The year of 2013 was a remarkable one of growth for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from the expansion of the missionary program to the membership milestone of 15 million Latter-day Saints worldwide.
Thousands More Latter-day Saints Enter Missionary Service
The announcement by Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the October 2012 general conference forever impacted missionary work worldwide.
Since the historic news of the age being lowered for full-time missionary service, the number of young men and young women now sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ as full-time missionaries has steadily risen from 58,500 in October 2012 to more than 82,000 near the end of 2013.
VIDEO: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Examines Mormon Missionary Expansion
To accommodate more missionaries, Church leaders have had to increase the capacity of and adjust the schedules at the missionary training centres (MTCs), add new missions and improve the process of receiving and sending out missionaries.
Response to Mormon Missionary-Age Announcement Remains Enthusiastic in Canada
Religious Freedom
As part of an effort to emphasize the importance of religious freedom and the place of religion in the public square, the Church released a series of resources aimed to bolster understanding and involvement.
Church Launches New Resources on Freedom of Religion
Canadian academic Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham presented at the International Law and Religion Symposium at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. As a featured presenter, Dr. Buckingham addressed “The State of Religious Freedom in Canada.”
Canadian Academic Presents at BYU Symposium on Religious Freedom
Latter-day Saint Leaders Attend National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa
The 48th Annual National Prayer Breakfast was held in Ottawa, Ontario, bringing members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints together with religious and political leaders across the country to pray together.
Latter-day Saint Leaders Attend National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa
Mormon and Sikh Friendships Nurtured in Abbotsford
Members of the Church and their Sikh neighbours in Abbotsford, British Columbia, developed a strong interfaith relationship by building bridges of understanding and co-operation.
Mormon and Sikh Friendships Nurtured in Abbotsford
Mormons Host Holocaust Remembrance Services in Calgary and Montreal
Latter-day Saints gathered with other Christians and Jews at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for Holocaust remembrance services in Calgary, Alberta, and Montreal, Quebec. The remembrance services included music, stories and testimonies of hope.
Mormons Host Holocaust Remembrance Services in Calgary
The Christian Commemoration of the Shoah in Montreal
Mormon Helping Hands Relieve Flood Victims Across Canada
Volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided assistance with relief efforts following natural disasters in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Heavy rainfall struck in June 2013, sending a raging torrent of water into several communities and creating the worst flooding in a century.
Mormon Helping Hands Relieve Alberta Flood Victims
Mormon Helping Hands Serve Seniors After Toronto Floods
Latter-day Saints Rally to Help Fight Floods in Saskatchewan
Canadian Missionary Returns to Mission After Serious Injury
An Albertan missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints returned to full-time missionary service after recovering from life-threatening injuries he sustained while on his mission in Toronto, Ontario.
Canadian Missionary Returns to Mission After Serious Injury
Church Membership Grows Beyond 15 Million
Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now exceeds 15 million people, said Church President Thomas S. Monson at the opening session of the October 2013 general conference.
“The Church continues to grow steadily and to change the lives of more and more people every year,” President Monson said. “It is spreading across the earth as our missionary force seeks out those who are searching for the truth.”
15 Million Member Milestone Announced at Church's General Conference
Atlantic Communities Benefit From Orange Blossom Concerts
A group of travelling musical missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints toured Atlantic Canada offering musical concerts as a benefit to local communities.
Atlantic Communities Benefit From Orange Blossom Concerts
Philippines’ Typhoon Haiyan
The Church was very active in providing relief to survivors from Typhoon Haiyan in November. More than 10,000 Filipinos found refuge with 4,000 of their Mormon neighbours in 200 Latter-day Saint chapels. Church humanitarian services were used to purchase immediate supplies such as water, hygiene kits and other items.
Canadian Missionary Tells of Faith and Survival in the Philippines