Why do mormons think their church is one of the fastest growing churches in the world?

Question

Can I get some links to evidence to back up the claims?

Chris B, that site you gave has some statistics, but they're from 1991. That's pretty old to be of any use, really. Any other links?
The best one I've found is from a mormon site called the cumorah project.

brian8907, what that stake expansion video doesn't show is that they've recently been combining stakes due to over-aggressive expansion.

According to the Cumorah project, the mormon church had a growth rate of 1.68% in 2006. That's down from previous years.

According to the Cumorah project, the mormon church had a growth rate of 1.68% in 2006. That's down from previous years.

Answer 1

Muslims do the same, I guess this claim is important to certain groups. Another similarity between the two, they claim that their prophet came up with the final spiritual answers usurping whatever existed before.

Answer 2

I hope not that's a scary thought. Just for those of you who don't know Mormonism doesn't conform to the belief system of ancestry of the African people so I very much doubt that its on the increase over here (Africa) besides regardless of what "!st World Countries" may think we aren't that stupid or ignorant. Very few of the Africans will give up their ancient beliefs for something so new and in many cases so obviously Colonial. I have yet to see a Black Mormon Missionary in South Africa, not now nor when I was a Mormon 20 years ago nope never.

Answer 3

The church has many faith-promoting 'rumors' - here's some more:

The Smithsonian Institute uses the Book of Mormon in its research.
Polygamy was needed in the early church because there was an overabundance of single women who needed husbands.
The LDS church has no paid ministry (But only at the local through the stake presidency).
The reason the original LDS temple ceremony and the Masonic ritual were virtually identical was that they were both the original ceremonies of Solomon's Temple.
The church name, "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," is divinely inspired.
Joseph Smith was a man of unquestionable character and great faith and uneducated.
There was a religious revival in Manchester, New York in 1820.
Abraham wrote his biography upon papyrus and Smith translated it into the Book of Abraham.
Professor Anton validated Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon.
Mormon Prophets have always been law-abiding citizens.
Joseph Looked at the plates while he translated them and dictated their contents to Oliver Cowdery, who sat next to him behind a curtain, to keep him from seeing the plates.
Bigfoot is really Cain.
Qetzalcoatl was really Jesus.
Elder Paul Dunn was a war hero and played Major League Baseball.
Indians placed in foster homes become 'whiter'.
DNA testing and carbon dating is unreliable and all arong.

Answer 4

We are not the fastest (that would be the Misión Carismática Internacional in Colombia) but we are one of the fastest. http://www.adherents.com is a good site on the Internet. Consult the U.S. Census websites and other similar statistical information sites. Search google.com too...it usually gives a mix of both points of view as well as both extremes...

Most estimates place the church's membership in mid century bettween 30 and 80 million. Most average 50 million in 2050. However, most estimates of church growth have been too low. I think the growth will be linear not exponential but so far it is in an exponential curve.

Answer 5

We don't have to be active members to be in the records for members. We are almost at 13 million.
Real stats:
Total LDS Church membership: 12,868,606
Increase in children of record during 2006: 94,006
Converts baptized during 2006: 272,845

Temples
Temples dedicated during 2006: 2
(Sacramento California, Helsinki Finland)
Temples rededicated during 2006: 2
(Santiago Chile, Papeete Tahiti)
Total number of temples currently in operation: 124

Ever since president hinckley was a general authority, we have had over a hundred temples built and that means church membership has increased.

Answer 6

Scientologists believe the same thing, I think it's just because they want to make their religion look impressive to convert more people

Answer 7

We are growing and fast

But

I make no claim that we are the fastest

Answer 8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FqD2fA7maGY

This shows the stake expansion of the church....

Answer 9

EVERYONE thinks their church is:

the fastest growing

the only true church

Otherwise, they'd be some other religion...

Answer 10

anyone can manipulate statistics to say whatever they want