tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post2539005683463469781..comments2024-03-27T17:28:09.345-06:00Comments on Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): Potential New Missions and Mission Closures in 2019Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-10030175108489496352019-01-03T11:42:07.359-07:002019-01-03T11:42:07.359-07:00The Anaheim mission had two of its neighbors elima...The Anaheim mission had two of its neighbors elimanated. This will probably effect some surrouding missions as well. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-66305657262192331782018-12-29T21:13:46.411-07:002018-12-29T21:13:46.411-07:00Matt, the Antigua Guatemala Stake is currently par...Matt, the Antigua Guatemala Stake is currently part of the Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission.Chris D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05948306098284454259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-33295929848152770932018-12-28T21:31:39.842-07:002018-12-28T21:31:39.842-07:00Confirmed new mission in Guatemala - the Guatemala...Confirmed new mission in Guatemala - the Guatemala Antigua Mission. The mission will be made from a division of the Guatemala Retalelu Mission and perhaps one more mission.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-1708360263025080792018-12-27T04:05:17.374-07:002018-12-27T04:05:17.374-07:00If President Nelson hears these impressive suggest...If President Nelson hears these impressive suggestions, I think I will credit you for their fruition. Really interesting ideas that could boost our faith. Sometimes we get stuck in our own places; it would be helpful to share our talents as you recommend.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-17237278922342418022018-12-26T16:50:28.634-07:002018-12-26T16:50:28.634-07:00Que bueno Eduardo. Gracias.Que bueno Eduardo. Gracias.Rodrigo Jofrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03343689681373410315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-18596748288359701532018-12-26T16:10:09.910-07:002018-12-26T16:10:09.910-07:00R. Jofre: I like your ideas.R. Jofre: I like your ideas.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-29039004604785436022018-12-24T16:13:41.304-07:002018-12-24T16:13:41.304-07:00Personally I doubt that Wyoming will get a seperat...Personally I doubt that Wyoming will get a seperate mission. I also have doubts about the ending of the Colorado Fort Collin Mission.<br /><br />I also have to express doubt that two missions in the greater LA area will be elimanated anytime soon. One maybe, but not two. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-39205343835013565322018-12-24T13:37:06.915-07:002018-12-24T13:37:06.915-07:00I expect that someday, hopefully soon, men, women,...I expect that someday, hopefully soon, men, women, and couples 25 to 70 or so, will be able to serve short-term missions (3-12 months) even if they already served a full-time mission. This might help a lot of people who need something more than just their normal church membership and also would help missions all over the world. People could serve in neighboring missions to avoid extra expenses and visa issues. They can also attend a short training period over a weekend and serve as many missions during their lives as it might be possible.Rodrigo Jofrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03343689681373410315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-38350265936116326212018-12-24T10:11:08.513-07:002018-12-24T10:11:08.513-07:00Many people hostile to the Church don't seem t...Many people hostile to the Church don't seem to realize there's a difference between a stagnant or declining growth rate and a negative growth rate. Or they hang around in an echo chamber of people who have left the Church and calculate its future based on that while ignoring the baptisms, stake creations, and temple announcements.<br /><br />Ethiopia and Tanzania seem long overdue for their own business. They've had probably the most abysmal growth of anywhere in Africa the Church is established. It would help to be able to reach more than a miniscule percentage of the populations. Of course, I understand the desire to prioritize more receptive countries for additional missions, but at some point they've got to compromise or nothing will ever be accomplished in these ones.Christopher Nicholsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00582245548922025033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-14453097305891465742018-12-24T09:32:28.216-07:002018-12-24T09:32:28.216-07:00What's also a bit puzzling about Wyoming is th...What's also a bit puzzling about Wyoming is that it has shown surprisingly little unit growth since 2000 despite the energy boom and despite being right next door to Utah.Ohhappydane33https://www.blogger.com/profile/07783098797978517423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-33647178927372800952018-12-24T09:28:01.757-07:002018-12-24T09:28:01.757-07:00I'm with Dane's central point on this one-...I'm with Dane's central point on this one-- receptive areas with members moving away should remain having lots of missionaries, as may be happening in California.Michael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-32094305643752710142018-12-24T09:19:48.266-07:002018-12-24T09:19:48.266-07:00Ok then, by that logic, Wyoming doesn't need i...Ok then, by that logic, Wyoming doesn't need is own mission either. The state with only half a million people is barely growing and in fact has lost overall population in recent years, unlike California. Yes, it is adjacent to Utah and does have some Church strongholds on the western side, but these cities are relatively small. Heck, no city in the state even cracks 100,000.Ohhappydane33https://www.blogger.com/profile/07783098797978517423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-36359156272826039422018-12-24T05:30:06.750-07:002018-12-24T05:30:06.750-07:00Ohhappydane33, that is obviously true. However, if...Ohhappydane33, that is obviously true. However, if migration is happening anyway (and it does), the Church should migrate its missionary resources as well. Simply said, missionaries need to go to work where the people are, or they won't be very effective. <br /><br />In California's case, the math is just very lopsided when it comes to the number of missions. There are currently 20 of them, for 40 million people with a receptivity level that is about average. One mission per two million people is a bit of an overkill on resources, and there are actually wards here in Europe that have a similar population but only one or two companionships assigned (despite receptivity that likely isn't that much lower). In all honesty, 10 to 12 current-size missions in California will probably get the job done, too. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-9575551393900972382018-12-24T03:26:33.938-07:002018-12-24T03:26:33.938-07:00Here is a link to my blog post. http://memberofthe...Here is a link to my blog post. http://memberoftherestoredcofjcmichigan.blogspot.com/John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-76520930364068777502018-12-24T03:13:54.911-07:002018-12-24T03:13:54.911-07:00I had some thoughts on this issue. They ran to wro...I had some thoughts on this issue. They ran to wrong to post here, but you can go to my blog and see them.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-87602823760279251692018-12-24T00:48:19.039-07:002018-12-24T00:48:19.039-07:00Regarding missions in the USA, specifically specul...Regarding missions in the USA, specifically speculating on which missions should close in California and which missions should open in Texas, it is important to remember that units opening and closing has likely much more to do with member migration and is not necessarily an indication of the success, or lack thereof, of the missions in these areas. Ohhappydane33https://www.blogger.com/profile/07783098797978517423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-41446214345793318152018-12-23T16:31:14.461-07:002018-12-23T16:31:14.461-07:00Michael, yeah - I've been a little thrown off ...Michael, yeah - I've been a little thrown off by their predictions in the membership section. It's just not realistic that the Church will see a decline in active membership, perhaps ever from here on out. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-3335603647252297022018-12-23T15:57:37.641-07:002018-12-23T15:57:37.641-07:00I'm going to post this here, even though it is...I'm going to post this here, even though it is slightly off topic, I know it won't dominate the thread, nor do I want it to:<br /><br />Some of the few websites (NOT Matt's or Rick's) that still list new wards and branches also list faith-diminishing materials that run afoul of instructions in the temple, or suggest the total number of active members is about to decline (unlikely, as long as west Africa keeps growing like it is).<br /><br />So perhaps we should use caution in linking to such sites, which seem to contradict church policy.Michael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-20285103608667159142018-12-23T10:48:41.049-07:002018-12-23T10:48:41.049-07:00But my view is personal; the church may well go sl...But my view is personal; the church may well go slower or faster there.Michael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-84297007617722465712018-12-23T10:44:03.473-07:002018-12-23T10:44:03.473-07:00I'm hoping for one new Nigeria mission a year ...I'm hoping for one new Nigeria mission a year for the next several years... In my view, that pattern, or something similar, could provide measured growth until Nigeria hits 100 stakes and then continues on.Michael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-8728990871125965022018-12-23T09:01:34.181-07:002018-12-23T09:01:34.181-07:00I heard from a missionary in the Guatemala City Ce...I heard from a missionary in the Guatemala City Central mission that another mission is for sure being created there in July 2019. It will split from the central mission. Mario Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09228686725094599662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-5528457674691592822018-12-23T08:54:05.334-07:002018-12-23T08:54:05.334-07:00I was just thinking about this. Apparently we have...I was just thinking about this. Apparently we have some telepathy going on here. <br /><br />In general, I believe the predictions are solid. That said, even though it just happened in Bulgaria/Romania/Moldova, I'm not sure how consolidating missions in different languages in different countries is going to be very beneficial. <br /><br />For example, consolidating Denmark with Norway would leave the mission quite large geographically and most of all tri-lingual (consider Iceland as well, and the Faroe and Greenland if we ever open those for missionary work). Likely, missionaries would never mix between those countries either as the languages are not intelligible to each other's speakers, really. The only benefit would be to save mission leadership and some infrastructure, and I doubt that this would be worth it to the Church. Also, note that Norway and Denmark both have many, many multi-generation member families and the Church is built on very solid bedrock, although it's not growing that quickly. I doubt that there will be a large number of unit consolidations in the coming years that would justify discontinuing either mission. <br /><br />I think that more, smaller missions are what's coming for the Church anyway. This will allow it to be more agile and missionaries will likely receive better leadership development opportunities. This may be a couple of years out, but I think that missions with 100 to 150 missionaries are the future.<br /><br />Some of the California missions might get discontinued because my understanding has been for several years that California is really overstaffed for being relatively unproductive. Putting together Utica and Rochester for one mission in Upstate New York makes sense to me as well. Now, with Fort Collins, I think that the areas closer to Denver might get picked up by the actual Denver missions, and that the Church might consider creating a mission in Wyoming. My rationale here is, again, that Wyoming is large and is likely no significant focus for any of the surrounding half dozen missions that cut into it. Growth rates are not awful and, knowing the place quite well, I think Church teachings and the Wyoming mentality are quite compatible. So, outlook for growth may be pretty decent. <br /><br />In terms of new missions, I agree with you as well. The DRC, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire could each use a couple more, to be honest. I'm not sure if I see a third mission in Abidjan or instead one in San Pedro or Sassandra, for example. I'm also not sure if I see such a major shift of resources towards the Philippines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-73131394316121637262018-12-23T08:50:53.689-07:002018-12-23T08:50:53.689-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com