Mormons, would you agree with me on this?

Question

I crunched all the numbers from the cumorah project, and came up with a total of 32.7% of the church members that are active. (data from 2006) This makes a grand total of 4,039,096 active members. Does that sound about right?

If anyone is interested, I do have a spreadsheet with all the numbers, and it took quite some time to compile all the data. Just tell me and I can hook you up with the data. I tried to be as accurate as possible.

The total membership they claim is
12,351,321
The total active members is
4,039,096

They do take dead people out of the equation, but not until a very long time after they're dead.

http://www.cumorah.com/

They track the missionary efforts of the LDS church. They seem to be very thorough with their gathering of data.
It's a mormon friendly site.

What I'm asking is if the mormons think these numbers I came up with sound correct or not. I'm just trying to get an accurate picture of the total number of ACTIVE members.

I remember reading on the cumorah project how they came to those numbers. I'm not sure where it at though. They said the numbers are based on the counts that the ward clerk (is that what he's called?) does every sunday, and that they submit to the church. If you look at all the data they have on all of the branches, stakes, missions, etc, you'll start to see how this is possible. The data I compiled is from 166 countries. I removed any countries that had zero members (for obvious reasons). The website seems to have done their homework, and for that, I find them (at least) fairly credible.

yes, alanagkelly.
They most likely still count me as a member, even though I haven't stepped foot in a mormon church for 10 years.

siobahn w, mormons count their dead in their numbers too, until the person would be 150 or so.

Answer 1

Sadly I would say that is right, There are a lot of members which we do count but as far as active members thats another number and it is probably only a fraction of the total number of membersYou for example, you were a mormon so we would count you as a memeber but not an active one, unless you took out your records, but that is why Jesus said that if you have a hundred of sheep would you not leave the 99 and find the one?, and when you have found it would you not celebrate?
A big part of the Church is to help reactivate members, we want to leave the 99 and find the one.

Answer 2

So, what this says is that on any given Sunday about one third of those on the Church roles are sitting in church that day. I'd say that is about right. I think that number compares very favorably to any other denomination. Of course, we would like to see 100% of our brothers and sisters in church on Sunday, but some are unable to come, and everyone makes choices.

Update from the Cumorah project:

"The 30-35% overall worldwide activity rate cited in the discussion, however, appears to be quite accurate. You can find accurate referenced data on LDS activity rates around the world in my book, the Law of the Harvest, online at cumorah.com, right-hand column."

"It is important to note that the Church acknowledges that membership numbers do not convey any claims of member activity or participation, just as is the case for Catholics, Baptists, and many other denominations. There are theological and scriptural reasons why the Church does not excommunicate or remove people from the rolls simply because they no longer attend church. There was an article to this effect in the June 2007 Ensign."

Answer 3

OK-- no problem

Shows you that data only means something depending on the parameters

church puts out total membership -- you want to know activity level membership

If you want to split more hairs you can calculate how many member of the Church ever lived

then you have to take into account all the work for the dead and all of the "primitive church" (because you remember that this church is just an extension of the church that Christ established) and then all who were part of God's church that He claims from Adam till today.

And while your at it can you make some projections based on current birth rates and missionary work with predictions on the work for the dead as well?

Good job -- now go out there and get a life (OK I need a life too -- how about you get a life fist then I'll get one)


D

Answer 4

That's sounds about right. It's been my experience that about 1/3 of members are active. But most "inactive" or "less active" member's I've met still have a testimony or at least claim so to other members of the restored gospel. There was a GC talk a few years ago that talked about how being active in the gospel and being active in church are not the same thing, a person can be one without the other.

Answer 5

Every group that seeks to have a favorable opinion of their growth will seek to make statistics aim their way. I'm sure that the LDS church is no different.

However, the definition of "activity" is the real issue. Without that, any numbers posted on any side are basically meaningless. I can't seem to find a good definition of "activity" on the Cumorah site. If you find one, then I promise to agree wholeheartedly. Until then, only 4 million truly active members does sound a bit low.

Answer 6

I'm not going to answer this question but I'll answer the other one u asked me
am I close minded u don't seem to understand the meaning of it u say u study all religions then why r all ur questions about mormons u say u've become better since u left the church I don't believe it either ur lying or u weren't a very good member
listen to u
u'd back talk to a 12 year old girl and what for
cussing
drinking
gambling
smoking
things that hurt u
things that make u addicted and kill u
things that make ur mind go crazing and makes u do things u would never do if in the church
ppl say the mormon church is terrible
why!?
they (not all but many) r u the ones drinking
they r the ones that kill and hurt others and them
they r the ones who drink
they r the ones who allow their children to cuss they r the ones who go to work and don't take care of their kids
yes leave ur children to grow up in a day care

tell me now what do u think
I'd consider u a coward not to admit ur wrong or to not talk back
GB

Answer 7

You could be some what correct but it is hard to say who is active and who is not. Obviously you are not and many more like you are not. There are some who consider themselves active yet for medical reasons or other reasons they are not able to attend the meetings. According to your calculations these people would be considered not active. It is so hard to say who is active and who is not that there can not be any absolute correct numbers dividing active members and non active members. That is why most people just go by members on record.

The same thing would apply for any religion.

Answer 8

Thanks for the link, it's an interesting tool.

I hate to say it, but it's entirely possible that the grand total you came up with is close to the amount of total active members in the church.

On a side note:

Someone asked what being active was, it's attending all 3 hours of the church meeting on Sundays, participating in church administrations (callings), and paying tithes.

Answer 9

I have no idea. You'd need to get the numbers for Sacrament attendance every week for every Ward building and track it for a year. Then get the average. And map it out for 5 years to track it.

Btw, I had no idea until recently that JWs count their dead amongst their membership. That's cheating.

Answer 10

That actualy sounds right because most members aren't active.