A fledgling faith founded 175 years ago on 6 April 1830 by Joseph Smith and a handful of men in a log cabin in upstate New York has grown to a worldwide faith of over 12 million members in 170 countries and territories. Observers of American religious history and culture have described Mormonism as “the rise of a new world faith.”
In a dramatic demonstration of the reach of this global religion, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will gather this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, and across the world in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America to participate in the Church’s 175th Annual General Conference.
Although the proceedings will originate in English, they will be translated into 75 languages through interpreters stationed in Salt Lake and in 17 overseas remote interpretation studios. Translation of these proceedings and other Church materials into both written and unwritten languages is vital for Church membership, which is now larger outside the United States than inside, a trend that is expected to continue.
But the faith also continues to grow domestically. The Washington Post recently reported, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fastest-growing denomination in the United States and ranks No. 4 among the country’s churches, according to membership figures compiled by the National Council of Churches.”
Bruce Olsen, managing director of the Church Public Affairs Department, says, “The numbers don’t tell the real story. The real measure of Latter-day Saints is the depth of their faith and how it changes people’s lives.” He adds, “Becoming a Latter-day Saint is a transformation of lifestyle, not just a shift in philosophical belief.”
The combination of both the pragmatic and the spiritual is a powerful force in the lives of members of the Church, and results in hallmarks of the faith such as family prayer and scripture reading, family home evening, home and visiting teaching, missionary and humanitarian service, healthy living, temple worship and a youth seminary program.
These practices are credited by researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill, who conducted a groundbreaking study of American teenagers and religion, as the reason Mormon youths show a greater willingness to adhere to the requirements of their faith. Researcher Christian Smith told the Charlotte Observer, “These investments pay off in producing Mormon teenagers who are … more religiously serious and articulate than most other religious teenagers in the U.S.”
Olsen says although Mormons are often known for their clean-living lifestyles, “It’s important to understand that this is just the fruit of our doctrine, which changes the way a person thinks of himself and his relationship not only to Deity but to others. The doctrine is the reason the faith has relevance to people from disparate cultures and economic circumstances.”
Consider these examples from members throughout the world. (For the full text of selected articles go to www.newsroom.lds.org)
Olsen says, “It’s almost
ironic that a faith with such a humble beginning, a faith which
struggled to find a physical home amidst persecution and a
1,300-mile exodus to Salt Lake City, would ultimately find a home
in the hearts and minds of peoples everywhere.”