Saturday, August 1, 2015

July Monthly Newsletter

Please click here to access our July issue of the monthly newsletter for cumorah.com.

54 comments:

  1. Good news on the new stake in Valparaiso, Chile. My brother served there back in 1979-81.

    3 branches becoming 5 wards is also interesting. While branches in stakes will usually be smaller than wards (although I have seen it otherwise), branches in missions can be smaller still or larger than branches in stakes or even wards.

    So, the stake was formed from a district with 3 branches and a ward from another stake. The probably means some recent reactivations. The member numbers were undoubtedly there, but the need for active, full-tithe-paying, MP was probably what was needed.

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  2. Yesterday in the elders quorum I attended a young man who had just returned from serving his mission in the Philadelphia Mission said that his mission was using face book and seemed to think that it was a good development helping to share the gospel more. I did not get a chance to ask him any more specifics.

    I know here in the Michigan Detroit Mission the missionaries are not using facebook, but our stake public relations council has a facebook page called Detroit Area Mormons which they try to use to spread positive mentions and coverage of the Church.

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  3. I lived in that area of Valparaiso for a couple of years, and discovered that church members move constantly out of the area, mostly youngish families, mainly when they buy a house or apartment.

    The Valparaiso West Stake also has the problem of its incredible geography. The city goes from sea level to 1000 ft in just 1 or 2 miles, and that creates huge obstacles for the location of the church buildings. People tend to go walking to church if the meetinghouse is located downhill and no further than a mile, but then they use public transportation to go back home. The main problem is fathers go earlier to church because of leadership meetings and mothers have to go with their children by themselves, making it even harder to be on time. Add any other personal challenges and people either stop attending church or just move to a flatter part of the metro area.

    The Forestal branches (Forestal, Las Torres, Forestal Alto and Chorrillos)in the Viña del Mar Stake have exactly the same issue, and that is why there are 4 branches there, limiting the possibility of splitting that stake which already has 11 units (7W,4B).

    To make things worse both those areas are mostly lower income neighborhoods, with all the social problems that implies.

    Taking all that into account and the newer elevated standards for creating stakes and wards, something wonderful must be happening there.

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  4. http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/08/growth-areas?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/global_population_forecasts
    Anyone interested in population forecasts, and how they will affect LDS worldwide growth, should look at the new UN report.

    India is expected to overtake China as the world's most populous country by 2022. What is the predicted church growth in India?

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  5. Here's an exploration of Evangelical outreach in India
    http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-gospel-in-india

    Unit Update

    5 Jul
    New Bell Branch, Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission (7 Branches, 2 Dist, 2 Stakes)

    26 Jul
    Cartago Costa Rica Stake (2 Branches, 5 Wards)
    Los Santos Branch
    San Isidro del General Branch
    Cartago Ward
    Paraíso Ward
    San Diego Ward
    Tres Ríos Ward
    Turrialba Ward

    2 Aug
    Kerman 2nd Branch (Spanish), Fresno California West Stake (1 Branch, 9 Wards)
    Virreyes 2nd Branch, Buenos Aires Argentina Litoral Stake (3 Branches, 6 wards)

    YTD 353(11.38/week 31)
    Africa 120, 34.0%
    Asia 10, 2.8%
    Europe 13, 3.7%
    North America (w/ Caribbean) 94, 26.6%
    Pacific 25, 7.1%
    South and Central America 33, 9.3%
    Utah & Idaho 58, 16.4%

    Totals no-sensitive
    Areas Temples Miss Stakes Dist Wards Branch Totals
    Global 25 147 418 3,141 548 22,407 7,333 34,019
    Us/Can 11 80 131 1,586 11 12,501 2,068 16,388
    US n/a 72 124 1,539 8 12,165 1,916 15,824
    Utah n/a 15 10 576 1 4,661 326 5,589
    Canada n/a 8 7 47 3 336 152 553
    Out 14 67 287 1,555 537 9,906 5,265 17,631

    With Sensitive
    Areas Temples Miss Stakes Dist Wards Branch Totals
    Global 25 147 418 3,141 559 22,411 7,423 34,124

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  6. Great news. Good friends in Vietnam reported first ever LDS Youth Conference Turn out looks great from pics I saw.

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  7. Great news. Good friends in Vietnam reported first ever LDS Youth Conference Turn out looks great from pics I saw.

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  8. Laos already attends Youth and YSA Conference with the Saints in Thailand. There are really only a handful of youth in the branch. The language is similar enough to Thai and the branch is only about 40 min from the border.

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  9. R. Jofre,
    Your comment about lower income areas reminds me of a few facts. In my stake we have what is called the "personal Storehouse project" which seeks whole skill development aid to help members gain education and employment. Talking to the couple assigned to one of the wards primarily in Detroit, they mentioned they had helped many people get jobs, but those people had generally moved out of the ward in the process.

    I know in my brother's mission in Idaho there was a branch covering a trailer park that was unlikely to ever reach ward status because when people got activated in the branch they would often then also get better employment and move outside its boundaries.

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  10. I was thinking about how the Church has serveral care center branches, primarily in Utah, Idaho and maybe a few in Arizona. Does anyone know if there are care center groups that exist under stakes/wards?

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  11. I am unfamiliar with "care center groups". Interesting concept. I am sort of familiar wit bishop storehouses and employment centers in Indiana, California and Maryland.

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  12. Here in Idaho the last ward I was in had a care center assigned to it. We held a separate sacrament meeting there and the membership of the the care center resident were transferred into the regular ward. If you spoke in sacrament meeting in the ward, you also gave the same talk (usually abbreviated) at the care center. I believe the relief society holds separate meetings during the week. There are several small care centers that are assigned as part of the ward/stake they are located in. Some of the larger care centers here may have their own branch.

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  13. My last ward (Idaho Falls 32nd Ward) was a regular family ward with a care center assigned to it. Ward members would go to the center to help with sacrament meeting. That ward also had the deaf group from the larger multi-stake area assigned to it. We had interpreters in sacrament meeting and the deaf held their own Sunday school/priesthood/relief society meetings.

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  14. Patheos.com is doing a set of essays on the 'Future of Mormonism'.

    http://www.patheos.com/Topics/Future-of-Faith-in-America/Mormonism


    Some information on the Church in Lebanon.
    http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2015/08/lebanons-mormons-an-active-and-diverse-bunch.html
    https://www.zawya.com/story/Lebanon_s_Mormons_an_active_and_diverse_bunch-DS05*08*2015_dsart*309712/
    http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148830.htm

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  15. Wow! Thanks for the links Joseph. This article indicates that a member group operates in Damascus, Syria where "10 faithful members" meet every-other week for the sacrament. It also notes that there are "chapters" in Baghdad, Iraq; Irbil, Iraq; Aleppo, Syria; and Latakia, Syria. It describes these small concentrations of Latter-day Saints as "congregations," so I guess this means that they are member groups as well.

    The Beirut Lebanon District was organized last April. I imagine that a district branch has been created for the district to administer these five member groups in Iraq and Syria. A native Lebanese district leaders appears crucial to the administration and operation of these congregations where Western church leaders cannot visit. I would imagine that most of these members in Iraq and Syria are native members who have converted over the years.

    Fascinating read!

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  16. Check out the listing for SLC Utah Centeral Stake - Two Care Center branches. Each branch appears to based on a major nursing home for seniors.

    Brighton Gradens Care Center Branch - a unique branch providing pastoral support for patients and their families staying at this assisted care home for seniors.
    Freindship Care Center Branch - - a unique branch providing pastoral support for patients and their families staying at this assisted care home for seniors at Friendship Manor.

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  17. The only care center branches that i've seen outside of Utah /Idaho are at Evanston WY South Stake and Safford AZ Stake.

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  18. Last fall, just before being released as executive secretary, I downloaded all congregations and stakes.

    As of October 2014, there were 114 branches with "Care Center" in the title. 3 were in Idaho, and 1 each in Alberta, Arizona, and Wyoming. There rest were in Utah.

    Pocatello 53rd Branch (Care Center), Pocatello Idaho West Stake; Pocatello, Idaho
    Rexburg 20th Branch (Care Center), Rexburg Idaho Center Stake; Rexburg, Idaho
    Rexburg 22nd Branch (Care Center), Rexburg Idaho Stake; Rexburg, Idaho
    Lee Crest Branch (Care Center), Cardston Alberta Stake; Cardston, Alberta
    Kimball 4th Branch (Care Center), Safford Arizona Stake; Safford, Arizona
    Maple Springs Branch (Care Center), Brigham City Utah South Stake; Brigham City, Utah
    Pioneer Branch (Care Center), Brigham City Utah South Stake; Brigham City, Utah
    Chancellor Branch (Care Center), Clearfield Utah Stake; Clearfield, Utah
    Country Pines Branch (Care Center), Clinton Utah North Stake; Clinton, Utah
    Independence Branch (Care Center), Harrisville Utah Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Sunshine Terrace Branch (Care Center), Logan Utah Cache West Stake; Logan, Utah
    Terrace Grove Branch (Care Center), Logan Utah Cache West Stake; Logan, Utah
    Logan Valley Branch (Care Center), North Logan Utah Green Canyon Stake; Logan, Utah
    Crestwood Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Burch Creek Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Regent Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Burch Creek Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Manor Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah East Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Wasatch Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah East Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Lorin Farr 7th Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Lorin Farr Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Francis Park Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Mount Lewis Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Mt Eyrie Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Mount Lewis Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Country Meadow Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Weber Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Madison Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Weber Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Skyline Branch (Care Center), Ogden Utah Weber Stake; Ogden, Utah
    Legacy 1st Branch (Care Center) , Preston Idaho North Stake; Preston, Idaho
    Legacy 2nd Branch (Care Center) , Preston Idaho North Stake; Preston, Idaho
    Legacy 3rd Branch (Care Center) , Preston Idaho North Stake; Preston, Idaho
    Spring Creek Branch (Care Center), River Heights Utah Stake; Providence, Utah
    Heritage Park Branch (Care Center), Roy Utah West Stake; Roy, Utah
    Bear River Branch (Care Center) , Tremonton Utah Stake; Tremonton, Utah
    North Park Branch (Care Center), Tremonton Utah Stake; Tremonton, Utah
    Park Branch (Care Center), West Haven Utah Stake; West Haven, Utah
    Peach Tree Branch (Care Center), West Haven Utah Stake; Roy, Utah
    Legacy Branch (Care Center) , Bennion Utah East Stake; Taylorsville, Utah
    Ridgecrest 2nd Branch (Care Center), Bennion Utah West Stake; Taylorsville, Utah
    Orchard Branch (Care Center), Bountiful Utah Central Stake; Bountiful, Utah
    Barton Creek Branch (Care Center), Bountiful Utah East Stake; Bountiful, Utah
    South Davis Branch (Care Center), Bountiful Utah Heights Stake; Bountiful, Utah
    North Canyon 9th Branch (Care Center), Bountiful Utah North Canyon Stake; Bountiful, Utah
    Bountiful House Branch (Care Center), Bountiful Utah Stake; Bountiful, Utah
    Park View Branch (Care Center), Bountiful Utah Stone Creek Stake; Bountiful, Utah
    Val Verda 7th Branch (Care Center), Bountiful Utah Val Verda Stake; Bountiful, Utah
    Eastridge 10th Branch (Care Center), Draper Utah Eastridge Stake; Draper, Utah
    Needles Branch (Care Center), Evanston Wyoming South Stake; Evanston, Wyoming
    Country Lane Branch (Care Center), Farmington Utah Stake; Farmington, Utah
    Apple Village Branch (Care Center), Layton Utah Northridge Stake; Layton, Utah
    Fairfield Branch (Care Center), Layton Utah Valley View Stake; Layton, Utah
    Union Park 8th Branch (Care Center), Midvale Utah Union Park Stake; Sandy, Utah
    Riverside 6th Branch (Care Center), Murray Utah North Stake; Murray, Utah
    Plantation Branch (Care Center) , Murray Utah South Stake; Murray, Utah
    Murray 4th Branch (Care Center) , Murray Utah Stake; Murray, Utah

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  19. Most of the rest:

    University Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake 1st Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Brighton Gardens Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake Central Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Cottonwood Heights 8th Branch (Care Center), Salt Lake Cottonwood Heights Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    East Mill Creek 13th Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake East Mill Creek North Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Veteran's Home Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake Foothill Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Granger West 1st Branch (Care Center), Salt Lake Granger West Stake; West Valley City, Utah
    Holladay Healthcare Center Branch (Care Center), Salt Lake Holladay South Stake; Holladay, Utah
    Holladay 7th Branch (Care Center), Salt Lake Holladay Stake; Holladay, Utah
    Primary Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake Married Student 2nd Stake ; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Monument Park 21st Branch (Care Center), Salt Lake Monument Park North Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Wasatch Valley Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake Valley View Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Silverado Branch (Care Center), Salt Lake Winder Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Cottonwood Creek Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake Winder West Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Garden Terrace Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake Winder West Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Woodland Branch (Care Center) , Salt Lake Winder West Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Alta View Branch (Care Center) , Sandy Utah Central Stake; Sandy, Utah
    Sunrise Branch (Care Center), Sandy Utah Granite South Stake; Sandy, Utah
    Midvalley 3rd Branch (Care Center), Sandy Utah Midvalley Stake; Midvale, Utah
    Mingo Branch (Care Center) , Sandy Utah West Stake; Sandy, Utah
    Legacy House Branch (Care Center) , South Jordan Utah River Ridge Stake; South Jordan, Utah
    River Crest Branch (Care Center), South Jordan Utah River Stake; South Jordan, Utah
    Carrington Court Branch (Care Center), South Jordan Utah Stake; South Jordan, Utah
    Johanna Case Branch (Care Center) , South Salt Lake Stake; Salt Lake City, Utah
    Heritage 8th Branch (Care Center), West Jordan Utah Heritage Stake; West Jordan, Utah
    Jordan Oaks 9th Branch (Care Center), West Jordan Utah Jordan Oaks Stake; West Jordan, Utah
    Mountain View 5th Branch (Care Center) , West Jordan Utah Mountain View Stake; West Jordan, Utah
    Westbrook 11th Branch (Care Center), West Jordan Utah Westbrook Stake; Taylorsville, Utah
    Paradise Branch (Care Center), Alpine Utah West Stake; Alpine, Utah
    Heritage Branch (Care Center), American Fork Utah Central Stake; American Fork, Utah
    American Fork 39th Branch (Care Center), American Fork Utah East Stake; American Fork, Utah
    Beehive Branch (Care Center), American Fork Utah Hillcrest Stake; American Fork, Utah
    American Fork 40th Branch (Care Center), American Fork Utah Stake; American Fork, Utah
    American Fork 45th Branch (Care Center), American Fork Utah Stake; American Fork, Utah
    Heritage Park Branch (Care Center), Cedar Hills Utah West Stake; Cedar Hills, Utah
    Kolob Branch (Care Center), Enoch Utah West Stake; Cedar City, Utah
    Mill Road Branch (Care Center), Ferron Utah Stake; Ferron, Utah
    Heber 16th Branch (Care Center), Heber City Utah Stake; Heber City, Utah
    Wild Rose Branch (Care Center), Highland Utah East Stake; Highland, Utah
    Lindon 22nd Branch (Care Center), Lindon Utah Central Stake; Lindon, Utah
    Nephi 12th Branch (Care Center), Nephi Utah Stake; Levan, Utah
    Cascade 8th Branch (Care Center) , Orem Utah Cascade Stake; Orem, Utah
    Heatheridge 8th Branch (Care Center), Orem Utah Heatheridge Stake; Provo, Utah
    Hillcrest Rest Home Branch (Care Center) , Orem Utah Hillcrest Stake; Orem, Utah
    Sharon Park 11th Branch (Care Center), Orem Utah Sharon Park Stake; Orem, Utah
    Summerfield Manor Branch (Care Center), Orem Utah Timpview Stake; Orem, Utah
    Geneva Branch (Care Center), Orem Utah Vineyard Stake; Orem, Utah
    Garfield Branch (Care Center), Panguitch Utah Stake; Panguitch, Utah
    Hillman Field 3rd Branch (Care Center), Payson Utah Mount Nebo Stake; Payson, Utah

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  20. And finally:

    Mountain View 12th Branch (Care Center), Payson Utah Mountain View Stake; Payson, Utah
    Payson Veterans Home Branch (Care Center), Payson Utah West Stake; Payson, Utah
    Alpine Branch (Care Center) , Pleasant Grove Utah Stake; Pleasant Grove, Utah
    Bonneville 8th Branch (Care Center) , Provo Utah Bonneville Stake; Provo, Utah
    Pioneer 3rd Branch (Care Center), Provo Utah Central Stake; Provo, Utah
    Jamestown Branch (Care Center) , Provo Utah Edgemont Stake; Provo, Utah
    Richfield 13th Branch (Care Center), Richfield Utah East Stake; Richfield, Utah
    Roosevelt 13th Branch (Care Center) , Roosevelt Utah West Stake; Roosevelt, Utah
    Santaquin 17th Branch (Care Center), Santaquin Utah Stake; Santaquin, Utah
    Spanish Fork 23rd Branch (Care Center), Spanish Fork Utah South Stake; Spanish Fork, Utah
    Legacy Branch (Care Center), Spanish Fork Utah Stake; Spanish Fork, Utah
    St George 29th Branch (Care Center), St George Utah East Stake; St George, Utah
    St George 30th Branch (Care Center), St George Utah East Stake; St George, Utah
    Red Cliffs 2nd Branch (Care Center) , St George Utah Pine View Stake; St George, Utah
    Glines 11th Branch (Care Center), Vernal Utah Ashley Stake; Vernal, Utah
    Spring Gardens Branch (Care Center), Washington Utah Buena Vista Stake; St George, Utah

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  21. Here is the net growth in wards, branches, and stakes for July

    JULY +21 w&br; + 37 w - 16 br + 5 st (+6 -1),-1 d

    US - 7; + 2 w-9 br - 1st

    Outside US + 28; +35 w - 7 br + 6 st - 1d

    YTD + 222; + 246 w - 24 br + 26 st - 3 d

    YTD US +59; + 71 w - 12br + 4 st (+5 -1)

    YTD outside US + 163; + 175 w - 12 br + 22 st (+ 24 - 2), - 3 d

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  22. Fascinating news about Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.

    There are currently 116 Care Center Branches. From the list above, the Mill Road Branch (Care Center), Ferron Utah Stake, was discontinued by July 5, 2015.

    The Ivins Veterans Home Branch (Care Center), Ivins Utah Stake was created by November 9, 2014.

    The Heber 17th Branch (Care Center), Heber City Utah Stake was created by November 30, 2014.

    The Lindon 24th Branch (Care Center), Lindon Utah West Stake was created by February 1, 2015.

    The University Branch (Care Center) was transferred from the Salt Lake 1st Stake to the Salt Lake Married Student Stake by March 8, 2015. The Peach Tree Branch (Care Center) was transferred from the West Haven Utah Stake to the Kanesville Utah Stake by May 10, 2015.

    The Nephi 12th Branch (Care Center), Nephi Utah Stake was renamed the Levan 3rd Branch (Care Center) by March 15, 2015.

    There are also 27 Retirement branches, with one in Idaho, and the rest in Utah.

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  23. There are a number of wards and branches with other formal designations in their name, including:

    Administrative: 7 branches
    Area: 4 branches
    Cambodian: 1 ward, 2 branches
    Cantonese: 1 ward, 1 branch
    Care Center: 116 branches
    Chinese: 8 wards, 9 branches
    Correctional Facility: 81 branches
    Correctional Facility – Adult: 2 branches
    Correctional Facility – Female: 4 branches
    Correctional Facility – Male: 12 branches
    Correctional Facility – Youth: 5 branches
    Correctional Facility – Youth – Male: 1 branch
    District: 20 branches
    District – English: 2 branches
    English: 23 wards, 40 branches (including 7 non-YSA English-speaking units of the Montreal Quebec Mount Royal Stake and the Sigonella Branch, Palermo Italy Stake, which do not have "English" in their name)
    Fijian: 1 branch
    French: 1 ward, 1 branch
    German: 1 ward
    Haitian-Creole: 1 ward
    Hmong: 2 wards, 7 branches
    Huave: 1 branch
    International: 1 ward (Munich 4th Ward, Munich Germany Stake)
    Japanese: 2 wards
    Karen: 1 branch
    Kiribati: 1 branch
    Korean: 3 wards, 9 branches
    Loatian: 1 ward, 1 branch
    Laotian-Thai: 1 ward
    Malay: 1 branch
    Mandarin: 3 wards, 12 branches
    Married Student: 108 wards
    Marshallese: 7 branches
    Military: 14 wards, 29 branches
    Mission: 118 branches
    Native American: 1 ward (Franklin 2nd Ward, Provo Utah South Stake), 2 branches (Fort Hall Branch, Pocatello Idaho Tyhee Stake; Iron Mission Branch, Cedar City Utah Stake)
    Navajo: 1 branch
    Nepali: 1 branch
    Niuean: 1 branch
    Portuguese: 4 wards, 5 branches
    Retirement: 27 branches
    Russian: 4 branches
    Samoan: 70 wards, 8 branches
    Seasonal: 4 branches
    Sign Language: 3 wards, 18 branches
    Single Adult: 23 wards, 4 branches
    Slovak: 1 branch
    Spanish: 370 wards, 414 branches
    Student: 8 wards, 9 branches
    Student Married: 4 wards
    Student Single: 15 wards, 4 branches
    Swahili: 1 branch
    Tagalog: 4 wards
    Tongan: 83 wards, 10 branches
    Vietnamese: 8 branches
    YSA: 973 wards, 201 branches
    YSA Asian: 1 ward
    YSA English: 1 branch (Saint-Laurent YSA Branch, Montreal Quebec Mount Royal Stake)
    YSA Spanish: 2 wards, 1 branch
    YSA Tongan: 4 wards, 1 branch
    Youth Center: 6 branches (including Heritage School Branch, Provo Utah Edgemont North Stake and Provo Canyon School Branch, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake)

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  24. Is the Huave unit in Mexico? As best as I can tell this is a language spoken in Oaxoaxca. I do know that many non-Spanish speaking Amerindian peoples have emigrated from Mexico to the US, but I would still be surprised as such a unit formed in the US.

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  25. Yes, the Huave branch is near Ixhuatan in the Isthmus region of Oaxaca. Within my mission (though never served there).

    There are Tzotzil congregations too but they are within a Tzotzil district so they don't get the name of "tzotzil" with the congregations. There are five branches in the Chojolho district.

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  26. Hey, I remember there was a Facebook group all about online campaigns to reach new parts of the world with the Gospel. I can't remember what it was called. Can anyone help me?

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  27. https://www.facebook.com/goyeintoalltheworld?fref=ts

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  28. The Church just announced that both the Tucson Arizona Temple and the Concepcion Chile Temple will have their groundbreakings on Oct 15. This is good news.

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  29. I was just reading through the July 26th Church News. I get a sense that Milestone of Togetherness is moving beyond an inter-mountain West Feature, although it is not yet international although I might have once seen a New Zealand couple in that section.

    3 of the couples listed got married in Gore, Oklahoma, Amarillo, Texas and Roanoke, Virginia. They all were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. The Amarillo, Texas couple now resides in Colorado but the Gore, Oklahoma and the Roanoke, Virginia couples still live in those cities. I wish we knew if they were members back in 1945 or joined the Church since then. I would not be surprised if both joined the Church later. Since the Washington DC temple was not dedicated until 1974, there are 29 years during which the closest temple was Salt Lake.

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  30. They just announced the groundbreaking of the Concepcion Temple. Very exciting. I served in that area in 1990 and I know members who will love closer to the temple than the meetinghouse. Some will be equi-distant to both. But all of Chile will hopefully get energized by this.

    On paper the country should be able to support at least 5 temples (membership baptized and big distances both make that more reasonable on the surface) but having two will be huge.

    Tuscon is also being dedicated in October.

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  31. I think one issue in Chile is so much of the population and membership is in Santiago and its environs that it is hard to figure out where to put more temples. Places like Antafagasta and Punta Arnas (I think I butchered the spelling of both) would seem strong contenders based on distrance, but I am not sure there is a strong enough membership base in either location.

    I am hoping with the Cordoba Temple in Argentina done, a 3rd temple for the country will be announced in October. We will see if I am reasonable or too hopeful.

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  32. I predict that all stakes and districts in Chile north of Antofagasta will be reassigned to the Arequipa Peru Temple.

    I also predict that a temple will be announced soon for Neuquen or Bahia Blanca. Either location would serve at least 10 stakes, and neither would affect the Cordoba Temple.

    A temple in Punta Arenas, I feel is a very long time away, since there are only 1 stake and 2 districts in the entire region.

    I have not yet gathered together a list of potential temples in South America. Once done, I could get a perspective of where temples could be placed, as well as possible temple districts.

    With the Indianapolis Indiana Temple to be dedicated in 2 weeks, this is my prediction of the temple district, which includes the following 8 stakes.

    Bloomington Indiana Stake [Louisville]
    Fort Wayne Indiana Stake [Chicago]
    Indianapolis Indiana North Stake [Louisville]
    Indianapolis Indiana Stake [Louisville]
    Indianapolis Indiana West Stake [Louisville]
    Lafayette Indiana Stake [Chicago]
    Muncie Indiana Stake [Columbus]
    Champaign Illinois Stake [St Louis]

    I have also read about the Tuscon Arizona Temple. This is the last temple in North America in the "Announced" stage. I read that since the Church decided to not include a spire, but instead, a dome, that this has saved a lot of time, and prevented applying for variances, which would take more time. I also read that placing a temple where it will be located, had received positive reviews from the neighborhood. This article stated it would service 8 stakes (which I anticipated).

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  33. My step-dad (based in Bloomington) said he heard that most South Bend Stake members will choose to go to Indy because Chicago traffic is such a nightmare sometimes. The north side of Indianapolis makes it a lot more accessible to those in that part of the Michiana area, especially the southern parts like Plymouth or other bottom-end units.

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  34. I think it is time for the Church to start more agressive Church planting methods in the US, probably in part relying on senior couples.

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  35. Church planting works well in the Protestant world, where the most important ingredient for church planting is a professional clergyman who takes on the newly planted church with energy as his (or increasingly her) full time job. It doesn't matter whether another Protestant church is close by.

    The large and megachurches are the primary source of church planting and often continue sponsoring the new church for sometime afterwards. Similarly, stakes are effective in the creation of new wards and branches. Numerous new congregations are "in effect" planted all the time in the US. But, they aren't the personal endeavor of a pastor, but rather of many members in the congregation.

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  36. I'm looking for some news on new translations of the Book of Mormon.
    I'm living in Georgia and would've to read in Georgian, this came up on my search today: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Mormon-Georgian-Joseph-Smith/dp/151206467X/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439108363&sr=1-8&refinements=p_n_feature_nine_browse-bin%3A3291486011

    Hope that's a good sign!

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  37. I am reading a book entiotled "An Unpredictable Gospel: American Evangelicals and World Christianity, 1812-1920". The underlying argument of the author is that American Evangelical Christian missionaries were not the undisputed conduits for spreading western civilization that some portray them as.

    The book is very confusing because the author says things like "we can no longer think of Christianity as merely a European and North American phenomenon." The problem is that Christianity was entrenched and well established in Latin America when it hardly existed at all in North America.

    Another point of the author is mass conversions, especially to Evangelical Christianity, which it is not clear if the author means the term as used in the US at present or just as a term for any Protestants, however back to his point. The mass conversions were not brought about by missionaries. Foreign missionaries converted a few people and laid the ground work, but the mass conversions were brought about by native Christians in the various countries from Burma to Zimbabwe to Kenya.

    His focus is on Asia, Africa and Latin America, which ignores Oceania which is the part of the world that at present is most Christian. However Oceania also has a small population.

    I think we can see some of these factors playing out in LDS history. Success in Hawaii in the 19th-century was as much spurred by the work of Jonathan Napela and other native Hwaiians as by American missionaries. Tonga in the mid-20th century allowed very few LDS missionaries from abroad. When John H. Groberg was president of the mission there there was one month in which 1% of the entire population was baptized. Yet his mission force was almost entirely couples in their late 20s who would go to different parts of the country from where they were originally from to serve as missionaries. It helped that with a farming based economy they basically carried out farming in their new location and did missionary work the rest of the time.

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  38. I believe that Chile got a big upsurge of Evangelicism in and around the 1900s, primarily from the Assembly of God, from what I know. Chile is the place I know the best outside the US since I have lived there three separate times ('90-'91, '94, 2005). There are small towns where it seems the evangelicals are the strongest faction of Christians, and perhaps that type of practice and worship works the best in rural parts that Chile has. In the big cities there is a formidable presence of non-Catholics, and while Chile is a Roman Catholic nation by and large, the non-Catholic traditional and other Christian faiths loom large, like Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses.
    Although baptized LDS is a huge number (the rate of converts from the 1960s to the 1990s was always high), I think when we have 15% activity rate on any given Sunday that is a good number. That would translate to about 90,000 active members out of some 600,000.

    I know other southern cone nations and Peru and Bolivia have had their issues with sustaining LDS growth, but Chile is a unique place when it comes to some of these high numbers of converts. Many have fallen away and it is hard to count them. But the progress of the Concepcion Temple is a great sign, as the second temple in Argentina and the new ones in northern and southern Peru.

    I think if a Spanish speaking apostle is not called this fall there will be a huge opportunity lost, but the Lord has His own time table.

    I know having Eduardo Ayala from Chile as a Seventy from 1990-95 was a cool deal for people there. It is time, I hope, that our church goes with a Latino in the highest quorum. Perhaps

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  39. ...continued: overall it does not matter what ethnicity and language our apostles hail from, but I cannot help but think that prophesies will be fulfilled as the top leadership grafts in members of these different cultures, particularly those of Book of Mormon heritage.

    An Asian or African (or Pacific islander) would be an amazing apostolic call as well, but I do think it is time that Walter Gonzalez or Carlos Amado or another could be called from the faithful ranks of Hispanics (not to mention Brazilians). I have seen Francisco Vinas in person, who is very impressive, and now Jorge Zeballos (2008-present) from Chile are an impressive growing number of great leaders from south of our border.It won't be a game changer to me, but as President Hinckley said, "converts are the life-blood of the Church", and I think new/old blood would be quite a charge to millions. We live in great times. The Lord is in charge.

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  40. So a branch got discontinued in Ethiopia, right? Sad. I wonder why the Church does so poorly in East Africa while it is booming in West and Central Africa.

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  41. The Philippines area has been more open than any other organization in the church in regard to church statistics. In their Feb 2014 broadcast they gave statistics over a 7 year period for sacrament attendance, Melchizedek priesthood at sacrament, total endowed, yearly baptisms, as well as total couples sealed in the temple for the country.

    I was waiting for the video for the 2015 Philippine Area Broadcast but never saw it on their youtube page. I was able to find a PDF, but it doesn't have all the graphs that might show up in a video version. That PDF can be found here.

    http://lds.org.ph/bc/content/Philippines/Dateline%20Philippines/2015/Dateline%20February%202015-English.pdf

    Some statistical highlights: (from Feb 2015)

    Native Filipinos serving missions: 2970 (2.65 natives per unit)
    Total Missionaries serving in country: 5,019 (Thus about 60% native, three missions in Mindanao are native-only.)
    Baptisms: 20,000+ (up from 15k the previous year, largest as far back as my data goes (2007))
    Cost Per Missionary: 11,500 Php, or 250 dollars per month. A quick calculation gives us $750 per baptism, not too shabby.

    19 Stakes are self-reliant in fast offering assistance to the poor and the needy, there are currently 94 stakes (and 76 districts.)

    There are 896 chapels and rented facilities - meant to be within 30 minutes of traveling, but they said they are extending that to 45 minutes. Going to be approving fewer groups to build centers of strength. They will not build a chapel (or they will continue leasing a building) until sacrament attendance is at 110 and unit has proved tithing faithfulness. 47% are thus labeled "under-utilized."

    If anyone can find the video for it, it'll be greatly appreciated! I always love getting insights on how the hastening of the work is going. This gives some interesting nuggets that you normally don't get to investigate.

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  42. East African nations and lands provide some steep challenges and opportunities for LDS growth. Somalia is in effect 3 nations/divisions and has been for a generation. Food and stability have been difficult to maintain. Ethiopia has a bigger Christian base but has vast regions poxed by drought and hunger. Economic futility does not make for good proselyting, as well as criminal and anti-Christian factions like in South Sudan, the newest country in the world. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and these neighbors are progressing while Burundi suffers political unrest. Language complexities also pose issues in growth. Cushitic is a Semitic branch which tends to be really hard to learn. Other smaller ethnicities and tongues are quite disparate and hard to penetrate. I won't stop pressing as a missionary but some places look more hopeful in the Millenium. Not to cast pessimism on East Africa and Indian Ocean isles, but time and effort (and faith) are required to advance.

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  44. 59% of the population in Chile is Catholic per 2014 figures, which is still a majority, but hardly at all. The figure was 80.7% back in 1982.

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  45. I doubt Carlos H. Amado will be called to the 12 since he has been emeritized. However I could be wrong.

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  46. An interesting find regarding the creation of the stake in Vanuatu. The talk by the area presidency member who went to create the stake, after all the business and the rest of the talks were done apparently.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9iNxGL4B4U

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  49. Sorry, had problems posting...very cool talk from Vanuatu, thanks James! "The young boys and girls who are seated in the conference today will see a day that will come when there will be 10 or 20 stakes in the country of Vanuatu and where there will be a temple here. That is the vision of the Lord."

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  50. Thank you James for posting the information about the creation of the first stake in Vanuatu. I note that the Port Vila 1st and 2nd Branches became the Port Vila 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wards. Not the same as a single branch being divided into 3 wards, like we read about recently in another part of the world, but it is still interesting to hear the Area Seventy from Tonga, in announcing the stake and the new stake presidency that the stake has five wards and 3 branches, with 2 branches becoming 3 wards.

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  51. The following units were announced as being parts of the Port Vila Vanuatu Stake:

    Blacksands Ward
    Etas Ward
    Port Vila 1st Ward
    Port Vila 2nd Ward
    Port Vila 3rd Ward
    Erakor Branch
    Mele Branch
    Paunangisu Branch

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrv-Jk_SE2w

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  52. Yeah, I forgot Elder Amado was emeritized. Point being, I think a native Spanish or Portuguese speaking apostle would resonate greatly with those communities. Has there been any native American general authorities since George P Lee? Did Larry Echohawk become one?

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  53. Larry Echohawk is a member of the 1st quorum of the 70. To my knowledge he is the only current general authority who is a registered member of a Native American tribe.

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