Enormous LDS Growth in Texas

[Thetruechurch]

Statistics all seem to point out that the Church is growing rapidly in Texas.

However, is it truthful that there seems to be a trend of Californian members of the church now migrating into Texas? One LDS growth researcher did make this claim a while back. Which may be a key factor behind such staunch growth.

Another thing I also read, indicated Mormon and Conservatives Californians were leaving California for Texas because of the states obsession with boosting homosexuality. California may well be seen increasingly as a liberal hell hole which is becoming difficult for Christians to live in. Whereas the lone star state is one of the most Christian and upright states in America.

Anyway, Texas has now more members than any state that was not colonized by the pioneers of the church and membership numbers have doubled since 1990. With only Utah, California, Idaho and Arizona having more members now.

Membership in Texas is increasing by about 9000 a year and the total will reach over 300,000 this year. Wards and branches are being created at a continual pace (6 new ones this year already). Stake numbers are also rising.

Is this rapid growth all down to migration of members from california? or are the missions in texas actually getting lots and lots of baptisms too?

The growth of the church in the lone star state surprises me a lot. With it being a very religious and conservative state however, it is after all not hard to talk about Jesus Christ with people and the environment being heavily religious does stop the social factors working against converts.

Edited July 21, 2011 by Thetruechurch

[bytebear]

I think people are leaving California because taxes are through the roof, unemployment is rampant and it's just too expensive to live here any more. I am so thankful I have a stable job in a growing industry, but I have many friends who are leaving because they can't find work here. It has nothing to do with gay people. San Francisco has been here a long time. We're pretty much used to it.

[Just_A_Guy]

As a California-émigré myself, I would also note the following factors:

1) Economic conditions are leading many Americans--within and without the Church--out of California and into more business-friendly states including (but not limited to) Texas.

2) Many, many Californians cashed out of their houses at the top of the real estate bubble and moved elsewhere--so many so, that my California stake now has annual reunions here in Utah.

3) I strongly suspect a connection between the apparent explosion of missionary work in Texas and the Church's soft-on-illegal-immigration political stance.

[KrazyKay]

I think a lot of it is in the missionary work here in Texas. We moved into our current ward in 2008. Shortly after we moved in, the ward split into (our city) 1st ward and (our city) 2nd ward. Then in mid to late 2010, a nearby stake was split and our stake was effected - as was our ward.

[Guest Sachi001]

Let me say this as a former NATIVE TRUE BLUE BORN TEXAN. Since the oil boom in the early eighties and hardly no corporate and state income tax. Californians have been moving along with NYer's right and left. Remember that bumper sticker? "I love new York". Well Natives would say "Love NY take I30 east!" Basically every immigrant from all of Europe and Asia flooded the cities. There were no Asian food restaurants in Dallas County by now their are tons of every ethnicity. It's the friendly environmental and tax laws on business that lead to the explosion. I was born in a town with less that a 1000 people in 1960. By 1990 when I left it over 100k. Each time I go back to visit it becomes more concrete and steel. All the way 75 miles north from Dallas/Fort worth to the Red River. Texas has 4 of the largest cities in the USA.

When I left in 1990 to Hawaii. The only kooky Mormons (my mother said that) was the RLDS church up the street. When I came back in 1998 it seemed you invaded the whole area. To which I am grateful as I eventually converted while briefly staying there. Quite a few in that Sherman ward I was converted in were once hardcore Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian native Texans. Including that lunatic McCraney who once served in the Denison Ward (same building). later i came back to Hawaii disgusted with the traffic, crime and the whole rat race that has developed there out of control.

Now I would assume that some might be transplant Mormons from every corner in the USA, but many are converts too. Trust me the old-timer Klansmen who used to fly the Confederate flags from their porches while I walked home from elementary school are turning in their graves.

[Guest Godless]

I can't really speak to the convert rates in TX, but I do know that the state is a huge magnet for the financially oppressed, especially Californians and "Yankees" from the northeast (ahem). No state tax, low cost of living, and a relatively decent job market make a move to TX a hard option to say no to. I think it's reasonable to hypothesize that a good number of LDS have made the move considering the Church's numbers in Cali. I'd also wager that it has almost nothing to do with the gay rights movement, which isn't exactly a new thing.

[mnn727]

You can buy a mansion in TX for what itcost for a 2 Bedroom home in many areas of California.

Move my $179,000 Dallas area home to a comparable area in L.A. and you could easily ask $750,000 or more for it

[Guest Sachi001]

You can buy a mansion in TX for what itcost for a 2 Bedroom home in many areas of California.

Move my $179,000 Dallas area home to a comparable area in L.A. and you could easily ask $750,000 or more for it

Try an easy million plus in Honolulu.

[KrazyKay]

Our Stake recently split - Are you in the KW area? I'm in KW1 . We have a convert baptism tonight, as do the Atascotia folks :). I love convert baptisms!!! (I'm a convert myself!)

I'm not too far from you... although I'm not in the KW area. I'm NW of Harris County just outside of Harris County.

[prophetofdoom]

I am still in California and want to get out!! The conditions are getting worse and there has been massive mismanagement by the state government. It might be a few years though.

[slamjet]

I am still in California and want to get out!! The conditions are getting worse and there has been massive mismanagement by the state government. It might be a few years though.

I'm with POD on this one