Social Scientists Discuss Church
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NEWS SOCIAL SCIENTISTS DISCUSS which gives the Church an ad- cioeconomic classes; (3) it must vantage over other churches in resolve value differences effec- CHURCH GROWTH TRENDS proseiytizing. It also suggests that tively and overcome cultural di- the socialization process is visions; (4) it must avoid schisms working fairly well among LDS and internal dissension; and (5) By Mike Nielsen still an impressive figure in an era youth. it must offer an effective response when many denominations face To Stark's list of successful to current issues. Duke noted PAPERS AT the annual Mormon declining membership. church characteristics, Duke that two of the most difficult Social Science Association The theme of LDS church added five of his own, all of challenges the Church faces are (MSSA)meeting examined a va- growth was continued in the which he believes the LDS church managing its growth over diverse riety of topics, ranging from Dale biannual MSSA Glenn M. Vernon possesses: (1) the church must cultures and responding effec- LeBaron on Mormonism and its Memorial Lecture, delivered by have effective theological doc- tively to women's issues. challenges in Africa to Martha BWsociologist James T. Duke. In trine; (2) it must appeal to all so- Beck on sexual abuse in a patriar- his paper, "The Determinants of chal religion to Daryl and the Growth of the Mormon Kendall White on Mormon mar- Church: A Test of Stark's Model riage and race. This year's confer- of the Success of Religious SUNSTONE CALENDAR ence, held in conjunction with Movements," Duke discussed two lareer organizations. the several factors that distinmish Society 6rthe Gientific study of U.S. Mormons from their ion- HlSTORZANS CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL Religion and the Religious Mormon counterparts. Drawing Research Association, took place from data obtained in several na- THE CENTER FOR STUDIES ON NEW RELIGIONS will hold in St. Louis, 27-29 October tional surveys. Duke noted that its tenth international conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1995. Mormons are more likely to feel a 14-1 6 August 1996. For more information, call 5141382-9641. Two particularly interesting strong affiliation to their church, THE JOHN WHITMER HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION will hold presentations dealt with LDS make larger contributions to its annual meeting at the RLDS Temple, Independence, Missouri, church growth patterns. Fifteen their church, have more conserv- 27-29 September 1996. Send panel and paper proposals to Jessie years ago, University of ative political views, desire larger Embry, 4069 HBLIJBYU,Provo, Utah, 84602. Also, the association's Washington sociologist Rodney families, and claim better health. spring banquet will be held 13 April 1996, 6:30 p.m., at the Stark analyzed Church growth But despite their relative conser- Arrowhead Club at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. patterns and offered a prediction vatism, U.S. Mormons show THE MORMON ALLIANCE will hold its semiannual "Play-by- that the Church would continue some evidence that they are be- Play: A Spirited Critique of General Conference for Serious Watchers" to grow about 40 percent per coming more like their non- in the auditorium of the Salt Lake City Main Library (209 E. 500 S.), decade. At this year's meeting, he Mormon neighbors. For 8 April 1996, 6:30-8:30 p.m. delivered a paper titled, "So Far, example, compared to figures THE MORMON ARTS FESTIVAL AT TUACAHN will hold its So Good: A Brief Assessment of from the 1970s and early 80s. annual gathering 9-11 May 1996. This year's events include a mu- Mormon Membership Project- Mormons now are much more sical production about the Book of Mormon, A Day, A Night, &A Day, ions." As the title suggests, his likely to vote for a woman for and an Orson Scott Card writing workshop. For more information, 1980 prediction is on target. In president and to approve of call 80 11674-0012. fact, Church growth thus far has women working outside the THE MORMON HISTORY ASSOCIATION will hold its annual exceeded his 1980 estimate. home. meeting at Snowbird, Utah, 16-19 May 1996. The theme is the Utah Although Church growth rates Duke elaborated on the char- Centennial. For more information, contact Scott Kenney, 260 W Fort are thought to be affected by acteristics that Stark finds in suc- Creek Dr., Alpine, Utah, 84004. many factors, Stark's simple pre- cessful religious movements, SUNSTONE CONFERENCES diction of a constant growth rate such as: maintaining a moderate THE 1996 SUNSTONE SYMPOSIUM in Salt Lake City will be has shown remarkable resiliency. amount of tension with the host held 14-17 AUGUST at the Salt Lake Hilton. For additional infor- There is some evidence, how- society; socializing young mem- mation, call Sunstone Foundation (801/355-5926). ever, that the growth rate may be bers well enough to minimize slowing (see "Despite 'Remark- their leaving the Church; com- 1996 Sunstone Symposium West able Growth,' Church Could See peting effectively in an open reli- 29-30 March 1996, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel Lowest Membership Gains Since gious economy; and generating a 18800 McArthur Blvd., Irvine. CA 1940s," SUNSTONE,Dec. 1995). highly motivated, volunteer reli- 1 (across the street from the John wake Airport) 1 For example, at the conference, gious labor force for proselytizing BYU sociologist Lawrence Young efforts. Duke noted that the per- For hotel reservations, call 714B33-9999, and mention noted that recent evidence shows cent of LDS church members Sunstone for a discount. To propose a session artd for other a slight deceleration in the serving missions is greater now program information, contact Sue Cannon, 100 Eagle Pt., growth rate to about 30 percent, than at any time since the 1840s, MARCH 1996 PAGE 71 UPDATE yield to a particular religious outlook." Richard Koehn, University of Utah vice president for research, doesn't agree with Caplan. He says accepting restrictions on use of Church genealogies is no different than agreeing to conditions set by other data providers, private donors, government funding agencies, or corporations. And the Church's perspective? "We want the data controlled so ethical things are being done" and the privacy of Church members is protected, Larry Elkington, the Church official who works with the U., told the Tribune. "They are sensitized to the fact they don't want to promote research the Church isn't comfortable with." NEW MISSION BROADENS "CALL TO SERVE" YOUNG PEOPLE who want to serve full-time LDS missions but can't, due to ~hvsical. , or mental limitations,~ - now can serve non-prosely- The new, 25,000-square-joot FARMS building is designed to tizing missions where tasks range from Temple Square garden blend biblical and Book ojMormon worlds. tending to sorting flower bulbs for Church office grounds to working in the Family History Library Ron and Mardene Folkersen, directors for the LDS church service missionaries, received their first group of FARMS TO BUILD $5 MILLION FACILITY physically or mentally limited elders and sisters last summer. There AN APRIL 1996 groundbreaking is on schedule for the Foundation are now twelve missionaries serving-two women and ten men- for Ancient Research and Mormon Study's new $5 million building. ranging in age from 20 to 44, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Their The 25,000-square-foot facility is designed to blend biblical and disabilities include autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and Book of Mormon worlds with a dome, arches, pyramids, stone work schizophrenia. During the eighteen-month mission, they live at reminiscent of Meso-America, and other structures. A stone wall with home, work two or so days a week, and wear T-shirts and name tags. a Book of Mormon time line will begin outside the front of the building and continue through the facility and out the back doors. ANTI-MORMON BIAS AT U.IS MYTH, Gardens and arboretums will dot the grounds. Located on the hill ad- jacent to the south end of BYU, the center's five floors will house of- U.PRESIDENT SAYS fices, lecture halls, a computer lab, and a research library RUMORS OF "Mormon-bashing" at Administrators say the center will take about eighteen months to the University of Utah is just that: complete, and FARMS is using private donations to pay for the gossip, myth, according to Arthur building since it does not receive funding from the Church or BW, K. Smith, the school's first non- the LDS Church News reported. (Also see "University, FARMS Define Mormon president. In fall 1995, Relationship," SUNSTONE,Dec. 1995.) The building, which is on BW Smith discussed the issue with property, will then be donated to BYu who will lease it to FARMS. members of the Utah County leg- islative delegation and later fielded CHURCH HAS VETO POWER OVER questions at the Hinckley Institute of Politics. Smith says the anti- SOME U. RESEARCH Mormon myth can be traced to the TWENTY YEARS ago, the LDs church gave the University of Utah a "dreaded anecdote," where just copy of the genealogies of a million people, an invaluable gift. There about everyone has heard some were, however, a few strings attached, according to a copyrighted Salt Plt's~dc,r~~Arthur. Sni~tlisay story of Mormon-bashing but few, if Lake Tribune article: (1) the university had to give the Church veto evidence of anti-Mormon bias any, students have actually experi- power over any proposed study using the data base; (2) the U. should at U. is only anecdotal. enced it. (A good example is the fe- avoid mentioning the use of Church records in its research papers male u. faculty member who has and mediq,interviews; and (3) the university could not use the family reportedly said that her role in the classroom is to "attack the histories for commercial purposes, to promote abortion, or for social, Mormon patriarchy and free her students from ignorance." See "Anti- behavioral, and mental-health research.