tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post8989660336301838040..comments2024-03-28T17:29:15.006-06:00Comments on Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): Cities Opening for Missionary Work around the WorldMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-48748912065885450642013-05-07T09:01:33.258-06:002013-05-07T09:01:33.258-06:00Truly the missionaries are very a God like deeds.
...Truly the missionaries are very a God like deeds.<br /><br />Thanks for the increasing numbers of yours.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.childrenofgod.com/" rel="nofollow">the family international locations</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-30649793016808124502013-04-05T21:30:51.032-06:002013-04-05T21:30:51.032-06:00Thanks, Chronos.Thanks, Chronos.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-81736811684496708572013-04-03T02:05:33.503-06:002013-04-03T02:05:33.503-06:00To become a branch it first has to be a group, to ...To become a branch it first has to be a group, to be a group they need priesthood. There are some priesthood holders there, even some returned missionaries (that moved to live there) and two missionaries. Now it's a mission branch called UBA but it's going to turn into a group soon enough, and then branch, ward...Herchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08820495848953690256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-36634935076346507252013-03-31T17:47:18.487-06:002013-03-31T17:47:18.487-06:00There doesn't appear to be a branch in Coari, ...There doesn't appear to be a branch in Coari, Brazil, yet. I take it, the newly baptized members there are in one or more groups of the Brazil Manaus Mission Branch. Perhaps there is a need for priesthood leadership to emerge from the new converts for branches to form.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-14909786099134237542013-03-31T11:11:02.684-06:002013-03-31T11:11:02.684-06:00I am one of the four Elders that first came to Coa...I am one of the four Elders that first came to Coari, in Brazil. I'm from São Paulo, BR, and it's been 1 month since I returned. It was a great experience, there were 4 elders there (me included) and we baptized over 150 people in two weeks, the Church is growing fast in the Amazon.Herchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08820495848953690256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-45433784870308883622013-03-18T20:16:04.413-06:002013-03-18T20:16:04.413-06:00Im so glad that there are a lot of cities addition...Im so glad that there are a lot of cities additional who are embracing this kind of things and Im thank God that he also open it here in our place. <br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.familycare.org/" rel="nofollow">link for familycare (FCF)</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-39223952836511233752013-03-18T09:57:40.319-06:002013-03-18T09:57:40.319-06:00Yes, missionaries in Paraguay report that the rece...Yes, missionaries in Paraguay report that the recent district consolidation was in preparation for creating a stake.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-20693284772417558542013-03-17T16:27:46.520-06:002013-03-17T16:27:46.520-06:00The Accokeek Ward of the Fredericksburg Stake was ...The Accokeek Ward of the Fredericksburg Stake was created today, mostly from a split of the Garrisonville Ward. Small portions of the Rock Hill and Aquia wards were added to the Garrisonville and Accokeek wards.<br /><br />The stake president told us to not get too complacent with the new boundaries as another ward will be created within a year or two in area.<br /><br />There are now 12 wards and 3 branches in the Fredericksburg Virginia Stake. 6 wards cover Stafford County and 2 branches covering the entire stake meet in Stafford County.<br /><br />The alignment was governed by two principles--first that the youth programs in the four wards be about equal. Garrisonville dropped from about 90 youth. Each of the four wards should have around 50-55 youth. Also, that the new ward members would have travel minimized as most of them will be going to a new meetinghouse from where they had been attending.<br /><br />I had been used to 300+ in attendance. The ward will seem small for a while.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-42150677556666939092013-03-17T11:02:58.131-06:002013-03-17T11:02:58.131-06:00The Caaguazú Paraguay District was recently merged...The Caaguazú Paraguay District was recently merged into the Coronel Oviedo Paraguay District about 20 miles away. Each district brought 4 branches into the new enlarged district, which now has 8 branches.<br /><br />Could this be preparation for a new stake?Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-31750474312894920482013-03-15T19:27:29.700-06:002013-03-15T19:27:29.700-06:00The Church has set up a web site for members in Ch...The Church has set up a web site for members in China who are PRC citizens: http://mormonsandchina.org/<br /><br />This is designed for those who lived abroad (especially in the US, Canada, Britain, and Australia) and were converted and returned home.<br /><br />The Church has a press release on the website: http://www.lds.org/church/news/new-church-website-will-help-chinese-nationals-church-leaders?lang=eng#2665636232<br /><br />Very interesting answers to questions about the Church in China.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-52235944771859777442013-03-15T15:04:16.991-06:002013-03-15T15:04:16.991-06:00I have not heard anything on the possibility of mi...I have not heard anything on the possibility of missionaries getting assigned to Ankara but it seems like one of the next places to reach due to its size and status as the capital of Turkey.<br /><br />Thanks Mike for the unit updates. Very exciting to see nine wards and a branch already in Kananga. I bet we'll see more new wards created soon. The stake baptizes hundreds of converts a year with high retention.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-37280808656613154572013-03-14T15:51:48.092-06:002013-03-14T15:51:48.092-06:00The Kamayi Ward was created on 10 March in the Kan...The Kamayi Ward was created on 10 March in the Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake, which now has 9 wards and a branch:<br /><br />Kamayi Ward<br />Kananga 1st Ward<br />Kananga 2nd Ward<br />Katoka 1st Ward<br />Katoka 2nd Ward<br />Malandji Ward<br />Ndesha Ward<br />Nganza Ward<br />Oasis Ward<br />Katoka 3rd BranchMike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-42460343520891979472013-03-10T20:36:02.869-06:002013-03-10T20:36:02.869-06:00I am quite glad to hear that Izmir is being opened...I am quite glad to hear that Izmir is being opened to missionary work. Are there any signs that Ankara may also be opened soon? Has the Church managed to get more visas for missionaries, or is that still a work in progress?John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-49231821832346739982013-03-08T15:49:21.911-07:002013-03-08T15:49:21.911-07:00American Samoa is part of the United States.
Now,...American Samoa is part of the United States.<br /><br />Now, I also have 1499 stakes in the 50 states and DC (although that stake is centered and mostly in Maryland).<br /><br />In my book there are 1510 US stakes, counting 5 in Puerto Rico, 5 in American Samoa, and 1 in Guam.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-91777016322294136882013-03-08T06:59:35.198-07:002013-03-08T06:59:35.198-07:00To James: Nice story! Very interesting how branch...To James: Nice story! Very interesting how branches get their start. Although the ND branch is closed now, ND has had tremendous growth going from 8 to 11 wards in just the last year.<br /><br />To Mike: The South Jordan Ut Oquirrh Lake Stake showed up on the CDOL this morning and is mistakenly credited as the 1500th US stake, which would be a big benchmark number. But Rick Satterfield in ldschurchtemples.com has it correctly numbered as #1499 in the US, since the stake created in American Samoa late last year was added to the US totals by mistake.Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01629100796960009292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-15481673520205498362013-03-07T21:42:55.649-07:002013-03-07T21:42:55.649-07:00In South Dakota Rapid City, we have all kinds of s...In South Dakota Rapid City, we have all kinds of small towns that very infrequently had a set of missionaries in them. One of them was Fergus Falls MN, just off I-94 about 50 miles or so from Fargo.<br /><br />Went down to take some elders back to their area who had to take a car in for repair, and saw that this was a bigger place than some had thought, and close enough to two other towns of reasonable size that I mentioned it in an interview at the next zone conference and discussed it with zone leaders and others who were associated with the mission leadership.<br /><br />So in February 1987, they opened it. Went down to help them find a place, there were a couple members already. Probably gave out the first Book of Mormon handed out through tracting in a good number of years. I remember the place due to the tuxedo cat slinking off as I left the place. <br /><br />There's now a branch headquartered there, serving Wahpeton ND also, at one time there was a branch at Wahpeton too but for probably leadership reasons they have at least the one now.<br /> James Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12831340842937216806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-73356926089470013552013-03-07T14:57:26.411-07:002013-03-07T14:57:26.411-07:00The South Jordan Utah Oquirrh Lake Stake, with the...The South Jordan Utah Oquirrh Lake Stake, with the Oquirrh Lake 1st through 8th wards, was created on 3 March 2013.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-34751778941624461002013-03-07T10:41:44.231-07:002013-03-07T10:41:44.231-07:00I agree. I've been reading a book called &quo...I agree. I've been reading a book called "Holy Lands: A History of the Latter-day Saints in the Near East". I was very surprised to learn how far back the Church presence in that area goes, and how it has persisted despite opposition after opposition. I guess I would compare it to a seed that remains frozen in the Arctic, yet alive, and is then thawed out and able to finally blossom.Christopher Nicholsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00582245548922025033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-43214533800982639042013-03-07T00:28:17.962-07:002013-03-07T00:28:17.962-07:00I recently attended a fireside with the Senior Mis...I recently attended a fireside with the Senior Missionary Couple who presided over Turkey and brought the first round of full-time missionaries. There was a lot beind the scenes why the church wasn't growing before, but know those obstacles have been removed and things should progress much faster in Turkey than before. <br /><br />They said the Church strongly believes that Turkey is the gateway for the Church to be in Muslim world. Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16584038076246018559noreply@blogger.com