October 3, 2025, 8pm mdt
Israeli gatherings are accelerating. A record number of converts join the Latter-day Saint Church of Jesus Christ and enter the sea of baptism in all parts of the world.
Speaking to the new mission leader in June, Elder Quentin L. Cook, a quorum of the 12 Apostles, said in 2024 that over 308,000 God’s children entered the sea of baptism and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This amounts to approximately 50,000 converts in 2024 than the previous year. They also convert baptism than the church had in nearly 25 years.
He said this “spiritual momentum” continues to increase in 2025. Compared to the first quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2024, all parts of the world have seen a rise in baptismal converts by at least 20%.
“This is amazing,” he said. “In the last 12 months that ended on May 31, I have rushed to his work of the Lord, so I converted my baptism in this 12-month period of distribution.”
This growth is evident all over the world, like the town of Moriba, Sierra Leone, where 120 men, women and children were baptized in one day on August 23rd.
In Papua New Guinea, stocks are organized faster than buildings where Latter-day Saints gather. On June 14th, 107 people stepped into the Bangoho River to be baptized. And another 129 were baptized over the weekend of August 2-3 at the Ministry of Jiu-Jitsu in Papua New Guinea.
A few months of work from the President of the Nigerian District, Nigerian full-time missionary, and members of the Nigerian church brought about an unprecedented baptismal service on June 24, 2023.
Elder Cook said in June 2025 that the recent increase was also affecting attendance at the Sacrament.
“This increase in baptism was exciting in 2024, so we are grateful that we have witnessed his hand with these amazing results, as we know that the rate of growth of new members attending the Sacramental Conference will be even higher, and that’s why he is in a hurry,” Elder Cook said.
Around the world, leaders of local wards, interests and local world leaders have seen people’s lives change, repent, baptized and receive the Holy Spirit by fostering faith in Jesus Christ. Israel’s salvation and gathering work has been particularly accelerated as church members focused on serving friends and new converts and helping their families, and new converts went to the temple.
Members who tie their arms with missionaries
In the Philippines, local presidency focuses on attendance in the sacrament, strengthening youths to prepare for missions and helping new members receive temple recommendations within the first month after baptism.
Elder G. Kenneth Lee, a region of 70, said the region is on track to reach 20,000 baptisms in 2025.
This steady growth came when members and missionaries unite their weapons in their efforts to serve the families of part-members. Once members are assigned to ministry duties, missionaries teach their families on weekdays.
“So now you’re strengthening your whole family,” Elder Lee said. “It was one of the greatest things.”
This link arm approach also helped many members become more involved in missionary work.
“I know they’re helping together,” Elder Lee said.
Create a welcoming environment
Young single adult members in and around Washington, DC, also learned that they have been successful in teaching their friends and bringing them to the gospel.
According to President Alvin B. Jackson, president of the Washington, DC YSA North Stake, members are intentionally working to be extremely friendly and outgoing.
“So when missionaries bring their friends, or when someone brings their friends to church, it’s been a great exercise,” he said. “If we can take them to church, we have a chance to take them to the sea of baptism.”
And, like in the Philippines, new converts continue their activities in the church when they go to the temple with their last name within 30 days of being baptized.
“One of the things we’re trying to do is when the person is baptized and they come out of the water, they should have brothers or sisters who will serve there,” President Jackson said.
He added that what the deal keeper sees gives him optimism for the future.
“It’s a really special generation,” he said. “I think he’s talking about our youth when President (Russell M.) Nelson said, ‘The best ones haven’t come yet.’ Of course, he’s talking about the Savior coming back, but it’s a wonderful young crop of people we have in the church.”
A source of constant faith and hope
President Edson Douglas Silva Alves, president of Santarem Portugal’s Stocks, said his missionary work in the area was “developing with a spirit of faith and hope.”
He too sees increased unity between the full-time missionary and his stake members.
“The greatest strength occurs when members live their faith with joy. An example of this naturally opens the door,” he said. “I had the blessing of baptizing many people here in Santarem. Every time I share the gospel of Christ, I feel my testimony has been renewed and reinforced.”
President Alvez’s stocks are diverse, with many nationalities coming from different parts of the world. But he said, “Jesus Christ unites us all as brothers and sisters.”
