Mormon church membership on the rise

Before closing in 2005, the Tabernacle was one of the busiest facilities on the church's three-block downtown campus, with more than 500 events, including the choirs weekly television and radio broadcasts and daily organ concerts. World-renowned performers and dignitaries have also graced its rostrum, including 12 U.S. presidents, from James Garfield to John F. Kennedy.

Except for church founder Joseph Smith, every church president has sermonized from the pulpit here.

"One could only imagine what these old walls could recall about the many sermons they carefully listened to over the years," said, Burton who joined Hinckley in waxing nostalgic over their own memories of baptisms, conference and other events here.

Hinckley called the Tabernacle a unique and wonderful place that has nurtured the community's artistic and cultural life alongside the state's predominant religion.

"This is peculiar building, the only one of it's kind in all the world," Hinckley said. "It was built in the days of the poverty of our people. It was literally a Tabernacle built in the wilderness."

Saturday's conference service will likely be the last held here, church public affairs director Bruce Olsen said. Since 1999, the church has held the proceedings in the nearby 21,000 seat conference center.

An annual church statistical report issued Saturday shows the faith continues to grow.

Membership in the international church grew to 12,868,606, according to statistics as of Dec. 31, 2006, provided by the church. Included in the more than 300,000 new members are 272,845 church converts, nearly 30,000 more than reported in 2005.

Mormons believe they are called to share the world of God around the world. Mormon missionaries, in their dark suits, name tags, often on bicycles with scriptures in hand are among the most recognized among faiths that proselytize.

In 2006, membership increased by 1.74 percent, No. 2 among the 25 largest churches in the United States, according to an annual survey by the National Council of Churches.