Episode 134: Part II-End of LDS Growth? Impressive Growth in Africa. Or Maybe Not.

Join Nathan and Val in part II of this six part series analyzing the article titled “End of Growth?  Fading Prospects for Latter-day Saint Expansion” published recently in the Journal of Mormon Social Science Association (article in full linked below) where Nathan breaks down some incredibly fascinating data about the growth of several Christian churches in sub-Saharan Africa to offer some context and critique regarding the "massive growth" that some claim is happening in this part of the world in the LDS church.

Questions answered in this episode:

Are there a lot of LDS baptisms happening in sub-Saharan Africa compared to the rest of the world?

How does the nominal growth of the LDS church compare to other missionary-minded churches  in this same area?

What are some possible reasons why especially the Seventh Day Adventists and the Jehovah’s Witnesses are baptizing and retaining exponentially more people in this area of the world than the LDS church?

What might the LDS church’s tendency to bring the “American church” and it’s culture to Africa have to do with their relative struggles in membership growth and retention?

What might the LDS church learn from other thriving religions in this same demographic about allowing locals to infuse their beautiful customs and culture into a basic structure of a religious system?

Link to the article analyzed in this series:

The End of Growth? Fading Prospects for Latter-day Saint Expansion, David G. Stewart, Jr., University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday’s episode is directly below.  See you there!

—————————————————————————————————————

SUBSCRIBE: All Friday episodes of Latter Day Struggles can be accessed through ⁠⁠⁠⁠a paid subscription ($9.99/month)⁠⁠. Thank you for supporting Valerie’s professional commitment to your LDS Faith expansion journey!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

     ⁠⁠⁠Click here to subscribe to all Friday Latter Day Struggles Episodes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

     ⁠⁠Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to support the podcast and subscribe⁠⁠

——————————————————————————————————————

SUPPORT: Like what you’re hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? You can support Valerie’s efforts by becoming a recurring donor on ⁠⁠Patreon.com!⁠⁠

——————————————————————————————————————

SUPPORT GROUPS: You are invited to join one of Valerie’s space-limited ⁠⁠⁠⁠Faith Crisis and Expansion Support and Processing Groups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!  As a trauma therapist, she continues to help our LDS faith expansion community become psychologically healthier and spiritually well in and around the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Details about availability on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠latterdaystruggles.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  These groups ALWAYS FILL UP, so jump in asap!

     ⁠⁠Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to join a support group⁠⁠

——————————————————————————————————————

COURSES: Now available! “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Couple’s Guide to Faith Crisis and Expansion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠” parts I and II. See what else is offered on ⁠⁠⁠⁠latterdaystruggles.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

     ⁠⁠Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to purchase a course⁠⁠

——————————————————————————————————————

CONSULTING: Interested in doing individual or couples work with Valerie or a member of her trained team? Time-limited packages with Valerie and extended work with her team of coaches and therapists are available! ⁠⁠Click here to learn more!⁠⁠