”Old Ship Zion” is a metaphor that Brigham Young used for the Church.
He once said: “We are in the midst of the ocean. A storm comes on, and, as sailors say, she labors very hard. ‘I am not going to stay here,’ says one; ‘I don’t believe this is the “Ship Zion.”‘ ‘But we are in the midst of the ocean.’ ‘I don’t care, I am not going to stay here.’ Off goes his coat, and he jumps overboard. Will he not be drowned? Yes. So with those who leave this Church. It is the ‘Old Ship Zion,’ let us stay in it.”
The idea is that even if you are no longer sure whether the Church is true, it’s better to stick with it, than be overwhelmed with life without it’s guidance.
In a way, he is right. We need a guiding philosophy. We have to make choices, and we can’t reinvent the wheel every time we have to make a decision.
We need good principles to help us make good decisions.
We need a philosophy
And we need that philosophy to match reality as closely as possible.
We sometimes hear this notion “stay in the boat” expressed as, “Even if the Church is not true, it’s still a great way to live!”
But it seems that fewer members see it that way.
What has changed?
The numbers seem to indicate that 40% of active members have left the Old Ship Zion.
Do you believe the numbers are true?
If so, why are so many leaving?
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