This article was originally written by Matt Martinich for cumorah.com. Below is an excerpt.
The 10 most encouraging LDS growth and missionary developments in 2015 are reviewed in this case study. Likewise, the 10 most discouraging LDS growth and missionary developments in 2015 are also examined. Limitations to this case study are identified.
Top 10 Encouraging LDS Growth and Missionary Developments
1. Stake, District, and Congregational Growth Rates Accelerate in 2015 – Largest Number of New Stakes Created in a Single Year since 1998, Largest Number of New Districts Created in a Single Year since 1994, Largest Net Increase in the Number of Congregations since 2005, Number of Congregations Surpasses the 30,000 Milestone
The Church experienced slight accelerations in stake, district, and congregational growth during 2015. A total of 67 new stakes were organized in 2015 – the largest number of new stakes organized since 1998 when the Church created 84 new stakes in a single year. Of the 67 stakes organized in 2015, 22 were created from member districts. In 2014, 20 of the 64 new stakes organized were created from districts. The net increase of stakes in 2015 (60) was the second highest reported by the Church since 1998.
The Church reported at least 32 new districts organized in 2015 – the largest number of new districts created by the Church in a single year since 1994 (a net increase of 62 districts occurred in 1994; as many as 74 districts may have been organized). The majority of new districts organized in 2015 were located in Africa (14), Latin America and the Caribbean (7), and Europe (6). However, the Church has reported a net decrease of three districts in 2015 as 13 districts were discontinued and 22 districts advanced into stakes.
Congregational growth rates in 2015 also slightly accelerated. The Church reached 30,000 official congregations (wards and branches) in 2015 for the first time in its history. The Church reached 10,000 official congregations in 1979 and 20,000 official congregations in 1992. As of late December 2015, the Church had reported a net increase of 395 official congregations – the largest annual net increase in wards and branches since 2005 when the Church reported a net increase of 417 wards and branches. Countries that experienced the largest net increases in the number of LDS congregations during 2015 include Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, the Philippines, and Mexico. Congregational growth has slightly accelerated in the mid-2010s although both numerical increases and percentage growth rates remain significantly less than in the 1980s and 1990s. In additional to official congregations, hundreds, if not thousands, of semi-official member groups also operate throughout the world. Congregational growth nonetheless remains slow for the Church as a whole as evidenced by an annual growth rate of a mere 1.33% in 2015. To contrast, the world population grew at a rate of 1.08% in 2015[1] – just 0.25% less than the LDS congregational growth rate for the year.
These developments signal modest improvements in “real growth” trends for the Church. It is important to note that the Church experienced its greatest numerical increases in stakes and districts during the late 1970s and in the 1990s notwithstanding fewer missionaries serving and fewer members of the Church. In the past couple years, stake and district growth has accelerated in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Oceania, but has slowed or has stagnated in Latin America and Europe.
Final, official numbers for the number of stakes and districts at year-end 2015 will be available in April 2016 when the Church presents its annual statistical report.
2. Rapid Growth Continues in West Africa
The Church sustained rapid membership and congregational growth throughout West Africa during 2015. Although no official LDS membership or congregational data will be released until April 2016, the Church experienced impressive net increases in the number of congregations during 2015 in most West African nations with an LDS presence including Nigeria (+38, 9.1% increase), Ghana (+37, 17.9% increase), Cote d’Ivoire (+36, 38.3% increase), and Sierra Leone (+6, 15.4% increase). The Church organized 11 new stakes and seven new districts in West Africa during 2015, resulting in a 22% annual increase in the number of stakes for the Church in the region.
The most rapid LDS growth in West Africa occurred in Cote d’Ivoire. The number of congregations increased by at least 36 (38.3% annual increase) during the year as a result of rapid congregational growth in Abidjan and the organization of the first LDS branches in many previously unreached cities. The Church organized its first official branches in 13 additional cities during 2015, including Abengourou, Affery, Agboville, Akoupé, Alepe, Azaguié, Bondoukou, Bouake, Duekoue, Issia, Lakota, Man, and Sassandra. No other country with less than half a million members reported the organization of as many wards or branches in as many previously unreached cities. As a result, the number of cities with at least one ward or branch increased from 18 to 31. The Church has reported rapid congregational growth in two of these recently opened cities as evidenced by the organization of three branches each in Abengourou and Bouake during 2015. Two new stakes were organized in Cote d’Ivoire during 2015, including the first stake outside Abidjan (Yamoussoukro) and the Church’s eighth stake in Abidjan. Three new districts were also organized in Daloa, Divo, and Soubre. The Church announced plans to construct a temple in Abidjan in April 2015. The Church reported approximately 27,000 members in Cote d’Ivoire at year-end 2014.
Read the full article at cumorah.com.
