tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post2547994085377900465..comments2024-03-28T14:28:25.157-06:00Comments on Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): LDS Membership and Government Census Data - Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Philippines, and ScotlandMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-2356170942394378802020-06-13T20:50:06.988-06:002020-06-13T20:50:06.988-06:00IF YOU'RE INTERESTED TO JOIN ILLUMINATI BROTHE... IF YOU'RE INTERESTED TO JOIN ILLUMINATI BROTHERHOOD, SIMPLY EMAIL illuminatichurchofdevil6666@gmail.com This is my testimony of how I become rich and famous today, I want to thank grand master of Illuminati for, accepting me in to brotherhood I was deeply strangle up by poverty and I have nobody, to help me, I search for help in many different ways, I see many people around me getting rich, but I did not give up because I believe that I will join the Illuminati and I will become rich , having power and famous I was scam but I did not give up, if you want to be rich powerful and famous in life you can achieve your dreams by being a member of great Illuminati brother hood, Our brother hood does not make use of human for sacrifice because that is the mentality of non members,all you need is to obey the rules and regulations given to you, be a member and make your dreams come reality by been a member, you'll be giving $2, 000,000.00 free house in any where to choice in the word, a car of your choice, The society don't force or beg people to join them, I joined because no body force me and am very happy today to be a member today because my dreams come to reality and making me one of the leading business man in the world, if you're interested to be member of great Illuminati email Illuminatichurchofdevil6666@gmail.com for your initiation, you can text/call whatsapp +1 (859) 474 7408 for initiation, i want you all to know that is free, you will not pay any money to join the illuminati, it is free to join the illuminati and get rich and successful in life. scotty williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12343373411559298419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-22048330778158005142017-09-07T16:30:06.002-06:002017-09-07T16:30:06.002-06:00http://stat.data.abs.gov.au/Index.aspx?DataSetCode...http://stat.data.abs.gov.au/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=ABS_CENSUS2011_B14<br /><br />I'm not sure how things are done in the US, but every survey in Australia and New Zealand has the same set of questions. Brett Stirlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12182028812677024842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-49201282495935440532017-08-28T03:57:40.585-06:002017-08-28T03:57:40.585-06:00>>>the questionnaire would gone out to ev...>>>the questionnaire would gone out to everybody. At the very least every attempt would be made to get a valid response for every purpose.<br /><br />Highly unlikely with questions about religion. Every censusI have looked at, questions about religion tend to go to a subset on a longer form than the shorter form sent to everybody.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-83196036099537207622017-08-27T17:11:57.737-06:002017-08-27T17:11:57.737-06:00Snuffer claims a lot of things that I find odd.Snuffer claims a lot of things that I find odd.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-39035491026817034032017-08-23T21:33:42.851-06:002017-08-23T21:33:42.851-06:00It's odd that Snuffer would claim that. He has...It's odd that Snuffer would claim that. He has never ascertained that none of the current apostles have not. Some of our recent apostles have said things that make me think many, if not all, of them, have had such experiences. But as apostles have said over the years, such experiences may be too sacred to relate. And it is wise that restraint should be used in public declarations. Many in the Church are not prepared to hear, understand, and accept such experiences. As cautioned by the Savior, the Brethren are wise to not cast their pearls before any swine that are either not ready or unprepared to hear such experiences. I heard once that all those called to be apostles in this dispensation are called because they have the ability to be firsthand witnesses of the Savior's divine mission and purpose. But that is between them and the Lord.<br /><br />I would also like to add that, as far as I know, children of record are included on the records of the Church. That is why some have observed a discrepancy between the sum of the increase in children of record and convert baptisms and the number of total Church members reported at the end of each year.<br /><br />That said, as any gospel student knows, those who imply that Church leaders are out of the way, fallen, or in a state of apostasy, while asserting their own righteousness, are on the high road to apostasy, and, as Brother Joseph warned, if they do not repent, they will apostatize as surely as God lives. And I think that applies by extension to anyone who may assert that some kind of emeritus status should be enacted for prophets and apostles. I hope I have made it clear how I feel about that.<br /><br />For now, I wanted to conclude this reply by noting that I have completed several new blog posts since I last posted a link to my blog on this thread. So I thought it would be worth sharing a link again to those posts. Any who want to are more than welcome to comment. Enjoy!<br /><br />http://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.comJames G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-8596900471756046012017-08-22T20:47:24.430-06:002017-08-22T20:47:24.430-06:00The Church first excomunicated people for plural m...The Church first excomunicated people for plural marriage under Joseph F. Smith.<br /><br />Lyman was called as an apostle in 1918. This was more than ten years after Elder John W. Taylor and Elder Mathias Calley had been removed from the Quorum of the 12 because of continued advocating of plural marriage. Only Elder Taylor was later excomunicated.<br /><br />In the 1930s the Church went to exceptional lengths to remove those who continued to advocate polygamy from the records of the Church, especially in places like Short Creek on the Utah/Arizona line. The Church made people in a few areas were advocacy of polygamy was high take an oath, in which among other things they affirmed that President Grant and his counselors currently only had one wife. Those who refused to take the oath were excomunicated.<br /><br />Elder Lyamn had began commiting adultery apparently in the 1920s. This was almost 20 years after the Church began excomunicating polygamists, certainly more than 15.<br /><br />However due to some people taking at face value polemical statements from when polygamy was practiced, and others misinterpreing Section 132 to make it a religious requirement, and possibly other factors, there have been periodic episodes of polygamy flaring up within the Church. The most spoken of incident I know of was among missionaries in the French mission about the time of the dedication of the London Temple. It was such a concern that Joseph Fielding Smith and maybe other members of the 12 carried out the councils that excomunicated several missionaries. The determining question they used was asking people if they affirmed that President David O. McKay held all the keys. This is one argument of some of the apostate groups, that there are keys of the priesthood not held by the current president of the Church.<br /><br />From time to time more recently there have been people who have set themselves up to be a new light, claiming the current leaders of the Church have gone into apostasy, that the Church should not go any further in any direction than was done by Joseph Smith. The most recent wave of such people, including Denver Snuffer, have more often claimed that Joseph Smith did not practice polygamy, and that it was introduced by Brigham Young, and then tried to say the church had been in error on various matters from the time of Brigham Young to the present. <br /><br />One of Snuffer's claims is everyone should have direct revelation of seeing Jesus, and he then claims the apostles are not worth to lead because they have not had such. His claims have been disproved on both points by people who have studied the issues involved.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-24676503021382161572017-08-22T20:28:10.698-06:002017-08-22T20:28:10.698-06:00Actually I believe reported church membership figu...Actually I believe reported church membership figures may be including both baptized members and children of record, so it may include people under age 8. I am not sure on this matter though.<br /><br />If the Pew data is only for 18 and older than articles like the one in Slate over the weekend that said "The Mormon Church in the US today has a membership that is 3% African-American" and when you look at the source it is a 2009 Pew Survey, you have to wonder how 8 year old data gained the moniker "today". If it is only for the 18+ population than it skews quite a bit. We also need to have a good sense how Alex Boye's or Mia Loves children would be designed in the survey (well, except since they are under 18, they wouldn't be, at least I think Mia Love does not yet have a child over 18). <br /><br />For example in Sterling Heights Ward we have a set of African-American teenaged twins who are the oldest members in their family (they have a younger brother and sister who are also members). They are the only teenagers in the ward currently who neither of their parents are members. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-68581886379757003942017-08-18T15:27:09.600-06:002017-08-18T15:27:09.600-06:00Mike you answered some of my questions. I wonder i...Mike you answered some of my questions. I wonder if all the census analysis are being as careful as StatsCanada. Of course StatsCanada is fantastic and has been for decades. With other ones I wonder what caveats we have to make.<br /><br />It sounds like the particular wording and incentives, such as in the Scottish case, may significantly affect these statistics as well.<br /><br />One thing I'd like to know is whether there are the same incentives to get people off the records who don't consider themselves Mormon as there are in the US and Canada. I remember my father spending a lot of time getting people to sign the form in Nova Scotia due to budget issues as well as the transition from district to stake. That can have a big effect obviously in the ratio of church numbers to survey numbers.<br /><br /><br />Regarding the Lyman case, even though it happened well after the transitionary period in Mormon history under Heber J Grant, it is almost certainly caught up with the idea of post-manifesto secret polygamy. When people started being excommunicated for that it was a big deal. Of course Lyman wasn't the first apostle excommunicated over the issue. It's just that it appears he'd kept it secret longer. There are complicated theological reasons tied to the then understanding of ones calling and election being made sure. If Lyman didn't seem troubled about restoring blessings (which I'd never heard before) then it's almost certainly because he, like some of the apostate groups, didn't think the apostles had the ability to remove them. Clearly we think that wrong but not everyone at the time did.Clark Goblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03876620613578404474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-91535745778389712982017-08-18T15:13:58.805-06:002017-08-18T15:13:58.805-06:00A problem with US Church data versus surveys by AR...A problem with US Church data versus surveys by ARIS or polls by Pew is that the latter is only looking at those 18 or older while the church is looking at those 8 or older. I wonder how much that is skewing the data? I'd be careful with those % figures until you establish we're actually comparing apples to oranges.Clark Goblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03876620613578404474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-44540817732073185822017-08-15T22:40:14.682-06:002017-08-15T22:40:14.682-06:00Great thoughts, all! But I wanted to clarify some ...Great thoughts, all! But I wanted to clarify some things. I hope everyone knows that I didn't mean to imply that I thought the abuse for which George P. Lee was arrested and served time happened during his time as a General Authority.<br /><br />Regarding Elder Lyman, the specifics I know about that excommunication were pulled from the biography of President Kimball written by his sons. They recounted their father's participation in the Church court held against Elder Lyman. According to the biography (which I would trust more than what other people not involved in the process), Elder Lyman was accused of adultery that had resulted from his entering into an unauthorized marriage with another woman, at which they exchanged vows privately, since Elder Lyman couldn't trust anyone to officiate. When those charges were read, Elder Lyman confirmed for his brethren the particulars of the accusations against him. It was said that as he did so, he didn't seem remorseful and showed no emotion, but that all of his brethren were quite emotional about the whole thing. The one thing I can't quite recall is if this disciplinary council was held with or without the involvement of the First Presidency.<br /><br />I also know from that same biography that these brethren did their best to try and convince Elder Lyman to get his blessings restored, but that at the time of his death, he had declined to do so.<br /><br />In regards to Elder Hamula, there is a story floating around the Wikipedia talk pages that his brother-in-law had said the action resulted from Hamula having an extramarital affair. But until he or Church leaders verify that (which is not likely) it is merely heresay. Thanks to you all for the discussion.James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-33288131359952182362017-08-14T18:36:13.375-06:002017-08-14T18:36:13.375-06:00George P. Lee's arrest for child abuse came ye...George P. Lee's arrest for child abuse came years after his excommunication. Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-92096964608362287152017-08-14T18:32:00.232-06:002017-08-14T18:32:00.232-06:00The story my grandmother told me about Elder Lyman...The story my grandmother told me about Elder Lyman when I was a teenager in the 1970s was that a young woman from Alberta appeared in Salt Lake City and announced that Elder Lyman was her father. Elder Lyman then admitted that she was his daughter and that led to his excommunication. I have never read that anywhere and may have just been a story told at the time or after. But, the point of grandma's story was to be careful when you are younger because indiscretions made then could come back to haunt you.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-90656142016278953342017-08-14T03:15:12.481-06:002017-08-14T03:15:12.481-06:00Not knowing the Lyman case very well, not followin...Not knowing the Lyman case very well, not following the brethren in practice and policy can be as much a case for excommunication as a second marriage or being unchaste. The sister from Virginia who pushed for female priesthood access was excommunicated more recently because of not following direct counsel from leadership, which is a strong form of apostasy and shows violations of at least two temple worthiness questions.<br />When George Lee lost his membership I remember my mother, adult convert from 1968, being saddened and hurt by it. Perhaps my father and other adult males took note, I don't know.<br />Having served and lived in Chile and Spanish speaking California church settings, we are really chagrined when members or investigators of the blood of Lehi do not blossom as a rose as the Book of Mormon promises. But that applies to European gentiles as well, or people the world over.<br />I recall Elder Lee advocating greater native American perogatives, and like Russell or whatever name the former Russian-serving missionary was in Northern Virginia who pushed publicly against Church policy, these are serious grounds for discplinary counsel and removal.<br />We are free to dissent and disagree on many Church policy matters, but we should not lead others in those issues that then become ill fated causes.<br />Having said that, it is all right to be critical and interested in adapting and improving many of our strategies and tactics like missionary outreach, humanitarian activites, and other extra-ecclestiastical endeavors.<br />All of us can do better individually and collectively.<br />We see this every day, and we live in a very "living" faith in that sense.<br />Part of what makes membership and participation so fascinating in the latter-days.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-38976998221419694762017-08-13T21:02:32.622-06:002017-08-13T21:02:32.622-06:00Just to clarify, Elders Kimball and Benson were in...Just to clarify, Elders Kimball and Benson were in place prior to Elder Lyman's excommunication, Elder Mark E. Petersen was called to fill the vacancy in the Twelve after Elder Lyman's removalWhizzbanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08999609207185818507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-43169137447615771322017-08-13T20:31:34.252-06:002017-08-13T20:31:34.252-06:00District branches are at one level administrative ...District branches are at one level administrative units, to organize the records of members who live beyond the boundaries of the regular branches. Generally the branch president is the district president. There are also mission branches that collect the areas of a mission outside other branches (sometimes called mission administrative branches, mission branch is also a term used in other context for branches not under a stake or district, and in some context all brnaches not in stakes). These branches at times have organized groups under them. Although there can also be functioning groups under the authority of geographical wards or branches. This is the case of the group on the Channel Islands of California.<br /><br />Today there was a new couple in Sterling Heights Ward. The wife is an African-American sister who joined the church in our stake a few years back, went off to BYU-Idaho and that is where she met her husband. Her husband is from Edo State in Nigeria (the capital of that state in Benin City), his family joined the church when he was 6. He served in the Nigeria Port Harcourt Mission and then went to BYU-Idaho. He just got hired to work in the IT department of General Motors. We have at least two other members in the Sterling Heights Ward who work in that same department, and close to half the adult men in the ward seem to work for general motors, and a few others used to work for GM.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-55543435380772410772017-08-13T18:34:03.090-06:002017-08-13T18:34:03.090-06:00That said, I wanted to make a quick comment unrela...That said, I wanted to make a quick comment unrelated to the direction this discussion has gone. In recent days, I have taken several opportunities to post lots of new content on my own blog, including Church and temple news and developments, in addition to birthday tributes to three of our five apostles that have marked their special days within the last week (Elder Stevenson on August 6, Elder Andersen three days later, and Elder Oaks just yesterday). We also have two other apostolic birthdays coming up prior to the end of this month, with President Monson's 90th in 8 days and Elder Hales' 85th three days later. I invite any who may want to do so to read and, if they feel so inspired, comment on any of these new posts that may be of interest to them. The link to my blog follows below. In the meantime, I am continually grateful to Matt for letting me note such posts on the thread of this blog. Thanks to you all for continuing to inspire me.<br /><br />http://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.comJames G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-76896569463594330702017-08-13T18:28:44.560-06:002017-08-13T18:28:44.560-06:00Thanks, James Anderson. As I indicated in my comme...Thanks, James Anderson. As I indicated in my comment above, I knew that Elder Lee had been charged for child abuse. I had forgotten the extent of the details. And it is interesting to think about how the Lord was correct in stating that "in the last days, even the very elect will be deceived." While we should rightly respect, sustain, and support those that serve in any leadership capacity, it is not wise nor logical to put them on a pedestal of any kind, as just about every one of these men and women have at some point or another battled with their own weaknesses, imperfections, and transgressions. As we all are aware, there was only one perfect man to ever walk the earth. While all of us are trying our best to be like Him, the result of living in an imperfect world is that Satan and his snares are everywhere. While the Lord directs the calls of every Church leader in every capacity, at best, each of them is still very human. And as we have seen in the case of Elders Lyman, Lee and Hamula, if any of us do let our guard down for any reason, we too may transgress and fall short of the glory of God. The beauty of the concept of the Atonement is in the fact that, as long as we are doing our best to live what we believe, the Lord will make up the difference for where we are lacking and falling short, even in cases of serious transgression.James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-47236548389621125492017-08-13T09:26:11.819-06:002017-08-13T09:26:11.819-06:00There was more to the George P. Lee story, he was ...There was more to the George P. Lee story, he was soon found to have been involved inappropriately with children for the which he was ultimately tried for and convicted in state court and did a long term in prison for it. A picture was shown by a psychologist who has interviewed a lot of prisoners, and most had at one time been lds, that picture was a jailhouse photo and by the time it was taken his hair had grayed, was long and unkempt, and he also had a long unkempt beard.<br /><br />Same psychologist also said he had interviewed one who one Sunday morning went to meetings and Tuesday after that (two days), shot his wife dead. So serious things can happen in an instant as well as over timeJim Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692368202247687591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-1751211687331547712017-08-13T03:10:12.967-06:002017-08-13T03:10:12.967-06:00You are right about the year in which Elder Lee wa...You are right about the year in which Elder Lee was excommnicated, but I was only off by a fee years, so I'm not worried about that. Regarding Elder Lee, he was one of the youngest GAs at the time of his call. If memory serves, he was later charged for child abuse, though I cannot quite tecall whether or not the incident in question took place before his excommunication. Regardless of that, what happened with Elders Lyman, Lee and Hamula should remind us that though the leading brethren do their best to live the gospel, the temptiations and trials they face are no different from the rest of the membership, and that all of us need to do our level best to never yield to such inclinations. And for my part, I have seen an uncle serve as a bishop and later be subject to excommunication for infidelity. No one, not even the president of the Church is immune from Satan's influence. The real test for all of us is to never yield when we can help it, and to speedily repent and make amends when we do make mistakes. I don't know what Brother Hamula may have done in this case, as that is between him, his family, the apostles who acted on this matter, and the Lord Himself. For the rest of us, our best course of action is to pray for him to take the steps towards using the atonement to fox the issue and to return to full fellowship with us while we do our best to ensure that we are avoiding Satan's snares in our own lives. James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-68875107415238620982017-08-12T13:33:15.931-06:002017-08-12T13:33:15.931-06:00Slight quibble on details- I believe Elder Lee was...Slight quibble on details- I believe Elder Lee was excommunicated in 1989. (He was the first Native American general authority, and I believe at the time of his calling in 1975 was also the youngest GA, in his early 30's if I remember correctly.) As you say, James, I believe the previous instance, and the last time an apostle was excommunicated, was Richard R. Lyman. He was excommunicated in late 1943, only a few weeks after the calling of Spencer W. Kimball and Ezra Taft Benson to fill vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve. I had forgotten the details of why.twinnumerounohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05339551175116474947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-90435517477083001912017-08-11T18:36:25.404-06:002017-08-11T18:36:25.404-06:00In regards to the subject of excommunication of ge...In regards to the subject of excommunication of general Church leaders and officers, it is a rare occurrence for that kind of thing to happen. In terms of historical context, it was Elder George P. Lee, another General Authority Seventy, who was last excommunicated, which happened in the early 1990s, and that was primarily due to his having taught the idea of Native American's superior status in the Church. Prior to Elder Lee's excommunication, Elder Richard R. Lyman, who, if reports about him are true, entered into an unlawful cohabitational relationship that was termed polygamous. The Church released a one-sentence statement following that excommunication saying that the reason for it was violation of the Christian law of chastity.<br /><br />With these prior examples in mind, in regards to the most recent example (the excommunication of James J. Hamula), I want to note that I think it was very wise for the Church to make it clear that he was not teaching false doctrine and that the action taken in this case was not in any way due to disillusionment. The Church likely wanted to release this information in this way to shortcut gossip and false rumors, and to prevent the possibility of Brother Hamula going anywhere and trying to function in an authoritative role. The specifics are not important.<br /><br />Having noted that, I did want to say that the principles of the gospel and the concept of the Atonement is such that there are only a few transgressions for which formal Church discipline may be needed. Off the top of my head, from what I have read, I know that teaching false doctrine, assuming authority and revelatory authority that one does not have (including asserting ones' own righteousness and assuming and advocating authority one does not have), and certain violations of the Lord's law of chastity are among those kinds of transgressions. Given the statement by the Church to the effect that this action in Brother Hamula's case was not due to teaching false doctrine or dissilusionment, that does narrow the options. At the end of the day, as with anything else, unless the Church or Brother Hamula chooses to provide more details, all that remains for us is to accept the information for what it is and to get back to living as faithfully as we can to avoid a similar case.<br /><br />I hope no one is offended by this comment, and that some few of you have found it helpful. I appreciate all the comments that have been posted since my last comment here, and hope you all know how much I am inspired daily by my participation in the wide-ranging discussions on these threads. <br /><br />For any who would like to, I welcome you to check out the latest posts I have done on my own blog, including one that will be posted there in a few minutes sharing the latest temple news. The link follows below. Thanks again to you all.<br /><br />http://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.comJames G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-47786724256304996742017-08-11T18:34:54.528-06:002017-08-11T18:34:54.528-06:00Recently a lot of acquaintaces of mine have receiv...Recently a lot of acquaintaces of mine have receiving their calls to spanish-speaking countries. Though i'm not a big fan of the language, working in a recently open Cuba would be really exciting. Such a shame it's still probably taking some years to that.<br /><br />Anyway, does anyone know where can i find recent data of seminary/institute enrollment by country? Thanks, everyone.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998933423600209592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-35196103871949397732017-08-11T14:17:16.324-06:002017-08-11T14:17:16.324-06:00My understanding is that a district branch is an c...My understanding is that a district branch is an catch-all branch of anyone outside the boundaries of the two other organized branches. So they fall into the district branch. OC Surferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09359767278375204699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-73777065547868401802017-08-10T21:39:59.046-06:002017-08-10T21:39:59.046-06:00I notice on ldschurch temples.com that Cuba got a ...I notice on ldschurch temples.com that Cuba got a 3rd branch Havana cuba district branch. I was wondering what is the difference between that branch and the Havana Branch. Bryansb1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/01188210431454868034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-79281101840467887472017-08-10T20:43:19.936-06:002017-08-10T20:43:19.936-06:00The Church has organized in Havana Cuba District B...The Church has organized in Havana Cuba District Branch. This may indicate that there are multiple groups of the Church in Cuba. I am hoping we significant progress in Cuba in the near future.<br /><br />I have known more Ghanaian church members than members from any other country in Africa. The number of Ghanaian Church members I have known is still only a little over 10, but it is the most. It is at least 8 actually from Ghana, and another 4 or so who were children of immigrants from Ghana. For both categories of Nigerian Church members I can only think of 3, and for South Africans it may come to 8, but I am including a woman who was technically Swazi, but joined the Church in South Africa, and her children, so I maybe should have a lower number. The count for Liberians is 3. Zambians 2 and Zimbabweans 1. <br /><br />I actually can not think of missionaries I have known serving directly from any of thesre countries. Well, one person I knew from Zambia sort of counts, but I knew him at BYU. Even a missionary I knew who would say he was from Liberia actually was a refugee living in Chicago before he left on his mission. <br /><br />I have known missionaries directly from the DR Congo and Uganda. Of the 4 Ghanaian missionaries I can think of who have served in the Detroit mission, 3 of them were born in the US. <br /><br />Hmm, I just remembered some Nigerian church members I had known on my mission. Still I think it is safe to say I have known more Church members of Tongan descent than from any specific country in Africa. <br /><br />The Church is growing very well in West Africa, and significantly in the DR Congo and South Africa and Zimbabwe and probably Mozambique. However even in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Ivory Coast Church members are still a minuscule part of the poupulation, and Nigeria has less than 2% of the world-wide LDS Church units (there are 30,000+ Church units, so 2% is 600 or a little more). John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.com