Church Growth For 2022 Has Been Dismal

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Just a quick snapshot of the Church's growth this year. For 2022, the Church has lost 23 branches, gained 21 Wards, gained 16 Stakes and lost 1,184 Meetinghouses. It has been a dismal year for growth.

Do you remember a couple of years ago when Elder Holland stated the most difficult thing facing the Church was trying to manage the weekly double digit Stake creation? 16 Stakes in 10 months certainly isn't weekly double digit Stake creation.

Most Stakes are comprised of 5-8 Wards. It's interesting that the Church has gained 21 Wards and 16 Stakes. The math doesn't add up at all, unless they split several normal size Stakes into smaller Stakes? I'm sure I'm missing something.

It's also interesting that the Church has either sold or demolished about 7% of its Meetinghouses. Strange.

As of January 1st, 2022 there were:

7064 Branches
24252 Wards
3498 Stakes
19479 Meetinghouses

As of October 10, 2022 there were:

7041 Branches
24273 Wards
3514 Stakes
18479 Meetinghouses

http://www.fullerconsideration.com/dailystats.php

[drumdude]

Wow. 7 percent of meeting houses gone just like that.


Wow.

[Dr Moore]

These figures are interesting, of course.

But likely over estimate the even worse trends in tithing and active membership.

[IHAQ]

I think this is an incomplete picture presented this way, without breaking the numbers down into the geographic regions.

[dastardly stem]

I think this is interesting. I agree with IHAQ that it's an incomplete, but it's a bit of a view of things.

I imagine any growth worth noting has continued in Africa, as the trend has shown. The loss of buildings and the minimal expansion of stakes is worth thinking more on though. I've heard they've shed themselves of a few buildings recently, citing areas being abandoned by active members, moving away from old neighborhood into new ones. But, of course, if that were the cause then new buildings would be popping up to accommodate the movers. So its likely a sign of many more exits. I also imagine areas in Europe have very little need for buildings at all, so that likely has contributed the loss of buildings too. One might wonder if that continues how that might stretch into South America, Oceania and Asia as well. With the intended boom of temple growth the Church might start asking when is it appropriate to close a temple down, sale it off and move on with less. That'll be an interesting day.

Holland and co likely aren't that concerned about growth. Their main concern, it seems to me, remains financial growth and stability. . As long as they can maintain an appearance of growth overall that will continue to bless them financially. Members will notice the appearance of growth and maintain their own emboldened faith, while giving generously to the Church. It does appear the main base for Church financial success remains tithing donations. The Church could no doubt be financially successful and viable without it, but with it, the Church has no risk with its many business interests and investments--which all added up is the largest slice of the pie by far. In finances, the way it's set up, the Church has nowhere to go but up, it seems.