JLHPROF Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2193955-155/mormons-put-utah-on-top-among Thanks to its 59% LDS membership, Utah is the number 1 state in the country for residents who attend a Church regularly. 51% of Utahns go to a Church weekly. The next closest is Mississippi with 47%. Bottom of the list is Vermont with 17% (Sorry Stoneholm, your valiant missionary efforts apparently weren't enough). Seriously though, is this a trend that we see continuing. And how does 51% compare to Utah's history?
Popular Post Buckeye Posted February 20, 2015 Popular Post Posted February 20, 2015 ... Seriously though, is this a trend that we see continuing. And how does 51% compare to Utah's history? 20,000 years ago most of the state was covered by Lake Bonneville. 0% of the population attended church. 5
JLHPROF Posted February 20, 2015 Author Posted February 20, 2015 20,000 years ago most of the state was covered by Lake Bonneville. 0% of the population attended church. 20,000 years ago there was no earth. At least according to the average church goer. And I am sure 100% of Utah's current population were busy attending Church in the premortal world. 2
Popular Post Buckeye Posted February 20, 2015 Popular Post Posted February 20, 2015 20,000 years ago there was no earth. At least according to the average church goer. And I am sure 100% of Utah's current population were busy attending Church in the premortal world. Actually, I have a half-brother (same dad; different mom) who went inactive for 75,000 years in the premortal life. We got him back on track just before the council. Good thing. 6
stemelbow Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 This would mean something if it were true that people become better when they go to Church. As of now, it doesn't seem to mean a lot. People in Vermont are just as sweet and stuff as people in Utah.
Buzzard Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 The ward I grew up in, in SE Salt Lake County, struggled to get attendance up to 50%. I know this because the SP was a numbers guy and always recapped the results both in Stake and Ward conference. After a couple of decades in SoCal, we moved to a ward in north Utah County. Only because of a calling I held for a couple of years do I know that attendance at Sacrament Meeting is 55-60%, which is around the average for the stake. So IMHO, it seems that attendance is up slightly over the past several years. I read somewhere that during the pioneer era, attendance was often 25-30%, both because rural wards were so spread out that some members faced a several hour carriage ride to church and also that the church was so woven into the fabric of everyday lives of the members that Sunday attendance, while admirable, was simply one more thing that the members did. It was just as important to drop off offerings at the bishops storehouse as it was to go to church. 1
Sevenbak Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 This would mean something if it were true that people become better when they go to Church. As of now, it doesn't seem to mean a lot.People in Vermont are just as sweet and stuff as people in Utah.That's what real maple syrup does to folks.
ERayR Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2193955-155/mormons-put-utah-on-top-among Thanks to its 59% LDS membership, Utah is the number 1 state in the country for residents who attend a Church regularly. 51% of Utahns go to a Church weekly. The next closest is Mississippi with 47%. Bottom of the list is Vermont with 17% (Sorry Stoneholm, your valiant missionary efforts apparently weren't enough). Seriously though, is this a trend that we see continuing. And how does 51% compare to Utah's history? I don't see how that is possible with a 50% + inactivity rate
JLHPROF Posted February 20, 2015 Author Posted February 20, 2015 I don't see how that is possible with a 50% + inactivity rate Well not all Utah churchgoers are Mormon, but the LDS population boosts our numbers.
ERayR Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 Well not all Utah churchgoers are Mormon, but the LDS population boosts our numbers. Understood but I do not see that the Mormons receive extra credit. At a 50% activity rate with roughly 60% Mormon that means 30% Mormon attendance. That means we need 21% more to reach our 51%. That means that we need 50% of the remaining 40% of the population. It works out to about the same. + or - for margin of error. 2
strappinglad Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 I think I know where the error lies. In our ward 2 teachers are assigned to count the congregation. Instead of averaging the results, they total them ! 1
Calm Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 From a friend with the most awesome database of information: I have some bound volumes of the Church News for mid 1952-mid 1954.On the date of January 23, 1954, page 11 is an article indicating that the Church attendance for the month of November 1953 averaged 23%. And that was a record high.Frequently the Church Section carried a list of those Wards and Branches of the church which reached 50% or higher for the previous month. On that same page was a list of 108 such Wards in which attendance was over 50%. Two Wards (both Campus Wards in Provo) achieved 100%.The church appeared to be encouraging attendance as never before. Here is a second item, from 1978: In April 1978 General Conference Elder Ezra Taft Benson indicated that the attendance was rising.https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1978/04/may-the-kingdom-of-god-go-forth?lang=eng “May the Kingdom of God Go Forth”Ezra Taft BensonPresident Of The Quorum Of The Twelve ApostlesGeneral Conference April 1978While on a recent visit to continental Europe and Scandinavia, I had occasion to hold several press conferences with foreign news reporters. These reporters were somewhat informed and appeared amazed about the Church’s growth and progress as measured by the increase of converts. I said to them, “We’re grateful for this rapid growth in numbers. But we are even more grateful for the growth in faith and spirituality.” I then quoted some statistics in support of that statement. When I first came into the Council of the Twelve in 1943, I said, the average attendance at sacrament meeting—ourSunday preaching service—was about 20 percent. Today worldwide attendance is about 41 percent. Youth attendance is 46 percent, and attendance in the Primary—our young children—is 67 percent. The growth, progress, and increased spirituality of the members of the Church is not just accidental, I said to them. It is the result of a rich program based on eternal truth.
Calm Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 Another one: Here is another statement from 1895 if you want it. The speaker was a member of the Twelve (son of Amasa Lyman; father of Richard R. Lyman, also a member of the Twelve. 1895 Francis M. Lyman sermon, Oneida Stake Conference, Franklin, Idaho January 20, 1895 Millennial Star 57 (1895): 225-8, 241-44“If we would read occasionally from the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants, it would be a good thing. But the family do not hear these things, and they do not go to meeting. The majority of the people do not go to meeting. Do you know that? The Bishop, when he thinks of it, will find that the majority of the fathers and mothers and children do not go to meeting to partake of the sacrament on the Sabbath day. So far as my observation has gone, I have found this to be a fact” (242).
Danzo Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 The ward I grew up in, in SE Salt Lake County, struggled to get attendance up to 50%. I know this because the SP was a numbers guy and always recapped the results both in Stake and Ward conference. After a couple of decades in SoCal, we moved to a ward in north Utah County. Only because of a calling I held for a couple of years do I know that attendance at Sacrament Meeting is 55-60%, which is around the average for the stake. So IMHO, it seems that attendance is up slightly over the past several years. I read somewhere that during the pioneer era, attendance was often 25-30%, both because rural wards were so spread out that some members faced a several hour carriage ride to church and also that the church was so woven into the fabric of everyday lives of the members that Sunday attendance, while admirable, was simply one more thing that the members did. It was just as important to drop off offerings at the bishops storehouse as it was to go to church. One thing that I don't think many consider is that a 55-60% sacrament meeting attendance is really a 65-75% activity rate. Usually at any given sunday about 10% of active people are not there (Sickness, jobs, travel, vacation, etc) 2
MormonFreeThinker Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2193955-155/mormons-put-utah-on-top-among Thanks to its 59% LDS membership, Utah is the number 1 state in the country for residents who attend a Church regularly. 51% of Utahns go to a Church weekly. The next closest is Mississippi with 47%. Bottom of the list is Vermont with 17% (Sorry Stoneholm, your valiant missionary efforts apparently weren't enough). Seriously though, is this a trend that we see continuing. And how does 51% compare to Utah's history? That is good, now we have to get our Evolution and Climate Change numbers up. This is off topic. Stop.
JLHPROF Posted February 21, 2015 Author Posted February 21, 2015 That is good, now we have to get our Evolution and Climate Change numbers up. HIstorically speaking I think that our Church attendance numbers would have to drop for that to happen. 2
pogi Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 That is good, now we have to get our Evolution and Climate Change numbers up. You want to increase the rate of climate change? Why not, it is all going to burn anyway! Maybe this will help speed up the second coming for those anxiously awaiting. I'll be idling my care tonight in the drive through to kick things off right. 1
Hamba Tuhan Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 One thing that I don't think many consider is that a 55-60% sacrament meeting attendance is really a 65-75% activity rate. Usually at any given sunday about 10% of active people are not there (Sickness, jobs, travel, vacation, etc) Or more. Our ward may be exceptional, but one recent quarter when I was serving in the bishopric, I kept an accurate list of all ward members who attended sacrament meeting. Our average sacrament meeting attendance that quarter was, if I remember correctly, about 37%, but fully 59% of ward members had been in attendance. 1
Tacenda Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 I attribute the high attendance record to the TR interview questions, the one that asks about our church attendance. I think it has a lot to do with it, it's a smart or heaven guided move. I wonder how many other religions have that over their heads, no church attendance...no TR, in people's minds, not saying it would happen. But there is that nudge to people's minds
Avatar4321 Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 That's number 1? 51%If we got our act together we could do much more good in the world.
ERayR Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 One thing that I don't think many consider is that a 55-60% sacrament meeting attendance is really a 65-75% activity rate. Usually at any given sunday about 10% of active people are not there (Sickness, jobs, travel, vacation, etc) I did consider it and gave it generous weight as I think average sacrament meeting attendance is about 35% to 40%
ERayR Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 You want to increase the rate of climate change? Why not, it is all going to burn anyway! Maybe this will help speed up the second coming for those anxiously awaiting. I'll be idling my care tonight in the drive through to kick things off right. And if I still had one I would take a road trip in my SUV with a Chevy 350 engine.
ERayR Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 I attribute the high attendance record to the TR interview questions, the one that asks about our church attendance. I think it has a lot to do with it, it's a smart or heaven guided move. I wonder how many other religions have that over their heads, no church attendance...no TR, in people's minds, not saying it would happen. But there is that nudge to people's minds Sorry Tacenda but that is not a factor in figuring attendance percentages. It is another one of those bits of information where the answers remain confidential.
Tacenda Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 Sorry Tacenda but that is not a factor in figuring attendance percentages. It is another one of those bits of information where the answers remain confidential.You didn't get what I said. It is a mind nudge, that we're suppose to attend our weekly meetings, or it's my dumb analogy.
ERayR Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 You didn't get what I said. It is a mind nudge, that we're suppose to attend our weekly meetings, or it's my dumb analogy. Sorry Either I am dense or you did not make yourself clear. Maybe some of both.
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