tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post5563463042268118878..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 French Polynesia and Honduras; New Districts Created in Ecuador and Peru; Districts Discontinued in French Polynesia and HondurasMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-68634326171317618462016-08-26T20:12:01.324-06:002016-08-26T20:12:01.324-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-75157764466147927082016-08-25T20:24:44.931-06:002016-08-25T20:24:44.931-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-21880094781650018702016-08-25T19:46:35.464-06:002016-08-25T19:46:35.464-06:00Although transportation issues is the reason why w...Although transportation issues is the reason why well over 75% of the area of the Kumasi Ghana Mission is in the Mission Administrative branch. Although hopefully there are lots of groups scattered throughout that will make it to branch status before 2017 dawns.<br /><br />With the dedication of the Sapporo Japan Temple I was wondering what percentage of temples were dedicated by President Hinckley. It got over 50% at the end of President benson's administration, and then was well over 50% again during President Hinckley's administration. I am not sure it ever was to the point that he had dedicated over two thirds of all temples, since a few were dedicated by Presidents Packer, Monson and Faust during the hey day of dedications from 1999 through the end of 2000. Although as of 2004 the last temple not dedicated by President Hinckley had been the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple dedicated by President Faust on July 30, 2000. During the time I was in the MTC 6 temples were dedicated, that is as many as had been dedicated in any single year until 1999. In fact it was a third the number of total temples as of the day of my birth. And I served in my native language and was in the MTC only 20 days.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-89177394944254104972016-08-25T19:05:02.320-06:002016-08-25T19:05:02.320-06:00At a Stake Conference I attend last week in Dover,...At a Stake Conference I attend last week in Dover, Delaware, the General Authority talked about the explosive growth in West Africa. He mentioned the Church has 275,000 members, and over 105,000 each Sunday at Church. So actual activity is higher, and very amazing considering the fast growth, hardships, and transportation issues.Rsouthwesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06309280391519778527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-19309603348980515352016-08-25T17:16:49.577-06:002016-08-25T17:16:49.577-06:00According to the Rexburg newspaper the new Idaho F...According to the Rexburg newspaper the new Idaho Falls Mission has missionaries from 13 different countries. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-66001828491775941202016-08-25T10:13:16.763-06:002016-08-25T10:13:16.763-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-6293813576330329432016-08-24T23:26:22.068-06:002016-08-24T23:26:22.068-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-10344044462439911852016-08-24T15:35:02.828-06:002016-08-24T15:35:02.828-06:00I love the Salt Lake Temple, it's where I atte...I love the Salt Lake Temple, it's where I attend -- it's very interesting that the Salt Lake Temple has never been rededicated. It had never occurred to me. The Salt Lake Temple has been through several extensive remodels; nothing inside that patrons see is an original finish. The remodel/construction workers have not all had temple recommends; the policy to use approved and qualified contractors with a temple recommend as much as possible has not been followed. Even contractors who are qualified, with active temple recommends who offer to donate their work have been turned down in favor of paid contractors with no temple recommend. Knowing about these workers in the Salt Lake Temple and the extensive remodels it has had; especially in the 1950s and 60s, I don't understand what brings about a rededication. Maybe announcing a rededication is admission that significant changes have been made and no one wants to have people feel that the Salt Lake Temple has changed significantly since pioneer times. Folklore around the Salt Lake Temple that is not true is often propagated by even the temple workers who have seen the reality of the changes, and the reality of other false folklore in their line of work. It is misguided; but they want feelings for the temple to be strong. I think the building is incredible; amazing; and a great accomplishment for poor people who were in a wilderness, even if we're honest about it and how extensively it has been remodeled, grounded smooth on the exterior stone, built with mortar, and on sandstone foundation courses (only one course was removed). I had always assumed any extensive amount of work world result in a rededication. But it had never occurred to me that Salt Lake was only dedicated once. With Idaho Falls being rededicated next year, L.A. (dedicated 1956) will be the next-oldest temple to have only been dedicated once.Graciehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01522168841974301309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-40629466337748664252016-08-24T13:55:59.353-06:002016-08-24T13:55:59.353-06:00There are 19 Stakes, 2 Districts, 135 Wards, and 3...There are 19 Stakes, 2 Districts, 135 Wards, and 33 Branches in Tonga. The 2011 census says there are 18,554 LDS members so identifying themselves--2nd largest church in Tonga. As confirmation, Elder Erich Kopischke on Saturday, before splitting the stake, said that a stake is about 1000 active and committed members. He asked for the number of active members in the old stake and was told 2500, at which point he said that that means about 1250 in each of the new stakes. Using that approximation, then it is easy to see 19 stakes being roughly 19,000 active LDS members in Tonga. There are 63,392 LDS members of record in 166 congregations a country of about 103,000 (http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/facts-and-statistics/country/tonga). Two additional congregations net have been added in 2016.<br /><br />https://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/free-wesleyan-church-of-tonga says that there are 157 congregations in the official Church in Tonga (and 38,692 members). <br /><br />The third largest church in Tonga is the Catholic Church. The Diocese of Tonga claimed 14,332 at the end of 2014 in 14 parishes.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-84226062229356908432016-08-24T13:53:00.187-06:002016-08-24T13:53:00.187-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-74654266052241472072016-08-24T13:44:28.713-06:002016-08-24T13:44:28.713-06:00So some more Information on the stake creation in ...So some more Information on the stake creation in Arizona.<br /><br />The stake creation resulted from the realignment of three stakes in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, including the Glendale Arizona, Phoenix Arizona, and the Phoenix West Maricopa Arizona Stakes. The Forth stake created is the Phoenix South Mountain Arizona Stake.<br /><br />Seven wards came from the Phoenix Stake to Create the South Mountain Stake. This includes the Gila River Ward, Laveen Ward, South Mountain Ward, Trailside Ward, Vineyard Ward, Aguila Ward and Montana Del Sur Wards. <br /><br />To Reconstitute the Phoenix Stake, Five Wards were added from the Glendale and West Maricopa Stakes to the three wards that remained. The remainder were the the Maryvale Ward, Cielito Ward and the Encanto 1st Ward. Added from the Glendale Stake were the Rose Lane Ward and the Manistee Ranch Ward. From the West Maricopa Stake was the Aqua Fria Ward, Independence Ward and the La Joya Ward.<br /><br />Glendale Stake:Six wards<br />Phoenix Stake:Eight wards<br />Phoenix South Mountain Stake: Seven wards<br />Phoenix West Maricopa Stake: Six wards<br /><br />The question that remains is which mission the Phoenix stake will be aligned with? The Phoenix Stake was realigned out of the Arizona Phoenix Mission into the Tempe Arizona Mission three years ago with the Creation of two new Missions in the Phoenix Metro Area. However, five of the eight wards in the realigned Phoenix Stake were in the Phoenix Mission a week ago, so it is reasonable to assume the Phoenix Stake will return to the Phoenix Mission and the South Mountain stake will take its place in the Tempe Mission. Meaning the new Mission boundary will extend farther along the Salt River.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16209264963980372269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-39066564944325036122016-08-24T11:30:45.393-06:002016-08-24T11:30:45.393-06:00I recall a message here a few months back that St....I recall a message here a few months back that St. George would be closed for remodeling in the near future. I have also heard similar rumors about Mesa. It seems to me that we have several additional temples that could probably use a thorough renovation that resulted in a rededication, such as Salt Lake (dedicated in 1893), Los Angeles (1956), Hamilton (1958), Oakland (1964), Washington D.C. (1974), St. George (1877, 1975), Logan (1884, 1979), Tokyo (1980), Seattle (1980), Sydney (1984), Manila (1984), Dallas (1984), Taipei (1984), Guatemala City (1984), Manti (1888, 1985), Stockholm (1985), Chicago (1985), Johannesburg (1985), Seoul (1985), and Lima (1986). I suspect we won't see Salt Lake closed for an extensive renovation any time soon, although it was closed for 10 months in 1962/3 for an extensive renovation, but it wasn't rededicated, since, I presume, all the workers had temple recommends. Indeed, many temples endure a renovation without the need to be rededicated.<br /><br />As I understand it, only the following 23 temples have been rededicated: St. George (1975), Logan (1979), Manti (1985), Laie (1978, 2010), Cardston (1991), Mesa (1975), Bern (1992), London (1992), Ogden (2014), Sao Paulo (2004), Atlanta (2011), Apia (2005), Nuku'alofa (2007), Santiago (2006), Papeete (2006), Mexico City (2008, 2015), Boise (2012), Freiberg (2002, 2016), Buenos Aires (2012), Monticello (2002), Anchorage (2004), Montreal (2015), and Suva (2016), with four others currently undergoing renovation: Freiberg (2016), Idaho Falls (2017), Frankfurt (2017), and Jordan River (2017).Gnesileahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17757196258988210760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-9135174907829576142016-08-24T11:30:00.755-06:002016-08-24T11:30:00.755-06:00I'm looking forward to the rededication of the...I'm looking forward to the rededication of the Freiberg Germany Temple. Some fun facts: as the 33rd operating temple, it will become the third temple to have been dedicated/rededicated three times!<br /><br />Only Laie and Mexico City have been dedicated or rededicated, in their entirety, three times. Cardston and Boise only had additions dedicated prior to the entire temple being rededicated.Gnesileahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17757196258988210760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-7472667538512715222016-08-24T01:57:40.974-06:002016-08-24T01:57:40.974-06:00The Stafford stake remains in the Richmond mission...The Stafford stake remains in the Richmond mission.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-13066848034927152302016-08-23T23:50:54.280-06:002016-08-23T23:50:54.280-06:00The Stafford stake is part of the Richmond mission...The Stafford stake is part of the Richmond mission.TempleRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085548097933120560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-21418055940360300462016-08-23T22:13:48.809-06:002016-08-23T22:13:48.809-06:00Back to Church growth: is the New Stafford Stake g...Back to Church growth: is the New Stafford Stake going to be in the DC South Mission?<br />Can anyone do a percentage growth of converts or overall growth by language? Maybe French is leading the way? Since 2010?Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-58681268641963437252016-08-23T21:35:08.592-06:002016-08-23T21:35:08.592-06:00Has anyone ever heard of a Church court trying som...Has anyone ever heard of a Church court trying someone for behavior or actions unbecoming a missionary, resulting in the early exit of a companion due to bullying or hazing?<br />I think there might be due cause for such a case of a Salt Lake based former missionary, referenced by me above.<br />I had a former mission companion excommunicated for stuff he did BEFORE his mission...<br />I am not suggesting the same thing for this trainer/bully in question, but perhaps a formal court would do a few consciouses good, like the less active early returnee, his parents and family and friends, and the priesthood bearer in question who did the bullying. Such a shame, but I think priesthood justice coukd make a difference. Sorry I'm stuck on this, but it has been bothering me since learning about it. Of all places, on a mission!<br />Well, I guess we need to pray for all types of reconciliation.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-14923958491055079572016-08-23T15:40:16.521-06:002016-08-23T15:40:16.521-06:00I think I can Confirm that 2 New YSA Stakes will v...I think I can Confirm that 2 New YSA Stakes will very likely be organized next Sunday. I have been notified that there will be a stake conference on August 28th for at least the 8th stake. Also the student questionnaire of the 8th stake shows that there will be a 21st stake: http://provoysa8stake.org/Cory https://www.blogger.com/profile/03678440844474809366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-67724102790654385532016-08-23T13:36:37.920-06:002016-08-23T13:36:37.920-06:00Confirmation of the AZ Phoenix South Mountain Stak...Confirmation of the AZ Phoenix South Mountain Stake here: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Arizona%20South%20Mountain%20StakeMichael Worleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12078136075924935280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-61993270119792508462016-08-23T09:39:51.404-06:002016-08-23T09:39:51.404-06:00Apparently the Arizona Phoenix Stake was recently ...Apparently the Arizona Phoenix Stake was recently divided and the Arizona South Mountain Stake was created. This information came from my former Mission President and corresponds to growth in congregations and splitting of the Phoenix zone in the mission about 5 years ago.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16209264963980372269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-74556372425370478662016-08-23T00:03:01.331-06:002016-08-23T00:03:01.331-06:00A couple of my ward served in the Brixen group for...A couple of my ward served in the Brixen group for a long time. Creation of the branch was delayed, because of arguments (maybe a to strong word) where the branch should belong to. Like Pascal said the group was started through the Alpine German speaking Mission and members of the group were asked to attend the Insbruck branch once a month. The first presidency decieded that the branch should belong to the Verona stake. One of the reason may be, that all ther german stpeakers in the branch can also speak italian. The last i heard, was that attendnace was between 20 and 30.<br />I non't know witch mission will send there missionaries there in the furture. Maybe the Elders in my ward know.mirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14414491419910180189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-83791825316158236642016-08-22T14:33:36.455-06:002016-08-22T14:33:36.455-06:00Merdian Idaho Linder Stake 08 21 16
San Tan Valle...Merdian Idaho Linder Stake 08 21 16<br />San Tan Valley North Stake 08 21 16<br />Cortina 5th Ward 08 21 16 - Arizona<br />Minot 4th Ward 08 21 16 - North Dakota<br />Miller Springs Ward 08 21 16 - Utah <br />J S Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136196488823430086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-56280803609503887592016-08-22T09:25:30.155-06:002016-08-22T09:25:30.155-06:00As an RM of the Alpine German-Speaking Mission, I ...As an RM of the Alpine German-Speaking Mission, I have certainly celebrated that Brixen has a branch now. There has been a group in the city for about five years now and it has almost continually had two sets of missionaries assigned to it since. It's no surprise that this day would come. However, I'm glad to see that there has obviously been some real growth in the area. When I was there a little over two years ago, attendance usually maxed out at around 10, including the missionaries. <br /><br />A few words about the assignment to Verona: It is likely for accessibility purposes. Brixen, which I believe has been supervised by both the Innsbruck and Klagenfurt congregations, has technically always pertained to the Salzburg Stake. Now, looking on a map, that makes more sense than putting it with Vienna, but it is still a very long and difficult journey over some of the least passable mountain chains of the Alps. By public transit - which is the main determination for Church accessibility in Europe - it takes at least 10 hours to get to Salzburg, one way of course. So while there are certainly cultural and language differences, sending Brixen to Verona makes a lot of sense logistically. <br /><br />I have talked to some of the missionaries (including two of my companions) who served in Brixen, but neither had heard about which Mission the new branch would go with. However, knowing the area and culture, I would be surprised if it went entirely with Milan, and all German-speaking missionaries would be "kicked out." For some 90 percent of the valley Brixen is located in, and probably for a higher percentage in other more remote valleys (which often have their own languages), starting a conversation in Italian would probably be the nail in the coffin for even the most promising potential. There really is a lot of cultural shame and disgust about the fact that South Tyrol belongs to Italy - in fact, there are some South Tyrol native celebrities in Germany and Austria (Markus Lanz comes to mind) who are in total public denial of being Italian. I hope the Church takes note of that when drawing the new mission boundaries. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06263568434057394615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-35326131097860496772016-08-22T04:41:07.613-06:002016-08-22T04:41:07.613-06:00Visiting with old church friends and I learned the...Visiting with old church friends and I learned their only son was bullied and pretty much pyschologically tortured by his Salt City based trainer, and lasted two transfers and came home. This makes my heart sick and also makes me want to conduct some interviews.<br />Makes me feel a liitle violent, too, unfortunately.<br />Anyway, pray for and support our missionaries. Don't be that guy, not even on the Internet.<br />Christ was not mean or cruel. But he will bring justice to all, even the abusers, but especially the oppressed.Eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05019747288076783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-1782187764562974472016-08-21T19:53:53.861-06:002016-08-21T19:53:53.861-06:00I believe that's the one he is referring to. T...I believe that's the one he is referring to. That stake has 10 wards and could easily be split.Ryan Searcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03492045549474456000noreply@blogger.com