The Church published
an article yesterday that provides some up-to-date membership figures for several West African nations. It appears that these membership figures are as of year-end 2018. Membership was reported for the following nations:
- Nigeria (more than 177,000) - likely increase of at least 13,300, or 8.1%
- Ghana (nearly 84,000) - likely increase of approximately 5,500-6,000, or 7.0-7.5%
- Cote d'Ivoire (nearly 49,000) - likely increase of approximately 5,000, or 11.4%
These preliminary membership data suggest that membership growth rates have remained steady since year-end 2016 for Ghana (annual membership growth of 7.6% in 2017) and Cote d'Ivoire (annual membership growth of 10.9% in 2017), but that the Church in Nigeria has experienced a slight acceleration in membership growth rates (8.1% in 2018 versus 7.1% in 2017). However, annual membership growth rates in Nigeria have ranged from 7-10% since 2013.
The Church also reported 621,000 members in Africa, which appears to be a figure from year-end 2018. There were 578,944 members in Africa as of year-end 2017. This indicates that there has been a net increase of 42,000 members on the continent, or 7.26%. It is likely that church membership likely increased by approximately 10% in West Africa and 5-7% in the remainder of Africa given historical trends in the past decade.
81 comments:
This all sounds wonderful!!
The church has the possibility of doing an even better job than which is currently accomplished with African growth. I've always found the Latter day Saint worship service dull but the overall Sunday church timetable - classes, Sunday school, age separation for classes etc all very benefitting.
Africa like many other cultures has much diversity and rich tradition found in christian worship that the Latter day Saints always cut out for no specific reasons taught as doctrine only policy. Shouting and praising, vocal testimony from the full congregation, rhythmic choirs loud and proud, vocal adrenaline, musical instruments which bring a joyful noise other than the boring LDS piano or small organ, Worshipful movements shuffling and shaking in a praiseful manner, prideful joyous robust payer righteous pride to the lord, the lifting of arms and hand of everybody present for prayer and song.
There are also many other ways that other cultures worship especially Africa practices that aren't allowed in the Sacrament meeting nor is there any other meeting created or provided for such for Latter day Saints members. The church would benefit in Africa and other cultures around the world to allow such practices especially in North America with reaching out to the African American communities. People believe God is a God of life, praise, joyful noise, celebration, righteous pride and obviously the Latter day Saint worship services has nothing of this type going on. Apparently to the correlated LDS church God exist only in quiet hushed, mumbbled, eyes closed, witted sacrament talks, overt seriousness and strict compliance to policy and all the like all for what benifit?
We cannot claim to be christian while we stop and stare and point the figure at other churches and claim that their loud joyful rock band worship services are the wrong form of sabbath day worship and that God does not approve because God does approve of this of worship from all sincere, Christ like and god fearing people it is said God is no respecter of persons I'm sure he doesn't mind if we worship him with whatever means we are willing. End
I'm curious as to whether the brethren feel like they need to keep growth to about eight to ten percent to keep time for leadership growth.
Unknown, I am wondering if it would be appropriate to have an abrieviated traditional sacrament meeting and afterwards have a separate worship service in places where high energy joyful music and worship is the cultural norm.
I have heard from some members of other local Christian churches they they often have two worship services on Sunday. One more traditional and one with more energetic. Moslty to cater to different demographics. We are a worldwide and multicultural church. It may be appropriate to have energized worship. But I feel it should probably be outside of Sacrament meeting. If I remember right there was a world wide fireside at the Conference Center a that had the traditional prayers and talks but after the closing prayes. The fireside continued and switched to a celebration that included upbeat music and dancing.
Sorry about my spelling. I should proofread better before I hit submit.
Hey, greetings from Finland! A new branch was organized today, Lohja branch in Helsinki stake. First new congregation in about 15 years I think. Big thing in Finland!
Growing up in the AME Zion Church in Saint Louis Missouri in the seventies we did not have The so called drums and cymbals and guitars that they have in the church today. We Were much more conservative and I service and very traditional. Mormonism as come a long way and sometimes I miss the spirituals of my youth but I enjoy the hymns appraise that we as members of the LDS Church have In our worship service today. Although the scripture state we should praise the Lord with Gladness With the sound of the trumpet and the symbols and with dancing but there is a time and place for those things to occur.
This is great news. Could you provide more information? Do we know how many people attended the branch and why it was organized? This is the first new ward or branch created in Finland in over 15 years.
I live in a different stake but I understood that Espoo 1st ward was divided to create the new branch. But there were changes in all of the boundaries in the capital area (Espoo 2nd, Helsinki 1st, 2nd and 3rd and Kerava). 107 members in the new branch.
Oh and apparently the 2 wards in Espoo were crowded and also Lohja&surrounding towns are relatively far away from Espoo/chapel
Dull worship focused on crazy doctrine. What a paradox.
Almost as absurd as Judaism.
Outside of some well-established mainline religions, namely some of the big ones we all know, there is extensive turmoil over what constitutes a proper worship service, what style of music, and even what to sing, and arguments of all kinds for and against various practices. One evangelical called it 'the great divider' all the talk about that.
But being the restored church, we have a pattern of worship that is simple, and if others know what we do and how we do it they will be increasingly drawn to us over time as we expose them to our patterns of church services.
The new hymnbook will be a major help, it will have all the traditional praise and worship hymns, sacrament, and seasonals and what isn't in print will still be available online to use. Some doctrines we do not have a hymn for are very likely to get at least a couple, and other doctrines will see an additional hymn. For meeting format, the basic layout has not changed, only how long certain things take or some other logistical type things, the elements are not and have not changed in fifty years although a couple of practices have been discarded along the way.
Matt, thank you for this report. With what you noted, I am more convinced than ever before that Ghana and the Ivory Coast will both get their second temples in the near future, and that a third for Nigeria is also very imminent. President Nelson's latest temple announcements have pointed to the notion that there may be more feasible options for temples in the near future than we might realize at the moment. I am reasonably confident President Nelson will detail his temple-expansion plans during General Conference next month. In regards to that, for any who may be interested, I took some constructive criticism on board today and reworked my list of the most likely locations which, in my opinion, could have a temple announced during the upcoming conference weekend. Anyone interested in looking over (and commenting on) that list can do so at the web address I share below:
http://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2019/03/revised-annotated-list-of-prospective.html
My thanks once again to Matt for continuing to allow me to share such updates, and for the ongoing reports on Church growth matters such as this one, and to all of you for everything you do to contribute to my understanding of topics covered on these threads.
Any new stakes or districts created this weekend?
The reason the Church does not grow more among African-Americans has little to do with worship styles. It has to do with the law of chastity, word of wisdom, strong attachements to existing Churchs, perceptions of racism, and so on. I know my African-American wife really liked the Be One Celebration and especially the style of music there, but considering in my branch we have a self playing piano, no choir, and a chorister who apologizes for difficulty leading some hymns, I do not think music outreach is our strong suit.
However LDS Church growth in Africa is most held back by a desire to have real growth and to build with local leadership.
If there are cultural issues that slow growth it is a firm holding to the law of chastity including no allowance of polygamy.
Many areas they are still in the planting first branches phase. Hopefully the new mission president in Kenya will move the Church forward in Tanzania. I am hopeful Tanzania will get a mission in 2020.
A bew district seems to have been formed in Ivory Coast. I am hopeful for a second temple in that country before 2030.
A Mandarin speaking branch was organized in Chino Hills California this weekend. About a week ago Roseville California got a new ward. This is encouraging considering how many wards have been elimanated in California recently.
Also, a new branch was created in Poland last Sunday, apparently. This definitely ties with Finland and Tanzania for best growth development this year.
It at least somewhat underlines what we have seen in a lot of areas in Europe. The Church is, in fact, growing there - faster than we tend to assume, but also too slowly to make a major dent in outreach expansion and new congregations year over year. But I do find what I see on the ground rather encouraging.
Public open house and dedication date announced for the Lisbon Portugal Temple. Dedication will be held on September 15th.
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/public-invited-to-tour-lisbon-portugal-temple
A new ward was created in the Heath Texas Stake a couple weeks ago. The original Rockwall ward became the Rockwall 2nd ward and the Rockwall 1st Ward was created. The creation of the wards took in parts of Heath and Royse City wards as well.
Perhaps one reason that Providence has (currently) directed us to have our present style of sacrament meeting worship as it is, in addition to showing reverence towards the sacrament, can be found in 1 Kings 19:11-13. If the Spirit comes more often in a still, small voice, then the need to tone down the volume, rather than up, becomes clear. Of course, such a medium is heavily reliant on the preparation of the speakers and the individuals (as the lack of such on either end can be enough to put anyone to sleep or leave them with a nonspiritual experience).
I loved the counsel of my mission president in this regard. He told us to arrive at least 8-10 minutes early and to sit and quietly reflect on the sacrament, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, etc., even and especially if this meant we had to turn down investigators asking us to wait for them (as such would be a profound lesson to them).
It's hard to balance looking for people who should go to church versus personal time to be holy. Both might be right, depending. I sometimes feel like I was less valiant as a missionary to help some go to church, or as a regular member before or since. I think I have observed full time missionaries in the United States have some less effective approaches or be less enthusiatic about helping others to church.
It's tough to know how to be most effective, but sometimes people do not know how much God cares until people with testimonies of Him show how much they care, which often involves transportation to holy places.
That is simply the law of diminishing returns. You can't expect to keep the same rate up with more and more missionaries. It's just good that the overall number of baptisms, church units, etc. is still increasing so much over there.
A major change but one that was known about and expected was more fully announced this morning, we knew about it from last August, the biggest one is the website domains.
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-name-alignment?fbclid=IwAR0ZICDtYtPU1JB6GjJRDF8cdyn0NZnAuIhGL_DPJqm34pCkb-oQfAc8guI
I think the church should keep ownership of the old domain names and websites and have them set to forward or be redirected to the new websites. That way we can keep them out of the hands of antis. We just need to promote they use of the full name of the church. It is sad that the domain name for the full name of the church is taken by a breakaway group. That group uses the same name for their church but without the "dash" in latter-day saints.
More temple news announced as well. The dates for the open house and rededication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple have been set. The temple will be rededicated October 20th.
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/public-invited-to-tour-the-frankfurt-germany-temple
Right now churchofjesuschrist.org points to lds.org, sodo the second-level domains but that should reverse at some point in the future, that part is still going to take a lot of work before they can start pointing lds.org to churchofjesuschrist.org
I was just arguing with someone the other day about how the Church is still an American religion. Partly because the United States has more Latter-day Saints than the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania combined, and partly because of what Unknown mentioned about us conflating American culture with the gospel and exporting it elsewhere. There's no reason why priesthood holders in Ghana should have to dress like American businessmen, or why worshipers in Cote d'Ivoire should only sing America and European hymns. At least the hymnbook thing is being addressed and the new edition can't get here fast enough. I think there's a tendency to pretend these and other issues don't exist because the gospel is for everyone, end of discussion. Refusal to adapt to local cultures without good reason only creates easily avoidable obstacles for ourselves. I was thinking about it because of this recent article in the Moscow Times: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/02/26/russian-mormons-search-for-identity-and-acceptance-in-an-american-church-a64574 I find it notable that the Russian Saints freely acknowledge they belong to an American religion at odds with their own culture.
I agree that the format for Sacrament Meeting is not particularly adaptive to other cultural norms. Requiring world-wide uniformity provides many advantages but also some disadvantages. However, one example where culture has influenced Sacrament Meeting is in Hawaii (and among Hawaiian saints) where the speaker begins his/her talk by saying Aloha! and the rest of the congregation responds by saying Aloha! I personally love that cultural influence (especially how it breaks up the monotony) but I know others who feel that practice is not in conformity with appropriate Sacrament Meeting etiquette. I hope more is done to be more inclusive of other cultures. Additionally, many brethren in Polynesia wear a lavalava to church. I even know a brother who regularly wears a Scottish kilt to church. I have not spent time in Africa, but I assume that if members felt out of place dressing like North American businessmen, they would be welcome to wear culture-specific clothing at church services.
It wouldn't take much to adjust the'rules' around attire to make it more culturally inclusive. Changing the church culture of what's acceptable might be harder. Handbook 2 states for the sacrament: "Those who bless and pass the sacrament should dress modestly and be well groomed and clean. Clothing or jewelry should not call attention to itself or distract members during the sacrament. Ties and white shirts are recommended because they add to the dignity of the ordinance. However, they should not be required as a mandatory prerequisite for a priesthood holder to participate. Nor should it be required that all be alike in dress and appearance. Bishops should use discretion when giving such guidance to young men, taking into account their financial circumstances and maturity in the Church."
The only change needed would be to remove "white shirts and ties are recommended"
One issue with the new hymnbook potentially is if the music strays too far from the basic hymn form, members and leaders in some parts of the world are going to not use those hymns that do not sound like hymns and thus some hymns may only be used in some parts of the world while other hymns will not be heard in the part of the world that has the different sounding hymns.
Discarding faith and denominational information, there are extensive disagreements in some general Christian circles even in the US about styles of music in services, i. e. contemporary versus traditional hymns, and people go from church to church until they find a worship service or music style that suits their interests. So I don't think we are going to go very far from the sacred music styles heard in our meetings now, for the sake of unity of the faith.
Even the meter and SATB style of the hymns are cutural, specifically western culture. Many Asian and other cultures have never seen music written on stanzas like we are used to seeing in our culture.
I have a foreign friend (a very musical guy in his own country) that told me he felt like Mr. Bean on that one episode where he's mumbling and struggling to know how/what to sing looking at the hymn book and listening to everyone else.
If I may, I'd like to offer a few additional thoughts and observations. First, Unknown, the traditional "Aloha!" call and response is typical to some of the island nations in the Pacific in addition to Hawaii, and I know it is particularly prevalent in Tonga and Samoa. When I was a young man in my parents' ward, we had one family from each nation (though the two families were not in that ward at the same time), and the members of both families would always open their testimonies or Sacrament Meeting talks with that call and response, and our ward absolutely loved that tradition. That said, I do recognize that what is culturally acceptable as sacred music in one part of the world might not fit that definition in another part of the world. But as the Lord reminds us in D&C 25:12: "[His] soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto [Him], and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." However it needs to occur, I am absolutely positive that the committee working on the unified hymnbooks and children's songbooks will take culturally-acceptable content into consideration.
Downtownchrisbrown, I was aware of what the handbook says about Sacrament Meeting attire. If the information I have is correct, the most recent edition of the handbook was published in 2010. Seven years prior to that, then-Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke in the June 2003 Worldwide Leadership training. One interesting thing he noted was the following in relation to the administration of the Sacrament: "Those who administer the sacrament are to look their best and be dressed appropriately. White shirts not only look nice, but they are a gentle reminder of other sacred rites, such as baptismal and temple ordinances, at which white clothing is also worn."
White is, of course, worn at baptism and when performing temple ordinances because it is a symbol of desired purity. I know that, as a young priest, I would periodically wear non-white shirts, except on Sundays when there was any chance whatsoever that I might be called upon to bless the Sacrament. I seem to remember a time or two when I was not wearing a white shirt, but was called on at the last moment to help bless the Sacrament, and during those times, in many ways, I felt as uneasy as the proverbial fish out of water. I do know that some cultures feature other dress standards as the norm for Sabbath Day worship, and I don't see that as problematic. Would the handbook ever be updated to exclude that recommendation to which you referred? Anything is possible, and it seems that the Church, under the direction of President Nelson, is setting "new norms" in many respects. But I could see the Church retaining the sentence in question due to the symbolic nature of white shirts signifying purity.
James Anderson, interesting thought about forms and meters in Church music. I am sure that is one of many elements at which the Church Hymnbook and Children's Songbook Revision Committee, which is chaired by Elder Rasband, is looking. It is most assuredly a gargantuan undertaking to create a new collection of core songs and include culturally-diverse and acceptable music, but I think all of us will be pleasantly surprised by the result when the new books begin to be distributed and used Churchwide.
Unknown, one major problem I see the aforementioned revision process for our hymnbook and children's songbook is that with the current versions being used, there are a number of hymns that are hardly ever sung, if they are used at all. So I am sure that part of the process will involve looking at that side of things, and what can be excluded from or added to the new music books to enable them to be successfully used Churchwide. It will be interesting to see that process unfold. Since the period of time to provide feedback to the Church ends this July, I imagine the new books may be ready for use within the next 2-5 years. What would really be awesome is if the new books were released on one of the anniversaries of the current ones. The current hymnbook was last published in 1985, though I believe a new edition to correct problems with the 1985 edition was published in 1992, along with the latest edition of the Children's Songbook.
For what it's worth, these are some additional thoughts and observations from me.
Not just in Polynesia, several of my Samoan/Tongan friends in my old Salt Lake Singles Ward wore lavalavas to church. I seem to recall them decking out one sister in leis for her missionary farewell talk, also.
We would do the aloha call/response in that ward, too.
I have discovered that many doctrine-specific hymns, even some in the first 60 or so hymns listede as being about various aspects of the restoration, are hardly ever put on programs by ward music people. Me and my bishopric contact worked on this, we found people only really knew and sang about 20 of those and those are some extremely well-known ones.
About four or five are still considered Utah-specific. But there are some others I consider essential to understanding our doctrine through music. 38. O Come All Saints of Zion, That one has a general theme of gathering Israel, a theme of President Nelson and others of the Twelve right now, not a physical gathering to one place though and the hymn does not specify that. I don;t think I have ever heard it sung yet it is about the restoration, That is one example of many.
Others, like number 11, were heard regularly in the past but now are not programmed. That one has the purposes of the Church nearly 100 years before President Kimball first gave it as the threefold mission of te church.
I think some of the new hymns despite all the efforts myself or other members who serve in music callings may do, will suffer the same fate.
With the creation of two new stakes in South Carolina, I think it is quite likely that a temple for Charlotte, NC could be announced soon. There are 17 stakes serving the Columbia, SC - 5 of the them are in NC, 1 is in TN, while 3 other stakes are closer to Charlotte than Columbia. Of those stakes, five are located or near the Charlotte metro area and there are three other stakes in NC that are closer to Charlotte than Raleigh.
That would be 12 stakes serving a Charlotte temple.
If the Church does build a temple in Charlotte, it'd be interesting if it were near the International African American History Museum, which the Church has donated toward. It'd be interesting if members (whether African American or not) stopped by the Family History Center in the museum on their temple trips.
Whoa! I never knew about the International African American History Museum and the Family History Center there. Yeah, i'd say its very likely Charlotte is getting a temple.
Unknown (great name!) I just re-read your original comment about lack of "joyful noise" in Church of Jesus Christ sacrament service. Attended much?
We are famous for our little children making tons of noise in sacrament, unlike other Christian, Jewish, and Muslim services that I have observed.
I suggest you open your ears and heart a little more next time you attend.
Are you thinking of General Conference?
TD Jakes we are not, but despite some of his good substance, his type of preaching is pretty antithetical to reverence and respectful worship.
I have seen my share of members preach with exuberance and volume, flamboyance, but one can only yell so loud before you are at a football game instead of a service to renew your covenants with God.
From talking to organists and pianists, I've found that part of the issue is some of them dont have the skill/haven't practiced many of the obscure hymns or the ones that are more difficult to play. That can be a factor in determining which hymns are chosen on Sunday.
Yes, that is one of the big issues in church music right now, finding those who can at least play even common hymns. If a certain organist in my ward has to do things because the primary organist is out for the weekend, then I choose differently than I would when the primary organist is there. One ward in m building does not have an organist but rarely, but it is no less good than it is with an organist.
As one of three organists in my ward (with 3 more former organists, all of whom occasionally fill in), I find it hard to imagine a ward where the leaders have to struggle to find someone qualified to play. It's certainly true that some hymns are more challenging to play than others. But music that's well played and well directed, and where the correct tempo and dynamics are observed adds much to a worshipful meeting.
Unfortunately, the Museum is in Charleston, South Carolina, not Charlotte, North Carolina.
A culture of Piano playing is rather American. Outside the US especially, it becomes less common to find people who can even play basic hymns. Many wards where I served in Mexico had 150-200 attending and developed leadership, yet they played the the music tracks on LDS.org because there were no piano players.
Yes, in some parts of the world it is usually something else other than a piano. The Church has developed a keyboarding course specifically for playing hymns but those who do that can move on from there.
In a few places, a guitar has been used, some missionaries have reported hearing that as hymn accompaniment. And the most famous example of that is the night Silent Night was first performed, everyone knows the story, the church organ was broken so that was all they had. Our church is somewhat unique in that in most cases both a piano and organ can be found in many meetinghouses. So if people don't know how to play an organ, but play the piano, we're covered for congregational accompaniment.
Groundbreakings announced for both Quito Ecuador Temple (May 11) and Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple (June 8)!
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/groundbreakings-announced-for-two-south-american-temples
Lima Peru Los Olivos is going to be fairly large, looks to be the same size as Meridian, and the front is a cross between Meridian and the older Mesa temple in looks. Quito looks like it is smaller but not too much so with a new footprint from the others.
With Quito appearing smaller, I wonder if a third temple in Ecuador is more likely. (Or maybe it has more basement space, much like we did in Phoenix).
It's been exactly 3 months since the Dedication of the new Barranquilla Colombia Temple (Templo de Barranquilla Colombia), and still is not located on either official church map. They did correct the Street name spelling for the address. But no link or icon to show the location.
I've moved around quite a bit, but have never lived anywhere where there were more than 2 people who knew how to play organ, but I have lived in many places where no one knew how, and in some places where we would have the music played on a CD player or where a youth who was learning to play would play one finger. I've mostly lived in branches, but have also lived in half a dozen wards.
@James Anderson The Lima Los Olivos Temple looks more like the Laie Hawaii Temple in my opinion. That would still be a nice sized temple especially since the current Lima Temple is so small.
I find it interesting that the Lima Los Olivos Temple site is located at almost a triangle boundary point between the Lima North, West, and Central Missions. With the two housing facilities that are being constructed on site, perhaps they would relocate the offices of all three missions to that of the same building. However, the New Peru Lima Limatambo mission may affect the boundaries before then.
A while ago we had a discussion on this blog about locations where there were two chapels built next to each other. I noticed that about 2 miles from the temple site, there are two meetinghouse on the same plot of land. This is the only place I am aware of outside of the United States where this is the case.
I've noticed that lately all temple groundbreakings have been scheduled for Saturdays. And all temple dedications are scheduled for Sundays (with the exception of Rome which is 3 days).
Seems like those have been chosen and are being followed to organize fitting everything together with so many temple events. Take May for example, it's totally crowded with temple events. But it looks very orderly on a calendar with the Saturday/Sunday separation. Make me wonder if there will be more coming months that are as busy with events as May will be.
I thought it was interesting at least :)
Unknown, the last time the Church had a temple event on a day other than Saturday or Sunday was with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, which occurred on Wednesday January 16. It appears that that event was scheduled around other assignments Elder Holland was asked to fill during his time in the Philippines. And it makes sense that, with the exception of the Rome Italy Temple dedication, the remaining upcoming temple events will take place on Saturday or Sunday. With 4 temple groundbreakings in May and 2 temple rededications (private though they will be), May is shaping up to be a busy temple month.
Speaking of upcoming temple events, we know that the next 6 groundbreakings (which will take place between March 15 and June 8) will all be conducted by the presidents of the respective areas in which those 6 temples are being built. And I actually found new information earlier tonight which specified that President Nelson will at least be presiding over the first dedicatory session for the Rome Italy Temple this weekend.
What will be interesting to see is if the latter half of this year winds up featuring as many temple groundbreakings as the first half of the year will (by the end of June, there will have been 8 such groundbreakings). But more than that, based on the arrangements President Nelson has made to start clearing the existing backlog of announced temples, I think it is very safe to assume that we will both hear him announce several new temples and also explain in detail the specifics of and time-frame relating to his temple expansion plans.
I know that President Nelson has announced his first two sets of temples during the Sunday Afternoon Session, and he could do the same this go-round, but it may make more sense if he does so during the Sunday Morning Session, which would enable him to have the time he needs to explain those plans in detail.
I know that it was also somewhat customary for President Monson to open General Conference with the announcement of new temples, but given that President Nelson is apparently going to initiate a plan that will surpass the legacy previously set by President Hinckley, I think it safe to assume we may be in for a mass number of temple announcements in the near future, and for temple announcements to continue to be made every six months for the foreseeable future.
An additional thought, if I may offer it: with the groundbreakings scheduled to occur before the end of June, the number of announced temples will go down to 22 by the end of June. And given that we have seen President Nelson advance some of the temples he announced last year to a groundbreaking, I imagine that we will see him focus on dealing with the remaining 6 temples from the backlog he inherited from President Monson, and advancing several of the ones he announced last year ASAP as well.
I am hoping that, with how quickly things developed with the Quito Ecuador Temple, we might see something happen with the Belem Brazil Temple before too much longer. In the meantime, I have a minimum of 8 other temples for which I see a groundbreaking occurring within the next 12-15 months, and I am not ruling out any other surprises in that regard.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the coverage of the Rome Italy Temple dedication. And I imagine that the next 2-4 temples which will be dedicated could have their dedications coincide with the next legs of President Nelson's Global Ministry Tour. The really amazing thing is that, with how jam-packed this year has been and will yet be so far, we are likely to see things really pick up in the coming months, especially once more is detailed about President Nelson's plans.
Perhaps the most interesting takeaway I got out of the next 6 temples which have their groundbreakings scheduled is that a clear majority (4 of those 6) will be on the smaller-to-medium size, and, as such, are anticipated to take around 2 years to complete. If that tradition continues with other temples that are or will be announced, that would be a very easy and feasible way for the Church to rapidly expand the number of temples. And right now, based on what I know, I am reasonably confident that the Yigo, Praia, San Juan, and Quito Temples will be dedicated before the Urdaneta temple has that occur. Time will tell, but for now, that seems to be a safe bet.
I apologize if I meandered too much in making this comment. I hope these thoughts and observations are helpful to all who read them.
@Cory Ward in Australia in the Melbourne region, city of Wyndham a new chapel is almost complete next too the current stake centre on the same parcel of land this is recent. It seems to be a matter of convenience if the church has already built a chapel on a large enough price of land that can possibly fit another one versus scouting metropolitan areas for scarcely available and suitable land.
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org.au/article/second-chapel-built-at-wyndham-for-growing-congregations
Also I wouldn't be surprised to find in Tonga with its 60% Latter day Saint population or Samoa's 40% (correct me if wrong) if there were more than 1 chapel built on the same piece of land. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case for other Pacific Islands too as the pacific does fill the records for the nations with the highest Latter day Saint populations.
Today a new District in the Fortaleza Brazil area was published :
Distrito Araripina Brazil (Araripina Brazil District) - 2133172
https://classic.lds.org/maps/#ll=-6.392737,-39.595264&z=6&m=google.road&q=Araripina%20Brazil%20District&find=stake:2133172
The reasons for holding to shirts and ties in Church has more to do with missionary attire than anything else. I have yet to find cases of people from those cultures where some think it is out of place attacking it.
One interesting note is when someone proposed building church buildings in Asia that met local architectural standards someone from Asia responded "then how would people recognize that they are churches."
From my observation sisters in Africa wear a very different attire than those in the US.
On another note in my branch we have no piano players. We have about 80 people attend each Sunday.
In my branch the speaker always says "good morning" and gets a rousing response back. You will also occasionally here a mid-talk amen.
I'm actually annoyed at the church's cultural acceptance of WHITE shirts I mean a dress shirt is a dress shit, dress up how you'd like right? I know the claim white shirts have a meaning of purity but most men don't participate/perform (in) ordinances at church on Sundays. It seems to be exactly this just a cultural reasoning of white shirts are better etc all my life all I've seen is men wear white and mostly on the odd occasion a man isn't wearing white he's just a visitor on sunday or less active but not always the case.
I'm completely over it, excuse my rant. I hear back in the 80's and 70's most men didn't wear white shirts well I'm hoping this makes a comeback. I've seen online in India at our church women dress up in traditional clothing and dresses full of florescent color and even wear the bindi mark on the fore head at church (traditional red mark), all this and the men wear plain ol boring white shirts and ties. Clearly this is just an American standard of influence I don't understand why we need to all dress the same the savior never commented on the color white-ever.
Again sorry for the rant but I feel if I ever bring this subject up in Sundays I would be looked at in an odd way-surely this already happened when I mentioned this to my grandparent's including this....
Why do women have to wear pants to church? Isn't it 2019? In the temple for baptisms and at church baptisms there is a jumpsuit, a white jumpsuit with pants shaped leg fittings. Women are baptised in this surely if you're baptised in pants or similar costume you have the right to wear pants to sacrament meeting right? Exactly.
Let's stop dictating what people can and cannot wear to church it seems a bit odd when all the Savior cares about is we come to him with a broken heart and contrite spirit and to love one another as he loves us.
Oh no don't get me started with beards, long hair for men and double ear piercings for ladies....what about hair dyed in unnatural colours bright pink anyone? Issues like this drive people away from regularly attending church on Sundays! It doesn't help when members don't talk nicely of these kind of people who participate in looking different weather directly to them or behind their backs all for looking different. These are all cultural issues I believe the church leaders would be better off stopping on giving advice on how people should look. It is taken too seriously by members and leads us all to think one is not following the prophet weather we all look a certain way or not. It affects people on voth sides of the issue. Sorry for the rant, rant over.
We wear certain things to church because our sacrament meetings are the most sacred meetings in the church outside the temple. We wear the same thing when we go into a temple then wear white clothing in the temple. This is done almost always, with the exception of some events such as disaster relief where a sacrament meeting is held then they quickly leave from there to do the work. Or when there has been an event happen where they cannot do normal dress, the story is told where members in Baton Rouge showed up at the temple in work clothes to go in and do temple work and no one said a thing as that was the last on everyone's mind.
But it does not have to be a suit for men, a white shirt, reminding one of baptismal covenants, and a tie does OK, I have seen other things but no one has said a word but it is still uncommon.
I love the new mini-temple design used in San Juan, Praia, and Yigo. It is simple, which is fitting for the mini-temple needs. And it makes sense to build smaller temples on small islands. The design is certainly much better looking than those ugly mini-temples from the 1990's and early 2000's. I think we're in a pretty good architectural season for temples.
@Unknown....I'm not sure where you go to church but we have guys in my stake that wear colored shirts, have long hair and beards! And you will never guess but they also have callings! Yes there are some in the church that are stuck in their ways but I am finding that the church is very diverse. Once in awhile I will even wear a blue shirt to church just to mix it up. Some of the young men in my Stake also have long hair. No one seems to care. I know I don't.
Australia here. Used to live in New Zealand which is the same white shirts and all else I listed are pretty much mandatory it goes along with following the prophet, sorry to say it does happen in this part of the world. I think church culture is one confused world especially since you mention no one care in your stake, how about during general conference in the conference centre there's no colored shirts to be spotted.
@Grant Emery the 2000's Hinckley smaller temple designs are purported to be designed to be similar to the ancient architecture of Israel. I quiet like it apart from the chimney type spires. I'm surprised that during that period of temple designs the church never proposed a small set number of different designs and chose instead to implement a repeat of the same. So many lost chances.
@Unknown. Thanks for showing me that link about the meetinghouses in Australia.
A post from this blog recently said in "Western and Central Europe full-time missionaries are frequently misidentified as Jehovah's Witnesses"
In my experience, the same is true in Latin America, and likely elsewhere. Most Male Jehovah Witnesses wear colored dress shirts, although a few are white. Having male missionaries and church members dress in white shirts is one of the best ways to differentiate the church from other religious groups. Of course, it's not mandatory for most members to dress that way. But for new members, choosing to wear a white shirt is a good sign of social integration into the church.
However, a general emphasis on appearance guidelines is probably a good thing. I can't think of the last time that a general conference talk has mentioned piercings, tattoos or dress. In my experience, as people assimilate into the church, the gradually change their appearance. If not, then we should still welcome everybody. I've seen a temple worker with pink hair and temple patrons enter in street clothes. On a trip, I went to a session at the Paris temple in shorts and a t-Shirt, they were cool about it. We should have the humility to ignore the few that may make negative comments; most members are just glad to have people at church.
Even in the US we are frequently mistaken for Jehovah's Witnesses.
Was in Fargo, February 1987, four inches of snow and still coming down. One woman at one house realized the difference and thought we were really doing some good even with the bad weather.
social integration....... that's a very kind way of saying "removal of unwanted culture"
At least, that's how many people see that. Why can't we just welcome new, exotic, different culture in and love it. We don't all need to be the same. We want people to feel like we want them for who they are. Not that we only want them if they look/speak/act a certain way.
Apart from much scripture and some core doctrinal differences that vary from traditional Christianity, and practices, like the temple ordinances, the Church of Jesus Christ is mostly set apart based on its relatively rigid standards and morals.
It expects people to feel the Spirit of God and convert, repent, change.
Believe "exotic" and live plain and wholesome. i.e. dull. Following what is believed to be divine injunction, no small matter.
Oh, and the promise attached to obeying such commandments?
Receiving exaltation and eternal life, to be like God and Jesus, to rule with them. May sound crazy and outlandish, but it appeals to quite a few, ties and dresses and all.
Hi! It's me with some news from the Philippines. Based from the Stake Conference Schedule posted by one of my friends, the 108th stake will be created this coming March 16-17. The Ballesteros Philippines Stake will be created from a district. With 67 remaining districts and 9 stakes with 10 or more units, we are hoping to see more stake be organized for 2019.
"exotic" was in regard to cultural things. not commandments.
I have to say I'm not crazy about white shirts either. They make my face look super red, attract stains like no other item of clothing I've ever worn, and require a separate load of laundry. I wear a plaid blue shirt almost every week since someone told me it brings out my eyes. The "white equals purity because priesthood" thing doesn't make much sense to me either. Though women don't hold the priesthood, they are held to the exact same standards of purity as men, yet they wear whatever colors they think look nice without being judged.
According to Rick Satterfield's temple website, every stake in Italy is being assigned to the Rome temple, even though half of them are significantly closer to the Bern temple. Border crossings aren't an issue in the European Union and Italian is one of the languages spoken in Switzerland. Maybe it's for the psychological impact of Italian Saints going to a temple in their own country, but I hardly think that would outweigh the inconvenience of significantly increased travel time. Any ideas why this could be?
@Christopher Nicholson
I think it probably is for the psychological impact, and to give the Italian saints a sense of unity.
They did the same thing for us in Western Montana when the Billings Montana Temple was dedicated, even though the Idaho Falls Temple was an hour closer.
The next year though, they reassigned us in the Missoula area to the Spokane Temple, which was even closer than Idaho Falls (and was actually dedicated a few months before Billings).
But for a while, we did feel united as Montanans with "our" Montana Temple.
@Christopher Nicholson
I am a temple worker in the swiss temple. I was also a bit surprised when i heard that sall of italy will be assigned to the Rom temple a while ago. I also had the opertunity to visit the Rom temple during it's open house. There i could speak with some italian members.
All italians working (employee's) at the swiss temple where tansfered to the Rom temple.
I heard that a lot of italian members still want to go to the swiss temple because it is closer and cheaper to get to. The freeways in italy are quite expensive to use.
One other reason all of italy got assigned to Rom might be to have enough temple workers. All italian temple workers where told that they have to be temple workers in the Rom temple and that they cannot stay temple works in the swiss temple.
I think the Rom temple is very beautiful it is also bigger than the swiss temple, but its capacity is a lot smaler. (one 2 stage progressive endwoment room with 54 seats compared to 4 single stage endoment rooms with 68 seats each).
The Paris temple is the in that way similar to the Rom temple.
With the Paris temple 3 french stakes still stayed in the swiss temple district.
Mabe they wanted to reduce the languages in the swiss temple district, but as far as I know the Lugano ward is still assigned to the swiss temple.
I had that here when Provo City Center was being readied for the open house and dedication. Anyone who was a worker at Provo was released and had to be set apart again, after being re-recommended. The Provo City Center Temple president at that time interviewed and set apart workers regularly while all that was going on.
Just to clarify, I have had the life-long ability to grow out my hair very quickly. When working at the temple, I was clean-shaven and had short hair all the time. Since my temple service ended in 2012, since my wife has no objections, and since it is easier for me right now to not have to worry about shaving, I currently have thick facial hair (beard, mustache, the whole nine yards). Because of my cerebral palsy, my hands tremor with some regularity (it gets extremely bad periodically). So cutting my own hair and trimming my own beard would only end in disaster (if not the loss of an ear, an eye, or possibly my nose).
And since my wife and I are still struggling with health issues that confine us to our home for a majority of all the hours of any given week, it has been a while since my last haircut and shave. So yes, I wear facial hair, and I have hair on my head that is almost impossible to manage. My family has nicknamed me "the mountain man" due to the length and style of both. It's funny that my brother, who has had his name removed from the records of the Church at his own request, can do whatever he wants with his hair and facial hair, and my family won't bat an eye. But heaven forbid that a former temple worker should have his hair and facial hair in such a state! Despite their teasing, this arrangement works for me, especially amidst this lengthy period of personal and spousal illness and being stuck in a ridiculous situation. Today, my wife and I had our ward and stake interviews to renew our temple recommends. And my hair and facial wig won't prohibit me from being worthy to partake of the Sacrament or enter the temple. My health and the health of my wife might hinder either or both practices, but my hairstyle, mustache, and beard will not.
Of course, any member of the Church has a choice of what to wear, or what not to wear. However, if I were ever to find myself in a position where I might be blessing or passing the Sacrament on any given Sunday, I would take whatever care I personally could to ensure that my hairstyle and facial hair were not unkempt, and you bet I'd wear a white shirt that Sunday. There was a time I vowed I would wear my Sunday best all Sunday every Sunday. When health challenges have hampered my ability to attend Church, I dress more casually. But as often as I go to Church, I try to dress and look my best, and the Lord rewards my efforts.
To change the subject entirely, I am so appreciative of the announcements we have seen in recent days relating to temple developments. President Nelson is obviously doing what he can to clear the backlog he inherited, while also working on moving things ahead for the temples he has announced. By the time the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple has its' groundbreaking, it will be the Church's eighth such ceremony this year alone. And from what I hear, the rest of the year will be as full of such events, if not moreso.
And since more has been done to clear the queue of temples under construction (by the end of September last year, no dedications had occurred for any of the new temples under construction, whereas by the end of September 2019, there will have been at least 5 temple dedications for this year alone), I have a feeling that many big, great, wonderful, amazing things are ahead for the temple-building program of the Church.
To recap, the "oldest" announced temples which have not yet had a groundbreaking are the 2 remaining of those 4 which were announced in April 2016, one or both of which will likely see a groundbreaking before the end of this year. And all 4 of the remaining temples originally announced in April 2017 could have groundbreakings later this year or early next year as well. Plus, given that 3 of the 19 temples announced by President Nelson last year will have had their groundbreakings within 7 or 8 months of being announced, that opens the odds that other temples announced in 2018 could see something occur as well.
More incredibly, for 17 of those 19, a specific city was identified with the announcement. So if President Nelson was indeed getting somewhat of a "slow start" by announcing 19 temples last year, based on what has been heard and said here and on my blog, I fully anticipate that President Nelson will be both unrolling and explaining his plans and the timing within which they will come to fruition, and announce at least a dozen new temples, at minimum. As the "backlog" of those temples announced or under construction is further cleared, that will make room for several other new ones to be announced.
I hope that these insights, such as they are, are helpful and useful to many of you who read them, even if some of you choose to bypass or overlook them. My thanks again to you all for continuing to increase my understanding of topics covered in the posts and comments of this blog.
I can't imagine it would be any different for me, if I were still living in Milan, I would still go to the temple in Bern. I lived in Milan 3 years and never managed a trip to Rome; I could never afford it. Even when my parents would've paid so that I could pick something up for a friend of theirs I couldn't manage the 6+ hours train travel one-way. I'd have been giving up a day or two. I lived there when the temple was announced and I would love to see it finished. But, to the point, if I were still a normal patron in Milan, I would still be going to Bern. This surprised me; about the temple workers being transferred.
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