaries toward the need for consistent adherence to commitments, or in major gaps in the find-out role of assessing for understanding and conviction. Proper teaching focuses on ensuring that the principles taught are understood, accepted, and implemented, rather than focusing on completing the missionary discussions as rapidly as possible. The degree of understanding and commitment demonstrated by the investigator is far more important than the lesson that the number of lessons that the investigator has heard.

In sum, the first peak of inactivity consists of many individuals who were baptized, but never truly converted. It is a teaching failure. Perhaps it is a misnomer to designate this first peak as "inactivity." One cannot "go inactive" if one was never active to begin with. A few weeks of spotty church attendance does not constitute activity. Even the most enthusiastic and consistent efforts to fellowship this type of "inactives" very rarely produce fruit, as the large majority of these individuals were never adequately prepared for baptism in the first place. The goal of baptism must never eclipse good judgment, genuine concern for the eternal welfare of each convert, and the guidance of the Spirit. Prospective members must be prepared as solidly as possible before baptism.

2. Fellowshipping: Inactivity from the first month to the first year after baptism

"Every one of us has an obligation to fellowship those (converts), to put our arms around them, to bring them into the Church in full activity. It is not enough just to go to Church on Sundays, we must reach out each day. I wish with all my heart that in Costa Rica every man, woman, and child who was baptized would remain faithful and active. And that can happen if all of you make up your minds to reach out and help the new convert. There is no point in the missionaries baptizing people only to have them come into the Church for a little while and then drift off. You have remained faithful, and I thank you for that, but again urge that you make an extra effort to reach out to those who have recently been baptized...They need your help. God bless you to fellowship the new convert. That is so very, very important. That is a principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only as we reach out to help others are we truly Latter-day Saints." President Gordon B. Hinckley, member fireside, San Jose, Costa Rica, Jan 20, 1997.

"It is an absolute imperative that we look after those who have become a part of us." Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS General Conference, April 1997

"They [the missionaries] still have an obligation to nurture and help those they have baptized - to befriend them, to write to them, to give them encouragement. But greater than that is your responsibility, my brethren, as bishops, as stake presidents, as elders quorum presidents, to put your arms around these people and make them feel comfortable and at home and warm and happy. It is an imperative. What does it profit the missionary to baptize someone who leaves the Church within six months? Nothing is accomplished, in fact, damage is done. We have pulled them away from their old moorings and brought them into the Church, only to have them drift away." Gordon B. Hinckley, Woods Cross Utah Regional Conference, 10 January 1998

The second peak on inactivity generally occurs between the first month and the first year after baptism, although there is some overlap between the first and second peaks. When active members go inactive during this period, often the inactivity results from either delayed or inadequate fellowshipping of the new convert, or from the poor example of active members who do not live the gospel in daily life

Sometimes investigators and even new converts are not noticed or approached by longtime members. Members may be "cliquish" and visit regularly with their group of established Church friends, but are oblivious to the needs of visitors and new members. A good policy is for every member to arrive to Church meetings early and meet every individual he or she does not know before sitting down.

Sometimes new members are fellowshipped and involved in the Church early on, but later become alienated due to the poor example of active members. We must live the gospel that we preach; otherwise, our ward or branch may come across to new members and investigators as being little more than a social club.

Correctly speaking, new converts do not become inactive 'because' of the actions of other church members. Every individual has free agency and is responsible for his own choices. Becoming inactive is a choice. Nonetheless, the lack of fellowshipping and the failure of members to live the gospel can contribute significantly to inactivity. Poorly-fellowshipped converts may stray from the Church when challenges are encountered which the fully-fellowshipped convert could have withstood.

3. Moral Agency: Inactivity after the first year of membership

The third peak comes after the end of the first year. Sometimes inactivity is attributed to some real or imagined offense, or to "difficulty" in accepting a specific gospel teaching. Sometimes it occurs with a move, when an individual leaves old friends in a ward or branch and never makes the effort to connect up with the Church in his or her new area. Whatever the ostensible cause, inactivity of this third kind is generally related to personal disobedience of the inactive member. While at times serious transgression may be involved, very often this inactivity is due simply to neglect of those fundamental commandments which, simple though they may seem, ultimately shape our character and determine our eternal destiny. They are the commandments which determine perhaps more than any others whether we make progress each day towards emulating the example of the Savior, or whether we stagnate in our growth.

Those basic commandments include

(1) daily scripture reading, and specifically daily reading in the Book of Mormon for half an hour each day with one's family (as President Benson asked us to do),

(2) keeping the Sabbath Day holy (which includes weekly Church meeting attendance, but entails more than this), and

(3) meaningful and sincere daily prayer (both individually and with our families).

Individuals who consistently perform these basic gospel habits rarely if ever become inactive. These habits are at the core of the Gospel. Through them, obedience to all other commandments comes naturally. It is important that we focus on these core commandments in our talks, lessons, and testimonies to inspire others to live them faithfully as well.

There are many well-meaning LDS parents who had genuine testimonies and wanted the best for their children, but who neglected the consistent application of these vital principles in their homes. Often they wonder why their children go astray and choose forbidden paths. We live in a world which is growing increasingly wicked, and if we do not read in the Book of Mormon for half an hour each day with our children, they simply will not have the reservoir of spiritual strength and knowledge to resist deceit and temptation. No matter how well-meaning one's intentions, a parent who fails to read the Book of Mormon consistently with children starting when they are young cannot be surprised when they go astray. Our families are very precious, and it would be foolish indeed not to pay this very small price for the tremendous blessings afforded by daily reading in the Book of Mormon for at least half and hour and adherence to the other principles mentioned above. The best missionary, fellowshipping, and retention work that we do should be within the walls of our own homes.

4. Post-release Inactivity

In some areas of the world, especially in areas where hierarchal models are engrained into local culture, there is an additional peak of inactivity when leaders are released from callings. This is especially true of individuals in the branch or district presidency. Many may feel that non-leadership callings are not as honorable or important. Others may become offended when roles are reversed and those over whom they previously had been given stewardship -- often younger or more recent members -- become their priesthood leaders. While it is easy to assume branch presidents and bishops are strong members who will never fall away, in fact leaders need support as much more than local members.

To avoid post-release inactivity, it is necessary to impress upon local leaders the temporary nature of their calling at the time that the calling is given. It may also be helpful to frankly discuss with local leaders the challenges that some face in returning to less glamorous positions in their local ward or branch. Above all, it is vital to ensure that local leaders are consistently reading the Book of Mormon on a daily basis and that they are holding daily family prayer. The demands of a full-time job and a leadership calling can make the spiritual batteries of even the most dedicated men run low. To be sure, leaders who are not reading their scriptures daily are at high risk for post-release inactivity. The prospect of post-release inactivity should be anticipated, and local leaders need to be closely supported throughout transition periods.

The Savior’s Teachings on Retention

The Savior’s great commission to us proclaims: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19) Christ further expounds, “I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain” (John 15:16). He has commissioned us to go forth and baptize, not to be barren or unfruitful, nor to swell the rolls of inactives while racking up impressive-looking baptismal statistics “on paper,” but to build the Church meaningfully through the teaching, baptism, and retention of true converts who have undergone real and life-changing conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As recorded in Luke 14:27-35 (JST), the Savior taught:

"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. And this he said, signifying there should not any man follow him, unless he was able to continue; saying, Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Wherefore, settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you."

One of the most common and dangerous false doctrines related to missionary work – one that causes us to lose the majority of those baptized each year -- is that individuals should be baptized when the missionaries believe that they have felt the Spirit, are sincere, and will be willing to keep commitments. It is important for missionaries and member-missionaries to help prospective converts to "count the cost" to ensure that they will be able to continue long-term in full Church activity, even in the face of significant challenges or hardships. It is much more honorable and constructive never to baptize an investigator, than to baptize someone who goes inactive shortly thereafter. Christ taught that investigators must already be keeping basic at the time of baptism, rather than merely promising to do so:

"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance…And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Matthew 3:8,10

The Savior also taught,

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:16-20)

Through the prophet Moroni, the Savior emphasized the need for vital gospel habits to be in place before the time of baptism:

"And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it. Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end" (Moroni 6:1-3)

We are to baptize not by what people say, or what they promise, but by what they actually do. Christ did not say of quickly-baptized converts who turn to immediate inactivity - "at least now these people are in the Church so that we can look after their home teaching." He said, "whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." It is incongruous with intelligence to believe that an investigator is willing to forsake everything for Christ, and even to give up his or her own life if necessary, when he or she has been unreliable in making even the petty sacrifices of weekly church attendance, daily scripture reading, etc. for three or four weeks before baptism. With a basic understanding of these gospel principles taught plainly by the Savior and the prophet Moroni, the 80% of convert inactivity that occurs within the first two months after baptism can be almost entirely eliminated.

Why Retention is Crucial

"Nobody gains when there is baptism without retention. The missionary loses, and while the Church gains statistically, the membership suffers, really, and the enthusiasm of the convert turns to ashes." Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church News, July 4, 1998

"We cannot establish the Church unless we have real growth - not simply numbers on paper." Elder M. Russell Ballard, Conversion and Retention Satellite Broadcast, August 29, 1999

"A convert is a 'precious person. He or she will make a tremendous decision in coming into the Church. Retention will primarily be the work of the local wards and branches. However, you have a very, very important part in this. Your missionaries must be sure that conversion is real, that it is life-changing, that it is something that is to last forever and go on through generations...There is no point in baptizing people if they do not become solid members of the Church.’ Actual harm may be done to those who leave old friendships and old ways of doing things only to be allowed to slip into inactivity." Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church News, Saturday, July 4, 1998

Some believe that one visit to church, meeting the bishop, and giving the "right" answers on a cursory interview represent adequate prebaptismal preparation. For those who feel that it is too difficult to prepare converts properly for baptism: try home teaching hostile or disaffected individuals every month for the rest of their lives -- to say nothing of the spiritual welfare of those individuals who are lost to the Church. The unfortunate part is that endless hours in inactive visits after baptism do not have nearly the impact on activity rates and the strength of the church as a fraction of the time spent helping to prepare and fellowship converts before baptism.

High activity empowers a ward or branch, while inactivity saps vitality. Christ taught of the ninety and nine "found" sheep and the one "lost" sheep. Yet in the Church today, the ratio is approximately forty "found sheep" to sixty "lost sheep" in the United States (if those who simply attend church can be considered to be "found"), and twenty-five "found sheep" to seventy-five "lost sheep" outside of the U.S. There is a reason why Christ taught us to maintain high activity rates within the wards and branches of the Church. A branch with 75 active members out of 100 "on the rolls" is well-suited to reach out to the community and share the gospel with non-members. In contrast, a branch with 75 active members out of 400 "on the rolls" is poorly suited even to look after its own home teaching, to say nothing of the needs of non-members. In many international wards, home teaching rates are commonly as low as 5-15%. In some international wards and branches, home teaching rates are consistently 0%. Quality and consistent "shepherding" of the flock cannot occur unless high activity rates are maintained through well-coordinated pre-baptismal teaching and fellowshipping efforts. As President Thomas S. Monson has taught, we must "start at the headwaters to ensure activity" (LDS Church News, April 10, 1999). The ongoing baptism of poorly-prepared and poorly-fellowshipped converts who go inactive soon after baptism can quickly undermine even the most dedicated home and visiting teaching programs. One would not seek to bail rising flood water out of one’s basement without first sealing the leaks to prevent ongoing flooding. Similarly, successful retention efforts must start with the pre-baptismal teaching and fellowshipping processes.

Raising Expectations Increases Growth

Some may fear that raising expectations for new members may cause baptism rates to decline. However, the Hartsem study (http://fact.hartsem.edu/Final%20FACTrpt.pdf ), a sociologic study of thousands of religious congregations in the United States -- including nearly a thousand LDS congregations -- notes that strictness of member expectations, rather than dissuading individuals from baptism, actually contributes to high growth. 64% of U.S. congregations with highly strict member expectations are growing, compared to only 37% with a low strictness of member expectations. Congregations with explicit and strict member expectations are also much less likely to experience conflicts that sap vitality. In light of this, and of a considerably body of additional data, high standards cannot be used to justify low growth. Conversion and retention are complementary, rather than competing issues, when missionaries and members insist on proper pre-baptismal preparation of new converts.

While ensuring appropriate prebaptismal preparation requires more effort and coordination up front, good preparation and coordination pays for itself many times over in the long run. The negative effect of inactivity on the convert, the ward or branch, and on other non-members is well-documented. Quick-baptize approaches unfailingly create serious long-term problems, just like the "borrow today, pay tomorrow" mentality of credit. Baptizing converts without adequate preparation overburdens active members with fruitless inactive visits for years to come, decreases member enthusiasm for fellowshipping and for missionary work in general, and throws the harmonious relationship that should exist between missionaries and members out of balance. Similarly, missionaries become discouraged when new converts go inactive due to the neglect or offense of existing members.

Peribaptismal Convert Loss is Preventable

Peribaptismal convert loss is almost entirely preventable. A discerning missionary approach, proper teaching, fellowshipping, and fundamental emphasis on the basic commitments without excuse or exception -- daily scripture reading, daily prayer, weekly church attendance, observing the Sabbath Day, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and active participation in the church -- provide the best medicine to prevent inactivity. When this is done, retention rates rise dramatically, since converts who avoid the first two peaks of inactivity and stay active for an entire year after their baptism have a far lower chance of becoming inactive in the future. The third peak of inactivity will likely never be entirely avoided, since the free agency and obedience of the member in living the gospel are dominant factors determining inactivity in this later period. However, wards and branches can both strengthen active members and reduce the prevalence of inactivity in this period by focusing on consistent obedience to the fundamental principles of the gospel which increase worthiness for the companionship of the Holy Spirit and generate spiritual growth.

Retention of new converts should never be left to chance or circumstance. We simply cannot play dice with the souls of men. For these reasons, for the welfare of new converts, of the members of the ward or branch, and of each non-member who has not yet had an opportunity to hear the gospel, it is incumbent that missionaries and members work together to ensure that each conversion is meaningful and lasting.

Twelve Points for 100% Convert Retention

President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught that, given the importance of each soul, we cannot be content with approaches which result in anything less than full church activity of each new convert:

"I believe it is totally unnecessary that we lose [any of] those who are baptized." Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Church News, July 4, 1998

"Will you please see that every convert who comes into the Church while you are here on this mission is so taught that he or she will grow in faith and that a year after baptism he or she will be ready to get a temple recommend, and as soon as the temple is completed will be eligible to go to the house of the Lord?" Gordon B. Hinckley, Bolivia Cochabamba Missionary Meeting, November 10, 1996

President James E. Faust also taught of the need to ensure true conversion before baptism:

"Who should be baptized? The answer would seem easy. Should we not baptize all those who want to or are willing to be baptized? The answer is not that simple. It is a great responsibility to bring someone into this Church who has not been adequately taught and who has not received of the Spirit so that through baptism they may become a new person through repentance. Moroni gave a solemn warning about this in Mormon 9:29: ‘See that you are not baptized unworthily…' Some of our young missionaries are so hungry for baptisms they may urge people to be baptized before their investigators understand what they are baptized for. Peter said, ‘Repent and be baptized.’ (Acts 2:38.) We must be certain the repentance process is at work. Investigators have a responsibility on their own as they hear the message of the restored gospel, but what I wish to emphasize today is our responsibility to them because it is under the authority of the priesthood that they are baptized and come into the Church." (LDS Church News, June 29, 1996).

Converts are much easier kept than recovered. Motivation may get people into the Church, but what keeps people coming back? What helps some members to experience consistent growth and endure through adversity, while others stagnate or fall away? As Jim Rohn stated, "Motivation gets you started, and habits keep you going." That is why an emphasis on the solid development of gospel habits before baptism, including daily scripture reading, weekly church attendance, Sabbath day observance, and so forth, is so important. Good intentions in the absence of solid gospel habits are a recipe for inactivity. Difficulties with convert retention are almost entirely avoidable with adequate pre-baptismal teaching, good coordination between missionaries, members, and local leaders, and timely, ongoing fellowshipping efforts. Coordination of member-missionary efforts requires that both members and missionaries be willing to give and accept feedback. In our experience, insisting on the successful implementation of the following points prior to baptism will consistently result in the long-term retention of new converts in any area. We have seen one-year retention rates of new converts rise from as low as 10% to virtually 100% with the consistent application of these principles.

1. Consistent daily Book of Mormon reading for half an hour each day.

"There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold of the iron rod, and one who is not. I promise you that you will have more and better converts in every mission of the Church if you will teach and inspire missionaries to effectively use the Book of Mormon as the great converter." Ezra Taft Benson, Mission Presidents' Seminar, 25 June 1986

2. Consistent attendance at all church block meetings.

"It is not position, it is not education that gives the Spirit of God; but it is keeping the commandments of Almighty God and being lowly in heart and desiring to fulfill the commandments of God in our daily walk and conversation. I bear witness to you here today that no man ever will fail in this Church, who is honest in his heart, honest in the payment of his tithes and offerings, who obeys the Word of Wisdom, who attends to his family prayers and his secret prayers, and who attends to his quorum meetings. No man will fail who is doing his duty in this Church." Heber J. Grant, Conference Report April 1901, p. 64

If a convert has attended sacrament meeting, but has not regularly attended the other block meetings prior to baptism, it is not rational to believe that the convert will begin attending all meetings after baptism. Church attendance must be a firm habit, and not a one-time event that can be checked off on a baptismal preparation checklist.

3. Observance of the Sabbath Day.

The need for full observance of the Law of the Sabbath -- dedication of the Sabbath day to divine service, without shopping or work activities (where possible), needs to be fully impressed upon new members and consistently implemented prior to baptism.

4. Regular daily personal and family prayer.

"A few years ago, Bishop Stanley Smoot was interviewed by President Spencer W. Kimball. President Kimball asked, 'How often do you have family prayer?' Bishop Smoot answered, 'We try to have family prayer twice a day, but we average about once.' President Kimball answered, 'In the past, having family prayer once a day may have been all right. But in the future it will not be enough if we are going to save our families.'" James E. Faust, LDS General Conference, October 1990

"Family prayer is the greatest deterrent to sin, and hence the most beneficent provider of joy and happiness. The old saying is yet true: The family that prays together stays together." Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, November 1988, p. 69

"Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward." D&C 31:12

5. Obedience to the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity in word, thought, and deed.

"Let me say to you men and women that in my judgment that simple Word of Wisdom will do more for the advancement of the ultimate destiny of a country than any other law that I know of." Stephen L. Richards, CR, October 1919, p. 195

"There appears to be something beyond and above the reasons apparent to the human mind why chastity brings strength and power to the peoples of the earth, but it is so." Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine p. 274

When individuals are baptized quickly after short periods of abstinence from alcohol or tobacco, the relapse rates are very high. It is imperative that each new convert fully overcome harmful addictions before baptism.

6. All of the above habits -- daily Book of Mormon reading, attendance at church block meetings, Sabbath Day observance, personal and family prayer, and observance of the Word of Wisdom and law of chastity -- should be consistently in place for a minimum of three weeks prior to baptism.

"All men are alike in their dreams, and all men are alike in the promises they make. The difference is what they do." (Moliere, 15th century French playwright)

Almar Pihelgas, former president of Tallinn Estonia Stroomi Branch, testifies of why retention rates for new converts in Estonia have risen from 20% in the early and mid-1990s to over 80% at present: "In the recent two years we have centered our missionary work effort to teaching the people first and to make very sure, that they indeed understand all things they need to understand before they can be baptized. And the things are now much different, we do not lose people anymore because they do not understand the teachings of the Church, only when they decide that they do not want to follow them."

It is vital to ensure that new converts have these basic tools to prior to baptism to ensure their continued spiritual growth. Righteous habits give new converts the foundation to keep their spiritual fire burning strong. Converts with righteous habits are far more resilient to adversity and have greater staying power than those without. Many studies estimate that it takes approximately twenty-one days, or three weeks, for an act performed daily to become a habit. Baptism should not occur until converts have consistently performed these basic gospel habits for a minimum of three weeks.

Converts who are baptized in spite of inconsistent performance on basic gospel commitments get the message that these commitments are really not very important. Saying "nobody's perfect" or rationalizing that the commitments aren't really all necessary before baptism is not a substitute for adequate performance. A good rule of thumb is that it is not rational to expect new converts to reliably implement any significant new gospel habits after baptism that they are not consistently practicing before baptism. The additional responsibilities assumed with church membership, including a calling or callings, home and visiting teaching assignments, and more, together with a widespread belief among some new converts that baptism represents and endpoint rather than the beginning of a spiritual path, make the acquisition of new habits like daily scripture reading highly unlikely after baptism. In contrast, new converts with these basic gospel habits are prepared to give service after baptism, rather than requiring it.

7. Active members should participate in at least two missionary discussions or visits with the prospective convert prior to baptism.

"Elder [L. Tom] Perry noted that, according to research, 86 percent of the active converts have close personal ties to other LDS members or relatives." LDS Church News, June 21, 1991

As only 20% of converts in North America come from member referrals, the above statistics can only mean one thing: rushing converts to baptism before close personal relationships with active members have been established is a recipe for inactivity. Waiting until the time of baptism to implement fellowshipping and retention efforts is simply much too late.

8. Appointments for the first home teaching visit and first new member discussion should be established prior to baptism.

"Those who have come into the Church made a great sacrifice, many of them, when they were baptized. They are precious. They are the same kind of people that you are and their generations will become the same kind of people as will your generations if they are nurtured and brought along in the Church. I don't know how to say it more strongly. This is a matter about which I feel so deeply as I go about this Church across the world." Gordon B. Hinckley, Woods Cross Utah Regional Conference, 10 January 1998

The Church Handbook of Instructions teaches that home teachers should meet the new members at or before the time of baptism. This requires adequate coordination and communication between the full-time missionaries, ward and stake missionaries, and Elder's Quorum president. It is impossible for this to be appropriately done when baptisms are arranged on short notice, or when home teaching programs are not well organized. For new converts, it is not adequate simply for home or visiting teaching to occur within one month after baptism. They must be visited promptly and have the new member discussions started. In view of the wide variation in home teaching rates worldwide (5%-100%), local leaders should know which home teachers are reliable and which are not.

One elegant solution is to have the Stake Missionaries to serve as the home and visiting teachers of newly-baptized members. This policy can improve the reliability and timeliness of post-baptismal follow-up.

9. Converts should be greeted by family history missionaries or before the time of baptism and started on personal family history work.

When new converts were started on personal family history immediately after baptism, convert retention rates in one area of Utah rose from 40% to 80% (Regional Family History Conference, Vernal, Utah, September 2000).

10. Adequate baptismal interviews are centered on basic gospel habits.

"It is important that a man gets into the church, but it is more important that the church get into the man." Unknown

A proper pre-baptismal interview can provide a valuable check of preparation. Inadequate or cursory "rubber-stamp" interviews consist mainly of yes or no questions, or vague questions with little relevance to life application of gospel teachings. Appropriate interviews ask open-ended questions to allow the investigator to explain gospel principles as he or she understands them, and what he or she is doing to live these principles. Adequate interviews are oriented towards life application of basic gospel habits, rather than to one-time events. Individuals who have not been attending church weekly, those who are not reading the Book of Mormon regularly, those who are not regularly saying personal prayers, and those who have not been abstinent from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea for sustained periods, have not demonstrated the "fruits of repentance" mandated by scripture as a requirement for baptism and are not prepared to be baptized at that time, regardless of what answers they may give to questions of belief. Just as faith without works is dead, so baptism is based on professed sincerity and belief rather than sustained works of righteousness a recipe for inactivity. The Lord tells us that one of the requirements of baptism is "having a determination to serve him [Christ] to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins" (D&C 20:37). It would be difficult indeed for a discerning interviewer to claim that a candidate is fully determined to endure to the end through trial and tribulation when he or she has not even put forth the effort to attend church weekly and read the Book of Mormon daily prior to baptism.

Both missionaries and local leaders must agree that new converts are fully prepared prior to baptism. It needs to be made clear to investigators that there is no shame in having baptism delayed to allow for greater preparation. Delaying the baptism of inadequately-prepared converts is often one of the greatest services that can be done for them. The adequacy of pre-baptismal preparation is much more important than the baptismal date.

If the convert retention rate in your area is not 100% or very close, the quality, insight, and discernment of pre-baptismal interviews needs to be improved.

11. Converts should receive a calling within one week of baptism.

"With the ever-increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the 'good word of God' (Moroni 6:4). It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things." Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS General Conference, April 1997

12. Where possible, converts should be prepared to participate in temple proxy baptisms within six weeks of baptism.

Converts who attend the temple within six weeks of conversion to perform proxy baptisms have retention rates above 80%. This is especially true when the converts are working on their own family file.