The complete updated membership statistics are available at World LDS Membership.
The worldwide ranks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grew by 306,613 members during 2010. According to the 2012 Deseret News Church Almanac, the Church’s membership swelled to 14,131,467 as of January 1, 2011.
Countries with the largest increases were the United States (85,675), Mexico (36,972), Brazil (36,006), the Philippines (13,891), and Peru (12,747). These were the same countries that had the largest increases the preceding year.
The countries with the most members are the United States (6,144,582), Mexico (1,234,545), Brazil (1,138,740), the Philippines (645,776), and Chile (563,689). The most temples, including announced or under construction, are in the United States (79), Mexico (12), Canada (8), Brazil (7), and Australia (5).
The largest LDS populations by percentage are in Tonga (45%), Samoa (31%), American Samoa (22.5%), Niue (19.1%), and Kirabati (11.9%). The United States comes in at 14th with 2%, tied with Palau. 32 countries have Mormons representing one percent or more of their populations and 15 countries have a Mormon population of 2 percent or more.
30 countries have 10 or more stakes each. The most stakes are in the United States (1,465), Brazil (239), and Mexico (221) while there are no stakes in 99 countries.
2008 saw minor membership declines in 17 countries, 2009 had 11 declines, and 2010 had 18.
I want to share an article with you and would like your analysis of it. It was apparently written by a couple who live in Salt Lake City, but it is easy to see in the first paragraph or so that they are largely ignorant of the LDS church. I am not sure what to think. Is it filled with half truths or just all lies?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/30/us-mormonchurch-idUSTRE80T1CM20120130
The short answer is contained in the story itself, “…reflecting greater secularization of society.”
When I became a member in England I wondered why none of my family or friends joined. The answer is of course that society, the large and spacious building, is much more alluring. Many of us have to have a deep shock to our systems before we wake up and get some sense into us.
So, nothing new in the article for me. However, some information presented in the news might trouble new converts. You would have to be specific on what it is that concerns you.
Another angle on the same topic: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700220941/Mormons-opening-up-in-an-Internet-world.html
Well, to be clear, I think that the church is The Church of Jesus Christ, full stop. I live in Portland, Oregon; one of the least religious states in the union and in a very nonreligious neighborhood. Still, the focus of my life has been on finding the real Heavenly Father, and Choosing The Right. Without dissing other faiths, I can say without reservation that, in my experience, no other church or faith follows the will of God as the LDS do.
So, my concern is that my life be about being part of the solution, and not part of the problem. I know lots of people who are either Atheists, Agnostics, not practicing Christians, inactive LDS, Buddhists or some other belief system. I think that even those who say they do not believe in God, still practice a belief system.
My own past is really icky to some, and they rejected me. Still I followed the path that I needed to take, and never rejected Heavenly Father. I never expected to be accepted by the LDS, but they have and am still somewhat dazed. I’ll get that conversion story out to you soon, inshallah. :)
Gwendolyn
I am glad things worked out for you and that you followed the truth no matter what.
As far as your conversion story is concerned, yes indeed, God willing. And Omnia in tempore Dei.