LDS church growth continues strong

Posted on by

The below guest post in which a writer reports that Church growth continues stirred a predictable reaction from the ex-Mormon crowd. One of the ex-Mormon boards linked the story, and we got dozens of mean-spirited comments from the nasty people who read those boards. The primary sentiment was, of course: there is no way the Church is growing because (insert anecdotal story here about all the people you know who have left the Church).

Sorry, ex-Mormons, go home, you are drunk.

This website titled “LDS Church Growth” has been chronicling the growth of the Church for many years.

So far in 2016, 54 stakes and and 12 districts have been added to the Church. Five stakes and five districts have been discontinued. Net growth: 49 stakes and seven districts in the first five months of 2016. In 2015, 67 stakes and 32 districts were added and seven stakes and 13 districts were discontinued for a total growth of 79 stakes and districts. So Church growth in 2016 has been way up from an already strong 2015.

Go check out the web site for yourselves. There are a lot of fascinating stories about Church growth in different spots around the world, and even a few anecdotes of the Church losing members in some areas.

As most readers know, the Church reports membership at April conference, and the Church reported in 2015 that there were 257,402 converts baptized and 114,500 new children of record for a total church membership of 15,634,199.

Brothers and sisters, the Church is true whether or not it is growing. There may come a time when Church growth slows down or we even lose members on a year by year basis. But the truth is that on a worldwide scale the Church is indeed growing today. It is just a fact.

This entry was posted in General by Geoff B.. Bookmark the permalink.

About Geoff B.

Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.

13 thoughts on “LDS church growth continues strong”

  1. The problem for many is that the Church’s numbers and growth have been touted by many as an evidence of it’s truthfulness, and so the MINOs, exmos, and other assorted antis love the optics of a church shinking for the opposite reason. But Geoff hits it on the head. The Church was true with 6 members, it is true with 15mil+ and it would be true if we only had 6 again.

  2. This is one of those posts where I’d like a ‘like’ button. I taught a lesson about Korihor in Primary today. You would think he wrote the how-to book for Xmos.

  3. 2 Nephi 27:3-6 And all the nations (and people) that fight against Zion, and that distress her, (and seek to bring her down and speak ill of her and tell lies and falsehoods about her and leave the church but can’t leave it alone) shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations (and people) be that fight against Mount Zion (the LDS Church)

    4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity (and break your covenants and fall away from the path, letting go of the iron rod), stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry (how can this be? How can the church continue to grow and people still be converted after all we have done?); yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink.

    5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets (especially Joseph Smith in fulfillment of Moroni’s prophecy); and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.

    6 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book (of Mormon which shall continue to convert those seeking the truth and willing to obey the spirit and keep the commandments & sacred covenants), and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.

  5. I think the exmo folks have experienced their own reality and have been reinforced by those who feel similarly. Meanwhile those who don’t agree will typically keep their mouths shut. So it is reasonable that they don’t understand.

  7. Well, I feel sorry for those who are kicking against the pricks. They just cannot leave the church, and then go gently into the night. Many must continue an awful animosity with the church, and often with the members themselves.
    So sad. Some nights I feel such joy for my eternal family, my gratitude to God is overwhelming. I’m so, so grateful for my testimony. I decided a few years ago that I would stop wondering about things I didn’t understand. God is in control come what may. Scriptures and talks from the GAs are an enjoyment to me. Discussions about them with others are delightful to my soul.
    Knowing life is eternal brings me comfort.
    Yes, I feel sorry for those who have thrown all this away.

  8. Dito to Quiltstack. The Gospel touches my soul in ways nothing else can or ever will.

Comments are closed.