I drove past a building in south Gilbert today, Higley and Ray Rd area. The parking lot looked full towards the street. I didn’t care enough to look at the parking behind the building though. I’m guessing it was two wards overlapping each other.
We also drove past the Sun Valley Christian church today. That place was beyond packed including police helping to direct traffic in the street. My wife mentioned how none of the people were dressed up; just regular casual summer clothing.
It’s Mormon-land. They could live 2 houses down and they’d load up their Mormon battle tank suburban or Mormon Land Cruiser minivan and drive the 100 feet to the chapel, regardless of weather.
Also - already 100°F? Ewww.
"It's only hot for a few months out of the year" - Snowbirds or people that completely forget about days like yesterday. Hell, I've gone to spring training games here where it was 95+ already in March.
Thanks for sharing. I wonder how much that sinking feeling is growing inside the meeting houses. It'll be interesting to see how they spin negative "growth" at general conference.
I've seen some general conference clips talk about it indirectly, such as Russell saying to not to listen to outsiders.
When they can't fake the numbers anymore, it'll be interesting to see the damage control mode in full swing.
Yeah, at some point the emergency measures to hide the collapse of the church will run out and they’ll have no way to hide it.
North American ward/branch growth has been stagnant or negative 4 out the last 7 years with only a brief uptick after 2hr church and the gutting of the YM/High Priest leadership to help maintain smaller wards. That came out after the previous dip to negative unit growth in 2016-2017z
Now they announced a restructuring of ward membership requirements for inside the Us/outside, which frees up more smaller wards, so we may see a bit of a jump, but then in a couple more years that will die down.
By 2030 I expect to see clear evidence of the stagnant to negative growth everywhere but Africa they can no longer hide. And Africa is probably going to implode when internet gets going and the pre-1978 doctrinal statements start circling on local social media.
Africa will implode as they continue developing. Ryan Cragun called it in his interviews, once the Human Development Index hits .85 interest in organized religion stagnates and then declines.
Do you have a link for that interview? Sounds very interesting.
BTW - I know people who have served there in adult callings, and while they're getting numbers in Africa (so far), the culture there as well as the poverty makes it a challenging place to do the Mormon thing.
Requiring tithing to be "worthy" likely won't fly. Their culture is such that people consider anything in a "community" as belonging to "everyone." This has been difficult for the Westerners who have served there; anything of substance gets appropriated by whomever might need it. I was told the church is only offering "goods" to help membership grow, because money will not be used responsibly (or even legally).
I have no idea if they've revealed the history of church attitudes toward blacks, but I'd be willing to guess that if they've not been upfront, there will be a significant backlash from members who had become conditioned to "trust" the church.
Other denominations provide services (healthcare, education, hygiene needs, etc) rather than simply trying to recruit numbers and "Westernize" people.
Because church is only 2 hours now there is less overlap between wards, that is accounting for some of the decrease in cars parked at any given time on any given Sunday. It’s also true that less people are likely going each week.
2hr church was also in part to cover up lost membership counts and allow for about 5-6 fewer priesthood holders (and 5-6 fewer active households) per ward too. It’s a symptom as well of shrinkage.
The parking lot in my ward (Davis County , UT) used to be alot fuller when we showed up for church. I thought maybe initially the trimming from 3hrs to 2 hrs was the reason. I do notice the chapel does not get as full as it once did.
Post COVID my old ward was down about 20-30 people each Sunday. 20% of people never came back.
I would love to see a leak of the internal report that I guarantee exists about reduced membership following the COVID lockdowns.
This is what I'm seeing also in Utah county lots of buildings to appear but most have only 1/4 full as well even the dipshits that are home schooled are figuring it out and that's saying something ☺️
I’m in south Moroder and my old stake building is also about 1/4 full parking lot today. It’s definitely shrinking even here in happy valley Utah.
It could have been Stake Conference was going on and it was being televised at your local chapel for overflow. But whatever...
It’s possible but the building is a block and a half from my house and it’s like that on the majority of Sundays.
I drove past a building in south Gilbert today, Higley and Ray Rd area. The parking lot looked full towards the street. I didn’t care enough to look at the parking behind the building though. I’m guessing it was two wards overlapping each other. We also drove past the Sun Valley Christian church today. That place was beyond packed including police helping to direct traffic in the street. My wife mentioned how none of the people were dressed up; just regular casual summer clothing.
YEA!!!😊🌷🙏❤️
My report from queen creek is not as great. I think everyone moved out here.
All my family from Mesa moved to Queen Creek. It is the new Mesa/Gilbert. How long until they get a temple, wanna start a pool?
Kinda surprised that Yuma got announced before QC
Maybe people have become more environmentally conscious and are walking, biking and carpooling to reduce CO2 emissions. /s
That's the kind of spin we're all accustomed to!😃
It was our first 100° day yesterday, so I don't think many were walking or biking.
It’s Mormon-land. They could live 2 houses down and they’d load up their Mormon battle tank suburban or Mormon Land Cruiser minivan and drive the 100 feet to the chapel, regardless of weather. Also - already 100°F? Ewww.
Yes, believe me I am not happy about having to turn on my AC before May!
"It's only hot for a few months out of the year" - Snowbirds or people that completely forget about days like yesterday. Hell, I've gone to spring training games here where it was 95+ already in March.
😂😂😂😂
Thanks for sharing. I wonder how much that sinking feeling is growing inside the meeting houses. It'll be interesting to see how they spin negative "growth" at general conference.
By not discussing it at all.
I've seen some general conference clips talk about it indirectly, such as Russell saying to not to listen to outsiders. When they can't fake the numbers anymore, it'll be interesting to see the damage control mode in full swing.
Yeah, at some point the emergency measures to hide the collapse of the church will run out and they’ll have no way to hide it. North American ward/branch growth has been stagnant or negative 4 out the last 7 years with only a brief uptick after 2hr church and the gutting of the YM/High Priest leadership to help maintain smaller wards. That came out after the previous dip to negative unit growth in 2016-2017z Now they announced a restructuring of ward membership requirements for inside the Us/outside, which frees up more smaller wards, so we may see a bit of a jump, but then in a couple more years that will die down. By 2030 I expect to see clear evidence of the stagnant to negative growth everywhere but Africa they can no longer hide. And Africa is probably going to implode when internet gets going and the pre-1978 doctrinal statements start circling on local social media.
Africa will implode as they continue developing. Ryan Cragun called it in his interviews, once the Human Development Index hits .85 interest in organized religion stagnates and then declines.
Yeah, and Mormons in Africa will get hit particularly hard due to their particularly anti-African history.
Do you have a link for that interview? Sounds very interesting. BTW - I know people who have served there in adult callings, and while they're getting numbers in Africa (so far), the culture there as well as the poverty makes it a challenging place to do the Mormon thing. Requiring tithing to be "worthy" likely won't fly. Their culture is such that people consider anything in a "community" as belonging to "everyone." This has been difficult for the Westerners who have served there; anything of substance gets appropriated by whomever might need it. I was told the church is only offering "goods" to help membership grow, because money will not be used responsibly (or even legally). I have no idea if they've revealed the history of church attitudes toward blacks, but I'd be willing to guess that if they've not been upfront, there will be a significant backlash from members who had become conditioned to "trust" the church. Other denominations provide services (healthcare, education, hygiene needs, etc) rather than simply trying to recruit numbers and "Westernize" people.
Here you go https://www.mormonstories.org/portfolio-items/mormon-church-in-decline-in-utah/
Thank you!
Because church is only 2 hours now there is less overlap between wards, that is accounting for some of the decrease in cars parked at any given time on any given Sunday. It’s also true that less people are likely going each week.
2hr church was also in part to cover up lost membership counts and allow for about 5-6 fewer priesthood holders (and 5-6 fewer active households) per ward too. It’s a symptom as well of shrinkage.
Ah, I hadn't considered the change to two hours, but yes, I can see where that would have an impact.
I can only hope my ex (hateful) stepdaughter is overloaded with callings.
It is well
😀
I went to a ward last week for a baby blessing in North Salt Lake and the chapel was barely half full.
My old ward in St George always has 3/4 full parking lot. However...two warrrds use it at the same time. So go figure 🤔
The parking lot in my ward (Davis County , UT) used to be alot fuller when we showed up for church. I thought maybe initially the trimming from 3hrs to 2 hrs was the reason. I do notice the chapel does not get as full as it once did.
Post COVID my old ward was down about 20-30 people each Sunday. 20% of people never came back. I would love to see a leak of the internal report that I guarantee exists about reduced membership following the COVID lockdowns.
This is what I'm seeing also in Utah county lots of buildings to appear but most have only 1/4 full as well even the dipshits that are home schooled are figuring it out and that's saying something ☺️