Conversation: Church Flourishes in Northeastern United States and Canada

Covering an area that takes in many of North America’s largest cities—New York, Detroit, Toronto, Philadelphia, Montreal, Boston, Washington, D.C.—and perhaps a third of the total population of the United States and an even higher proportion of Canada’s, the Church’s North America Northeast Area is the scene of both the origin of the Church and much modern growth. For an update about the Church in this area, the Ensign spoke with Elder Vaughn J Featherstone of the Seventy, President of the North America Northeast Area, and his counselors, Elders W. Don Ladd and Marlin K. Jensen, both also of the Seventy.

Elder W. Don Ladd Elder Vaughn J Featherstone Elder Marlin K. Jensen

Question: How would you describe the current progress of the Church in the Northeast?

Answer: The Church here is now in a position where growth can really move forward. We have a strong nucleus of Church members in most areas, and in many locations Church membership is reaching a critical mass in both numbers and involvement that will encourage explosive growth. Church membership in the area is approaching 500,000, with 106 stakes, 12 districts, 27 missions, and two existing temples. Last year 15,000 people joined the Church in the area, and temple endowments have increased for the last three years in a row.

Perhaps the most exciting thing members in the area are looking forward to is the construction of new temples in Boston and New York. Together with the Washington Temple, these two new temples will anchor the densely populated U.S. “Bosnywash” corridor at both ends and in the middle, while the Toronto Temple will continue to serve members to the northwest. Like the Washington Temple, both new temples have dramatic locations planned that will allow them to be seen by thousands of motorists passing by on major expressways. Since its dedication in 1974, the Washington Temple has been perhaps the biggest single factor in influencing the image of the Church on the East Coast, and we expect the two new temples to likewise help bring the Church further out of obscurity.

While we’re on the subject of the Church’s physical facilities, it is important to recognize that the Church has reached a point in its maturity that the majority of people in the Northeast are now living within reasonably close proximity to a Church meetinghouse. We have 737 Church-owned buildings in the area plus 118 more that are leased, for a total of 855. The infrastructure is in place for much more growth.

Q: Tell us more about the members in the Northeast.

A: They are very impressive. Many members of the Church are well educated and are prominent in government, business, and academics, and we have a host of strong, dedicated families throughout the area who are contributing to the growth of the kingdom in every possible way. As recently as 10 years ago the majority of stake presidents and other leaders in the Northeast were transplants from Latter-day Saint population centers in the western United States, but today more and more capable, well-versed leaders who were born and raised in the Northeast are taking the Church into the future. One great strength of members in the Northeast is their involvement in missionary work: they go out on splits with the missionaries, freely give them referrals, pray for the missionaries and their investigators, and invite them to teach discussions in their homes. Great things are happening as missionaries and members team up in a balanced effort to convert, retain, and activate. Media referrals also are an important part of missionary work in this area, with some missions receiving as many as 1,000 media referrals a month.

Another significant development in the Northeast that continues to gather momentum is the growth of the Church in the inner cities. The 1978 revelation that all worthy males could hold the priesthood opened the way, and today we are seeing the fruits. We are amazed at the ethnic diversity in the Northeast. In Toronto, for example, more than 90 nationalities are represented. Numerous languages are spoken among Church members in the Northeast, and in many cases foreign citizens return to their countries of origin and take the gospel with them.

Q: What challenges and obstacles does the Church face in the Northeast?

A: Religious traditions are strong in the area, yet at the same time much worldliness and secularism have crept in, diverting people’s attention from spiritual matters. Economic challenges in many locales keep some people preoccupied with making a living. People in populous areas face extra challenges of time and distance; we know of many members who leave their homes as early as 6:00 A.M. and don’t return until 7:00 P.M. or later and then try to find time for their families, Church callings, and other activities. Despite their pressures, though, so many of our members are so faithful and devoted to the Church.

As elsewhere throughout the world, the Northeast is facing many challenges related to the disintegration of the family through divorce, unwed pregnancy, pornography, homosexuality, and other evils. Gambling, drugs, and violent crime are also continuing concerns. Because of the way the world is today, the Church is attracting more and more people who admire our emphasis on strong families and our solid moral values. We are happy to report that overall we feel the Church’s biggest challenge in the Northeast is dealing with growth.

Q: What other developments are taking place in the Northeast?

A: The Church is truly in full blossom in North America’s Northeast. Members are strengthened by temples, by unified stakes, and by the many Church historical sites in their midst, from Joseph Smith’s birthplace in Vermont to the Kirtland Temple in Ohio. The Hill Cumorah Pageant continues to be an annual highlight for members in the Northeast, attracting as many as 100,000 visitors a year and generating thousands of missionary referrals. We know that as more and more people join the Church and faithfully live the gospel, they will be an influence for good far beyond the proportion represented by their numbers.