Except where indicated, general population figures are based on the latest cia estimates primarily for july 2018. A 50 percent per decade growth rate, which is actually lower than the rate each decade since world war ii, will result in 265 million mormons by 2080. Was the lehite colony too small to produce the population sizes indicated by the book of mormon. Lds church growth growth of the church of jesus christ. An essential requirement for any demographic study is to determine what growth rates to use for escalating numbers forward and backward. Yet koltkorivera argues that the high growth model of sustained annual growth of 5. Here are the top 10 states with the highest populations. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Incidentally, the population of the world is growing at a rate of 84 million people per year. Wikipedia actually has a great article about church membership history, with some graphs that make it clear that growth rate is on a significant decline from the booming middle of the. The tables on this page represents latterday saint membership, as reported by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, as of december 31, 2018.
On the other hand, the nephites and lamanites, whose thousandyear history comprises most of the book of mormon ca. Book of mormonpopulation and demographics fairmormon. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Top 10 states with largest mormon population aboutmormons. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Apr 20, 2020 there are problems here, no doubt, arising in part from rapid economic and population growth in the context of cyclical trends for mining and other industries. Church growth mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. More mormon men are leaving the lds church, say researchers but especially in utah. Smith the book of mormon presents itself as an abridgment of the record of the people of nephi and also of the lamanites title page, engraved on metal plates by mormon in the late fourth century. Koltkorivera reports that more than 90 percent of mormon growth is the result of the baptisms of converts. If the lds church is of god, then neither you nor i nor any human will stop its meteoric rise. This graph shows the growth rate of the mormon church.
There are currently over 80,000 missionaries in 162 countries 20, and in the year 2000 alone five million copies of the book of mormon were handed out. The worldwide growth of mormons, jehovahs witnesses, and seventhday adventists, and the price of free inquiry in mormonism, all of which can be accessed on ryans personal website. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. Can you comment on the demographics of the book of mormon. Current status the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is also commonly referred to as the lds church. This is why mormons still believe they are a fastgrowing church, even though they are long past their. A high side estimate of population growth would be 3 % per year. Lds church growth growth of the church of jesus christ of. Population growth in the book of mormon wednesday, october 10, 2012. This page shows the membership statistics of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church within the united states official lds membership membership count on record provided by the lds church. It is also consistent with claims made by several book of mormon authors that they couldnt record even a hundredth part of their peoples history. The book of mormon includes specific population numbers which make it possible to evaluate the authenticity.
Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. Jan 20, 2019 youll see there that the mormon bubble does not mean utah, but the bubble around utah. Though a relative slowing of the growth rate continues, although it slightly increased in 2019, church membership growth continues to outpace the world population growth rate, which is currently around 1. One of the articles main points is the remarkable growth of the utah. So the worlds population is growing at a rate about 400% faster than the lds church or to put it another way, the mormon church is falling behind population growth by 83,700,000 each year. Jul 16, 2015 the table below lists the top 10 states with the highest mormon population as a percentage of the overall population. Fdmat 108 mathematical tools for the real world 6d statistical inference book of mormon.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Utah is the 30th most populous state in the united states with a population of about 3. And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. These records include adults and children, and also include both active and less active members. Mormon growth continues to slow, especially in the us. The 2012 religious congregations and membership survey rcms, released on may 1, shows that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in other words, mormonism reported 2 million new adherents and new congregations in 295 counties where no mormons lived a decade ago, making mormonism the fastestgrowing religious group in the united. Converts i demonstrated above that the number of missionaries serving in a particular year is an important indicator of the churchs growthwhen there are fewer missionaries serving the church grows slower. Book of mormon charts charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The percentage growth figure for 2006 is much lower than in recent decades, is below the growth figures for the depression and world war ii and is only higher than the figure for the mormon reformation of the 1850s. However, the latter abbreviations would be confusing to use in this web site because we deal with so many faith groups who regarding only themselves as the true christian church. A number of papers are referred to in this interview, including comparing the geographic distributions and growth of mormons, adventists, and witnesses, the secular transition. I began this blog in late 2007 to provide a forum to discuss lds growth developments and share information. Converts i demonstrated above that the number of missionaries serving in a particular year is an important indicator of the churchs growth when there are fewer missionaries serving the church grows slower.
Yet there are bright spots in terms of international retention and member activity. If the mormon church is as false as you say, then it will one day fall by its own weight and rot from its own lies, without any help from people like you. For many years now, these numbers seem to show consistent, even exponential growth, making church leader quentin cook recently proclaim that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Mormon growth slows to its lowest level since 1937. There are problems here, no doubt, arising in part from rapid economic and population growth in the context of cyclical trends for mining and other industries. This graph is calculated by dividing each years change in membership by total membership for each year. There is no universal consensus among mormon scholars regarding the placement of these locations in the known world, other than somewhere in the americas. Number of mormons to peak at 20 million in 2045 the mormon church traditionally announces a statistical update during its april general conference. Mormons believe in the bible, as well as other books of scripture, such as the book of mormon. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Size of nephite and lamanite populations book of mormon research.
Critics of the book of mormon who say that there cannot be the number of people. The lds church is now the fourth largest church in the united states. Click here for an indepth analysis of mormon growth trends. George lds fifth ward, who had not heard of the new mission in his area. Jul, 2015 if youre like most people, youd probably guess that utah has a higher percentage of lds people than any other state. Mormons trace their origins to the visions that joseph smith reported he had in the early 1820s while living in upstate new york. In north america the lds church is the 4th largest individual denomination with over 6 million members, a population about equal to the number of muslims.
Limitations of the model for mormon growth mormonism 101. The 2007 survey, conducted by princeton survey research associates international psrai, found 1. Mormonism, growth and decline the religious studies project. As latterday saints we are urged to study the book of mormon and apply its teachings to our lives.
In 1823, smith said an angel directed him to a buried book written on golden plates containing the religious history of an ancient people. Critics of the book of mormon who say that there cannot be the number of people claimed in the book of mormon make the opposite error, often using documents of ehrlich and his fellow doomsayers. Utah, idaho, and wyoming are 10% members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Latterday saint growth in the 21st century, after analyzing mormon membership figures, global population.
Lds and world population growth rate 1951 present 10year moving averages. Likewise, mormon missionaries are finding many new converts among southern utahs burgeoning latino population, says bishop stephen quinn, of the st. In such an analysis, the assertions of population growth in the book of mormon approach the ridiculous. Charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. The growth of the mormon church is over, at least in the developed world. They prefer the abbreviations the church or the church of jesus christ. Mormon church set to become worlds largest charisma news. New approaches to the book of mormon brent lee metcalfe, editor. This represents a dramatic shift in the basis of the mormon population, and may prove to have a dramatic effect in the way the church grows. If this were applied to the 57 people from lehis company and projected to the. What are some places outside of utah that have unusually high.
Notice, however, that the point of maximum growth lies way before the point where the actual population size levels off. But members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints live all over the world and across the united states. The salt lake temple, located at temple square in salt lake city, utah is the largest lsd temple by floor area at 253,015 sq ft. For example, under a low population growth rate kunichs for mula predicts that. The smoot trials, peace and war, growth 18961945 a period of peace and growth. Some fifteen years later stark acknowledged that his projections had missed the mark slightly. Book of mormon population statistics meridian magazine. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints membership. A closer examination of growth and retention data demonstrates that lds growth trends have been widely overstated. As michael sanera and jane shaw point out, population growth has already slowed by 14% since the late 1960s. John kunichs essay on book of mormon population sizes. Research found the worlds muslim population will have soared by 73 per cent between 2010 and islam to become worlds largest religion as it outpaces global population growth london evening. These findings suggest that the book of mormon s lack of detail about surrounding peoples and cultures is a subtle evidence of its historical authenticity.
Percentages of lds members were calculated with this information. Book of mormon population sizes, advocates a growth rate of 0. From religious surveys general religious surveys conducted within the united states. Oct 23, 2012 mormon church set to become worlds largest 6. Lds growth rate 1841 present 10year moving average. Demographics mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Youll see there that the mormon bubble does not mean utah, but the bubble around utah. What are some places outside of utah that have unusually. Estimates of the future membership of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints duwayne anderson. Mormon growth is down to about one and a half percent around the world and half that in the united states. The book of mormon contains many overt references, and some more oblique ones, to other peoples that were part of the demographic mix in book of mormon times. What do we know about the numbers of nephites and lamanites. Smith published what he said was a translation of these plates in march 1830 as the book of mormon, named after mormon, the. The table below lists the top 10 states with the highest mormon population as a percentage of the overall population.
In argentina and across traditionally catholic latin america, mormon churches are multiplying and the region boasts the largest church of jesus christ of the latterday saints membership outside the united states. They have a unique view of cosmology and believe that all people are spiritchildren. If you love the book of mormon, consider donating to book of mormon central and becoming part of this exciting movement. We are a nonprofit organization supported by people like you. Indeed, the population figures given in the book of mormon show a rather gradual population growth over the years.
This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Tremendous lds growth, especially in latin america, cannot realistically be. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and. The state has also been characterized by a tremendous amount of growth in the last decade, with the highest percent increase in population of any state since 2010.
Utah state is home to 16 mormon temples, including the worlds largest mormon temple pictured above. In 20 the growth rate dropped below 2% for the first time, and it has gone down since, with 2016 at 1. My interest in researching the growth of the lds church began in 2002. If you are curious about how prevalent the latter day saint movement is in the world then you have come to the right page as weve rounded up the 11 countries with the highest mormon population. Annual lds growth has progressively declined from over 5 percent in the late 1980s to less than 3 percent from 2000 to 2005. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described in the book of mormon.
Size of nephite and lamanite populations book of mormon. I have also worked for the cumorah foundation since 2009 providing research assistance and resource development on lds growth and missionary work. Population growth and the book of mormon quantumleap42. From the late 1800s, when utah became a state, to world war ii, mormonism and the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church moved from being an isolated church in utah to gaining respect from mainstream american society, and becoming more integrated into the countrys. Members will continue to have children, and, for a time, the church will continue to grow in the third world where people are more trusting, less skeptical and where the internet and the alternative facts it showcases have not yet taken a firm hold. The missionaries working with us are busy as they can be. Islam to be worlds largest religion as it outpaces global. Study shows that mormons are the fastestgrowing religious.
The mormon church is the fastest growing religion in the world. Mormon population mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Although the book of mormon is silent on population growth and decline as such, it does provide glimpses of how the numbers were growing. Mormons selfidentify as christian, although some nonmormons consider mormons nonchristian and some of their beliefs differ from those of mainstream christianity. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The church had a healthy growth rate in the united states of 1. But the rate of population growth, which in the past only under very exceptional circumstances ever rose to 2 percent a year on rare occasions 3 percent for short. It should be noted that all data is based on numbers from the pew research center and mormon newsroom. If youre like most people, youd probably guess that utah has a higher percentage of lds people than any other state. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The book of mormon population growth rate would have to have been more than double that of the roman empire and other peers. There are about 15,000 lds members in western australia in 4 stakes and 1 mission, all centered in perth.