Church membership reaches 8 million
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Membership in the Church reached the 8-million mark about Sept. 1, according to estimates by the Church Member and Statistical Records Division.
The landmark came some 22 months after the 7-million mark was reached in December 1989.The growth rate equals a daily increase of about 1,500, or the equivalent of a stake of 3,800 members every 2 1/2 days.
Much of the growth has come in countries outside the United States. Church members live in about 135 countries and speak upwards of 165 languages. According to estimates, about 60 percent of the wards and branches in the Church are English-speaking. Another 26 percent are Spanish-speaking, and 4.5 percent speak Portuguese. Next is Japanese with 1.4 percent, and German with 1 percent.
The Church reached its first million in 1947, its second million in 1963, its third million in 1971, the fourth in 1978, the fifth in 1982, and the sixth in 1986.
President Ezra Taft Benson, speaking at the sesquicentennial conference in April 1980, commented on the growth and progress of the Church:
"Yes, as we indulge in retrospect after 150 years of existence, we rejoice and declare the progress has been marvelous and wonderful. We thank the Lord for His merciful blessings. We do not hesitate to ascribe the success and progress of the Church to His omnipotent direction."
