Missionaries convert people to the church and not to BYU. I think that people confuse the purpose of the church sometimes when they get to involved in the social aspects of it. It isn't a country club, we aren't members because we have a lot of fun watching BYU games together.

BYU is a great place, but people inside of Utah (and elsewhere) often realize how small it is compared to the church as a whole. As fun as college sports are they will always be divisive and too many members already have too deep of roots in other collegiate programs. There is no way that BYU can adequately serve all members of the church nationwide, let alone worldwide. The church is so incredibly much more diverse now than it was 20 years ago, that I often think that people have good intentions, but don't realize what the overall effect would be.

As a New Mexico fan I came to Cougarboard today to check up on news from Jimmer at the combine. I really enjoy watching him play and I do think that he has brought great publicity to the school and the church. At the same time I know a lot of other New Mexico fans that really dislike the church because they believe that Tavernari and Jackson Emery always played dirty against UNM (and feel justified because they are "chosen people"). I just think that it might not always be the best idea to associate all members to the one university. If the church membership is known as good people, some of which go to BYU, a great University, it will be better than being viewed as a membership that narrowly follows and almost worships one school. It is kind of like the "... and I'm a mormon". campaign on youtube that shows the great diversity of the church.

Oh, and I need to change my screen-name to lobofan-byugrad.