Church membership in the United States during the past decade grew by nearly a million members, increasing 30 percent from 3,293,000 to 4,267,000.
During the same period, population in the United States increased 10 percent, from 226,546,000 to 248,710,000. Church members now make up 1.7 percent of the U.S. population.In many areas, the increase in Church membership strengthened LDS population centers and elevated Church prominence in local communities.
The major membership increases came in the populous LDS states of Utah, California and Arizona, according to an analysis of the statistics.
Membership increases in those three states almost equaled that of the entire rest of the United States.
Utah LDS grew from 1,101,000 to 1,329,000, up 21 percent. Membership in California rose from 541,000 to 725,000, up 34 percent; and in Arizona from 172,000 to 241,000, a 40 percent increase. Growth in these three states totaled 481,000, nearly equaling the 492,000 from all other states combined, making a total increase of 974,000.
But membership also climbed in the East and South of the United States in the 1980s. Major gains came in the Southern states of Texas, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. In the East, New York and Maryland showed strong gains while in the West, Washington and Nevada continued in significant growth. (See accompanying charts.)
With the gain in membership, the visibility of the Church continues to increase. Probably the most visible aspect of Church growth is the number of new meetinghouses. According to President Gordon B. Hinckley's "State of the Church" address at general priesthood meeting in April, some 190 new meetinghouses were constructed in the United States just in 1990.
In addition, nine new temples were completed and dedicated in the United States from 1980-90. These temples greatly contributed to local growth, said Elder James L. Olson, regional representative in Texas and chairman of the history department of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
"When I first arrived here in the mid-1970s, the Church was primarily made up of part-member families with few priesthood holders," Elder Olson recalled.
"We didn't have a temple marriage in our branch for five years.
"It took a generation to establish the LDS atmosphere. We now have large, very active youth groups. They decided very early who they are, which is a real asset.
"Today, a full generation later, we are starting to see large numbers of missionaries, and youths marrying in the [DallasT temple."
He said he and other members take part in community events. "I am very conscious of my obligation to be a contributing, realistic member of the community," he said. "At the same time, I let people know that I am a Mormon down to my bones."
He said the "down side" of growth is that with more members, more LDS institutions and meetinghouses, "we tend to become more insular, to turn to ourselves to meet our needs and do less missionary work."
Another indicator of rising membership nationally is a sharp increase in the number of members in prominent positions. In the Atlanta, Ga., area, for example, two Church members have gained prominence.
The first is John C. Patterson, city administrator for Smyrna, a suburb of Atlanta, who is among the first LDS public administrators in this region of the country, and the only one in Georgia.
The six-year veteran of Smyrna city government said that the community became aware of his LDS membership three years ago when he offered prayer at a community prayer breakfast.
Patterson observed that the Church has grown in prominence as ward and stake members take part in local clean-up campaigns and contribute to other community efforts. He's active in the community, serving on the board of directors of the local Chamber of Commerce and a Boy Scout committee that sponsors a joint LDS-Baptist troop.
The second prominent member is Sherman R. Day, acting president of Georgia State University in Atlanta.
"The Church has gained a good reputation as having a people of integrity, honesty, and sobriety," said Brother Day. "Being out here gives us the opportunity to show what we are about. And when we are in a post of public prominence, we are in a fish bowl under a microscope."
On the other side of the nation in California, Mormon leaders in the community are not unusual, said Keith C. Atkinson, California area public affairs director.
"The Church has been prominent from the early days of the history of California," he said. "The Mormon Battalion marched to San Diego in the 1840s and they were the first to raise the United States flag in Los Angeles. Mormons settled San Bernardino, too, so they have had a strong influence almost from the beginning."
He said the Church continues to grow rapidly and is now considered the second largest church in the state.
Individually, many LDS members join business and civic groups where they generate goodwill. Institutionally, the Church takes part in interfaith activities and has assumed central roles in combatting such evils as gambling, alcohol abuse, and child pornography.
"In all those issues we joined hands with like-minded people," said Brother Atkinson. "As we involve ourselves more and more in the community and in interfaith activities, we as members of the Church appreciate the God-like divinity in all mankind even more than we have in the past.
"In return, those who are not LDS recognize that we really believe what we teach and that we follow the example of Jesus Christ.
"We see that happening more and more, and a lot of good is accomplished. We find that our impact as Church members and followers of Christ is magnified many fold by our willingness to work in a broad base coalition with those who share common concerns."
