First LDS Stake Created in Armenia

Last Sunday, the Church organized its first stake in the small Christian country of Armenia.  Located in the Caucasus Mountains and surrounded by Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and the Republic of Georgia, Armenia is the world's oldest Christian country where the majority of the population adheres to the Armenian Apostolic Church.  The LDS Church began missionary activity in Armenia during the early 1990s and the Church organized the first member district in 1994.  In 1999, the Church organized the Armenia Yerevan Mission from the Russia Rostov Mission.  Steady membership growth occurred during the late 1990s and the 2000s and several additional branches were organized in Yerevan and additional cities.  In 2008, the Church organized a second member district in Yerevan with the goal to eventually organize two stakes in Yerevan within the medium term.  In 2011, the two districts in Yerevan were consolidated into a single district and four branches were closed in preparation to create ward-sized units. During the past decade, the Church has struggled with inactivity problems incurred by quick-baptism tactics employed during many years in the 2000s and the emigration of active membership.

Information on which branches in the district became wards in the new stake is not currently available and I will post this information once it becomes available.  As of year-end 2012, Armenia ranked as the country with the thirteenth most members without a stake with 3,024 members, 11 branches, and one district.  The new Yerevan Armenia Stake becomes one of the Church's most isolated stakes in the world as the nearest stakes to Yerevan are located in Kyiv, Ukraine (approximately 1,000 miles away) and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (over 1,200 miles away).  Due to visa restrictions, only 57 missionaries serve in the entire Armenia Yerevan Mission which includes Armenia and the Republic of Georgia.

For more information on LDS Church growth in Armenia, refer to our statistical profile, country profile, and LDS International Atlas on cumorah.com.

100th Stake to be Organized in Peru

Members in Peru report that in two weekends the Church will organized its 100th stake in the country through a division of the Lima Peru La Molina Stake.  Currently only three countries have more than 100 stakes: The United States (1,503), Brazil (247), and Mexico (226).  One country (Chile) once had more than 100 stakes currently has 74 stakes as a result of the consolidation of over 40 stakes a decade ago due to inactivity and leadership problems.  Once the stake is organized there will be 42 stakes in the Lima metropolitan area - the second highest for any metropolitan area outside the United States after Mexico City.

For more information on this development, visit a Facebook page by clicking here.

New Stake in Zimbabwe; New District in French Polynesia

Zimbabwe
A new stake as created last Sunday in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.  The Nkulumane Zimbabwe Stake was organized from the Bulawayo Zimbabwe Stake and includes the following four wards and four branches: The Nketa 1st, Nkulumane 1st, Nkulumane 2nd, and Tshabalala Wards and the Emganwini, Mzilikazi, Nketa 2nd, and Nkulumane 3rd Branches.  There are now five stakes and two districts in Zimbabwe.

French Polynesia
Last Sunday a new district was organized in French Polynesia.  The Taiohae Marquesas Islands District was organized from two former mission branches in the Marquesas Islands (Hiva Oa and Taiohae).  Additional branches may be organized within the boundaries of the new district considering there are only two branches in the new district.  There are now eight stakes and four districts in French Polynesia.

New Stake Created in Peru; District Discontinued in Peru

New Stake
Last Sunday, a new stake was created in Lima, Peru.  The Lima Perú Pachacamac Stake was organized from the Lima Peru Villa Salvador Stake and includes the following six wards: The Floresta, José Gálvez, Las Lomas, Lurin, Pachacamac, and Villa Alejandro Wards.  There are now 41 stakes in the Lima metropolitan area.

District Discontinued
The Church recently discontinued the Marcona Peru District.  With originally only two branches, the former district had one of its two branches closed and was consolidated with the nearby Nazca Peru District (which had one of its three branches closed).  The Nazca Peru District now has three branches within its boundaries.

There are now 99 stakes and 22 districts in Peru.

May 2013 Newsletter

Our monthly newsletter from cumorah.com providing church growth news and a summary of recently added resources to the website is now available.  Click here to access the newsletter.

Updated Missionary Numbers

In an article in the Deseret News, the Church reported 68,700 full-time missionaries serving as of May 29th, 2013.  Currently 22,500 members have received their mission calls but have not yet entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and an additional 6,200 members are in the process of completing their missionary applications.  Church officials project that the number of full-time missionaries will reach 85,000 this fall; a 47% increase from the approximately 58,000 missionaries serving in October 2012.

For more information about the recent increase in the full-time missionary force for the LDS Church, please refer to the following resources:

• Lowering the Minimum Mission Age: Analysis and Predictions for Growth for the LDS Church
• Analysis of New Missions to be Organized in July 2013
• Raising the Bar and Increasing the Number of Members Serving Missions
• 2012 Annual Statistical Report (blog post)
• April 6th, 2013 Update on the Number of Full-time Missionaries Serving  (blog post)
• March 27th, 2013 Update on the Number of Full-time Missionaries Serving (blog post)
• January 8th, 2013 Update on the Number of Full-time Missionaries Serving (blog post)

New Stake in Australia

A new stake was created in Australia.

The Sydney Australia Fairfield Stake was created from the Liverpool Australia and Sydney Australia Baulkham Hills Stakes and includes the following seven wards: The Fairfield (Tongan), Oatlands, Parramatta, Prairiewood 1st, Prairiewood 2nd (Spanish), Villawood 1st, and Villawood 2nd Ward (Samoan) Wards.  This new stake creation is of particular interest as a couple of the wards in the new stake were previously assigned to the Sydney Parramatta Stake - the first and only stake of the Church to be discontinued in Oceania.  The Sydney Parramatta Stake was discontinued in 2011 and combined with neighboring stakes in the Sydney area, namely the present-day Sydney Australia Baulkham Hills Stake.  The creation of the new Sydney Australia Fairfield Stake does not appear to be attributed to any upswing in member activity or convert retention improvements in the area but rather due to steady growth in the Liverpool Australia Stake over the past decade.  Considering the Church created two new stakes each in Brisbane in late 2012 and Melbourne in early 2013, a second new stake in Sydney or New South Wales may be forthcoming.  The creation of the new stake may also coincide with the ongoing growth of the Church in Australia among Pacific Islanders as evidenced by one of the wards in the new stake now being designated as a Tongan-speaking unit whereas it appeared to be assigned only as an English-speaking unit.

There are now 37 stakes and nine districts in Australia.

Updated List of the Countries with the Most Members without a Stake

Below is an updated list of the countries with the most Latter-day Saints without a stake.  Membership totals are as of 2012 and congregational and district totals are current.  Membership totals for mainland China and Pakistan are estimates as no official statistics are available.  The number of branches and districts in mainland China is not provided due to the sensitive nature of the Church in that country.  Previous lists of the most countries without a stake can be found here.

1. Cambodia - 11,469 members - 28 branches - 6 districts
2. China - 10,500 members?
3. Malaysia - 8,967 members - 33 branches - 8 districts
4. Liberia - 6,709 members - 20 branches - 2 districts
5. Mozambique - 6,029 members - 21 branches - 2 districts
6. Jamaica - 5,580 members - 19 branches - 2 districts
7. Vanuatu - 5,491 members - 31 branches - 3 districts
8. Guyana - 5,415 members - 13 branches - 1 district
9. Federated States of Micronesia - 4,565 members - 4 districts
10. Belize - 4,240 members - 11 branches - 2 districts
11. Pakistan - 3,500 members - 13 branches? - 3 districts
12. Zambia - 3,044 members - 12 branches - 2 districts
13. Armenia - 3,024 members - 11 branches - 1 district
14. Romania - 3,002 members - 18 branches - 2 districts
15. Czech Republic - 2,369 members - 13 branches - 2 districts
16. Albania - 2,299 members - 11 branches - 1 district
17. Bulgaria - 2,296 members - 9 branches - 0 districts
18. Cook Islands - 1,862 members - 5 branches - 1 district
19. Togo - 1,861 members - 11 branches - 1 district
20. Poland - 1,780 members - 14 branches - 2 districts

Prospects appear most favorable for the formation of stakes within the next few years in Cambodia, Malaysia, Liberia, Mozambique, Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, Belize, Zambia, Armenia, Albania, and Togo as all of these countries has at least one district that is close to reaching the minimum qualifications for a stake to operate.  Low member activity rates, an insufficient number of branches in individual member districts, and few full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders will likely continue to delay the organization of stakes in other countries for several more years to come.

Country Statistical Profiles on Cumorah.com

At cumorah.com, we have recently begun posting our country statistical profiles that provide the most exhaustive LDS statistics available on the internet.  In over a year in development, these profiles are part of a total revamp on the website that can currently be accessed through our development website.  Click here to access our statistical profile for Albania and access other profiles that we have posted thus far through the drop down on the top of the webpage.  We have yet to work on our homepage and the webpage layouts so if you notice any errors please overlook these for now.  We hope to have the revamped website and all our resources up within the next month or so.  I have hesitated sharing the link to these before we officially launch the website, but I felt that the public would benefit from having access to these statistical profiles to obtain accurate and detailed church growth data.

New Stake in Guatemala

Last Sunday a new stake was created in Guatemala.  The Antigua Guatemala Stake was organized from the the Chimaltenango Guatemala Stake and includes the following six wards and one branch: The Antigua, Ciudad Vieja, Jocotenango, Parramos, San Lucas 1st, and San Lucas 2nd Wards and the San Pedro Las Huertas Branch.  Unlike most stakes in the country, the Chimaltenango Guatemala Stake has experienced steady congregational growth within the past decade which has necessitated the creation of a new stake.

There are now 41 stakes and 19 districts in Guatemala.

Congregational Growth by Country: 2012

Below is a list of the countries where the Church reported a net increase of four or more units for the year 2012.  The annual percentage increase for the number of wards and branches is also provided:

1. United States +114 (0.8% increase)
2. Nigeria +35 (11.1% increase)
3. Ghana +19 (14.7% increase)
4. Philippines +16 (1.4% increase)
5. Cote d'Ivoire +11 (26.2% increase)
6. Zimbabwe +10 (20.0% increase)
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo  +9 (8.4% increase)
8. Australia +5 (1.8% increase)
9. Cape Verde +5 (27.8% increase)
10. Haiti +5 (13.5% increase)
11. Togo +5 (83.3% increase)
12. India +4 (11.1% increase)
13. Madagascar +4 (12.1% increase)

The net increase in the number of wards and branches in these 13 countries totals 242; a larger number than the net increase in the number of wards and branches for the entire Church for the year 2012.  Five countries experienced a net decrease of four or more units during 2012 including:

1. Mexico -15 (0.8% decrease)
2. Russia -10 (9.2% decrease)
3. South Korea -8 (5.9% decrease)
4. Argentina -8 (1.0% decrease)
5. Canada -5 (1.0% decrease)

Decreasing numbers of congregations in Mexico and Argentina are particularly concerning as the Church has experienced a net decrease in congregations in these two countries for several years now notwithstanding church membership increasing by tens of thousands. 

April 2013 Cumorah Newsletter

We have posted our April newsletter for the Cumorah Foundation detailing recent church growth news and additional resources posted to our website.  Click here to view newsletter.

New Stakes Created in Arizona and Mexico

Last Sunday new stakes were organized in Arizona and Mexico.

In Arizona, the Church created the Gilbert Arizona Williams Field Stake from the Gilbert Arizona Higley and Gilbert Arizona San Tan Stakes.  The new stake consists of the following six wards: The Chaparral, Fairview, Gateway, Pecos Park, Maplewood, and Stratland Wards.  There are now 95 stakes in Arizona.

In Mexico, the Church created the Mexico City Alamedas Stake from the Mexico City Valle Dorado Stake.  The new stake has the following five wards and one branch: The Alamedas, Lomas Lindas, Campestre, Colmena, and Nicolas Romero Wards and the Villa del Carbon Branch.  The Mexico City Valle Dorado Stake now has six wards.  The last new stake to be organized in the Mexico City area was in 2008.  For more information on the Church in Mexico City, refer to my case study here.  There are now 44 stakes in the Mexico City area and 227 stakes and 36 districts in Mexico.

New Stake in Mexico

A new stake was created in Mexico last Sunday.  The Córdoba México Stake was created from the Orizaba México Stake and includes the Córdoba, Escamela, Huilango, Nuevo Córdoba, and Ojo de Agua Wards and the Huatusco Branch.  The Church in Mexico has experienced stagnant congregational growth for the past several years but has had at least a couple new stakes organized each year during this period.  This suggests that member activity and convert retention rates remain problematic but there may be some progress in leadership development.

There are now 226 stakes and 36 districts in Mexico.

Membership by Country Statistics Released for 2012

Membership and congregation totals for nations with a reported LDS presence are now available on the Church's official website and can be found at http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/facts-and-statistics. Data is available under the country profiles on the right side of the site.

The 20 countries with the highest annual membership growth rates in 2012 are listed below. Lists for nations with the most rapid membership growth rates are also available for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.  The percentage next to the country name is the annual growth rate percentage which is followed by the country's LDS membership at year-end 2012. Countries in bold experienced a membership increase greater than 200. 

1. Benin - 59.9% - 1,081
2. Rwanda - 34.4% - 121
3. Solomon Islands - 31.5% - 509
4. Botswana - 27.1% - 2,152 
5. Malawi - 22.9% - 1,421
6. Angola - 20.9% - 1,257
7. Togo - 19.7% - 1,861
8. Jersey - 16.7% - 349
9. Cape Verde - 16.2% - 9,326
10. Ethiopia - 15.7% - 1,678
11. Sierra Leone - 15.7% - 11,664
12. Tuvalu - 14.9% - 200
13. Madagascar - 14.6% - 9,190
14. Cote d'Ivoire - 14.5% - 18,602
15. Liberia - 14.4% - 6,709
16. Democratic Republic of the Congo - 13.5% - 34,547
17. Namibia - 13.2% - 763
18. Malaysia - 13.1% - 8,967
19. Vanuatu - 12.9% - 5,491
20. Cameroon - 12.4% - 12.4%

Below is a list of the top ten countries by numerical increase in membership for the year 2012. Each country is provided with the national increase in membership and the percentage of this increase out of total Church membership increase. Lists are also available for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.  72.6% of 2012 LDS membership increase can be attributed to the following 10 nations. 

1. United States - 92,183 - 27.0%
2. Mexico - 44,501 - 13.0%
3. Brazil - 36,441 - 10.7%
4. Peru - 18,947 - 5.6%
5. Philippines - 13,568 - 4.0%
6. Argentina - 12,655 - 3.7%
7. Ecuador - 8,230 - 2.4%
8. Guatemala - 7,958 - 2.3%
9. Chile - 6,883 - 2.0%
10. Honduras - 6,249 - 1.8%

I will provide additional analysis of these country-by-country statistics in the coming couple days.  Some interesting developments with these 2012 statistics include a significant increase in church membership for Guatemala and Ecuador that has not been experienced since the 1990s, church membership in the Central African Republic declining by 50% likely due to updating membership records, and church membership continuing to experience small gains in Norway that first began in 2009 after two decades of stagnant membership growth.