Click
here to access our updated Reaching the Nations country profile for Azerbaijan. There has never been a missionary presence in Azerbaijan although a branch for foreign members who temporarily lived in the country used to operate in Baku until it was discontinued in the mid-2010s. Other proselytizing, nontraditional Christian groups established a presence in the 1990s when there were fewer restrictions on religious freedom than today.
Great report, Matt! It appears that Azerbaijan may have more of a Church presence than other countries in the Middle East/Africa North Area. Thanks for this update. In the meantime, with my additional thanks to you, Matt, for allowing me to continue doing so, I would like to again post the address of my blog for anyone here would like to read or comment about anything I have posted there. For the next three days (before I need to finalize them), I will also continue to accept comments on my predictions for the upcoming General Conference. The posts (at least most, if not all, of the posts from this year) are indexed in descending order by relevant labels. And my hope is to go back and index any of those that have not had tags added at some point. In the meantime, the address of my blog follows below.
ReplyDeletehttp://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com
Last week the Rexburg ysa 11 stack was organized. It was also said that next year antherone may be organized.
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt and David for your work in updating those country profiles. I enjoy reading them.
ReplyDeleteThe Church published a great article and video about Elder and Sister Uchtdorf's visit several weeks ago to Europe and Russia. Elder Uchtdorf became the first Apostle to visit the city of Gdansk, Poland as well as the first Apostle in over 70 years to visit Kaliningrad, Russia. Both areas have quite the history when it comes to the Church. It's always amazing to read about the travels and ministering of the Apostles and the varied places they go around the world.
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/polish-city-of%C2%A0gda%C5%84sk-receives-its-first-apostolic-visit
Eric, in addition to what you noted about Elder Uchtdorf's visit to Europe, another interesting thing about it was that one of the cities he visited (Frankfurt, Germany) has a temple undergoing renovation (for which a rededication will likely be announced within the next 3-4 months and may be held sometime between February and May), while another (Moscow, Russia) is, in my opinion, the most likely candidate for the temple announced within that nation last April. The fact that this marked the second time that Elder Uchtdorf visited Moscow within the last 6 months or so leads me to believe that he may be scouting out some potential locations for the temple in Russia.
ReplyDeleteBryce: Interesting news about the new YSA stake in Rexburg. It seems as though a number of new YSA stakes have been organized in Idaho lately, which I take as a good sign. The Church certainly seems to be doing more lately for the young adult population, both those that are single and those newly-married couples as well. I look forward to this next General Conference, during which I hope to find out more, among other things, about to what exactly President Oaks was referring when he mentioned that "something was in the works" to eliminate some of the demands on time that have taken away from newly-married couples being able to spend sufficient time together. Of course, that is one of many developments to which I am looking forward during the upcoming General Conference.
It seems that BYU-Idaho is around 20 thousand students. Remarkable. I wonder if someday they will have a cap like Provo.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder about the institute programs around other parts of Idaho; I imagine some are robust.
I observed some of the Utah Valley U. (then UVSC) Institute program back in the 90s. It seemed pretty huge, especially when John Bytheway came to speak.
BYUI I believe has a cap around 24000. With plans to expand that number. Idaho falls is growing to a college town it self. With ISU UI broth having classes and buildings there. One of the things with Rexburg is there is not enough housing for married students so a lot of them have to go to Idaho Falls.. there is a great institution program all over east Idaho as will.
ReplyDeleteIdaho Falls now has a community college as well. One reason Many BYUI couples live in Idaho Falls is that rent is more affordable.
DeleteThat’s was the big reason that my wife and my self are in Idaho falls. Another thing is work there isn’t the kind of work in Rexburg that a college student can work and be able to bay rent and food. Half of my coworkers are BYUI students as will as myself we all drive back and forth between Rexburg and Idaho falls for ether shcool or work.
DeleteEduardo, As a native of the Pullman, Washington/Moscow Idaho area, I can tell you that the student growth of the 2 combined universities (WSU and UI) has been very impressive over the years. YSA wards in the stake (Moscow Idaho Stake) currently provide much energy and support to the numerous family wards there.
ReplyDeleteAt one time a student stake served both universities, but it was later consolidated into the traditional stake serving Whitman, WA and Latah ID Counties. The institute program has grown through the years to serve over 500 institutions of higher learning at present.
My uncle was a founding student member of the Moscow Institute of Religion (first in the Church) way back in 1928. That information can be found in Mormon Historical Studies by Dennis Wright.
Just to make sure everyone sees this, Sister Barbara B. Ballard, wife of President M. Russell Ballard, passed away earlier today, while the Church has also announced that the Kinshasa temple will be dedicated on April 14 next year. Both of these developments are detailed more fully on the Church News website and on the Church's official Newsroom. Thanks again to you all.
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