tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post2230489458064870436..comments2024-03-28T07:31:41.105-06:00Comments on Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): Rapid Growth Accelerates in Cote d'IvoireMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-75197612345212130402016-06-14T17:12:30.139-06:002016-06-14T17:12:30.139-06:00Very good to hear about this case of taking the Ch...Very good to hear about this case of taking the Church to the people. Hopefully we can do more such. We are seeing it in Ivory Coast, but even there the Church has come no where near reaching villages or truly flooding over a city.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-49237693100208151292016-06-14T12:19:59.477-06:002016-06-14T12:19:59.477-06:00From what I could gather, the church space leased ...From what I could gather, the church space leased at 1000 Main is for members of the Palmer Court Branch. Palmer Court is a 201-unit facility in Salt Lake City, operated by The Road Home, for chronically homeless single men, women, and families with children. It is located at 999 Main, right across the street from the leased church space. Palmer Court was formerly a Holiday Inn, but converting it to a transitional-housing complex in 2009 got its start after the Church donated $7 million toward the cause. Rent is calculated at one third of the resident's monthly earnings. Those without a job pay $50 a month. It has been a huge blessing to residents, many of whom have spent years on the street.<br /><br />There is a traditional meetinghouse located several blocks from Palmer Court across busy State Street, but I imagine very few branch members have cars, making the trek a little more dangerous. The branch presidency are out-of-unit members from around the Salt Lake Valley, but the branch clerk and executive secretary are both branch members. Having a space across the street for Sunday services and mid-week interviews and activities seems like a good choice for these members who have so little.TempleRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085548097933120560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-35144436151531097632016-06-14T10:09:49.606-06:002016-06-14T10:09:49.606-06:00I was just reading an article in the Salt Lake Tri...I was just reading an article in the Salt Lake Tribune (something I hate to do, especially since the author takes every chance he can to denounce Utah's liquor control policies, that lead to lower rates of drunk-driving deaths and other social goods) in which it was mentioned that the LDS Church leases space at 1000 S. Main in Salt Lake City "for Sunday services." In a previous article this was described as "not a traditional church." I am trying to figure out why the Church is leasing this worship space in Salt Lake City of all places.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-26548834864438893052016-06-14T09:34:07.628-06:002016-06-14T09:34:07.628-06:00The Rabat Branch was removed from the sensitive li...The Rabat Branch was removed from the sensitive list within the past year or two. In 2009, there was also a group in Casablanca. It may still be operating.<br /><br />There have been a couple articles on members living in Tunisia over the years. I recall one from I think the Ensign about 15 years ago. There is also this interesting posting on a member family who moved away in 2011. They called their group the "Tunisian Twig".<br /><br />http://www.womeninthescriptures.com/2011/12/latter-day-saint-women-around-world_29.htmlGnesileahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17757196258988210760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-87366972249004703652016-06-14T09:11:10.747-06:002016-06-14T09:11:10.747-06:00Cool about Morocco. I guess that might be sensitiv...Cool about Morocco. I guess that might be sensitive info. My wife's first area was Ceuta (known as Sebta in Arabic), but that counts toward Europe and Spain.<br />Good catch of Central African Rep, I think I had read about that presence on this blog.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-5712472336746955192016-06-14T08:29:51.572-06:002016-06-14T08:29:51.572-06:00CAR should be in B. So should Morocco. There is a ...CAR should be in B. So should Morocco. There is a branch in Rabat I attended for a year. Tunisia also has a family group. Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07714912758170119608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-52744497628509628452016-06-14T08:22:49.395-06:002016-06-14T08:22:49.395-06:00My guess is the number one plus of having a temple...My guess is the number one plus of having a temple close by is that it allows for taking new converts to the temple more easily and sooner to do baptism, and allows youth to go do baptism more often. However with the last one it is not always the case. The Seattle Temple was so over stretched in the late 1990s that even youth in the ward that had the temple it its boundaries could only go maybe twice a year. On the other hand my ward has too many youth to take them all to the Detroit Temple for baptisms at once, but we manage to have at least 4 youth baptismal trips a year. I am not sure if people have started taking advantage of the family baptisms slots as was hoped.<br /><br />Getting endowed not too long after baptism is a lot easier under such circumstances. I am guessing there are many active members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Zimbabwe and in Kenya among other countries who have not been endowed. I am not sure anywhere in the US is far enough from a temple that endowment rates are lower due to distance, but I am guesing even if most active members in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or Tucson, Arizona have been endowed, at least those who haven't it is most likely something like not keeping the word of wisdom or not paying tithing, not that they just are not able to find a way to get to the temple, I am guessing the number of members from those cities who go to the temple every month or every year will greatly increase with the new temple.<br /><br />I wonder if the Provo Utah Freedom Stake was able to be partly formed because of people who took the building of a new temple as motivation to set their lives in order to be able to go to the temple.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-90865147534838086982016-06-14T06:56:49.460-06:002016-06-14T06:56:49.460-06:00I have wondered for a while what the effect of hav...I have wondered for a while what the effect of having a temple like an hour away (i.e. Spokane) has on those within that span, if it has occasional goers attending more frequently than before, people who did not go before now going through for their endowments...Overall temple activty increasing, like baptisms for youth and converts...Which helps mission work.<br />In another hard to quantify way, I can't help but think that more stake leadership in smaller stakes help members get more outreach and ministering, which could stimulate more activity and growth. And smaller stakes allow more church members saving time and permitting other productive activities like fellowshipping and family history.<br />Part of the beauty of unit and temple growth is the increased faith quotient of those involved.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-60185725388105597282016-06-13T16:04:26.769-06:002016-06-13T16:04:26.769-06:00The stake presidency here in the Spokane WA stake ...The stake presidency here in the Spokane WA stake announced that there is a new stake being formed June 19 from the Spokane, Spokane North, and Spokane Valley stakes. I didn't catch the names of all of the wards going into the new stake, and I can't find anything online to help me, but I think 3 wards (Beacon Hills is one of them) and the Friendship Park branch from the Spokane stake, one ward from the Valley stake, and two wards from the North stake are going into the new stake.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03356432858705156856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-53360315717358383782016-06-13T12:45:07.584-06:002016-06-13T12:45:07.584-06:00No details, but the creation of the Provo Utah Fre...No details, but the creation of the Provo Utah Freedom stake appeared to have taken a lot of effort. <br /><br />It in the end may have been a three-for-two, and it almost involved a fourth, Provo North Park, according to the stake executive secretary in casual conversation while waiting for a temple recommend interview. James Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12831340842937216806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-83586035367963631692016-06-13T05:57:15.510-06:002016-06-13T05:57:15.510-06:00Thanks for all the feedback on the LDS growth rati...Thanks for all the feedback on the LDS growth ratings. I omitted Tunisia, Gabon, and the Comoros as French speaking African nations.<br />I was thinking of ratings as far as size, and combined with the letter of A for dynamic and C for no or little presence, a number could be assigned for population like:<br />1= 1 million<br />2= 100 thousand<br />3= 10 thousand<br />4= 1 thousand <br />5= 100<br />6= 1-99<br />7= 0<br /><br />So Mexico would be A1, Chile would be B2, Falklands B6, Vatican City C7, etc.<br /><br />With some of those B countries in Africa it would be hopeful that certain countries could go Alpha, especially densely populated nations like Rwanda and Burundi. As the Alpha nations grow stronger they can send French speakers to the weaker neighbors, thus growing the groups upward.<br />My nephew who served in A3 (I think) Sierra Leone had companions from Ghana and Nigeria and other nations. The conversations that he reported that were incredible, including discussions of physics and biology, thus potentially starting young men (or women) on their bright futures with the priesthood, church service, education, and family building.<br />Awesome stuff.<br />The Gospel has real answers to problems across the globe, and this should be evidenced in the places that struggle the most to help people get ahead.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-59109187340196949552016-06-12T23:45:27.462-06:002016-06-12T23:45:27.462-06:00Figured out why double postings happen, this is th...Figured out why double postings happen, this is the second time where I write a response on my smartphone and press Publish, then on the next screen I push the BACK button on my phone, publishing a second time. Hopefully this helps others having this issue? :)Brycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14417314475519436933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-42038889442305403172016-06-12T23:41:05.530-06:002016-06-12T23:41:05.530-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Brycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14417314475519436933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-25087656020123145692016-06-12T23:40:50.308-06:002016-06-12T23:40:50.308-06:00I would move Central African Republic to category ...I would move Central African Republic to category B based on Mike's numbers.Brycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14417314475519436933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-90281203054996212162016-06-12T22:59:34.562-06:002016-06-12T22:59:34.562-06:00It would not make sense for the El Cajon Stake to ...It would not make sense for the El Cajon Stake to also be discontinued. It neighbored the Sweetwater stake, and if there was risk for both to be discontinued, they would have just combined the two, not discontinue both.Ryan Searcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03492045549474456000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-89984231237995444412016-06-12T18:36:18.206-06:002016-06-12T18:36:18.206-06:00And it seems like the Monument Park North stake wa...And it seems like the Monument Park North stake was also dissolved today. Four (or more) steps forward: Sparks, New London, Juazeiro, maybe Mesa; two steps back: Sweetwater, Monument Park.Michael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-40010046742973630112016-06-12T18:32:11.351-06:002016-06-12T18:32:11.351-06:00I'm also seeing signs that point to another ne...I'm also seeing signs that point to another new stake in Mesa today; I can't confirm that yet.Michael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-32691731273902120862016-06-12T18:20:45.531-06:002016-06-12T18:20:45.531-06:00Confirmation that Sparks NV got a second stake tod...Confirmation that Sparks NV got a second stake today: the Sparks West and Sparks East stakes were created. <br /><br /> https://www.facebook.com/fghjhklffgh/posts/998035773599036Michael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-36794038523233928672016-06-12T17:59:17.183-06:002016-06-12T17:59:17.183-06:00Still looking at the lds.org classic map of Ivory ...Still looking at the lds.org classic map of Ivory Coast the vast majority of the country is not covered by wards or branches. Even if we assume that at times the branch lines might be drawn a little too small, we will still have large areas unreached. For example there are 4 regions in the north-west of Ivory Coast with no branches at all. Ivory Coast's 4th largest city, Korhogo, with nearly 300,000 people, is one such place. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-71476131513240855702016-06-12T17:18:43.391-06:002016-06-12T17:18:43.391-06:00Reunion and Mayotte are not independent countries,...Reunion and Mayotte are not independent countries, but are "departments" of France. A department is the basic political division of France (and of several Francophone countries)Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-64113679320478539012016-06-12T17:01:35.763-06:002016-06-12T17:01:35.763-06:00South Africa's 3 year membership growth of onl...South Africa's 3 year membership growth of only 5% is pretty low compared to other countries, but at least its congregation growth is higher than that. Interesting that Sierra Leone has seen the number of units grow at twice the percentage of the membership growth. Ivory Coast has also seen this. It's 73% membership growth is huge. If the Church had been growing overall at that rate during the same period there would be over 22 million members. However its 145% growth in congregations is even higher. If the Church overall was growing that fast, there would be just under 70,000 wards and branches. Thus even though Benin had a higher percentage membership growth, Ivory Coast had more congregation growth. Of course if I remember correctly Benin just has one brnach outside the capital, so there is a lot of room for opening new branches in new areas, something that is picking up in Ivory Coast. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-28629733141918200852016-06-12T16:42:18.696-06:002016-06-12T16:42:18.696-06:00Today in my ward one member had his co-worker who ...Today in my ward one member had his co-worker who is a native of Ghana visiting. We had at least one more person attending an LDS meeting for the first time. Also a sister baptized last November who has not made it out much lately was there because she has managed to rearange her work schedule so she can come on Sundays. The one sad thing is 2 of the 3 people baptized this year are about to move to St. George, Utah. They work flipping houses.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-63184500826034787802016-06-12T16:23:32.800-06:002016-06-12T16:23:32.800-06:00Got word this weekend that my father would serve a...Got word this weekend that my father would serve as the District President for the Okinawa Military District. Cool process that he wasn't expecting, only got 15 minutes to choose his counselors while the Area Seventy was in town. Interesting thing about it is that normally Mission Presidents perform temple recommend interviews and pre/post mission interviews in districts. Here the area authority and mission president told him that this won't apply to him as there are worthy priesthood and experience that he will be able to perform those duties, which I've never heard before for a District President. Military members aren't allowed to be on the island more than 5 years, so it's a very high turnover district.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15716429933814861796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-47579519239075740292016-06-12T15:55:27.536-06:002016-06-12T15:55:27.536-06:00That is unfortunate for San Diego. However, we sho...That is unfortunate for San Diego. However, we should strive to look at the positives - the loss of that stake will allow foe neighboring stakes to be strengthened.Ryan Searcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03492045549474456000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-48568235052011910692016-06-12T15:42:41.207-06:002016-06-12T15:42:41.207-06:00Comparing the number of members and congregations ...Comparing the number of members and congregations from 31 Dec 2015 with that fro 31 Dec 2012 and sorted by congregational growth for all countries in Africa per http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/facts-and-statistics/country/nigeria (for Nigeria at the end of 2015). <br /><br />One country, Burundi, was added between 2012 and 2015 (I remember reading the missionary blog of the senior missionary couple sent with another couple and 8 elders to open Burundi). Thus, Burundi, although with a small LDS population, has the highest percent growth over the three years.<br /><br />Burundi: Membership growth = 597/-- = Congregational growth = 3/-- = <br />Cote d'Ivoire: Membership growth = 32,258/18,602 = 73.4% Congregational growth = 130/53 = 145.3%<br />Benin: Membership growth = 2,255/1,081 = 108.6% Congregational growth = 14/6 = 133.3%<br />Namibia: Membership growth = 848/763 = 11.1% Congregational growth = 4/2 = 100.0%<br />Botswana: Membership growth = 3,167/2,152 = 47.2% Congregational growth = 12/7 = 71.4%<br />Sierra Leone: Membership growth = 16,155/11,664 = 38.5% Congregational growth = 45/27 = 66.7%<br />Cameroon: Membership growth = 1,480/1,277 = 15.9% Congregational growth = 10/6 = 66.7%<br />Cape Verde: Membership growth = 12,786/9,326 = 37.1% Congregational growth = 38/23 = 65.2%<br />Ghana: Membership growth = 67,398/52,387 = 28.7% Congregational growth = 244/148 = 64.9%<br />Rwanda: Membership growth = 344/121 = 184.3% Congregational growth = 3/2 = 50.0%<br />Swaziland: Membership growth = 1,837/1,522 = 20.7% Congregational growth = 6/4 = 50.0%<br />Togo: Membership growth = 3,279/1,861 = 76.2% Congregational growth = 16/11 = 45.5%<br />Angola: Membership growth = 1,908/1,257 = 51.8% Congregational growth = 7/5 = 40.0%<br />Malawi: Membership growth = 2,143/1,421 = 50.8% Congregational growth = 8/6 = 33.3%<br />Mozambique: Membership growth = 8,584/6,029 = 42.4% Congregational growth = 28/21 = 33.3%<br />Democratic Republic of the Congo: Membership growth = 47,929/34,547 = 38.7% Congregational growth = 153/116 = 31.9%<br />Nigeria: Membership growth = 142,033/109,998 = 29.1% Congregational growth = 454/350 = 29.7%<br />Liberia: Membership growth = 9,675/6,709 = 44.2% Congregational growth = 24/20 = 20.0%<br />Zimbabwe: Membership growth = 27,825/23,117 = 20.4% Congregational growth = 71/60 = 18.3%<br />Kenya: Membership growth = 12,898/11,869 = 8.7% Congregational growth = 46/41 = 12.2%<br />Republic of the Congo: Membership growth = 6,413/5,750 = 11.5% Congregational growth = 19/17 = 11.8%<br />South Africa: Membership growth = 62,600/59,807 = 4.7% Congregational growth = 168/152 = 10.5%<br />Zambia: Membership growth = 3,577/3,044 = 17.5% Congregational growth = 13/12 = 8.3%<br />Uganda: Membership growth = 14,289/11,442 = 24.9% Congregational growth = 27/25 = 8.0%<br />Madagascar: Membership growth = 10,859/9,190 = 18.2% Congregational growth = 39/37 = 5.4%<br />Tanzania: Membership growth = 1,456/1,220 = 19.3% Congregational growth = 6/6 = 0.0%<br />Ethiopia: Membership growth = 1,903/1,678 = 13.4% Congregational growth = 5/5 = 0.0%<br />Central African Republic: Membership growth = 219/194 = 12.9% Congregational growth = 1/1 = 0.0%<br />Mauritius: Membership growth = 471/428 = 10.0% Congregational growth = 2/2 = 0.0%<br />Lesotho: Membership growth = 873/880 = -0.8% Congregational growth = 2/2 = 0.0%<br />Reunion: Membership growth = 917/882 = 4.0% Congregational growth = 4/5 = -20.0%Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.com