JulieM Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 (edited) In this Deseret News article, it states that now there are "currently, more than 71,000 missionaries" serving. I guess technically that could mean there are still over 74,000 serving as reported at the end of 2015 and at the April 2016 General Conference, but it does appear that numbers are lower now (or they would most likely have stated over 74,000 rather than over 71,000). Here's the link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865671866/Changes-in-LDS-missionaries-daily-schedules-preparation-day.html Edited January 26, 2017 by JulieM 1
Jeanne Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 18 minutes ago, JulieM said: In this Deseret News article, it states that now there are "currently, more than 71,000 missionaries" serving. I guess technically that could mean there are still over 74,000 serving as reported at the end of 2015 and at the April 2016 General Conference, but it does appear that numbers are lower now (or they would most likely have stated over 74,000 rather than over 71,000). Here's the link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865671866/Changes-in-LDS-missionaries-daily-schedules-preparation-day.html Thank you...this is very interesting.
bluebell Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 We probably won't know for sure until April's conference and they report the numbers again.
Peppermint Patty Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 It does seem to indicate the number of missionaries has declined to around 71,000 from over 74,000. If this is true I wonder when and what the number will finally bottom out at? Scott Lloyd, any information?
Popular Post Gray Posted January 26, 2017 Popular Post Posted January 26, 2017 I prophesy that the number will decrease by at least 1% sometime in the next 10 years. Gentlemen, start your countdown clocks. 7
hope_for_things Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 3 minutes ago, Gray said: I prophesy that the number will decrease by at least 1% sometime in the next 10 years. Gentlemen, start your countdown clocks. Will you file this prediction into your calendar and then give us an update 10 years from now please.
bluebell Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 4 minutes ago, hope_for_things said: Will you file this prediction into your calendar and then give us an update 10 years from now please. I hope so. Predictions are kind of worthless if no one follows up on them. 3
hope_for_things Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 3 minutes ago, bluebell said: I hope so. Predictions are kind of worthless if no one follows up on them. I guess my sarcasm didn't translate very well. Anyway, in general I would agree with you. I was listening to one of Lindsey Hansen's polygamy podcasts just the other day and there was as quote from Brigham Young right before the Utah war about him predicting that he would become President of the USA in 12 years, or something else would happen(can't remember exactly what, but it didn't happen either). Crazy stuff. I love to read about the early Mormon predictions that were fairly frequent by early church leaders. Seems like they all had a habit of this kind of behavior, too bad people rarely follow up on these predictions. 2
Gray Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 37 minutes ago, hope_for_things said: Will you file this prediction into your calendar and then give us an update 10 years from now please. The clock is ticking! 3
JulieM Posted January 26, 2017 Author Posted January 26, 2017 (edited) 59 minutes ago, hope_for_things said: I guess my sarcasm didn't translate very well. Oh, I think we all (or at least most here) got it. Now if we only knew someone who has started a countdown clock on this topic before.... Edited January 26, 2017 by JulieM 3
bluebell Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 55 minutes ago, hope_for_things said: I guess my sarcasm didn't translate very well. Anyway, in general I would agree with you. I was listening to one of Lindsey Hansen's polygamy podcasts just the other day and there was as quote from Brigham Young right before the Utah war about him predicting that he would become President of the USA in 12 years, or something else would happen(can't remember exactly what, but it didn't happen either). Crazy stuff. I love to read about the early Mormon predictions that were fairly frequent by early church leaders. Seems like they all had a habit of this kind of behavior, too bad people rarely follow up on these predictions. No, it did. I just chose not to respond to it, and instead chose to respond to your actual words. Returning and reporting is a major part of our religion. I think it serves a good purpose. 4
hope_for_things Posted January 26, 2017 Posted January 26, 2017 2 hours ago, bluebell said: No, it did. I just chose not to respond to it, and instead chose to respond to your actual words. Returning and reporting is a major part of our religion. I think it serves a good purpose. Ahh... You're trying to stay on the high road. I can appreciate that, and its a good example for me! :-) 1
Popular Post Johnnie Cake Posted January 26, 2017 Popular Post Posted January 26, 2017 (edited) Time to update the Churches website http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/facts-and-statistics BTW, as a % of missionaries to members...the number of full time missionaries is dropping dramatically. In 1980 there were 150 members for ever missionary serving...today there are 220 members for every missionary...so that's a substantial reduction in missionaries numbers. If the ratio had held the same today as 1980 there would be well over 104,000 missionaries out today instead of only 71,000...so clearly fewer are serving. Even with the surge the church is producing a fewer percentage of full time missionaries to members than in past years. I expect this trend to continue well into the future...as more and more millennials reject full time missionary work. Some other years for comparison" 1990 178 members to 1 missionary 1995 195 to 1 2000 182 to 1 2005 241 to 1 2010 271 to 1 2013 181 to 1 top of surge years so even with the surge the church is far behind the number of missionaries per member it use to produce even a few decades ago Edited January 27, 2017 by Johnnie Cake 5
Calm Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) One needs to factor in the change of demographics. Even LDS are having less kids and thus there will be a shift in percentages upwards in age. Not saying this will account for it all, but it will have some effect. I wonder if there is a significantly lower likelihood of going on a mission if outside of the US and Canada. If so, this may have a significantly greater effect of percentages as the shift to more members outside these areas grows. Edited January 27, 2017 by Calm 4
Popular Post readstoomuch Posted January 27, 2017 Popular Post Posted January 27, 2017 Yes, overseas less people go on a mission. My son is one of those 71,000 on a mission. He is in Europe and having a very good experience. The ups and downs of missionary number is almost as exciting as the Mormon Wikileaks. Our church isn't perfect, but does a pretty darn well. Maybe we should concentrate on the good things. 8
rockpond Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 That's a 16.5% drop since the peak year, just two years ago. Very unfortunate. But the rate of decrease is slowing. So maybe it will level out in another year.
Johnnie Cake Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) Didn't Elder Holland predict that there would be over 100,000 full time missionaries by 2019 just recently? Maybe the church is just keeping their power dry and in reserve to send them all out in a wave or surge 2.0 in 2019. Yes he did http://www.sltrib.com/home/2249417-155/lds-apostle-jeffrey-r-holland-predicts I'm going to go on record and predict that the current downward trend rather than Elder Hollands prediction will in fact take place...now we'll just have to wait and see whether his or my prediction come to pass... btw...I'll gladly eat crow if it turns out I'm wrong Edited January 27, 2017 by Johnnie Cake 1
The Nehor Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 26 minutes ago, Johnnie Cake said: Didn't Elder Holland prophecy that there would be over 100,000 full time missionaries by 2019 just recently? Maybe the church is just keeping their power dry and in reserve to send them all out in a wave or surge 2.0 in 2019. Yes he did http://www.sltrib.com/home/2249417-155/lds-apostle-jeffrey-r-holland-predicts I'm going to go on record and predict that the current downward trend rather than Elder Hollands prediction will in fact take place...now we'll just have to wait and see whether his or my pridiction come to pass... More then a little dishonest to say this is prophecy: "We're projecting out probably within four years," apostle Jeffrey R. Holland told a radio interviewer, "the base-line number for the missionary force will be something around 100,000."
Johnnie Cake Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) 8 minutes ago, The Nehor said: More then a little dishonest to say this is prophecy: "We're projecting out probably within four years," apostle Jeffrey R. Holland told a radio interviewer, "the base-line number for the missionary force will be something around 100,000." I agree...Ive corrected my word to predict instead of prophecy. Other appropriate words would be projected or forecast... Edited January 27, 2017 by Johnnie Cake 2
The Nehor Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 51 minutes ago, readstoomuch said: Yes, overseas less people go on a mission. My son is one of those 71,000 on a mission. He is in Europe and having a very good experience. The ups and downs of missionary number is almost as exciting as the Mormon Wikileaks. Our church isn't perfect, but does a pretty darn well. Maybe we should concentrate on the good things. If the naysayers do not have some demographic they can point at as proof of our impending doom they would probably get into mischief. Really, these variances just give them something to do and keep them out of trouble. 2
Johnnie Cake Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 15 minutes ago, The Nehor said: If the naysayers do not have some demographic they can point at as proof of our impending doom they would probably get into mischief. Really, these variances just give them something to do and keep them out of trouble. Or it could be an actual downward trend...guess we'll know better in 10 years or so 2
The Nehor Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 1 minute ago, Johnnie Cake said: Or it could be an actual downward trend...guess we'll know better in 10 years or so It might. Doubt it though.
readstoomuch Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 Maybe so, but whatever the number, is he amount f service and good seems to be quite astounding. Some things are slowing down. I find myself strengthened in my faith of what I am experiencing.
rockpond Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 1 hour ago, The Nehor said: It might. Doubt it though. It's the post-surge drop that many of us expected based on a simple analysis of what had happened beginning in 2012.
The Nehor Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 34 minutes ago, rockpond said: It's the post-surge drop that many of us expected based on a simple analysis of what had happened beginning in 2012. What I expect it is too. Again, not 100%. Numbers could drop. We are not going to convert the whole world no matter how hard we try.
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