tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post3836529376439246690..comments2024-03-28T17:29:15.006-06:00Comments on Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): New Stakes Created in Brazil, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, and Utah; New Districts Created in Cote d'Ivoire and the PhilippinesMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-18542382034822513162019-12-11T23:36:52.650-07:002019-12-11T23:36:52.650-07:00Matt, quick housekeeping item. Unless I am misunde...Matt, quick housekeeping item. Unless I am misunderstanding something, the comment above mine (the one by Ivy Angeles) is very likely spam, since what she said had nothing to do with anything under discussion here on this thread. Thanks.James G. Stokeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13331619300918542708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-83566533923309811252019-12-10T22:45:33.744-07:002019-12-10T22:45:33.744-07:00Best remedy is Aronia berry CanadaBest remedy is <a href="https://www.Aroniaberry.ca" rel="nofollow">Aronia berry Canada</a>Ivy Angeleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10510173551041694506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-38749233086334034112019-12-05T11:49:33.607-07:002019-12-05T11:49:33.607-07:00I wonder if some places like the DR Congo they hav...I wonder if some places like the DR Congo they have special rules for people who live beyond normal limits of a branch to attend more than a regular minimum. This would make sense to me. On one hand, even if someone comes in from deep in the bush, you do not want to just unilaterally say "you cannot be baptized." It is hard enough to have people on short trips to Kinshasa ask for missionaries in their village and not be able to respond. If they are actually coming to Church, baptizing them would make sense at some point. However we need to see a level of commitment and understanding that will sustain them in what may be a long time until they can be baptized.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-90105288619134378022019-12-05T11:44:41.573-07:002019-12-05T11:44:41.573-07:00Is Vanuatu in the Fiji Mission? If it is there is ...Is Vanuatu in the Fiji Mission? If it is there is a young man from my parents ward who was there as a missionary starting last year. Since his mom was born in Korea he does not technically fit most definitions of white American.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-83621915663989946902019-12-03T23:56:41.049-07:002019-12-03T23:56:41.049-07:00@JPL
I do recall a bit more of the conversation, ...@JPL<br /><br />I do recall a bit more of the conversation, now.<br /><br />He said it took between a week and a half to two weeks from the investigator starting the discussions to when they could be baptized (which would include the one to two sacrament meeting attendances). I, like you, thought that seemed a a very brief period of time, considering the Church's recent standards of expecting more church attendance before baptism, and particularly the increased expectations in certain parts of the world where the Church is growing rapidly (such as certain parts of Africa, where I've heard upwards of 7 Sunday meeting attendances is required before baptism). Perhaps the Vanuatu mission has exceptional rules? Johnathan Reese Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271748150823074792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-39842249986591109032019-12-03T23:43:41.422-07:002019-12-03T23:43:41.422-07:00@coachodeeps
Yeah, that's sounds similar to w...@coachodeeps<br /><br />Yeah, that's sounds similar to what my friend told me. Both the dress and the dearth of Caucasians. He said he felt alone at times, knowing he was the only white person within a hundred miles (I presume he meant there were others serving in the town on the far side of the island, which he brought up). But he said he loved it, too. He's planning on going back in February, and possibly doing a business venture there in the future.Johnathan Reese Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271748150823074792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-40301344945163246522019-12-03T23:37:56.599-07:002019-12-03T23:37:56.599-07:00@JPL
Beats me. That's just what he told me. ...@JPL <br /><br />Beats me. That's just what he told me. Perhaps I misheard.Johnathan Reese Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271748150823074792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-91163546894744495592019-12-03T21:46:33.054-07:002019-12-03T21:46:33.054-07:00My cousin served in Vanuatu in 1994-1995. He was t...My cousin served in Vanuatu in 1994-1995. He was the only white American (not just white American missionary) on the island most of his mission. Grass skirts and sandals were the norm there. He had great success there.coachodeepshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08168822498180000486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-2516128695184567512019-12-03T20:11:12.108-07:002019-12-03T20:11:12.108-07:00I thought attending 3 times was mandated by preach...I thought attending 3 times was mandated by preach my gospel. I know that is the absolute minimum my mission allows. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-37951152828849288262019-12-03T01:12:19.870-07:002019-12-03T01:12:19.870-07:00No prob, Ed. ;)No prob, Ed. ;)Johnathan Reese Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271748150823074792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-44268767398200003012019-12-02T22:12:38.532-07:002019-12-02T22:12:38.532-07:00Great stuff about Vanuatu. Cool to know. Thanks.Great stuff about Vanuatu. Cool to know. Thanks.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-63951176062202954122019-12-02T11:06:21.512-07:002019-12-02T11:06:21.512-07:00Slightly unrelated comment:
I met the first perso...Slightly unrelated comment:<br /><br />I met the first person I've ever known to have served in Vanuatu last night. He just returned from his mission a month ago. Coincidentally, his older brother served there as well. <br /><br />He told his cousin and me some great stories about what it's like there. In fact (and he even brought this up), a lot of it reminded me of "The Other Side of Heaven."<br /><br />Apparently, there's so little infrastructure on some of the islands that it's essentially like a 2 year long camping trip: living off the land, hunting and fishing for food, helping locals with gardening (using machetes).<br /><br />He was one of the few white missionaries that gets sent there, as the Church generally sends other Pacific Islanders: Tongans, Samoans, Tahitians, etc.<br /><br />The Church is growing rapidly in some of the areas, though retention and activity rates are still an issue. His mission president was implementing a rule that potential members had to attend church at least twice before baptism. Some converts come from other Christian faiths, like Catholicism. There are some people who still practice a local religion, which involves idol worship (but he told a great story of a strong conversion of a former staunch traditional religion practicioner). <br /><br />I asked him his personal projection of when he thought a temple would be built there, based on strength of the established Church and conversion rates. He estimated within 5 years.Johnathan Reese Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271748150823074792noreply@blogger.com