tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post722608925569845590..comments2024-03-27T17:28:09.345-06:00Comments on Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): September 2016 NewsletterMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16030323360917985701noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-75661046029098330822016-12-10T20:26:09.580-07:002016-12-10T20:26:09.580-07:00@L. Chris Jones and Eduardo Clinch:
I'm fin...@L. Chris Jones and Eduardo Clinch: <br /><br />I'm finally getting back here with the info I learned about the "People of the Book" from my Muslim friend. <br /><br />My question to her: "Someone asked me a question about the Islamic view of the "People of the Book," and I thought you would be the best person to ask. So, essentially, the questions were: "What is the definition of the 'People of the Book.'" (i.e. Does it refer to Jews and Christians?)and "Does this teaching come from the Quran, and if so, where is it located?" Thanks. :)"<br /><br />Her answer: "The people of the book are generally speaking Christians and Jews. However, it has a deeper meaning and refers to any people that have received divine revelation through a prophet of God. Just keep in mind that this is in accordance with the islamic view of who can be a prophet. So, the followers of Moses, peace be upon him, would be considered "people of the book" and the followers of Noah, peace be upon him, would be considered "people of the book" but the followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad are not considered "people of the book" although he claimed prophecy and started his own religion. Another thing to note is that some scholars of islam have included Buddhists as people of the book because the Budda was most likely a prophet and there are more prophets of the past than we have record of. Sabians and Zoroastrians are also considered to be people of the book. <br /><br />Just note that lay muslims often only know that Christians and Jews are people of the book but they don't know more than that. <br /><br />This wikipedia article has good information regarding what muslims believe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_of_the_Book<br /><br />Where does this teaching come from? It comes directly from the Qur'an, but the problem here is how do we know what it means? The specifics come from other verses of the Qur'an, and then ahadith which are sayings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. <br /><br />The status of the people of the book and their relevance to muslims would be found in books of islamic law and spirituality. For example, we can eat the food of the people of the book under certain conditions: http://seekershub.org/ans-blog/2011/03/19/can-we-eat-meat-slaughtered-by-jews-and-christians/ and muslim men can marry non-muslim women if they are from the people of the book under certain conditions as well http://seekershub.org/ans-blog/2011/02/03/what-is-islams-stance-on-muslim-men-and-women-marrying-non-muslims/<br /><br />I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions."Johnathan Reese Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271748150823074792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-7235019253289586972016-10-20T16:41:59.883-06:002016-10-20T16:41:59.883-06:00My guess based on the above is that the Church wil...My guess based on the above is that the Church will build the temple in Cocody is at all possible. Bloomfield Hills where the Detroit Temple is built definately fits such a description. However other temples have not been built in the high end area, so I could be wrong.<br /><br />In general LDS Church growth occurs most in low income areas, although members tend to over time become more middle-class. This often leads to class differences between converts and life long members. It is also arguably an overly simplistic view. At one point in my mission the area that was most affulent also had the highest level of baptisms, in part because there were lots of new missionaries there who had not yet learned that one could not baptize in affluent areas.<br /><br />On the other hand even though I did serve in that affluent zone, it was my first area which by most assesments was the most ghetto area I served in that also had the most high-end housing. Las Vegas at least would have high price high rises very close to low income housing. <br /><br />Even at that I am not sure why Attecoube and Treichville would not be growth areas. Sometime though the placement of Church density might result from where the Church has started.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-42028992475897303872016-10-20T15:54:32.996-06:002016-10-20T15:54:32.996-06:00I agree that the Church is quite "dense"...I agree that the Church is quite "dense" in Yopougon and Abobo, but the descriptions don't particularly explain why.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-83450015871493917552016-10-18T16:22:34.216-06:002016-10-18T16:22:34.216-06:00Thanks Rick, that interesting. It also explains wh...Thanks Rick, that interesting. It also explains why the church is very dense in Yopougon and Abobo and less so in the other regions.Cory https://www.blogger.com/profile/03678440844474809366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-84308237911986392082016-10-18T14:57:31.392-06:002016-10-18T14:57:31.392-06:00In considering where the Church may choose to buil...In considering where the Church may choose to build the temple in Abidjan, I found a blog with a clever description of the city's communes helpful. I'll share it here.<br /><br /><b>Cocody</b> = Beverly Hills (the bourgeois)<br /><b>Plateau</b> = Manhattan (skyscrapers)<br /><b>Marcory</b> = Las Vegas (the place that never sleeps)<br /><b>Treichville</b> = Kingston (drugs in the streets)<br /><b>Kousmassi</b> = Bogotá (gangland)<br /><b>Port Bouet</b> = Hawaii (coconuts and palms)<br /><b>Adjame</b> = Texas (urban jungle)<br /><b>Attecoube</b> = Bronx (the strongest make the law)<br /><b>Yopougon</b> = Rio de Janeiro (alcohol, sex, parties, beautiful girls)<br /><b>Abobo</b> = Baghdad (danger everywhere)TempleRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085548097933120560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-67467907172905462482016-10-15T09:23:13.852-06:002016-10-15T09:23:13.852-06:00The Growth in the Ivory Coast never ceases to amaz...The Growth in the Ivory Coast never ceases to amaze me. The geographical sizes of the wards in some areas of the city are becoming very small. Not quite as small as Utah, but getting close especially in the northern and west parts of the city. Looking at the lds maps, it strikes me to see that around half, perhaps less meet in rented or remodeled facilities. The Maps aren't that updated, but it's easy to recognize an LDS built Chapel from above. I appears that each stake only has one or two constructed meetinghouses or stake centers. There is a meeting house, probably stake center in the Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Toit Rouge Stake that has a lot of empty space behind it. I would guess the Temple will be built there if the chruch does not acquire additional property. I also hope the temple is rather larger than the other temples being built today and those built in Africa. Considering that the stakes there are of the highest of the church to submit names, plus a large growth potential, I think it would merit are larger than normal temple.Cory https://www.blogger.com/profile/03678440844474809366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-33812093601885696412016-10-14T19:33:21.897-06:002016-10-14T19:33:21.897-06:00John, the Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Niangon South ...John, the Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Niangon South Stake two years ago (October 2014--I pulled it off CDOL on 23 October 2014) had 6 wards:<br /><br />Azito Ward<br />Coprim Ward <br />Niangon 1st Ward<br />Niangon 2nd Ward<br />Sideci 1st Ward<br />Sideci 2nd Ward<br /><br />Now, as you note, this stake created in June 2013 now has 13 wards:<br /><br />Azito 1st Ward<br />Azito 2nd Ward<br />Base Cie 1st Ward<br />Base Cie 2nd Ward<br />Beago Ward<br />Coprim Ward<br />Gloris Ward<br />Niangon 1st Ward<br />Niangon 2nd Ward<br />Ornella Ward<br />Sideci 1st Ward<br />Sideci 2nd Ward<br />Sogefiha Ward<br /><br />In Cote d'Ivoire, 2 years ago there were 6 Stakes with 55 wards and 5 branches, 3 Districts with 21 branches, and 10 direct report mission branches. Total of 91 congregations.<br /><br />Today there are 11 stakes with 97 wards and 7 branches, 9 districts with 60 branches, and 11 direct report mission branches for a total of 175 congregations in Cote d'Ivoire which is nearly double in two years.<br /><br />The Yamoussoukro Cote d'Ivoire District 2 years ago had 13 branches. Today, it is a stake (Yamoussoukro Cote d'Ivoire Stake) with 10 wards (Agbanou Ward, Assabou Ward, Bouafle Ward, Fondation Ward, Habitat Ward, Koko Ward, Kokrenou Ward, N'Zuessy 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wards) that came from 7 of the branches (Agbanou Branch, Bouafle Branch, Habitat Branch, Koko Branch, Kokrenou Branch, and N'Zuessy 1st and 2nd Branches). The Daloa Cote d'Ivoire District today has 8 branches that came from 6 of the branches that had been in the Yamoussoukro District. <br />Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-82767245684971556982016-10-13T21:01:10.543-06:002016-10-13T21:01:10.543-06:00phxmars, the creation of the Phoenix Arizona Thund...phxmars, the creation of the Phoenix Arizona Thunderbird Park Stake last Sunday is clearly a different stake creation than the one predicted for the Deer Valley area in the next couple of weeks.<br /><br />The Phoenix Arizona Deer Valley Stake has ten wards:<br />Buffalo Ridge Ward<br />Deer Valley Ward<br />Rose Garden Ward<br />Daisy Mountain Ward<br />North Valley Ward<br />Anthem Ward<br />Gavilan Peak Ward<br />Parkside Ward<br />North Canyon Ward<br />Pinnacle Vista Ward<br /><br />When I first saw the suggestion of splitting the Phoenix Arizona Deer Valley Stake, it appeared obvious to me that a likely split would be the first five wards I list in one stake and the last five in the other. They seem to be grouped in these two groups of fve wards. While 5 wards at least are required to create a stake (I have seen stakes created with 4 wards and 2-3 branches, but Handbook 1 says 5 wards minimum), I did wonder about whether each group of 5 could form a stake. <br /><br />The idea that the southern five wards (the top five I list) get two wards from a neighboring stake makes sense. My guess is it will be from the Phoenix North stake to the south and not the 6-ward Glendale North stake to the west. But, that is only a guess based on looking at LDS maps.<br /><br />I am not out there in the Phoenix area, but I don't think 6-7 wards is the sweet spot, but rather potential stakes typically need at least that many wards to reach all of the minimum requirements. Thus, it is not uncommon throughout the country or even the world for 1 stake to become 2 or 2 to become 3 when all of the resulting stakes meet the requirements about that level. But, then they are allowed to grow from that point. Not the sweet spot for a size of stake, but rather the minimum for a stake to be viable.<br /><br />In North America it should be 3000 members of record, 5 wards, and 24 active full-tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders (not including those required for the ward--15 per ward and 4-6 per branch in a stake) for all stakes resulting from the reorganization. If all of the resulting stakes in the reorganization can meet these requirements the area leadership forwards the request from the stakes involved to the First Presidency for approval or denial. This supposed sweet spot is really when the minimum requirements allow the creation of a new stake. It isn't about a decision to make smaller stakes. In fact most of the stakes created in North America prior to about 2010 were created with lower requirements than they have now.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-90303102811124747062016-10-13T17:26:41.309-06:002016-10-13T17:26:41.309-06:00I promise this will be my last post in a row.
The...I promise this will be my last post in a row.<br /><br />The Henderson Nevada Stake Lake Mead has gotten what I think is its first new ward since I was a missionary in Nevada back in 2002. That is exciting. What was then the Black Mountain Stake, which to locals was the only other part of Henderson, they didn't consider Green Valley as part of Henderson, has now become 3 stakes, although it did incolve taking the Boulder City wards from the Lake Mead Stake.<br /><br />A stake in Abijan Ivory Coast, which was only formed in 2014, is now to 13 wards. John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-60825010658194401862016-10-13T17:11:07.337-06:002016-10-13T17:11:07.337-06:00Mike Johnson makes some very good points about the...Mike Johnson makes some very good points about the Qu'ran verses on violence being taken out of context. The comparison of the Qu'ran to the Doctrine and Covenants is very good. Except, due to various factors, I think the full context of the verses in the Doctrine and Covenants is easier to understand.<br /><br />I have read some works by Muslim scholars who insist that the main probably with both the Salafis and the radical violent political Islamists who are generally a sub-set of Salafism is that they reject the body of Muslim scholarship and read the Qu'ran directly. <br /><br />Some insist one of the problems is that Saudi Arabia has used its oil wealth to set-up Islamic scholars that support the Salafi/Wahabi interpretation of the Qu'ran, one lacking the inights of scholarship, as leaders in mosques throughout the world. <br /><br />One book I read on this subject was entitled "The Two Faces of Islam" by Stephen Suleyman Schwartz. Some might say Schwartz was a Jewish convert to Islam. That is inaccurate. He was baptized as a Presbyterian at birth, but his mother was a member of the Communist Party. Both his parents were anti-religious, which makes me think he was baptized in one of the predecessors of the PCUSA, probably the most left-leaning mainline Protestant Church. His father was ethnically Jewish. Schwartz converted to Sufi Islam in the 1990s, I believe as a result of exposure while working as a journalist in Bosnia. <br /><br />On the other hand, the Church has been thriving in Sierre Leone, and that is a majority Muslim country. Of course its 60% Muslim is a far cry from the 99%+ seen in Turkey.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-18226199249163436842016-10-13T16:55:02.779-06:002016-10-13T16:55:02.779-06:00I am virtually positive that Iran has the death pe...I am virtually positive that Iran has the death penalty for apostasy, however I am not sure even Iran has imposed it recently.<br /><br />Sudan has on occasion sentanced people to death for apostasy, but I am not sure they have carried it out.<br /><br />However family members meeting out justice is probably a much bigger concern than governments doing so.<br /><br />I have talked to missionaries here in the Detroit Mission who think we could probably have 3 or 4 Arabic areas. The missionaries in my ward have baptized a few Chaldeans (Catholics from Iraq) over the years and are often teaching them. Southfield and Oak Park probably also have enough Chaldeans to support missionary efforts.<br /><br />In Dearborn and also in the Palmer Park Ward (the one ward that meets in Detroit, 2 branches meet in the city, and 2 other wards have good chunks of it, including one where the Young Men President lives in the city) both in Hamtramck and in the part of Detroit just to the east of Hamtramck there are enough Yemeni immigrants to justify Arabic speaking missionaries. These people are generally permanent residents, and in Dearborn many were born in the us. However there is still strong familial pressure, and those who do not know English would be most susceptible to such.John Pack Lamberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086707132348039415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-39327709198328826762016-10-12T16:09:34.493-06:002016-10-12T16:09:34.493-06:00None of the wards mentioned are in the Deer Valley...None of the wards mentioned are in the Deer Valley Stake. Those are all wards west of the temple and mostly north of the 101 Loop. I am told that the Deer Valley Stake split involves 1-2 wards in the Phx North Stake.<br /><br />It seems that the church is trying to align the AZ stakes into that 150-200 per ward/ 6-7 wards per stake "sweet spot" that was mentioned in an earlier discussion. <br /><br />My own stake as 10 wards but there are not any stakes bordering us that have adequate numbers of wards to peel off to create a new stake. The stake to the west just took one of our previous wards and the stake to the south has 5 wards. There are no stakes to our north and east that are feasible for a split. I hadn't considered the Deer Valley wards near Anthem to create a northern stake, but the wards meeting in Cave Creek come awfully close to the 101 to make a stake of that configuration less than ideal. I think more growth in Northern Scottsdale needs to occur before we see the Scottsdale North Stake split.phxmarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279036728548934651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-6127622080087331862016-10-12T16:03:12.168-06:002016-10-12T16:03:12.168-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.phxmarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279036728548934651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-67577076326364413492016-10-12T08:42:16.293-06:002016-10-12T08:42:16.293-06:00Thank you, J S A. As usual, Temple Rick is on top...Thank you, J S A. As usual, Temple Rick is on top of it:<br /><br />Phoenix Arizona Thunderbird Park Stake<br />Arrowhead Ranch Ward<br />Mountain Ridge Ward<br />Sierra Verde Ward<br />Sonoran Mountain Ward<br />Stetson Valley Ward<br />Thunderbird Hills Ward<br />Desert Canyon Branch (Correctional Facility)Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-24331009956906914752016-10-12T08:30:09.250-06:002016-10-12T08:30:09.250-06:00Phoenix Arizona Thunderbird Park Stake (2070677)
...Phoenix Arizona Thunderbird Park Stake (2070677) <br />created october 9 2016J S Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136196488823430086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-82086142005436079712016-10-11T22:26:48.639-06:002016-10-11T22:26:48.639-06:00I have suspected a split in in the Phoenix Deer Va...I have suspected a split in in the Phoenix Deer Valley stake was pending. I served in the neighboring Glendale North Stake on my mission.<br /><br /><br />Note, this is what I am guess will happen.<br />I suspect this realignment will involve the Scottsdale North Stake and the Glendale North Stakes. The new Stake would be called the Phoenix Anthem Stake or something like that. The five wards in the the Anthem area with two wards in the cave creek area, from the Scottsdale North Stake, will constitute the new Stake. Finally the wards at the chapel by the Phoenix temple, from the Glendale North Stake, would join the Deer Valley Stake to bring it back up the strength. This is what I suspect will happen based on my experience down there on my mission and my observations of the west valley of Phoenix growing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16209264963980372269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-55920745179081950712016-10-11T17:25:23.226-06:002016-10-11T17:25:23.226-06:00Exciting news about the Phoenix Arizona Deer Valle...Exciting news about the Phoenix Arizona Deer Valley Stake.<br /><br />I wonder if the Phoenix Arizona North Stake to the south will be involved. Each stake has 10 wards. The Glendale North Stake to the west has 6 wards and may not be part of a stake reorganization. The Paradise Valley stake to the east has 7 wards.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-13808537317604898402016-10-11T13:30:07.614-06:002016-10-11T13:30:07.614-06:00The Phoenix Arizona Deer Valley Stake is splitting...The Phoenix Arizona Deer Valley Stake is splitting in two weeks.phxmarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279036728548934651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-4878077631487798432016-10-11T11:13:45.798-06:002016-10-11T11:13:45.798-06:00A most enlightening read from Deseret Books on thi...A most enlightening read from Deseret Books on this subject is "My Name Used to Be Muhammad". The story of a young man who converted from devout Islam to Christianity and Mormonism. He faced intense persecution and not just from his own family.MainTourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03309793272234493219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-65651296072866362812016-10-10T23:26:31.082-06:002016-10-10T23:26:31.082-06:00@L. Chris Jones: A good Muslim friend of mine dis...@L. Chris Jones: A good Muslim friend of mine discussed with me once that the Muslim faith does respect the "People of the Book" (Jews and Christians). I'm not sure if it was a Quranic teaching. I assume it was. I'm glad you brought this up! I will actually ask her for more information. Johnathan Reese Whitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05271748150823074792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-40504492540664572702016-10-10T20:04:15.396-06:002016-10-10T20:04:15.396-06:00Continuing:
I was saddened, but not surprised, to...Continuing:<br /><br />I was saddened, but not surprised, to see the Tok Branch go away. I had noted that the address is in Eagle (101 2nd Ave, Eagle, AK) which Google Maps identifies as "J&I Crafts" indicating that the branch may have met in facilities leased from a business or perhaps owned by a member. To be a branch in a stake requires 4-6 active full-tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders and 20 members. A group needs only one Aaronic Priesthood holder. Unless everybody moved out, died, or went inactive, my guess they downgraded the branch to a group dependent on the Delta Junction Ward.<br /><br />When I first mapped out the Church in Alaska about 3 years ago I built comparisons with the Catholic Church. The Southeast Fairbanks Census Area has a population of about 7000. ARDA listed the Church as having at the end of 2010 2 congregations with 404 adherents. The Catholic Church had 2 congregations listed with 366 adherents. The LDS congregations had to be the Delta Junction Ward and the Tok Branch (which covered both Tok and Eagle with the meetinghouse in Eagle). The Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks lists 3 parishes--Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (Delta Junction), Holy Rosary Catholic Church (Tok), and Saint Francis Xavier (Eagle). The diocese website says "However, most practicing Catholics have left the Eagle community and Saint Francis Xavier parish is now considered inactive." It also says, "Religious Sisters who helped preserve a strong Catholic presence in Tok include Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and Sisters of St. Joseph. A Sister of St. Joseph presently serves as Pastoral Administrator of Holy Rosary. A Diocesan priest visits from Delta Junction." So, the Catholics with similar numbers has one "inactive parish," one parish with a nun as the pastoral administrator, and one regular parish. The LDS in the census area appear similar with one ward and insufficient numbers to keep a stake branch functioning. To be a branch in a stake requires at least 20 members. If they didn't all go away, then I suspect that the Delta Junction ward now maintains a group in either or both Tok and Eagle. Tok and Eagle probably took members in both areas to qualify as a branch in a stake. Given the distance between them, members in Tok may have been a group in the branch. It is possible that members gathered in both Tok and Eagle and met over the phones or internet to make it work. They may do the same, but "call in" to the Delta Junction Ward.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-7685655717064869592016-10-10T20:03:49.812-06:002016-10-10T20:03:49.812-06:00Ryan, thank you.
I was going to add the Delta Jun...Ryan, thank you.<br /><br />I was going to add the Delta Junction Ward for the large areas. But, I see you added that below. These are huge areas for these wards and branches. The Fairbanks 3rd Ward does meet in a chapel in Fairbanks (403 Lazelle Rd Fairbanks, AK) but it goes all the way up to the northern coast. My guess is nobody drives to church each week from much of the ward. They may attend church using telecommunications.<br /><br />I am not sure what you mean by there not being any groups. Groups are informal and the Church doesn't track or publish them. They require only mission or stake president approval to set up or discontinue. They are common in spread out areas, so I would think in places like Alaska there could be several. On the other hand, I have heard that telephone or internet are used for services. I would think even then, somebody would be assigned as a group leader (who doesn't need the Melchizedek Priesthood). The primary reason administrative branches are set up (Anchorage Bush and Tongass branches appear to work like administrative branaches but are in stakes and not missions where we usually find them) is to organize groups.<br /><br />Groups may also be parts of wards or branches. I would think that the Fairbanks 3rd ward has one or more groups that it administers. It also would not surprise me that even though the Palmer and Glennallen branches were merged to form the Palmer Ward that the ward maintains a group in Glennallen.<br /><br />Boundaries in the Juneau Stake (and perhaps all of the Alaska stakes) are problematic on LDS Maps. The Gustavus Branch shows up across the bay from Gustavus. The meeting house shows up in Gustavus and has a Gustavus address, but outside the branch according to LDS Maps. Right click on Gustavus and you get the Tongass Branch. <br /><br />The Craig Branch is suspicious as well. Craig (and the meeting house) sit just outside the boundary running up the inlet, with branch taking in Klawack. Again right-click on Craig and you get the Tongass Branch. I suspect the Craig Branch takes in Craig. But, I don't know how much of Prince of Wales Island is in the Craig Branch. The Craig branch does have the largest membership of any branch in the stake (if the Juneau YSA Branch had that membership it would be a ward).Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-69192736146712582902016-10-10T18:40:44.093-06:002016-10-10T18:40:44.093-06:00I heard that the Quran says something about respec...I heard that the Quran says something about respecting the "People of the book." I have the understanding that means believers in the new and old testament such as Jews and Christians.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-13546417504221787142016-10-10T12:55:08.934-06:002016-10-10T12:55:08.934-06:00MainTour and Nathaniel, the main issue isn't t...MainTour and Nathaniel, the main issue isn't the laws of the countries, but that family members whose honor has been affected by family members leaving Islam take it into their own hands to kill them thinking that that preserves their social standing.<br /><br />I don't think any Moslem country has the death penalty for apostasy. <br /><br />Islam, like Christianity, espouses peace. But, there have been plenty of cases of people becoming very violent in the name of both. I don't like the phrase "Religion of Peace" because it is usually used in relation to violent acts by some members of a religion.<br /><br />I have had some Islam experts explain to me the context of the war and violence suras of the Quran, that make perfect sense to me. But, that context is not often recognized and taught in some circles. It is a little like the Zion's Camp sections of the D&C. There is strong language about marching on Missouri with an unofficial military force to redeem the land. We know the context and also have the Lord explaining what happened in the D&C and directly a different result. Thus, I don't think Latter-day Saints have the same issue as some Moslems who read their scriptures and see some instructions that make it sound very much in opposition to the idea of being a religion of peace. Islam means "submission" and it is more directly translated a religion of submission than a religion of peace. When individuals submit to the will of God and they believe God has commanded them to destroy non-believers, it doesn't become a religion of peace.<br /><br />That said, the Church and many members have had very good relationships with lots of Moslems. The Abu Dhabi stake center was built on land gifted to the Church by the Crown Prince. While there are issues with preaching the Gospel in Islamic countries or with people expected to return to them, the situation seems to be improving.Mike Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10025612146815804945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2786908254617003646.post-8789698432900771672016-10-10T08:57:37.222-06:002016-10-10T08:57:37.222-06:00Mike Johnson
To my knowledge, there are no groups...Mike Johnson<br /><br />To my knowledge, there are no groups in Alaska. However, there are several places that seem likely for groups to operate. My biggest guess is Glennallen, which used to have its own branch, but was discontinued to allow the Valdez Branch become a ward. It is a 2-hour drive from Glennallen to Valdez, additionally, in the winter time, it depends if Thomson's Pass has been plowed or not, Valdez may not be accessible. Alternately, it is almost the same amount of travel time to Palmer. The Valdez Ward is one of the largest wards in Alaska, and arguable one of the larges in the U.S. I think only the Fairbanks 3rd Ward would be larger.<br /><br />There are 3 large-area congregations that cover multiple towns with limited access: Fairbanks 3rd Ward, Tongass Branch, and Anchorage Bush Branch. A while back, there was a very small branch in Naknek, and it is probable there may be a group there. Hooper Bay is the largest bush community that does not have its own congregation, however, most of western Alaska is Yup'ik speaking, and there are no church materials in that language.<br /><br />The Tok Branch was recently discontinued, and the area is now part of the Delta Junction Ward, which makes sense. The chapel was listed in Eagle, which is near the Canada Border up on the Yukon River, at the end of a road that is closed in winter (gravel road, not easily plowed). Tok and many other communities along the Alcan would have a much easier time going to Delta Junction than Eagle for services.<br /><br />For the Tongass Branch, the 3 largest communities are Hoonah (rumored to be part of the Gustavus Branch), Angoon, and Metlakatla (part of the Ketchikan Ward).<br /><br />Some ideas I have had for boundary changes largely affects the Bush Branch, where it would cover every community in Alaska that does not have its own branch, nor accessible by road (except the Juneau Stake). This would effect primarily the Fairbanks 3rd Ward and the North Slope Branch. In addition, for the Juneau Stake, the ward and branch boundaries would be extended to cover all of the empty space that is in that region (for instance, the Juneau Wards only cover the residential areas, and right outside is part of the Tongass Branch.Ryan Searcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03492045549474456000noreply@blogger.com