A lot of it comes down to culture.
You trust your family. You trust your friends, your peers. You don't think they would either be led so far astray -- and worse, you don't they would lead others astray.
Beyond that, the Mormon church overwhelms its membership with activities, temple rituals, genealogical research, rotating two-year emergency preparedness resources, studies of four books they call "scriptures" -- three which compete with the Bible, and then there's annual curricula studies which reinforces it all along with the rest of their media
And often that's on top of raising families -- often larger families than what we see in the rest of America today.
I mean, Mormonism's legalism alone is a killer time-wise invested in people's lives:
Here's two ex-Mormons who point that out; disclaimer on the second one is that a lot of OTHER stuff he/she writes about is nothing I'd recommend:
* Mormon Rules: The List further explained (by former 5th generation Mormon - 'In My Other Life was a Mormon - Been There, Done That. Wore a White Shirt and Tie)
* Mormon411: The 101 Mormon Commandments (this Mormon has become an atheist)
Counterfeit Christianity tends to turn many away from anything "Christian" because they toss it all out.
Bottom line, Salt Lake City HQ in the Mormon church has been one of the biggest "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not" factories in existence.
May God have mercy on the average member. With all that, it’s no wonder they are so deeply committed to the cause.
ONLY 101??
Makes ya glad you ain't a Mishie any more!!!