Learn about the growth of the LDS church and how you can use technology to hasten the Lord's work!

1. Hastening the Work
Through Digital Service
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2. Overview
1. The Growth of the Church
We will learn about the worldwide growth of the church,
missionary work, and the impact of technology.
2. Volunteer.LDS.org
We will talk about the church’s crowdsourcing projects and
show you how to set up a profile on Volunteer.LDS.org.
3. Hastening the Work at BYU
We will introduce you to Vineyard at BYU and talk about
upcoming events where you can use your skills to hasten the
work.
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3. Joseph Smith
“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no
unhallowed hand can stop the work from
progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs
may combine, armies may assemble,
calumny may defame, but the truth of God
will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent,
till it has penetrated every continent, visited
every clime, swept every country, and
sounded in every ear, till the purposes of
God shall be accomplished, and the Great
Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
Source: Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:540
Image from LDS Media Library
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4. Video
Church Growth by Stake, 2007
Video from LDS.org, no longer available.
http://www.lds.org/videos/0,20069,6635-1,00.html.
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5. Current Church Membership
(31 December 2014)
Wards and Branches: 29,253
Stakes and Districts: 3,621
Members: 15,082,028
Source: Mormon Newsroom
Chart from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LDSGrowth.png. GNU Free Documentation License.
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6. Assuming the standard scientific
view of the world,
why did dinosaurs exist?
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7. Joseph Fielding Smith
“I maintain that had there been no restoration of
the gospel, and no organization of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there would have
been no radio; there would have been no airplane,
and there would not have been the wonderful
discoveries in medicine, chemistry, electricity, and
the many other things wherein the world has been
benefited by such discoveries. Under such
conditions these blessings would have been
withheld, for they belong to the Dispensation of
the Fulness of Times of which the restoration of the
gospel and the organization of the Church
constitute the central point, from which radiates
the Spirit of the Lord throughout the world.
Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1926, p. 117
Image from LDS Media Library
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8. Joseph Fielding Smith
“The inspiration of the Lord has gone out and takes
hold of the minds of men, though they know it not,
and they are directed by the Lord. In this manner
he brings them into his service that his purposes
and his righteousness, in due time, may be
supreme on the earth.
“Now let me say briefly that I do not believe for
one moment that these discoveries have come by
chance, or that they have come because of
superior intelligence possessed by men today over
those who lived in ages that are past. They have
come and are coming because the time is ripe,
because the Lord has willed it, and because he has
poured out his Spirit on all flesh.”
Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1926, p. 117
Image from LDS Media Library
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9. Howard W. Hunter
“In recent years we have begun using
information technology to hasten the sacred
work of providing ordinances for the deceased.
The role of technology in this work has been
accelerated by the Lord Himself, who has had
a guiding hand in its development and will
continue to do so. However, we stand only on
the threshold of what we can do with these
tools. I feel that our most enthusiastic
projections can capture only a tiny glimpse of
how these tools can help us – and of the
eternal consequences of these efforts.”
Source: Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Mar. 1995
Image from LDS Media Library
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10. “[E]very time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”
Image and quote from 1946 classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Images no longer in copyright.
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11. Image from video “Church Growth by Stake, 2007” (previously available on LDS.org).
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12. Traditionally, proselyting missionaries are
sent out throughout the world to preach
the gospel.
Not every country is “open” to traditional
missionary work.
Countries closed to traditional missionary
work are now open to us through
technology.
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13. The Lord speaks to Isaiah
“[M]y thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts. ...
“[A]s the rain ... watereth the earth, and
maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give
seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So
shall my word be that goeth forth out of my
mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it
shall accomplish that which I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Source: Isaiah 55:8–11, KJV Bible, LDS.org.
Image from LDS Media Library
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14. Alma speaks to his son Helaman
“[T]hese plates of brass, which contain these
engravings, which have the records of the
holy scriptures upon them ... Behold, it has
been prophesied by our fathers, that they
should be kept and handed down from one
generation to another, and be kept and
preserved by the hand of the Lord until they
should go forth unto every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people, that they shall know of
the mysteries contained thereon.
Source: Alma 37:3–6, Book of Mormon, LDS.org.
Image from video, “Alma Counsels His Sons,” LDS Media Library
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15. Alma speaks to his son Helaman
“[I]f they are kept they must retain their
brightness; yea, and they will retain their
brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates
which do contain that which is holy writ.
“Now ye may suppose that this is
foolishness in me; but behold I say unto
you, that by small and simple things are
great things brought to pass; and small
means in many instances doth confound the
wise.”
Source: Alma 37:3–6, Book of Mormon, LDS.org.
Image from video, “Alma Counsels His Sons,” LDS Media Library
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16. Why did dinosaurs exist? Fossil fuels.
→ So the prophet and apostles can preach the gospel
throughout the world.
Why do we have electricity?
→ So the work in temples can go on at any time of day,
providing saving ordinances for our ancestors.
Why are Apple and Samsung pushing to sell connected
devices in as many areas of the world as possible?
→ So the world can have easy access to the internet, to
learn about and study the gospel.
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17. Spencer W. Kimball
“I believe that the Lord is anxious to put into our
hands inventions of which we laymen have hardly
had a glimpse. ... [M]issionaries could be supplied
with small portable cassette tape players and go into
the homes with prepared messages to humble family
groups all around the globe. Millions of people are
anxious and willing to learn, if only they can hear
the “sound” in their own language and in a manner
that they can grasp and understand.
“Just think what can be accomplished when we
broadcast our message in many languages over
numerous radio stations, large and small, around the
world, and millions of good people listening on their
transistors are being indoctrinated with the truth.”
Source: Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Oct. 1974
Image from LDS Media Library
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18. Video
We Have a Challenge,
and It’s Growing!
Video from ICS Department / LDSTech.
Not available online.
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19. Brigham Young
“Every discovery in science and art, that is
really true and useful to mankind, has been
given by direct revelation from God. ... We
should take advantage of all these great
discoveries ... and give to our children the
benefit of every branch of useful knowledge,
to prepare them to step forward and
efficiently do their part in the great work.”
Source: Brigham Young, Deseret News, 22 Oct. 1862, p. 129
Image from LDS Media Library
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20. Video
Elder Bednar’s invitation to
Sweep the Earth as with a Flood
(condensed version)
Video from LDS Pacific Area channel on YouTube, with clips from Elder Bednar’s address at BYU Education Week 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vYBgvC10Wg
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21. Sustaining the Growth of the Church
Church Membership Full-Time Missionaries
Church Employees
This chart is meant to show overall trends and does not show exact proportions.
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22. Many church members are looking for
opportunities to serve.
The internet makes it easy for people to
contribute from around the world.
We can help meet the digital needs of the
church by serving online.
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23. FamilySearch Indexing
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24. LDSTech Projects
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25. Adding Image Search Words
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26. Donating Photos and Media
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27. Vineyard.LDS.org
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28. Volunteer.LDS.org
Creating a Profile
In order to create a profile on
Volunteer.LDS.org, you will need an
LDS Account
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29. Vineyard at BYU
facebook.com/vineyardbyu
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30. Weekly Meetings
Every Wednesday, 6:00 PM, in the Y-Serve
Office (2330 WSC) – indexing, photo
keywording, transcribing
Monthly Events
Sharing the gospel online, technology
training, generating photos, indexing,
transcribing, etc.
Leadership Opportunities
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31. Upcoming Events
Wednesdays: Weekly volunteer meetings
October 4: General Conference #ldsconf Party
October 16–17: LDSTech Conference
October 18: LDS Music Transcription Hackathon II
Beyond October: Gospel Library Training, Graphic
Design Challenge, Reflection Meeting, Indexathon,
Photo Walk, Community Outreach Day, Video
Tutorials, History Department, Especially for Youth
You can join our Vineyard at BYU events on Facebook
or look at photos from previous events.
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32. Volunteer Experiences
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33. Questions?
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If you want to be involved,
join our mailing list or like
“Vineyard at BYU” on
Facebook!