The pace at which new LDS stakes have been organized in 2011 has increased compared to the pace of stake organizations in other years over the past decade. No other year has experienced as many new stakes organized within the first six months of the year as 2011 since 1998 when the number of LDS stakes increased by 81 for the entire year. The annual change in the number of stakes operating in the Church ranged from a high of 47 in 2009 to a low of -5 in 2002. Currently the number of stakes has increased by 37 during 2011; a greater increase than all but four years for the LDS Church in the 2000s. At present 42 stakes have been created and five stakes have been discontinued in 2011. The increased rate of stake organizations in 2011 has been primarily attributed to the creation of ten new young single adult (YSA) stakes in Utah and the maturation of nine districts into stakes rather than the creation of new stakes from preexisting stakes. Notwithstanding the accelerated pace at which new stakes have been organized this year, the number of new stakes organized remains far below many years of more rapid growth between the late 1970s and late 1990s when the number of stakes regularly increased by over 50 a year and at times over 100. Increased church growth for the LDS Church may be demonstrated if the pace at which new stakes is organized continues to hold steady for the remainder of 2011 and in the coming years as certain standards for the number of active members are required for stakes to operate. However the rate at which new congregations are organized appears to be only a third of the rate at which membership is growing, suggesting that inactivity and retention challenges for new converts persist.
A list of the number of LDS stakes operating at the end of every year from 1975 to 2007 can be found here. The number of stakes in the Church increased by 28 in 2008, 47 in 2009, and 31 in 2010.
Interesting. Where do you obtain your data? Seems like this should be sourced.
ReplyDeleteI used statistical data available on the LDS website for the number of stakes reported in annual statistical reports going back to 1975. Data for stakes created this year was obtained from www.ldschurchtemples.com and also official LDS websites such as lds.org/maps. Sometimes information for new units created is obtained from missionary reports.
ReplyDeleteNot sure we should be shooting for the high numbers of the 90s. Many of those stakes were very small and weak, and had to close in 2002-2003, especially in Chile. 40-50 a year seems like responsible growth.
ReplyDeleteIf you build them, they will come ... Ah, creative statistics. What was the growth rate of actual church members (not the stakes) before the introduction of a stake in 'new' uncharted areas? I feel that if resources are used to introduce the church (missionaries) in areas to justify building a stake would be a sort of investment similar to a business decision. I feel there are underlying intentions by religions in general (I won’t pick on the LDS) similar to a business in that, in the end, there is money generated, tithing if you will. If the true intentions of a religion are to baptize and 'save' people; is the wonderful flood of tithing money a innocent result? I suppose if the bible says that you must pay tithing, and that god commands it, you should pay... But from an outside perspective—me, a person who doesn't believe in god or the bible—this sounds crazy! I believe that religions grow when people struggle. Have you ever wondered why people find god when they go to jail? Religions also grow when they are used like governments that constitute taxes from the citizens. This is still the case in some places in the world. I get that religion is a part of culture and has influenced cultures; but it can also be used as exploitation of the vulnerable within society. And that's my agnostic response to a twisted message build from funky statistics. It's just a different view of this existence we call life... (Think about it...!)
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