Latter-day Saint presiding bishop says convert baptisms are up 20% this year

Convert baptisms in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are up 20% this year over last, Presiding Bishop W. Christopher Waddell said in an Oct. 13 speech at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. ^[1]

Waddell said that pace could translate to 450,000 to 500,000 convert baptisms in 2026, with Africa alone on track to add 120,000 converts. The church reported a record 385,490 converts in 2025, which pushed global membership past 17.8 million, the Tribune reported. ^[1]

Waddell also noted full-time missionaries have reached a record of more than 90,000, which he attributed largely to more young women serving after the church lowered the minimum age for women to 18. Women recently made up more than half of the missionaries at the Missionary Training Center in Provo and now account for more than a third of the worldwide force, he said. ^[1]

Waddell said the church will surpass 400 temples "in the near future." The church currently has 385 existing or planned temples. Independent researcher Matt Martinich, who tracks church growth, wrote on his website that the comment suggests at least 16 more temples may be announced and that membership could reach 18.3 million to 18.4 million by year's end. ^[1]