Church Now Fourth Largest in United States
By Chad Phares, Church Magazines
While a lot of attention is paid to worldwide missionary work and the growth of the Church throughout the world, the Church continues to grow strong within the United States as well.
According to the 2005 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, of those churches providing figures, the Church is now the fourth-largest denomination in the United States, with more than 5.5 million members reported in 2004. The Church, which was the fifth-largest faith in the country one year ago, “continues to grow remarkably,” according to the yearbook, experiencing a 1.71 percent growth rate in the United States during 2004.
Although the Church's growth in the United States is significant, the growth of the Church worldwide is also noteworthy.
According to the Church statistical report given at the 175th annual general conference, worldwide membership had nearly reached 12.3 million members at the end of 2004.
More than 240,000 converts were baptized during 2004, and children of record increased by nearly 100,000.
The growing number of members has also created a need for more stakes, missions, districts, temples, wards, and branches. During 2004, the Church created 41 new stakes, one new mission, two new districts, 433 new wards and branches, and dedicated three new temples.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, who has seen Church membership increase by more than three million members since he was sustained as President of the Church in 1995, said the work of the Lord will continue to go forth.
“A new day has come in the work of the Almighty,” he said. “That work has grown and strengthened and moved across the earth. It has now touched for good the lives of millions, and this is only the beginning” (“The Dawning of a Brighter Day,” Ensign, May 2004, 83).
By Chad Phares, Church Magazines
While a lot of attention is paid to worldwide missionary work and the growth of the Church throughout the world, the Church continues to grow strong within the United States as well.
According to the 2005 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, of those churches providing figures, the Church is now the fourth-largest denomination in the United States, with more than 5.5 million members reported in 2004. The Church, which was the fifth-largest faith in the country one year ago, “continues to grow remarkably,” according to the yearbook, experiencing a 1.71 percent growth rate in the United States during 2004.
Although the Church's growth in the United States is significant, the growth of the Church worldwide is also noteworthy.
According to the Church statistical report given at the 175th annual general conference, worldwide membership had nearly reached 12.3 million members at the end of 2004.
More than 240,000 converts were baptized during 2004, and children of record increased by nearly 100,000.
The growing number of members has also created a need for more stakes, missions, districts, temples, wards, and branches. During 2004, the Church created 41 new stakes, one new mission, two new districts, 433 new wards and branches, and dedicated three new temples.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, who has seen Church membership increase by more than three million members since he was sustained as President of the Church in 1995, said the work of the Lord will continue to go forth.
“A new day has come in the work of the Almighty,” he said. “That work has grown and strengthened and moved across the earth. It has now touched for good the lives of millions, and this is only the beginning” (“The Dawning of a Brighter Day,” Ensign, May 2004, 83).
Vastaukset 3
Vanhimmat
Voisitteko kirjoittaa suomalaisille suomeksi, please!
Vaikka englannin taitoni ovat hyvät, en jaksa noin pitkää juttua alkaa lukemaan, ja muutenkin, olisi kiva kun nuo jutu referoitaisiin suomeksi.
Muutenkaan minä en jaksa mitään "sikapitkiä" aloituksia lukea, ei mielenkiinto säily. Lyhyestä virsi kaunis. Olen aikas malttamaton eikä ole mahdollisuutta viettää netissä pitkiä aikoja kun noita tenavia juoksee jaloissa. =)
MAP kirkko on nyt USAn neljänneksiu suurin kirkko ja kasvu jatkuu.
Viime vuonna kastettiin 240.000 ja vähän yli käännynnäistä. Lapsia on siunatt noin 10,000.
kirkon kasvu vaatii uusia vaarnoja joita perustettinkin 41 ja lähetyskenttiä 1 ja distriktejä .... ei löydy sanaa tähän hätään 2, 433 uutta seurakuntaa ja branc (pienempi yksikkö) ja kolme uutta temppeliä on otettu käyttöön.
Hinkley joka on nähnyt yli kolmen miljoonan lisäyksen kirkon jäsenluvussa ollessaan profeetta (1995) toteaa että tämä on vasta alkua.