It's great to see 5 stakes created so far in 2017. If it keeps up at this rate, we will have 60 stakes created. I don't like that we have lost one stake (especially in my mission country of Guatemala) and a district.
Also, it is great to see basically one full page dedicated to the advancement of the Church in Africa. Amazing things happening there and other far reaches of the world.
I would imagine that January stake creation is not the highest nor reflects the average number of Stake creations from years previous, so 60 is a base line to work with. I would imagine it would be at least in the 80s by the end of the year. Thoughts from others on how many stakes we might see created this year, especially after a banner year like we just had?
Matt, just a question (perhaps a suggestion): can you include the days for the discontinued stakes and districts on the side list as you do for creation of stakes and districts?
I am hoping the Xhurch translates materials into Hausa soon. I think this would be a very helpful step towards long term significant development of the Church in Nigeria. I think one of the reasons the Church has at times struggled in the Phillipines is that it waited over 20 years from establishment in the early 1960s ro translate materials into languages of the Phillipines. Just because a population is at least partial flent in English or some other language the scriptues and such are available in does not mean the people have a deep enough understanding in that language that their gospel knowledge would not be helped by resources in other languages.
coachodeeps, in response to your query regarding any thoughts on how many stakes we might see created this year, I do have some feedback. I have tried to follow Church unit growth developments and updates as much as I can. As you might also recall (since I have mentioned it at least a few times), I have tried as part of my predictions for the April general conference to project what the statistical report for the end of each year might look like. From the numbers I have assembled, it appears that, with the changes that have been made so far this year, we have gained a net increase of 4 stakes so far. And if you consider that the first Sunday of this month was New Year's Day, during which we saw some unit changes but not nearly as many as would take place on a regular Sunday, it appears that we are pretty even so far in terms of stake creations and how many Sundays there have been. Last year was a banner year to be sure. By the end of January in 2016, 9 stakes had been created and 1 discontinued, for a net increase of 8 stakes for that month. When considering the 8:4 ratio that compares the creation of stakes in January last year to those done this year, we get that, if the pattern continues, we can expect to see roughly one stake creation this year for every two that happened last year. However, since the Church has also so far created roughly one stake a week, and bearing in mind that we have yet to witness the peak or height of stake creation season, if we also factor in any other variables that might affect that growth, and also bear in mind that stakes are rarely if ever created in July, which is the traditional recess month for General Authorities, a safer ratio might be 2:1.5. I always prefer to be optimistic. And this is especially true when considering that the Lord has been known to surprise us in this regard. So in using that ratio, I will venture a guess that stake creations this year may be around 75% at best of what they were last year. With the net increase of stakes last year standing at approximately 92 (give or take one or two), I would estimate that we will see a minimum of 69 stakes created this year. My math and my line of reasoning may be way off here, and I would love it if this year turns out to be another banner year in this regard and if this number turns out to be on the lowest side possible. Does that answer your question?
coachodeeps, as far as the dates of stake and district discontinuations, such information may not be available anywhere. I have relied heavily on the statistics section of the LDS Church Temples website to indicate when units have been created, shifted to another stake or district, or discontinued. And it seems that while the information about the fact of such discontinuations is readily available, the dates of that happening may not be easily accessible. If the dates are not listed anywhere, it is most likely because they cannot be found or verified. I hope that helps you as well. Thanks.
I really miss the Church Almanac. It is one reason I read this blog so much, no offense meant, to compensate for having that great reference resource. It showed discontinued stakes (not sure districts) so well. So glad we have this blog. What will be the tipping point for Papua New Guinea getting a temple? Malaysia? Indonesia? How is the Church doing in Sri Lanka? India seems to be doing well.
It's great to see 5 stakes created so far in 2017. If it keeps up at this rate, we will have 60 stakes created. I don't like that we have lost one stake (especially in my mission country of Guatemala) and a district.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is great to see basically one full page dedicated to the advancement of the Church in Africa. Amazing things happening there and other far reaches of the world.
Thanks, Matt for your dedication to this effort!
I would imagine that January stake creation is not the highest nor reflects the average number of Stake creations from years previous, so 60 is a base line to work with. I would imagine it would be at least in the 80s by the end of the year. Thoughts from others on how many stakes we might see created this year, especially after a banner year like we just had?
DeleteMatt, just a question (perhaps a suggestion): can you include the days for the discontinued stakes and districts on the side list as you do for creation of stakes and districts?
DeleteI am hoping the Xhurch translates materials into Hausa soon. I think this would be a very helpful step towards long term significant development of the Church in Nigeria. I think one of the reasons the Church has at times struggled in the Phillipines is that it waited over 20 years from establishment in the early 1960s ro translate materials into languages of the Phillipines. Just because a population is at least partial flent in English or some other language the scriptues and such are available in does not mean the people have a deep enough understanding in that language that their gospel knowledge would not be helped by resources in other languages.
ReplyDeletecoachodeeps, in response to your query regarding any thoughts on how many stakes we might see created this year, I do have some feedback. I have tried to follow Church unit growth developments and updates as much as I can. As you might also recall (since I have mentioned it at least a few times), I have tried as part of my predictions for the April general conference to project what the statistical report for the end of each year might look like. From the numbers I have assembled, it appears that, with the changes that have been made so far this year, we have gained a net increase of 4 stakes so far. And if you consider that the first Sunday of this month was New Year's Day, during which we saw some unit changes but not nearly as many as would take place on a regular Sunday, it appears that we are pretty even so far in terms of stake creations and how many Sundays there have been. Last year was a banner year to be sure. By the end of January in 2016, 9 stakes had been created and 1 discontinued, for a net increase of 8 stakes for that month. When considering the 8:4 ratio that compares the creation of stakes in January last year to those done this year, we get that, if the pattern continues, we can expect to see roughly one stake creation this year for every two that happened last year. However, since the Church has also so far created roughly one stake a week, and bearing in mind that we have yet to witness the peak or height of stake creation season, if we also factor in any other variables that might affect that growth, and also bear in mind that stakes are rarely if ever created in July, which is the traditional recess month for General Authorities, a safer ratio might be 2:1.5. I always prefer to be optimistic. And this is especially true when considering that the Lord has been known to surprise us in this regard. So in using that ratio, I will venture a guess that stake creations this year may be around 75% at best of what they were last year. With the net increase of stakes last year standing at approximately 92 (give or take one or two), I would estimate that we will see a minimum of 69 stakes created this year. My math and my line of reasoning may be way off here, and I would love it if this year turns out to be another banner year in this regard and if this number turns out to be on the lowest side possible. Does that answer your question?
ReplyDeleteIt does. Thanks, James.
ReplyDeletecoachodeeps, as far as the dates of stake and district discontinuations, such information may not be available anywhere. I have relied heavily on the statistics section of the LDS Church Temples website to indicate when units have been created, shifted to another stake or district, or discontinued. And it seems that while the information about the fact of such discontinuations is readily available, the dates of that happening may not be easily accessible. If the dates are not listed anywhere, it is most likely because they cannot be found or verified. I hope that helps you as well. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI really miss the Church Almanac. It is one reason I read this blog so much, no offense meant, to compensate for having that great reference resource.
ReplyDeleteIt showed discontinued stakes (not sure districts) so well.
So glad we have this blog.
What will be the tipping point for Papua New Guinea getting a temple? Malaysia? Indonesia?
How is the Church doing in Sri Lanka? India seems to be doing well.