Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is expected to reach a historic milestone of 10 million sometime during 1997.
By the end of 1996, almost 9.7 million people were on church rosters in more than 160 nations, territories and possessions.
"We have become a great concourse of people," said President Gordon B. Hinckley in his Saturday morning address. "We should reach the 10 million mark by the end of the year."
Growth has been monumental over the past decade. In 1986, membership was listed at 6.17 million in 122 countries. There were 1,622 stakes in 1986, compared with 2,296 in 1996.
As of Dec. 31, 1996, there were 23,528 wards and branches in 140 nations and 21 territories and possessions.
Another demographic milestone was celebrated last year when Latter-day Saints living outside the United States became the majority of the church's worldwide population.
Non-English speaking members will likely outnumber English-speaking members before the turn of the century.
A statistical report presented to church members during the Saturday afternoon session shows a total of 309 missions and 52,938 full-time missionaries serving.