In a recent Times and Seasons blog post, Cranney points to a number of respected surveys that “consistently show” at least 60% of adult Latter-day Saints are married.Ĭranney concedes that it’s possible the church - unlike those self-reported polls - may be citing actual membership records. members are single? Data scientist Stephen Cranney isn’t so sure. (Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)Ī principal takeaway from April’s General Conference was the revelation from two apostles that most adult Latter-day Saints in the United States are - as in the global church - “unmarried, widowed or divorced.”ĭoes that mean the majority of adult U.S. “There has not been any other country in the world,” Martinich states, “to have experienced such a dramatic decline in congregations, national outreach, and active membership as Armenia during the past several decades.” ‘Singles’ claim elicits a double take If that count holds true today, that would put the ratio at 900 members for every one congregation. There were nearly 3,600 Latter-day Saints in Armenia at the end of 2019. “This is an unprecedented development for the church in Armenia,” Martinich writes at, “where a stake briefly operated between 20.” Independent demographer Matt Martinich reports that the faith posted that it has discontinued its two districts in the country and has slashed the number of branches, or congregations, from 11 to four. The church appears to be in a tailspin in Armenia. “.Dismissing the effects of poverty, pandemics and climate change on families while yearning for a revitalization of a checkered past is not going to protect families from being pushed over the edge by Satan.” Armenian retreat “It’s not just that the editorial is dismissive of efforts to address the very real impact of climate change on God’s children … it’s also the bizarre focus on the nuclear family,” counters Peter LLC. Each of these proposals, however, constitutes a frontal attack on the family unit and its survival.”Ĭallister concludes by urging Latter-day Saints to be “archdefenders of the nuclear family and God’s moral values.”Ī By Common Consent blogger questions, among other arguments, how the former high-ranking church leader could “characterize climate change mitigation efforts as ‘a frontal attack on the family unit and its survival.’” Satan “disguises his plan of attack,” he adds, “with alluring labels such as ‘pro-choice’ for abortion, ‘love and compassion’ for endorsement of same-sex marriage, and ‘environmental emergency’ for promotion of a zero-growth population agenda. To put our prime focus on other challenges is to strike at the leaves, not the root, of the problem.” “The economy, national security, immigration, gun control, poverty, racism, crime, pandemics, climate change? While each of these is a valid concern and deserves attention, I do not believe that any of them strikes at the heart of our greatest challenge - a return to family and moral values. Callister, former Sunday school general president, asks in a Church News article. “If you were asked, ‘What is the greatest challenge facing our nation today?’ how would you respond?” Tad R. A recent piece he penned defending the nuclear family is drawing some criticism.Īn emeritus general authority’s recent defense of the nuclear family is stirring debate in the Mormon blogosphere. Callister speaks during General Conference in April 2019. Ziff also speculates that apostles from all sides of the religious spectrum would permit the return of the “Mormon” nickname. “Family proclamation is double canonized, being added to both the and the Pearl of Great Price.”.“Ban on loud laughter is expanded to include all laughter.”.“ Temple recommend question list is reduced to two: Do you love God? and Do you love your neighbor? Q15 issues apologies for polygamy, priesthood/temple ban and exclusion policy.”.Family proclamation is quietly removed from its most prominent locations in manuals and on the church website.” “Bishops are permitted to perform same-sex marriages in church buildings.LGBT members face church discipline if they speak their sexual orientation or gender identity out loud at church.” The blogger also took a stab at changes some of these apostles might institute. “I’m sure you’ll disagree with me on at least some of them.”įor what it’s worth, here is whom he slated in each category: “I’ve put each member on a five-point scale, based on my sense from what he’s said in conference and other venues,” Ziff explains. Well, Ziff, the pen name for a blogger at the Zelophehad’s Daughters website, has, and he’s developed a scale ranging from “strong fundamentalist” to “strong progressive” for the church’s Big 15 (the three members of the governing First Presidency and the dozen in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) to help with the forecast.
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