In 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 308,000 people joined the faith, an increase of about 50,000 from the previous year and the most in 25 years.
That growth and “spiritual momentum” has continued in 2025, with every region in the world experiencing at least a 20% increase in convert baptisms and new members attending weekly worship services at higher rates, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said at the 2025 Seminar for New Mission Leaders in June.
“This is remarkable,” he said. “In the last 12 months, ending May 31, the Lord’s hastening of His work resulted in the largest number of convert baptisms in any 12-month period in this dispensation.”
The growth was evident with reports of large baptismal services from Africa to the South Pacific, with 120 men, women, and children baptized in Moriba Town, Sierra Leone, on Aug. 23; and in Papua New Guinea, 107 people were baptized in the Bangoho River, with 129 more baptized the weekend of Aug. 2-3.
The hastening of the gathering of Israel is one of six highlights of Latter-day Saint missionary work in 2025. Here is a look back at some of the other notable events in missionary work from the past year, listed chronologically.
Visit Church News to read the other notable events in missionary work.
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