Deseret News | 1 million missionaries for LDS Church

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1 million missionaries for LDS Church — so far

Bellamia | 1:01 a.m. Aug. 11, 2007

I am a convert to the church of 31 years due to the efforts of some really wonderful missionaries. Then I was able to "pay it forward" on my own mission to Guatemala.

We taught wholesome, healthy principles to struggling dysfunctional families and individuals, and set them on a path for perpetual improvement.

It is an honor to be one of a million.

mike c. | 1:14 p.m. Oct. 16, 2007

the LDS church isn't doing that well really. Only about a third of the membership pays tithing. Half never to to the temple and of those who do, half of them only go the one time. That leaves about 18% of members actively support the temples. Census figures from Brazil and Mexico indicate that only 200,000 people in either country claim to be LDS members. The City Univ of NY's Religious Identification Survey found that as many people leave the LDS church as join it each year.

But go ahead. Keep listening to the propoganda.

kylev | 12:04 p.m. June 4, 2009

mike c. You're missing the point. The one constant here is growth. Lack of commitment has always been a struggle, but that doesn't diminish the fact that growth is always there. Social trends affect the church like all others, general disinterest in religion, growing societal wickedness, the list goes on. You're 1/3 figure has always been there, I recall that when I was kid back in the 70's, but hey, all 10 virgins didn't make it either ;)

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3 photos

Stuart Johnson, Deseret News

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve announces that the LDS Church has reached its millionth missionary since its organization in 1830. He stands in front of a statue of the church's first missionary, Samuel Smith, who was sent out in 1830.

Gallery (3 photos)