1971–1979
Statistical Report 1970
April 1971


Statistical Report

For the information of the members of the Church.

The First Presidency has issued the following Statistical Report concerning the membership of the Church at the end of the year 1970:

Number of Stakes of Zion at the Close of 1970

537

Number of Wards

4,158

Number of Independent Branches in Stakes

764

Total Wards and Independent Branches in Stakes at Close of Year

4,922

Number of Mission Branches at Close of Year

1,943

Number of Full-time Missions at end of Year

94

Church membership, December 31, 1970:

In the Stakes

2,485,525

In the Missions

445,285

Total Membership

2,930,810

Church Growth During 1970:

Children Blessed in Stakes and Mission

65,981

Children of Record Baptized in Stakes and Missions

55,210

Converts Baptized in Stakes and Missions

79,126

Social Statistics:

(Based on 1970 Data from the Stakes)

Birth Rate per Thousand

28.41

Number of Persons Married per Thousand

15.43

Death Rate per Thousand

4.78

Priesthood:

Members Holding the Aaronic Priesthood, December 31, 1970

Deacons

133,369

Teachers

95,219

Priests

147,955

Total Number Holding Aaronic Priesthood

376,543

Members Holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, December 31, 1970

Elders

245,790

Seventies

23,793

High Priests

83,890

Total Number Holding Melchizedek Priesthood

353,473

Grand Total, Members Holding Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood

730,016

An increase of 35,943 During the Year

Auxiliary Organizations:

Relief Society (Membership)

347,244

Deseret Sunday School Union (Average Attendance)

818,738

Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association (Enrollment)

351,591

Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association (Enrollment)

383,916

Primary (Children Enrollment)

459,335

Welfare Plan:

Number of Persons Assisted During the Year

84,507

Number Placed in Remunerative Employment

9,226

Man-Days of Work Donated to the Welfare Plan

190,921

Unit-Days of Equipment Use Donated

4,815

Genealogical Society:

Names Cleared in 1970 for Temple Ordinances

1,697,282

Genealogical Records Microfilmed in 17 Countries During the Year Brought the total to 212,858 One Hundred Foot Rolls of Microfilm for use of the Church which are the Equivalent of over 3,200,000 printed volumes of 300 pages each.

Temples:

Number of Ordinances performed during 1970 in the 13 operating Temples:

For the Living

60,410

For the Dead

6,884,556

Total Number of Ordinances

6,944,966

Church School System:

Total 1970 Cumulative Enrollments in Church Schools, Including Institutes and Seminaries

210,647

Those Who Have Passed Away

  • Elder Thorpe B. Isaacson, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve

  • Emma Ray Riggs McKay, widow of the late President David O. McKay

  • Elder A. William Lund, Assistant Church Historian