- Reaching the Nations: International Church Growth Almanac - We have posted the country and regional profiles on our book for several years now. These profiles examine geography, demographics, history, culture, economy, religious freedom, the status of LDS outreach in the most populous cities, LDS history, membership growth, congregational growth, activity and retention, language materials, meetinghouses, health and safety, and humanitarian and development work. An analytical section also examines how contextual factors have influenced LDS growth trends. Over 200 countries, dependencies, and territories worldwide are examined in this work. Although most of the profiles have not been updated in two or three years, I will be posting the most recently updated profiles on the site within the coming months, which are current as of mid-2013.
- Law of the Harvest: Practical Principles of Effective Missionary Work - David Stewart has provided his entire book for free on .html and .pdf formats. I just noticed the.pdf format for download is not working and we will get the issue resolved as soon as possible.
- LDS International Atlas - This web-based atlas uses Google Maps to display the Church's missions, stakes, districts, wards, branches, and known member groups. There are also country-by-country maps displaying the most populous cities without an LDS presence, the status of LDS outreach by each ethnolinguistic group with 100 or more people, and the estimated number and percentage of members by administrative division (i.e. province or state). The atlas is updated on a daily basis.
- Case Studies - We have posted approximately 180 case studies that examine a wide array of topics pertaining to LDS growth and missionary work. Older case studies are listed alphabetically and can be found here, whereas more recently written case study are categorized by topic and can be accessed on the homepage.We will be adding 20 additional case studies on the coming weeks that were recently written.
- Missiology Encyclopedia - This online encyclopedia identifies, defines, and analyzes nearly 80 terms of interest to the study of LDS growth and missionary work. Most of the encyclopedia entries are posted on the site, with the remainder to be posted in the coming months.
- Monthly Newsletters - Since October 2012, we have posted a monthly newsletter that provides updates on recent LDS growth and missionary developments. Recently added or updated articles and resources on cumorah.com are also identified.
- Quotes to Live By Quotation Database - Over 2,000 quotes compiled by David Stewart that supplement practical and effective missionary programs.
- Multilingual Scriptures - Compare books in two different language versions of your choice.
- LDS Gospel Library E-texts and LDS and World E-texts - 225 e-texts available in 30 categories.
- Non-English LDS Resources - Translations of various missionary materials in many languages.
- LDS Missionary and International Links - English and non-English.
- Photos - We will be posting thousands of international photos in the coming months.
- Additional Articles - Some of these articles or works in progress include David Stewart's LDS Church Growth, Member Activity, and Convert Retention: Review and Analysis and Discussions with My Friend: An Introduction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Future Resources - We have been working on an introductory guide to the study of missiology (Missiology Guide) and a Review and an Analysis of the Hastening the Work of Salvation Initiative, including its influence on LDS growth trends and missionary work.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Cumorah.com Back Online!
Cumorah.com is back and functioning well thanks to our website designer Zeeshan Ahmad. For those of you who may be less familiar with our website, here's a brief synopsis of what resources you can access:
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The Balcones Branch (Spanish), San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 10 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Alamo YSA 1st Ward
Boerne Ward
Bulverde Ward
Canyon Lake Ward
Canyon Springs Ward
Encino Park Ward
Fair Oaks Ward
Indian Springs Ward
Kerrville Ward
Leon Springs Ward
Balcones Branch (Spanish)
Fredericksburg Branch
The Bayside Ward, Suitland Maryland Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 10 wards in the stake:
Anacostia Ward
Bayside Ward
Bowie Ward
Calvert Ward
Capitol Hill Ward
Capitol Ward
Lexington Park Ward
Patuxent Ward
White Plains 1st Ward
White Plains 2nd Ward
The Campo Belo Ward, São Paulo Brazil Casa Grande Stake, was created on 6 July. There are now 9 wards in the stake:
Campo Belo Ward
Casa Grande Ward
Cipó Ward
Embu-Guaçu Ward
Jardim Campinas Ward
Palmares Ward
Parelheiros Ward
Vila Dirce Ward
Vila Natal Ward
The Elk Ridge 8th Ward, Payson Utah East Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 11 wards in the stake:
Elk Ridge 1st Ward
Elk Ridge 2nd Ward
Elk Ridge 3rd Ward
Elk Ridge 4th Ward
Elk Ridge 5th Ward
Elk Ridge 6th Ward
Elk Ridge 7th Ward
Elk Ridge 8th Ward
Mountain View 1st Ward
Mountain View 9th Ward
Payson 7th Ward
The Freedom 2nd Ward, Provo Utah South Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 11 wards in the stake:
East Bay 1st Ward
East Bay 2nd Ward (Spanish)
Franklin 1st Ward
Franklin 2nd Ward
Freedom 1st Ward
Freedom 2nd Ward
Freedom 3rd Ward (Spanish)
Pioneer Park Ward
Provo 2nd Ward
Provo 6th Ward
Town Hall Ward
The Linao Ward, Talisay Philippines Stake, was created on 6 July. There are now 7 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Carcar Ward
Lawa-an Ward
Linao Ward
Naga Ward
Pardo Ward
Talisay 1st Ward
Talisay 2nd Ward
Minglanilla Branch
Sibonga Branch
The Oghara-Sapele Branch, Nigeria Benin City Mission, was created on 13 July. There are now 5 independent branches in the mission:
Agbor Nigeria District
Asaba Nigeria District
Ekpoma Nigeria District
Ogwashi-Nsukwa Nigeria District
Adonte Branch
Akure Branch
Nigeria Benin City Mission Branch
Oghara-Sapele Branch
Ondo Branch
Glad to see the site is back up. Thanks.
The Asonkore Branch, Obuasi Ghana District, Ghana Kumasi Mission, was created on 29 June. There are now 4 branches in the district:
Asonkore Branch
Obuasi 1st Branch
Obuasi 2nd Branch
Obuasi 3rd Branch
The Crooked River Branch (Spanish), Redmond Oregon Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 6 wards and 3 branches in the stake:
Centennial Park Ward
Cline Falls Ward
Madras Ward
Prineville 2nd Ward
Prineville 1st Ward
Smith Rock Ward
Ashwood Branch (Correctional Facility)
Crooked River Branch (Spanish)
Sisters Branch
The Kenten Branch, Ghana Kumasi Mission, was created on 13 July. There are now 10 independent branches in the mission:
Nkawkaw Ghana District
Obuasi Ghana District
Sunyani Ghana District
Agona Branch
Asamang Branch
Bibiani Branch
Education Ridge Branch
Ghana Kumasi Mission Branch
Kenten Branch
Krobo Branch
Mampong Branch
Vatican Branch
Vitin Branch
The Linao Ward, Talisay Philippines Stake, was created on 6 July. There are now 7 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Carcar Ward
Lawa-an Ward
Linao Ward
Naga Ward
Pardo Ward
Talisay 1st Ward
Talisay 2nd Ward
Minglanilla Branch
Sibonga Branch
The Oghara-Sapele Branch, Nigeria Benin City Mission, was created on 13 July. There are now 5 independent branches in the mission:
Agbor Nigeria District
Asaba Nigeria District
Ekpoma Nigeria District
Ogwashi-Nsukwa Nigeria District
Adonte Branch
Akure Branch
Nigeria Benin City Mission Branch
Oghara-Sapele Branch
Ondo Branch
The American Fork 28th Ward, American Fork Utah Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 10 wards and 3 branches in the stake:
American Fork 1st Ward
American Fork 5th Ward
American Fork 11th Ward
American Fork 17th Ward
American Fork 18th Ward
American Fork 28th Ward
American Fork 38th Ward
Harbor 1st Ward
Harbor 2nd Ward
Harbor 3rd Ward
American Fork 35th Branch (Spanish)
American Fork 40th Branch (Care Center)
American Fork 45th Branch (Care Center)
The Lagoon Branch, Monrovia Liberia Bushrod Island District, Liberia Monrovia Mission, was created on 13 July. There are now 9 branches in the district:
Banjor Branch
Brewersville Branch
Caldwell Branch
Caldwell New Georgia Branch
Duala Branch
Lagoon Branch
New Kru Town Branch
Point Four Branch
Upper Caldwell Branch
The Nuuroa Ward, Punaauia Tahiti Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 10 wards in the stake:
Anau Ward
Manutahi Ward
Matatia Ward
Maupiti Ward
Nuuroa Ward
Outumaoro Ward
Punaruu Ward
Punavai Nui Ward
Taapuna Ward
Vaitape Ward
The Urcos Branch, Cusco Perú Inti Raymi Stake, was created on 29 June. There are now 6 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Chasqui Ward
Inti Raymi Ward
Picchu Ward
San Jerónimo Ward
Tahuantinsuyo Ward
Vista Alegre Ward
Urcos Branch
Villa María Branch
The Xilotzingo Ward, Puebla México Valsequillo Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 7 wards in the stake:
Agua Azul Ward
Chapulco Ward
Margarita Ward
Universidad Ward
Valle del Sol Ward
Valsequillo Ward
Xilotzingo Ward
There is a Barrio Universitario in Concepción or Andalien Stake in Chile. "University" wards must exist throughout the world, as my hometown Ward is known instead of Bloomington 1st and 2nd.
There appear to be at least 77 wards and branches currently throughout the world with University, or some variant thereof, in their names, including Universidad (20), Universidade (1), Universitario (9), Universitaria (1), Universitetski (1), and University (45).
They are located in Argentina (4), Bolivia (4), Brazil (5), Canada (1), Chile (1), Ecuador (1), Ghana (2), Honduras (1), México (12), Nicaragua (1), Perú (2), Philippines (2), Russia (1), and in Arizona (2), California (6), Colorado (3), Florida (2), Hawaii (1), Idaho (4), Indiana (2), Kansas (2), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (1), Utah (2), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1).
Do we know if all of these "university" wards are actually student and/or YSA wards? I'm under the impression that in some places "university" also becomes the name of a larger geographic area, like University City in San Diego. That means some of these might be regular geographic wards and not strictly wards for students.
I count 25 of the 77 "university" units as being designated as Student, Student Single, or Married Student units. The remaining 52 units appear to be named after municipalities, neighborhoods, roads, or other similar features. Included in these 52 units are 2 YSA, 1 Sign Language, and 1 Care Center.
Concerning Student and YSA wards/branches, my records show there are currently the following number of units:
YSA (1,161)
Tongan YSA (5)
Spanish YSA (3)
Asian YSA (1)
Student (19)
Student Single (26)
Student Married (4)
Married Student (110)
Youth Center (6)
Actually, the number of language-specific YSA units is a little different then I previously reported. I don't have access to CDOL and can only speculate on the official language of a unit (unless it is identified in the unit name). The figures I gave before applied to non-English YSA units in English speaking areas. To the best of my ability, there are the following YSA units, broken down by primary language spoken in the unit and their geographical locations:
Tongan (6):
-Utah (3)
-California (2)
-Tonga (1)
Spanish (3):
-California (3)
French (1):
-Québec (1)
Chinese (1):
-Taiwan (1)
Tagalog (1):
-Philippines (1)
"Asian" (1):
-Utah (1)
English (1,157):
-United States (1,119)
-Australia (2)
-England (2)
-Botswana (1)
-Québec (1)
-Rest of Canada (32)
Meridian Idaho Temple groundbreaking set for August 23
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/meridian-temple-groundbreaking-date?cid=social_20140718_28111586
I know the University Ward in Salt Lake City is named because it covers the University of Utah in its boundaries, but it has never been a student ward. At one point it did have a large number of U of U faculty among its members, and that is probably still the case, although not as much so.
Valley Hi Ward (2029995) Active Texas, United States
Jordan Willows 9th Ward (2033402) Active Utah, United States
Daniel 2nd Ward (2032082) Active Utah, United States
Dover Branch (2032406) Active Pennsylvania,
updated so far this week
The Beaver Creek Ward of the Apex Stake was created yesterday. I believe the Apex ward is now one of the smallest wards in the Southeast at 4 miles long by 1.5 miles wide. Don't know this for sure, but it is hard to believe too many more are smaller than this.
Nice. Belmont Ridge in VA is small, but I think in Central/East area.
Garrisonville Ward, Fredericksburg Virginia Stake is barely larger than 1 square mile, smaller in area than Belmont Ridge or Apex based on the size mentioned.
That said, "Southeast" could mean North America Southeast Area, while the Virginia wards are in the North America Northeast Area.
La Riviera Branch (Spanish) (2022524) Active California
JSA, what are you showing? Are those new units? I'm confused why you're listing them.
My hometown Ward in Bloomington IN called University has families and old folks. The chapel also has a separate YSA Branch. Blgtn also has two more wards on the west side, all having their share of IU and other students.
Where is Garrisonville next to? Cool stuff.
Did the US Central Area switch names or desist?
yes, new units.
The El Plan Ward, Villa Nueva Honduras Stake, was created on 13 July. There are now 8 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
El Mochito Ward
El Plan Ward
La Victoria Ward
Las Flores Ward
Morelos Ward
Potrerillos Ward
Santa Cruz de Yojoa Ward
Villanueva Ward
El Paraíso Branch
Yojoa Branch
The Lake Placid Branch, Sarasota Florida Stake, was created on 6 July. There are now 7 wards and 6 branches in the stake:
Bradenton Ward
Palmetto Ward
Port Charlotte Ward
Sarasota Ward
Sebring Ward
University Park Ward
Venice Ward
Arcadia Branch
Beneva Branch (Spanish)
Cortez Branch (Spanish)
Lake Placid Branch
Sarasota YSA Branch
Wachula Branch
Garrisonville is in Stafford County, Virginia at the transition from Northern Virginia to the rest of Virginia.
The North America Central Area still exists.
The Church is divided into 25 areas in 3 groups:
10 in North America (area seventies, stake presidents, and mission presidents report to a member of the presidency of the seventy; area executive secretar resides in area; most of the temporal structure is based in Salt Lake):
North America Northwest
North America Central
North America Northeast
North America Southeast
North America Southwest
North America West
Idaho
Utah North
Utah Salt Lake
Utah South
14 with area presidencies (president who is a general authority and two counselors who are general or area seventies) and temporal functions located in the area seat overseas:
Asia
Asia North
Pacific
Philippines
South America Northwest
South America South
Brazil
Central America
Mexico
Carribean
Europe
Europe East
Africa Northwest
Africa Southeast
and finally, the Middle East/Africa North Area (2 Salt Lake based general authorities, 1 area seventy and a number of districts (and one stake) reporting to the area leadership.
Sorry, I should have written Africa West Area and not Africa Northwest.
The new ward in the Apex North Carolina Stake has not yet shown up on CDOL.
The following are what is showing up for the stake in CDOL:
Garner Ward 1433 Aversboro Rd, Garner NC
Raleigh YSA Ward 1811 Seabrook Ave, Cary NC
Cary 3rd Branch (Spanish) 1811 Seabrook Ave, Cary NC
Cary 2nd Ward 1811 Seabrook Ave, Cary NC
Cary 1st Ward 590 Bryan Drive, Apex NC
Holly Springs Ward 590 Bryan Drive, Apex NC
Apex Ward 6011 McCrimmon Parkway, Morrisville NC
Green Level Ward 6011 McCrimmon Parkway, Morrisville NC
Morrisville Ward 6011 McCrimmon Parkway, Morrisville NC
Fuquay-Varina Ward 6528 Johnson Pond Rd, FUQUAY-VARINA NC
Harris Lake Ward 6528 Johnson Pond Rd, FUQUAY-VARINA NC
Swift Creek Ward 6528 Johnson Pond Rd, FUQUAY-VARINA NC
Belmont Ridge Ward is surrounded by Ashburn Ward to the east, Brambleton to the south, Goose Creek to the north and west, all in Loudoun County. It meets in the Ashburn Stake center where there is a YSA Ward (although attendance is like a branch).
@Mike Johnson. The Beaver Creek Ward will be meeting at the Bryan Dr location which is beside the Raleigh Temple. The Apex Ward was moved out and have to drive to the Morrisville building.
Thanks for the information about the ward size with the Garrisonville Ward. That is impressive for sure. I was thinking more of the Southeast Area. I think maybe in Atlanta there maybe a ward similar in size to the Apex ward.
When I was in Apex Ward in 1999/2000, Cary 1st Ward was to the north of it. So why is Cary 1st meeting at the stake center while Apex Ward is going to Morrisville?
@John
That move with the Cary 1st ward happened about 4 years ago. They moved the YSA ward to Cary from Garner in hopes to have more YSA come out since it is closer to NC State University. They have had a Spanish branch there for 10 years in Cary as well.
The Apex ward will meet in Morrisville until the stake splits. They have land for a Holly Spring building however with Garner only having 1 ward they were denied approval to build the building.
This is an interesting article about the family who is at least in part responsible for there being a stake in Searcy. Mormons moving east from the Mormon corridor of Arizona/Utah/Idaho between 1940 and 1970 is not new to me. What is unusual is the people here moved east to be farmers, not for business (especially retail) or academic jobs. This is basically a story of people going out and building the church where it needed them most. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865607515/Modern-Mormon-pioneers-in-Arkansas.html
There was for a time a North America East area, that took in Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and I'm not sure which other states. I think it was at some point merged into the North America Northeast Area.
Yes, I lived in Indiana in the late 90s when the Bloomington Stake was the edge of the East Area. President Marriott was the Area leader and explained the 60 Minutes interview incident at stake conference. HQ was in DC, I think.
Note, the North America areas since the creation of area presidencies in 1984 have been located in Salt Lake City. Elder Marriott was an Area Seventy, one of several, in the area, but was never the president of an area.
In 2004, the North America area presidencies were released. The Presidency of the Seventy were released from being executive directors of the major church departments and were instead assigned to replace the North America areas. At the time, there were 11 areas in North America. There were a total of 30 areas world wide.
Since then, the following changes have happened:
In 2005, the Australia/New Zealand Area and the Pacific Islands Area were realigned into the Australia Area and the New Zealand/Pacific Islands Area.
In 2006, the Caribbean Area created by division of the North America Southeast. This brought the number of areas to 31.
In 2007:
The Mexico Area was created by the merger of the Mexico South and Mexico North areas.
The Brazil Area was created by the merger of the Brazil South and Brazil North areas.
These changes dropped the number of areas to 29.
In 2008:
The Europe Area was created by the merger of the Europe Central and Europe West areas.
The Pacific Area was created by the merger of the Australia and New Zealand/Pacific Islands areas
The North America East area was dissolved and merged into North America Northeast and North America Southeast areas.
The Middle East/Africa North Area was created
These changes decreased the number of areas to 27.
In 2009, the South America Northwest Area was created by the merger of South America North and South America West areas. This reduced the number of areas to 26.
In 2012, the South America South South and Chile areas were merged, with the new larger area retaining the name South America South Area. This brought the number of areas to 25.
So, yes, in 2008, one of the changes in areas was to eliminated the North America East Area and realign its stakes and missions into two other areas.
It looks as though the Allentown Spanish branch become a ward in the Reading PA stake. It was about three weeks ago. Now 11 wards in that stake
http://www.missionsite.net/elderzacharywinegardner/viewletter/261765
The Badalona 2nd Ward, Barcelona Spain Stake, was created on 28 July. There are now 7 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Badalona 1st Ward
Badalona 2nd Ward
Barcelona 1st Ward
Barcelona 2nd Ward
Barcelona 3rd Ward
Granollers Ward
Mataró Ward
Gerona Branch
Vic Branch
The Beaver Creek Ward, Apex North Carolina Stake, was created on 27 July. There are now 12 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Apex Ward
Beaver Creek Ward
Cary 1st Ward
Cary 2nd Ward
Fuquay-Varina Ward
Garner Ward
Green Level Ward
Harris Lake Ward
Holly Springs Ward
Morrisville Ward
Raleigh YSA Ward
Swift Creek Ward
Cary 3rd Branch (Spanish)
The Lakeshore Ward, Houston Texas Summerwood Stake, was created on 27 July. There are now 9 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Eagle Springs Ward
Fall Creek Ward
Galena Park Ward (Spanish)
Houston 7th Ward (Spanish)
Lakeshore Ward
Liberty Ward
Pine Trails Ward
Summerwood Ward
West Lake Houston Ward (Spanish)
Lake Houston YSA Branch
Trinity River Branch (Spanish)
The Star 4th Ward, Star Idaho Stake, was created on 27 July. There are now 8 wards in the stake:
Beacon Light Ward
Lochsa Falls Ward
Silverleaf Ward
Star 1st Ward
Star 2nd Ward
Star 3rd Ward
Star 4th Ward
Verona Ward
The Church is reporting that the very first branch in Macedonia has been created. The Skopje Branch, under the direction of the Adriatic South Mission, will meet in the Hotel Arka. Macedonia was dedicated for missionary work in September 2010 by Elder Russell M. Nelson.
The Dwumoh Branch, Ghana Kumasi Mission, was created on 27 July. There are now 11 independent branches in the mission:
Nkawkaw Ghana District
Obuasi Ghana District
Sunyani Ghana District
Agona Branch
Asamang Branch
Bibiani Branch
Dwumoh Branch
Education Ridge Branch
Ghana Kumasi Mission Branch
Kenten Branch
Krobo Branch
Mampong Branch
Vatican Branch
Vitin Branch
The Uwelu 4th Ward, Benin City Nigeria Siluko Stake, was created on 27 July. There are now 7 wards in the stake:
Egor Ward
Ogida Ward
Orominyan Ward
Uwelu 1st Ward
Uwelu 2nd Ward
Uwelu 3rd Ward
Uwelu 4th Ward
Sorry this is a random comment, but I was looking at what some of the longer travel times are to a temple in the United States. It seems that Rapid City is 5+ hours from Bismark, ND and Casper, WY is 4 hours from Billings, MT. Would it make sense to have a temple in Gillette, WY? It would be have to be small like Manitoba or Star Valley temples most likely will be. Any thoughts?
A temple in Gillette, Wyoming, would serve 3 stakes. The Caspar Wyoming Stake will likely be in the new Fort Collins Colorado Temple district anyway.
A temple in Roanoke or Buena Vista, Virginia, would serve 5 stakes about as isolated from the Washington DC or Columbia, South Carolina temples.
Roanoke VA is 3 hrs from the Raleigh NC Temple in Apex NC. Buena Vista is 3.5 hrs away.
I think a temple is more likely for Casper Wyoming. It would be cool in Martin's Cove, but there isn't enough members around to justify it. But if it was in Casper, there would still be a historical feel to it.
Playing around on Google maps:
Casper is a larger city than Gillette and it has more wards and the stake might split in the next few years.
Casper is 4 hours away from Rapid City, closer than Bismark by an hour.
Casper is 2 hours away from Riverton, closer than Billings or Ogden by 2 hours.
Casper is 2 hours away from Gillette, closer than Billing by 1.5 hours. The Sheridan end of the stake is about the same length from Casper to Billings.
Casper is the same length from Worland as Billings.
Casper is 2 hours away from Rawlins, closer than Fort Collins by an hour.
So if a temple was in Casper, it would likely have a district of 5 stakes: Casper, Rapid City, Gillette, Riverton, and Worland. If stakes were created in Casper, Rawlins, and Sheridan, the Temple could have 8 stakes.
I also think a small temple is Possible in Lyman Wyoming where there would be 6 stakes: Lyman, Evanston, Evanston South, Kemmerer, Green River, and Rock Springs.
And Heber City with 7 stakes: Heber City, Heber City East, Heber City North, Midway, Park City, Kamas, and Coalville.
Thanks for your thoughts. I thought perhaps some of the congregations in Worland Stake could also be assigned to Gillette. However, you are right that Casper is more of a center of strength than Gillette. Is Rapid City the most isolated stake in the continental US as far as distance to a temple is concerned?
richmordt, good point. Four of the stakes (Buena Vista, Buena Vista YSA, Roanoke, and Pembroke) are in the Washington DC Temple District and the other stake, Kingsport Tennessee, is in the Columbia SC Temple Distract, which is why I used those temples. It is true that many people in southern Virginia do go to Apex instead of Bethesda because that temple is closer than the one they are assigned to. Virginia is still by far the largest state in LDS population without a temple at least announced.
Although Caspar will likely be in the Fort Collins Temple District, it is still 3 hours away from Fort Collins.
The Fairbanks and Juneau stakes in Alaska undoubtedly have the distinction of being the most isolated from a temple in the US.
Ok, BYULAW, you did say Continental US. Sorry about that. It wouldn't surprise me if Rapid City is the most isolated stake from a temple in CONUS.
If a temple were announced for Fairbanks, I wonder if Juneau would be assigned to it as well. Three of the branches (Haines, Skagway, and Whitehorse) can drive to the temple (Fairbanks is a much shorter distance), but I am not sure about airfare for the remaining congregations.
Thinking about vast tracts of CONUS, could. there be a stake in NV like Elko that is more than 4.5 hours from temples? No matter how close or far, we should all go more.
Ed, it is a good question.
Elko is about 3 hours from Salt Lake, perhaps a little more. It is also about 4 hours from Reno.
Ely is about 3 hours from Saint George.
Nevada is a big state and a lot of it is open. There are temples in Las Vegas and Reno in the major centers of population. I don't believe there are any stakes more than about 3 miles away from a temple. Still a long ways, but when I looked at Rapid City to Bismarck, at about 5 hours, that seems to set the standard for a time to beat. I can't think of any place with a stake that is more than about 5 hours away from the nearest temple.
Ryan, I would think a temple should serve more than a single stake. A temple in Fairbanks probably would serve the Fairbanks and the Juneau stakes.
I want to say that for a short time the North American Southeast Area was headquartered in Atlanta, but that was while they also covered the Carribean.
I am not sure the Manitoba temple will serve more than at most two stakes, so the number of stakes in only one consideration. Still I would think Richmond and maybe Pittsburgh would be higher priorities than anywhere in Alaska.
John, I have a memory of Atlanta being the administrative center of an area, but that might have been before the area presidencies were established in 1984 and an area supervisor lived there.
I would think the Winnipeg Manitoba Temple would serve the Winnipeg Manitoba Stake and the Fort Francis Ontario District (which belongs to the Canada Winnipeg Mission, but is assigned to the St Paul Minnesota Temple District).
I agree that there are other places likely to have a temple in the US before Alaska gets a second temple. The isolation of the Fairbanks and Juneau stakes do make a case for them to each have a temple, but I think it would be problematic for a temple to serve just one stake.
Thinking more about vast tracts of CONUS, I looked up Bangor, Maine being 4 hours 42 minutes from the Boston Temple, more or less. Parts of the northern sections of the Bangor Stake must be over 5 hours away from Belmont, MA. Of course, I am sure that parts of the Rapid City SD take (probably to the south or east/west) are even further distance to arrive to the North Dakota temple, possibly closer to 6 hours? I will have to look at units in both stakes.
Would Rapid City enable a better shot for some Wyoming stakes to attend rather than Montana or Fort Collins?
Last thought about temples: due to current elimination of redundancy of vicarious ordinances, do you think the efficiency has increased more than 10 percent? That would be an interesting statistical comparison.
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