The Church makes no statistical comparisons with other churches and makes no claim to be the fastest-growing Christian denomination despite frequent news media comments to that effect.

[T]here are now over 13 million members in 176 countries and territories. About 6 million of these are in the United States, making us the fourth largest Christian denomination in America. As one of the fastest growing Christian faiths in the world, we complete a new chapel every working day.

The growth statistics of the Church are impressive and gratifying. They call to mind a broadcast in recent years when the head of the National Council of Churches was interviewed, and he spoke of the declining membership of some of the larger well-known religious bodies, and also of the accelerating growth of others. He gave as the reason for the decline: "Because they have become permissive; they allow just anybody to become members or remain members. They don't insist on any rigorous requirements of belief or of contributions." He pointed out, on the other hand, that those groups which require sacrifice of time and effort and means are enjoying vigorous growth.

He then went on to say: "The fastest growing church [of] over a million members in this country is the Mormon Church, the Latter-day Saints, with headquarters in Salt Lake City, which is growing at five percent a year, [and] that's a very rapid increase."

One day on the school bus, Rachel Chase and Lauren Smith, both in the Acworth Ward seminary, were talking about what a good seminary lesson they had that day. Curtis Clinch repeated something his pastor had told him about the Latter-day Saints being one of the fastest growing religions.

Rachel agreed and said, "It kind of makes you think, doesn't it, Curtis?"

He answered, "Yeah, it kind of does."

LDS Church Is United States' Fastest Growing Denomination

In a study updated every 10 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was named the fastest growing denomination in the United States for the years 1990 to 2000.

The study also indicated that the fastest growing churches were those considered socially conservative-and that the slowest growing churches were those viewed as socially liberal. With a growth rate of 19.3 percent, the Church led the trend toward conservative religion in the United States. The next fastest growing religions were the Churches of Christ, the Assemblies of God, and the Roman Catholic Church.

In 2004, worldwide Church membership reached 12 million, the Church was ranked among the fastest-growing churches in the United States, and Mexico became the first nation outside of the U.S. to top one million members. Brazil is projected to surpass one million members during 2007.

Growth outside of the United States continues to surpass growth within the U.S.

Although 5.5 million members reside within the United States-where the Church is ranked as the second-fastest-growing religion, according to the 2006 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches-more than half the Church's members (6.6 million) live outside the United States in more than 160 countries worldwide. During the last five years, Church membership has grown 17.2 percent outside the U.S. and Canada, at almost double the growth rate within the U.S. and Canada (9.2 percent).

Polls by British newspapers show the LDS church to be one of the fastest-growing Christian denominations.

New temples in Australia are a visible evidence of strong Church growth in this nation. The Church here has grown from just 3,000 members in 1955 to 100,000 members today. In the latest census of Australia, the Church was the fastest-growing Christian faith.

"The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion."

"Many laws permit or even promote abortion, but to us this is a great evil."

"Abortion has been legalized by governing entities without regard for God and His commandments."

"[M]aking it legal to destroy newly conceived life will never make it right. It is consummately wrong."

"There is today a strong clamor to make such practices legal by passing legislation. Some would also legislate to legalize prostitution. They have legalized abortion, seeking to remove from this heinous crime the stigma of sin. We do not hesitate to tell the world that the cure for these evils is not in surrender."

In 1970, the First Presidency sent a letter to stake presidents in the state of Washington that stated: "We have given careful consideration to the question of proposed laws on abortion and sterilization. We are opposed to any modification, expansion, or liberalization of laws on these vital subjects."

"We have given careful consideration to the question of proposed laws on abortion and sterilization. We are opposed to any modification, expansion, or liberalization of laws on these vital subjects."

"For a time in the Church there was a restriction on the priesthood for male members of African descent. It is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction began in the Church but what is clear is that it ended decades ago. Some have attempted to explain the reason for this restriction but these attempts should be viewed as speculation and opinion, not doctrine. The Church is not bound by speculation or opinions given with limited understanding. We condemn racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church."

1. 'For a time' is somewhat disingenuous - it makes it appear that it was just a couple of years as opposed to circa 150.
2. Are we not all ultimately of African descent?
3. Why were South Americans restricted as well then? Why can't TSCC just use the word 'black'?
4. Isn't it true that black sisters were also restricted with regards to the temple? If so, why?
5. Isn't it odd that a church claiming revelation through God's only mouthpiece on earth doesn't even know why something as far reaching and damaging as this was in place? Isn't this also really insulting to those affected for many years?
6. Either prophets haven't deemed it important enough to bother asking Jesus (shame on them) or Jesus hasn't answered (shame on him). Neither come out of this well.
7. Does God feel that telling women not to wear two earrings is much more important than explaining previous racist attitudes?
8. Wasn't the insulting statements of past prophets doctrine? If not, why should we should heed any current leaders?
9. TSCC can blame individual (scapegoat) members for rascist comments, but a) they're only repeating the utterances of previous leaders b) can't TSCC see that by not providing doctrine, they only have themselves to blame when members try to explain troublesome issues.
10. Do they specifically condemn previous Apostles, Prophets and GAs, all of whom have made some very unsavoury comments about blacks in the past? Why was their understanding so limited?
11. Isn't apologising part of the repentance process? What a great example it would be for TSCC to just admit they were wrong in the past and apologise for the hurt. We all know why they won't do this of course.
12. Finally, the PH ban makes much more sense when you realise the church is false and prophets are just misguided and uninspired old men.

For 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong, rewarding relationship with Boy Scouts of America as both organizations have worked to build and strengthen the moral character and leadership skills of young men.

The recent announcement that BSA planned to make a policy change in its standards for membership and leadership has triggered intense debate from many segments of society. We believe BSA has acted wisely in delaying a vote on this policy issue until the implications can be more carefully evaluated.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is carefully assessing the consequences of this policy change on the Church’s program to build and strengthen young men, but it has not commented on it and a decision will not be made until we have assessed all of the implications. We caution others not to speculate about our position or to assume that individual Latter-day Saints inside or outside the Scouting movement speak for the Church. Neither has the Church launched any campaign either to effect or prevent a policy change.