All About Mormons

Recently, someone asked me about my vision of the church a hundred years from now. I thought that was a very interesting question! I’m no prophet, nor do I truly know “all about the Mormons,” but let me venture a guess anyway.

The People

In a hundred years, there will be between 50 and 100 million Mormons worldwide, more or less one in every hundred people on the planet. The church will continue to grow in Latin America. The recent growth in Africa will also continue full force. In a hundred years, there will be more people with African heritage in the church than people without African heritage. Many will be baptized in India and China too. In fact, there will be a temple in India.

The church will have grown substantially in the United States and Europe. Currently, many in these places are abandoning organized religion and adopting a vague notion of “spirituality.” Eventually many of these people will realize that vague spirituality does not provide the same blessings and stability that organized religion does. Many of these seekers, and many of their children, will look for a new religion, and many will find the Church of Jesus Christ.

In a hundred years, we will have a Latino prophet and an apostle from sub-Saharan Africa. (Note that recently the first sub-Saharan member of the First Quorum of the Seventy was called.)

Politics

In a hundred years, we will have already had a Mormon president of the United States. I don’t know if it will be Mitt Romney or Jon Huntsman or someone currently unknown, but it’s just a matter of time. Although the church of today is itself progressive, many current members, especially in the United States, are now quite conservative. In a hundred years, there will be more Mormons with liberal political philosophies. Most Mormons will still be socially conservative; we’ll still be opposed to abortion, homosexual marriage, etc. However, there will be more (American) Mormons in favor of immigration, government welfare programs, and other progressive programs. As has already happened, there will be many Mormon politicians in other countries, too, a result of programs like the church’s Perpetual Education Fund.

The Doctrines

The doctrines of the church will be more or less the same as today, but we Mormons will have received more light and knowledge through ongoing modern revelation. The church will still be in favor of the traditional family. There will be no gay sealings or gay marriages in the church. However, church members will have a greater understanding of the doctrine already taught in the church regarding homosexuality. Consequently, those who feel same-sex attraction, and even those who choose to break the law of chastity, will feel more comfortable worshiping with us, although the latter will not be granted temple recommends. (Note that there are already many “gay Mormons” that feel comfortable worshiping with us; the number will only grow.)

Unfortunately, I believe Mormon haters will still exist in a hundred years. We cannot expect paradise. 🙂