Peppermint Patty Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 The Trib is reporting that 2019 recorded the slowest growth rate for membership in Utah ever recorded at 0.25%. Utah’s population increased by over 53,000 in 2019 but only 4,409 in Utah joined the Church in 2019. Does anyone have additional information beyond what the Trib is reporting? https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/01/05/utah-sees-latter-day/ 1
Duncan Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) There's this https://cumorah.com/index.php?target=view_other_articles&story_id=687&cat_id=30 doesn't mention Utah specifically though Edited January 5, 2020 by Duncan 2
Metis_LDS Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 56 minutes ago, Duncan said: There's this https://cumorah.com/index.php?target=view_other_articles&story_id=687&cat_id=30 doesn't mention Utah specifically though Thanks for that Duncan. The children of record number is tough, in western nations more than so many kids and you need 2 cars because of seat belts. A seven passenger van only gets you to five children. If both husband and wife do not drive then you need a huge van maybe 12 people??? 1
Bernard Gui Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Metis_LDS said: Thanks for that Duncan. The children of record number is tough, in western nations more than so many kids and you need 2 cars because of seat belts. A seven passenger van only gets you to five children. If both husband and wife do not drive then you need a huge van maybe 12 people??? When our family was younger we went through two VW hippy vans and then a BMW (Big Mormon Wagon...Chevy Beauville V8 diesel van with extended cargo space....it was awesome!). We’re down to a VW Gti now. Edited January 5, 2020 by Bernard Gui 2
Robert F. Smith Posted January 5, 2020 Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) I dealt with the overall stats on fast Utah State growth last week at http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/72521-utah-growing-fast-and-more-diverse/?tab=comments#comment-1209949756 . However, that growth is being fed more by migration into Utah than by the birth rate -- which is falling.. Utah still has a much higher birth rate than other states, but it has been falling steadily in Utah and in all other parts of the world. That translates into slower growth in baptisms of children of record. The LDS Church is still growing, but more slowly. That is a result of the numbers, as we can see if we are willing to do the math. Past projections on world population growth have had to be cut considerably by the new reality that people are just not having babies as much as they used to -- worldwide. https://www.retroreport.org/video/the-population-bomb/ . The fears and projections turned out to be completely wrong. Forcible sterilizations were employed in many countries, including the USA. Thus, the real fear in some countries (China and Japan are prime examples) is that they will lack population -- and neither country is interested in bringing in people from elsewhere. We have traditionally taken the opposite approach in the USA and Canada. The result is that we will likely be almost at parity with the Chinese population around 2100. Edited January 5, 2020 by Robert F. Smith 4
rockpond Posted January 6, 2020 Posted January 6, 2020 On 1/5/2020 at 10:33 AM, Peppermint Patty said: The Trib is reporting that 2019 recorded the slowest growth rate for membership in Utah ever recorded at 0.25%. Utah’s population increased by over 53,000 in 2019 but only 4,409 in Utah joined the Church in 2019. Does anyone have additional information beyond what the Trib is reporting? https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/01/05/utah-sees-latter-day/ Everything in the article seems consistent with the annual statistical report from the Church: still growing in total membership but growth rate is declining (and has been for decades). Membership number declines/increases in specific counties isn't very meaningful unless you look at data for those counties over a number of years (which isn't presented in the article). The Brethren have access to all the data and, in my estimation, are likely reviewing the trends and responding where appropriate. For example, I think we've seen an uptick in talks addressing doubts and questions. The lowering of mission age could be seen as a response to young adults waiting to get married (i.e. get them home from their missions earlier, married earlier, and starting families earlier). And there has been some softening of the rhetoric surrounding LGBT issues. 3
Robert F. Smith Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 22 hours ago, rockpond said: Everything in the article seems consistent with the annual statistical report from the Church: still growing in total membership but growth rate is declining (and has been for decades). Membership number declines/increases in specific counties isn't very meaningful unless you look at data for those counties over a number of years (which isn't presented in the article). The Brethren have access to all the data and, in my estimation, are likely reviewing the trends and responding where appropriate. For example, I think we've seen an uptick in talks addressing doubts and questions. The lowering of mission age could be seen as a response to young adults waiting to get married (i.e. get them home from their missions earlier, married earlier, and starting families earlier). ............... Ultra-Orthodox Jews (in North America and Israel) try to get their young men married at age 18. They are able to prevent them from being drafted into the Israeli Army. They have a very high birthrate. 1
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted January 8, 2020 Posted January 8, 2020 On 1/5/2020 at 12:33 PM, Peppermint Patty said: The Trib is reporting that 2019 recorded the slowest growth rate for membership in Utah ever recorded at 0.25%. Utah’s population increased by over 53,000 in 2019 but only 4,409 in Utah joined the Church in 2019. Does anyone have additional information beyond what the Trib is reporting? https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/01/05/utah-sees-latter-day/ Utah is changing a lot, much more diversity due to a booming economy, which both Utah and many other Western States are benefiting from as well. As many Western States, have a large LDS presence, and have for a very long time, job numbers are making a change, as non-LDS, are seeking out places with both strong economies, and also affluent safe neighborhoods, which are a hallmark of many of the largely LDS populations. In addition, many who are LDS, are finding very high paying promotions, or careers all over the United States, and are now able to travel out of their home States to find these jobs. For instance, many in my own Wad, are from all over the U.S., and are finding their place here in the Sunny South. Many who are changing our demographics as well, and increasing membership here in the Atlanta area, and many find they like being unique, where they are not like most, where there are a lot more Faiths here. Also, many enjoy the increased opportunities to serve within the Church, as some areas have more callings. I was speaking with a ole friend some time back, who loved being a Bishop for 6 years, then Stake President for 10 more. He loves to serve, and often spoke that had he remained in, Brigham City, he wonders if this world have happened as it did here. He has also had many more callings, as has his wife and children, living in an area that does not have an LDS Chapel every three or four blocks, if not more. When they first came, it was a culture shock, but they have all come to love it, so very much. About 14 years ago, he told his wife Heidi he felt like he wanted to go back home to Utah, his wife said, “well make sure you write”, she went on to say, “Tom, I love it here, after 24 years in the Air-force, this is where we we stayed the longest, and truly became a family”. “Think about it”, she said, “but your three youngest children, and most of your grandchildren, like it or not, are Southerners”. She then says, “they love it here too”. In short, there is much to note, a part of this trend, also the picture with the original article, was a bid aggravating, as it used a picture of many rows of seating in the Conference Center empty, along with a lot in the building looking the same. The truth is, is that it was a, or more than, as one quite a while before any meeting began. As the Conference Center is usually always filled, while others are seating in overflow areas. 1
Scott Lloyd Posted January 8, 2020 Posted January 8, 2020 On 1/5/2020 at 10:33 AM, Peppermint Patty said: The Trib is reporting that 2019 recorded the slowest growth rate for membership in Utah ever recorded at 0.25%. Utah’s population increased by over 53,000 in 2019 but only 4,409 in Utah joined the Church in 2019. Does anyone have additional information beyond what the Trib is reporting? https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/01/05/utah-sees-latter-day/ Next year, when the rate ticks back up again, will that make news as well?
Peppermint Patty Posted January 10, 2020 Author Posted January 10, 2020 Scott, I'm sure if the rate ticks back up, it will be reported somewhere? Church News? Deseret News? Trib?
Meadowchik Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 On 1/5/2020 at 8:16 PM, Metis_LDS said: Thanks for that Duncan. The children of record number is tough, in western nations more than so many kids and you need 2 cars because of seat belts. A seven passenger van only gets you to five children. If both husband and wife do not drive then you need a huge van maybe 12 people??? Lol. This reminds me,...when I was pregnant with twins, we felt lucky because that only made nine. Had they been triplets, a a ten-seater van would have required a commercial license!! 2
Ragerunner Posted January 12, 2020 Posted January 12, 2020 There are a lot of reasons why we are seeing a slow down in membership growth in Utah and most of the 1st world nations. But I think one of the biggest is cost of living. It takes a lot of money to raise a family. Utah’s cost of living continues to rise while incomes lag and housing prices are soaring, etc. To adjust to this families are having few children to reduce overall housing, transportation, educational and healthcare costs. We also have a large portion of women now in the workforce or working from home. So the ability to increase a household budget by having the wife enter the workforce has been diminished. ‘Middle income and even upper middle income’ is being squeeze on all sides in the modern world.
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