Some statistics on growth rates of number of Church units (wards and branches):

United States:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 2.2%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: 1.5%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: 0.5%

Canada:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 1.7%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: 0.3%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: -0.8%

Central America/Caribbean:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 5.7%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: 0.8%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: -0.3%

South America:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 8.1%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: -0.4%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: 0.1%

Europe:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 3.2%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: -0.9%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: -0.9%

Asia:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 4.7%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: 0.6%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: 0.9%

Africa:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 9.5%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: 6.3%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: 9.4%

Oceania:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 3.2%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: 0.9%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: 0.5%

World:
Annual growth rate 1987-1999: 4.0%
Annual growth rate 1999-2012: 0.9%
Annual growth rate 2010-2012: 0.6%

Source: http://cumorah.com/

One interesting note: There is a story on lds.org right now called “A Growing Church: Good Comes to Those Who Wait”. In it, “Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Elder M. Russell Ballard talk about the significance of organizing two new stakes in Europe—where the growth of the Church is not rapid, but steady.”

Growth in Europe has been steady—steadily negative. The number of units in Europe has decreased every single year since 1999. Very deceptive of the Church to claim steady growth in Europe.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2014 10:31AM by texexmo.

Church Growth is an Oxymoron.

"Growth in Europe has been steady—steadily negative. The number of units in Europe has decreased every single year since 1999. Very deceptive of the Church to claim steady growth in Europe." - Deceptive of the church???? You're kidding! Really? That is so unusual for TSCC. I'm shocked!

+1

Read that article yesterday about two new stakes in Europe and thought the same thing. How could they even write this article with a straight face?

Also...I'd be curious to know what % of the U.S (1.5%) growth is in Utah.

Ruh roh.

Thanks for posting.

Link to article:

https://www.lds.org/church/news/apostles-organize-stakes-in-rome-paris?lang=eng

“The Church is alive and well and progressing impressively in Europe,” said Elder Oaks.

Has Oaks ever said anything that wasn't a lie?

Anybody in the 15 could say "hello" to me and I'd call it a lie.

France

1995 123 units (branches and wards)

2012 108 units


My, that's some growth!


Also

The average number of members per unit in...

1995 was 228.

In 2012 it was 342.

All the "growth" in Europe is in inactive, jack, and Ex-mos!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2014 06:04PM by sonoma.

I wonder how those numbers are even recorded in the first place. There's a lot of ways to manipulate "growth" data.

Is it numbers of attendees? Number of baptisms minus number of deaths? Do they conveniently "forget" to subtract people who leave the church?

I don't know. But if I was an accountant pressured the show growth as much as I'm sure the church does... there are so many things I would manipulate to get that number as high as possible.

I suspect the REAL statistical number is way more negative than that number...

Are you talking about the stats provided by the OP? Those are pretty solid numbers since they are just the change in the number of wards and branches. These aren't baptisms or membership numbers. In my opinion the change in the number of congregations are a fairly accurate indicator of the "growth" or non-growth of the church.

Note, though, that the stats provided by the OP are for a 14 year spread (1999 to 2012 *inclusive* of those two years).

Instead of looking at the last 14 years, look at the last two or three years. It's quite a different picture. Virtually everything is negative.

Nevin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2014 07:08PM by nevinpratt.

I'd love to. Where are the stats for the last two years? I know how to look at individual countries the Cumorah website but where do i look for the different regions/continents that the OP posted?

I've added the numbers for growth from 2010 to 2012.

The next 10 years could see the rest of the world (apart from Africa and maybe the US) going into negatives like Europe.

Can you imagine doing home teaching in a stake that might be one tenth the size of the entire country? What a nightmare.

Does anyone know the average number of wards per stake in France or Italy?

I am beginning to think that Oaks could not even make it in the real world as an ambulance chaser or one of those guys on the billboards in LA who will help you with your immigration problems--he touts himself as being some big time lawyer/constitutional scholar--big time liar is all you have got with him! He is pathetic!

I saw that, too, posted by a friend who had served in one of those European areas where they are getting a temple. I'm sure he posted it because he's excited for the people there, and he feels some connection to his mission.

But, my first thought was to scream, "B.S.!" when they announced a steady, but not large growth in Europe, which vies constantly for last place in baptisms in the world.

Such a stack of crap.

It is easier to believe in the "tooth fairy" than it is to believe any numbers that come forth from LDS Inc.

Well, consider this: Where are the announced temples or temples currently in construction located in Europe?

Rome, Italy (nearing completion)
Paris, France (no ground breaking yet)
Lisbon, Portugal (no ground breaking yet)

Coincidence? I think not. How does one get the locals energized about a temple? Create a new stake and claim growth for the one true church. Motivate the members. Get them excited to pay their tithing and get ready for that all important temple recommend.

It's so easy to see - manipulation and $$$,$$$,$$$.00



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2014 08:19PM by jiminycricket.

Gee, all those years avoiding Africa, the land of the cursed, only to have the church discover it's their big growth area.

(Of course, impressive growth percentages are easier with small numbers. Going from one member to two is 100% growth.)