Experts once predicted the LDS Church would be a major world religion with 36 million to 121 million members by 2020. It didn’t happen. Researchers and members have some clues about why growth has slowed and some ideas for turning things around.
Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints cheer for entries in the Days of '47 Parade in Salt Lake City in 2021.
Martinich underscored this point, noting that “a lot of times foreign missionaries aren’t concerned about the quality [of] converts in terms of retaining for the long term.” “Stewart has a lot of interesting ideas in terms of increasing the growth rate,” he said. “Are they valid? Maybe, but you have to show me the numbers.”
Reflecting on her own conversion, she said she appreciated the space and time the missionaries who taught her gave her to build ties with the area’s members. Since then, the doctoral student at Canada’s Concordia University has served in positions of local lay leadership and worked hard as a member to bring new people, including friends and other acquaintances, into the fold — only to see them fade away.