1.
Expectations about Growth; Growth for Growth’s
Sake
What are the expectations of the members about the growth of
the Church over the next several generations?
Occasionally, one sees projections of worldwide Church growth, taking
into account historical rates of convert baptisms and child baptisms (i.e., the
baptisms of the young children of existing members). Extrapolating from current numbers points to exponential
growth, not only in the United States but throughout most of the world,
especially in third world countries, including those in Africa. Of course, the projections may not play out,
because one or more of the underlying assumptions behind the modelling are not
met. The Church may meet greater
opposition than anticipated, retarding growth; historical conversion rates may
taper off; birth rates among members may decrease; the number of full-time
missionaries may fall below projected levels.
Membership turnover may also be higher than expected.
While members generally expect to see the Church’s
continuing growth, together with the opening up of new missionary fields
currently closed to missionary activity,[1]
they do not necessarily subscribe to the argument that the Church itself will
become, with time, one of the largest Christian denominations. Members’ attitudes toward growth are
primarily shaped by a number of well-known scriptures and themes. Even in the earliest days of Mormonism,
before the Church had started to expand beyond the borders of the United
States, statements taken from the Book of Mormon or revelations given to the
Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of the Church’s spreading throughout the world. “And now I say unto you that the time shall
come that the salvation of the Lord shall be “declared to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people. Yea, Lord,
thy watchmen shall lift upon their voice; with the voice together shall they
sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again
Zion.” Mosiah 15: 28-29. “And I give unto you a commandment that then
ye shall teach them unto all men; for they shall be taught unto all nations,
kindreds, tongues and people.” D&C
42: 58. “And this gospel shall be
preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. And the servants of God shall go forth,
saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his
judgment is come.” D&C 133:
37-38. Mormons see the Church’s
establishment as being the “ensign of the people” to which the Gentiles will
see,[2]
the second gathering of the House of Israel,[3]
the raising of the mountain of the Lord’s house, to be established in the top
of the mountains, exalted above hills, to which all nations shall flow.[4] Likewise, the Church’s growth is seen as the
literal fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic vision, where God will “set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed” and which “shall break in pieces and
consume all” other kingdom, just as the stone cut out of the mountain without
hands rolled forth to fill the whole earth.[5]
In addition, the Church’s growth is viewed as a sign of the
times, a harbinger of the ushering in of the last days. While
this is the case, Mormons do not believe that the gospel will be widely
embraced before the great and dreadful day of the Lord’s coming. “And it came to pass that I beheld the church
of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and
abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that
the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face
of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small,
because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw. And it came to pass that I beheld that the
great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of
the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of
God. And it came to pass that I, Nephi,
beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the
church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were
scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with
righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” 1 Nephi 14: 12-14. The Church’s strength is evidenced by the
righteousness of its members—however few there may be—and the purpose of
missionary work is to find those, wherever they may be found, willing to make
sacrifices to be numbered among the saints.
Spiritual power is not found in numbers, but in the lives of the
righteous. This brings to mind the Old
Testament story of the winnowing of Gideon’s warriors called upon to fight the
Midianities, reducing the force from over 30,000 down to 300.[6]
Consequently, the Church is not about growth for “growth’s
sake.” Growth is positive, but only if
it is the right kind of growth—adding new members committed to gospel principles
and willing and able to be a light unto the world.[7] Church members are expected to be an influence
for good. Were the Church’s primary aim
to attract as many members as possible, Church leaders might consider undertaking
a number of steps to make the Church more attractive to mainstream
populations--thought might be given to softening doctrinal positions, especially
on high profile social issues, harmful to the Church’s public profile and potentially
limiting Church growth; approving policy changes designed to make the Church
more appealing to conservative, but mainstream, populations; making it easier
for nonmembers to become members—such relaxing the moral standards expected of
new converts. In addition, the Mormon
message might be customized to make it more palatable to local populations—for
example, allowing Africans to bring local customs into the Church, rather than
expecting them to shed traditional customs considered inconsistent with gospel
principles, would likely enhance growth. President Erickson, at the senior conference
held in March 2015 in Lilongwe, reported briefly on a results of a report done
on the Church’s growth in Africa, shared with the mission presidents during one
of their training sessions with the Area Presidency of the African Southeast
Area. The report noted that the Church
has experienced solid growth in Africa in the recent past, but at the same
time, reported that a number of evangelical churches had even enjoyed better
results over the same period. He then
noted that the Church, if its sole concern were growth, could consider “franchising”
its model, using local paid clergy, and adopting some of the member recruitment
tools used by other churches, to achieve faster membership growth. But, of course, Church growth is not to be
achieved at the expense of its basic principles.
Convert baptisms, defined as the baptism of individuals who
are not the children of record of existing members, has the potential for
invigorating local congregations. The
new members often bring great enthusiasm, energy and zeal, which in turn
uplifts and strengthens existing members.
Shortly after joining the Church, new converts are frequently asked to
accept callings, allowing them to grow in their understanding while at the same
time helping and supporting others. They
serve as primary teachers, work in the Relief Society, help with training young
men and young women. Their talents are
quickly put to work. And, especially in
the missionary field, where the Church is new, these new members may within
just a few years, or in some cases just a few months, be enlisted to hold
important leadership positions—serving as counselors or heads of elders quorums
or relief society presidencies, or as branch presidents or new bishops. There
are no arbitrary restrictions on how fast they move through the ranks of Church
leadership, though it is likely they will wait longer for such callings where
the Church is well established and move more quickly where the Church is new
and growing fast. New member
conversions usually elevates the spirituality of congregations. It reminds longer-tenure members of the
enthusiasm they enjoyed when first exposed to the restored gospel.
[1]
The Church does not currently have missionaries in China and most of the Muslim
countries of the world.
[2]
Isa. 11: 10.
[3] Isa.
11: 11. “And it shall come to pass in
that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the
remnant of his people….”
[4]
See Isa. 2: 2-3.
[5]
See Daniel 2: 44-45.
[6]
See Judges 7: 1-7.
[7] “Ye
are the light of the world. A city that
is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither
do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it
giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matt. 5: 14-16.
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