See below for a list of annual membership growth rates by each United States state for the year 2023. Previous lists are available for 2017, 2018, the biennial period of 2020-2021, and 2022. It is important to note that annual membership growth rates by state have improved beyond what was seen immediately prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, there were only five states reporting a net decline in membership for the year (there were 22 during the 2020-2021 period, whereas there were 13 in 2018 and nine in 2017). The states that had the highest percentage growth rates for membership in 2023 were similar to the states reported in 2022, including New York (most rapid membership growth rate since 2002) and South Carolina (most rapid membership growth rate since 2007). The Church in Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee continued to report some of the highest membership growth rates in decades in these states. Rhode Island ranked at the top of the list, with membership increasing by over 10% in 2023 (and the highest reported in that state since the mid-1990s). With one of the smallest memberships of any state, Rhode Island is sensitive to even relatively small fluctuations in membership (there were 4,796 Latter-day Saints in Rhode Island as of year-end 2023). California continued to report a net decline in membership (which has occurred year over year since 2014), although this was near zero for the first time in many years (0.05% decrease in membership for 2023). The rate of membership decrease in California was highest during the 2020-2021 period (-2.84%), and membership decline has generally ranged from 0.2-1.0% within the past decade. Membership growth rates in Utah continue to be near historic lows, at a mere 0.78% in 2023. As noted in my analysis for 2022, members moving away from Utah in larger numbers may partially explain low membership growth rates in that state. However, declining birth rates in the Church also likely contribute to slowing membership growth in Utah. Finally, the state with the greatest decline in membership was New Hampshire (-4.92%). However, it is unclear whether this may have been due to membership records or one or more congregations switching from New Hampshire to a neighboring state rather than an actual decline in membership in the area.
See below for a list of states and the District of Columbia ranked by membership growth rate for 2023:
| 1. Rhode Island | 10.23% |
| 2. South Carolina | 3.57% |
| 3. Arkansas | 3.46% |
| 4. New York | 3.24% |
| 5. Missouri | 3.18% |
| 6. Tennessee | 3.10% |
| 7. Nebraska | 2.80% |
| 8. New Jersey | 2.66% |
| 9. Florida | 2.61% |
| 10. Delaware | 2.19% |
| 11. Georgia | 2.08% |
| 12. Indiana | 2.06% |
| 13. Iowa | 2.05% |
| 14. North Carolina | 1.98% |
| 15. Texas | 1.93% |
| 16. Oklahoma | 1.92% |
| 17. Kentucky | 1.86% |
| 18. Maryland | 1.84% |
| 19. Alabama | 1.78% |
| 20. Wisconsin | 1.74% |
| 21. North Dakota | 1.70% |
| 22. Massachusetts | 1.67% |
| 23. Maine | 1.62% |
| 24. Pennsylvania | 1.59% |
| 25. West Virginia | 1.52% |
| 26. District of Columbia | 1.48% |
| 27. Illinois | 1.44% |
| 28. Virginia | 1.37% |
| 29. Ohio | 1.22% |
| 30. Connecticut | 1.21% |
| 31. Minnesota | 1.18% |
| 32. Alaska | 1.11% |
| 33. Kansas | 1.11% |
| 34. Michigan | 1.09% |
| 35. South Dakota | 0.93% |
| 36. Hawaii | 0.91% |
| 37. Arizona | 0.79% |
| 38. Utah | 0.78% |
| 39. Montana | 0.68% |
| 40. Louisiana | 0.63% |
| 41. New Mexico | 0.55% |
| 42. Mississippi | 0.49% |
| 43. Idaho | 0.47% |
| 44. Nevada | 0.45% |
| 45. Colorado | 0.32% |
| 46. Washington | 0.15% |
| 47. Oregon | -0.02% |
| 48. California | -0.05% |
| 49. Vermont | -0.15% |
| 50. Wyoming | -0.16% |
| 51. New Hampshire | -4.92% |
106 comments:
Would it be possible to get the numerical changes for each state as well? Love seeing the growth in the Northeast!
I continue to maintain that Georgia is overlooked as a state that desperately needs a 2nd temple. South Carolina isn't far behind. Seems that Florida and Texas have gotten a lot of attention over the years, rightfully so, but Georgia and South Carolina have seen steady growth over the years. Also, getting to Atlanta can be difficult. It's not LA, but getting to Georgia and then driving around Atlanta is not an easy challenge.
Thanks, Matt! Which state(s) would have benefited from the transfer of congregations from New Hampshire? 4.92% is huge - almost to the point that it would make sense if it were a typo. I could see Maine in particular being closer to 0% growth if not for the transfer from New Hampshire.
Utah is interesting. It grew 1.65% between July 2022 and 2023, so just under half of Utah's growth is nominal membership in the church. I'm sure the percentage growth is actually much less than that if we were to measure active (real, as opposed to nominal) membership. Slowly, Utah is becoming less concentrated with believing members.
The Church in Utah has reported membership growth of 190,056 in the past 10 years, and created 59 stakes and 446 congregations. That is 3,221 people per new stake, and 426 people per new congregation (within the average range of members per congregation in Utah).
I think losses in membership probably have a much higher correlation to unit creation/contraction. So to compare, let's look at California. The Church reports a loss of 50,031 members in the same time period, a loss of 255 congregations. That's 196 lost members per lost congregation, even though California averages 655 reported members per congregation.
Obviously population distribution, geographic considerations, etc. all apply here, but it suggests that the church needs to create about 425 new members to make a new ward, but only requires losing 196 members to drop a ward. To me, this suggests that losses in reported membership are more accurate portrayals of activity than gains in membership. This may be because inactives are muddying the waters - gains in membership may include inactives, but losses in membership are likely more deliberate measured losses via migration, death, or removal of records, ON TOP OF inactives that stay on the books.
I have actually heard a lot of anecdotes about a significant increase in convert baptisms in Maine, so I believe that their growth is organic. Frankly it is less than I would have anticipated.
Rhode Island and New Hampshire are, more likely than not, statistical flukes - although I find RI harder to explain than NH, even though it is small. For 10%+ YOY growth, you need a substantial amount of baptisms. Move-ins (besides the fact that RI is not really a destination for migration) and sudden bursts of fertility won't cut it.
Also, can we please give it up for Illinois? Above average membership growth once again despite significant outmigration, of members in particular. Grateful to have been personally involved in some of those baptisms of friends that have helped accomplish this! If my wife was on board, we would move right back there and get back into missionary work. It's amazing how receptive people are there.
Posted earlier on the Church News site, the new Salta Argentina Temple has started the Open House.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/04/29/salta-argentina-temple-media-day-interior-exterior-photos/
Illinois is a place ripe for convert baptisms. I still don't think the Church is sustainable in the rural areas long-term if the pace of outmigration continues, and baptism rates tended to be lower in those rural areas (i.e. the Champaign and Springfield stakes), but it's definitely possible to baptize in significant numbers there. I saw a family of 8 baptized in Champaign while I was in Springfield.
The key for the Church to keep baptizing in Illinois is the same as in the St. Louis area - focus on immigrants. There are a ton of west/central African and Latin American immigrants in metro areas like Chicago and St. Louis who are ready to receive the gospel. We need more missionaries and members in those areas who can focus on those French- and Spanish-speaking populations. Elder Neil L. Andersen even addressed that explicitly in a visit he made to St. Louis in 2018, and the St. Louis mission has seen at least two new Spanish units and a new inner-city branch created since then.
Jost posted on Newsroom.
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/news-for-temples-in-canada-and-the-us
"29 April 2024 - SALT LAKE CITY News Release
News for Temples in Canada and the US
Understanding the spiritual privileges in the temple is vital, President Nelson says"
these are the numbers of what were added by state
Utah - 17,050
Cailfornia - Negative 397
Idaho - 2,224
Arizona -3,468
Texas- 7,319
Washington- 413
Nevada - 811
Florida - 4,391
Oregon - Negative 37
Colorado - 478
Virginia - 1,337
North Carolina - 1,857
Georgia - 1,857
New York - 2,748
Missouri - 2,481
Hawaii- 683
New Mexico - 377
Wyoming Negative 106
Ohio - 781
Tennessee - 1,780
Illnois - 822
Pennsylvania - 832
Oklahoma - 997
Montana - 353
Indiana - 966
Michigan - 497
South Carolina - 1,580
Maryland - 798
Alabama - 708
We just got sites announced for Cincinatti, Ohio which will be 29,000 Square feet and Des Moines, Iowa that will be 18,000 square feet. Des Moines Iowa Temple will be on a 19 acre site.
Kansas - 437
Kentucky - 705
Arkansas - 1,225
New Jersey - 917
Alaska - 374
Minnesota - 394
Louisiana - 186
Iowa - 588
Massachusetts -470
Wisconsin- 487
Nebraska - 706
Mississippi - 108
West Virginia -263
Connecticut - 192
South Dakota - 107
North Dakota -195
Maine - 179
New Hampshire - Nevative 443
Delaware - 123
Vermont - Negative 7
Rhode Island - 445
D.C. - 47
There are some wards and branches that go across state boundaries. I am wondering if sometime membership in such units get assigned to the wrong state.
Other Matt here...
Living in California myself, it's great to see a turning point to potential future growth in the state. I know some members moved away during Covid due to tighter Covid restrictions than other states, but recent new stakes and new wards and specialty language branches being organized in California is a positive sign.
With 3 more temples currently under construction or planned in California and with the cost of living in inland California more affordable than Utah, you may see a reverse migration back to California. Despite the naysayers, I'm bullish on the future of the Church in California.
I think it is four more temples in California. Yorba Linda, Modesto, San Jose and Bakersfield.
The outreach in specific languages in Caligornia is very encouraging. My stake has recently made significant strides in this. We went from essentially none to having groups of sorts in Spanish and Arabic. They are not at branch level yet. The stake that takes in the far north Detroit suburbs and beyond the metro area had a Spanish-language branch that is close to being a ward. It has only been a branch a few years. In south-west Detroit there is a bilingual branch that has existed dance the early 1990s. There is a part if South-west Detroit that has been heavily inhabited by Mexicans and Mexican Americans since the 1920s. However the amount of Detroit with large numbers of Hispanics has significantly expanded since 1990. So much so that there are now majority Hispanic neighborhoods not just in Detroit River branch but in Dearborn Ward. Dearborn Ward has a huge Arabic-speaking population in the city of Dearborn itself. I believe there have been attempts at missionary outreach, but I am not sure thry have greater a group or called a group leader.
In some ways this is harder outreach than in my stake. At least in Sterling Heights where I grew up the majority of Arabic speakers are Christian. Mainly Catholics, but there is an Arabic language Evangelucsl Christian Church 2 miles from my parents house. There are 2 Catholic Caldean parishes within that distance from my parents house, and many of the ethnically Chaldean Catholics attend western rite services. It helps that the group leader is a returned missionary born in Iraq who joined the Church with his family in Spain when he was about 11. The fact that him and our stake president were in the same ward for a few years is probably also a plus.
Other outreach that in theory would be doable in our stake would be Albanian language, which has dome good potential, Chinese language, Hong language, and Bengali language. Korean language to, since both the Jehovah's Witnesses and United Methodists have Korean language congregations in our stake boundaries. Out stake primary president is from South Korea originally and her one of her sons, who was a student in my primary class about 10 years ago, served his mission in New Jersey Korean speaking.
I am not sure we have the logistically resources to create more groups at the moment. Also at some level we still face hurdles in fully integrating into the stake African-Americans. We do have 3 black members of the high council at present, and have had at least 10 over the years. 9 of them since the Detroit district was ended in 2006. 5 of them lived in the City of Detroit and 4 of them in the suburbs. One of them has been on the high council twice.
The future of the African-Americans and California both are bright with the Church of Jesus Christ.
I was looking at the physically biggest missions in the world. Siberia (Novosibirsk), Montreal, India, Alaska. China does not really have one? I would like to see the top 20 list of these, and their memberships and overall populations.
Thank you Joella!
I’ve been particularly impressed with the growth of the Bronx YSA Branch, which was organized last year (as the first Spanish unit of the New York NY YSA Stake). I saw quite a few of its members receive their endowments prior to Manhattan’s closure, and we had 5 Melchizedek Priesthood ordinations from their branch alone this past stake conference (let alone probable growth from family wards from the Westchester NY Stake). I think there’s real potential for a Spanish YSA branch in Brooklyn, too.
I’m not at all surprised China doesn’t have one. If it did, it would probably be strictly a service mission (a la Lahore Pakistan), but part of what the church does to protect its native Chinese membership in China is minimize contact between Chinese Saints and expat Saints. A Mission, even Lahore-style, would make it harder to maintain that degree of protective separation. (China, like many totalitarian states, is particularly harsh on foreign religions, especially ones perceived as being “American”. While they’ll let foreign expats exercise their faith [it’s bad optics for a country still so dependent on foreign investment to do otherwise], the domestic population risks grave punishment for worshipping in churches that aren’t state-approved. And the Chinese government will only extend state approval to churches that they control, or where they can control who holds authority.)
I understand that there’s a Spanish branch in the Champaign Illinois Stake now (I believe it’s the Champaign 3rd Branch). It seems that several of the speakers at their recent stake conference were from the Spanish branch. The Spanish population in Central Illinois has definitely been growing, as I understand the area now has a couple of affiliates of the Spanish language television networks (and even ten or twelve years ago, I felt that there was probably a market for the Spanish networks locally). The Danville Ward had a Spanish group at one point, as well, so there’s real potential for growth even in areas that seem like they’ve been stagnant for a while.
It’s hard to say. Looking at the raw numbers below, they could have been moved to Massachusetts (which gained about what New Hampshire lost), but the number of Saints in New Hampshire is small enough that its statistics are probably almost as volatile as Rhode Island’s. My guess is that some of it is membership attrition and some is outmigration.
I think we might be surprised by the number of native Chinese leaders ready to serve in positions of authority and the government's compliance if this information were released. The Church has long operated in Hong Kong, and it may have been a training hub for leaders across the continent. The friendship between President Nelson and Chinese officials may have been the means by which this training was released by the CCP government. If this were not the case, there would not be a planned temple in Shanghai.
Authorized, not released
Rick’s Temple Site along with others now have Salt Lake Temple’s square footage at 382,207. If I understand correctly that is an increase in square footage by of 129000. That’s an increase of a large temple in and of itself! Am I looking at this right, wasn’t it only 253000 before??? And I see a cross section photo of the temple and it shows space clear out under the visitors pavilions, is this part of the temple or visitor pavilions? I haven’t been in person to see any of the construction. If anybody is in the know if you could clarify thanks.
Searchthetruth, that's interesting. For the past year or so, his temple site listed the new square footage as 400,000, but it was definitely 250,000 before that. I wonder what's changed recently?
They built a new annex edition in the style of the original temple. That's why the square footage has increased. That was one of the many updates that have been shared about the renovation process for the Salt Lake Temple:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022/10/1/23365422/salt-lake-temple-square-renovation-project-2022-highlights/
From that article, here's the pertinent text:
"Excavation north of the temple for the addition on that side went 30 feet beyond the depth of the since-removed old annex, with the excavation on other sides of the temple to help further stabilization efforts.
"Large concrete pours were common on the north side — first for the foundation for the three-level addition, then for the installation of walls and columns to support the upper floors. By May, the pours had started for the addition’s floors.
"The new addition will house baptistries, sealing rooms, dressing rooms, administrative offices and more." (Bolded emphasis is mine.)
Hope that helps.
I believe Layton ended up being about 6,000 square feet bigger than originally planned.
I only ever went to the Salt Lake Temple I think 5 times, and the last was in 2004. So the logistics did not quite make sense then, and they make less sense now.
I did read an estimate that it's ordinance capacity would double. The number that I have in my head is 23 sealing rooms. That booglws my mind. We might have half that many sealers at the Detroit Temple, maybe.
With the way things are going, part of me is starting to wonder if even 2 baptistries are going to be enough for the Salt Lake Temple. Is it too late to change plans and put in a 3rd?
Still the temple that most surprises me is Jakarta. I believe it will be over 40,000 square feet.
I do also keep hoping we will see other Qnchorage level expansions of temples, or maybe the slightly more modest Kona. The plus of the Anchorage plan is that you do not loose any temple operation. It probably is more costly than even building an addition on an existing temple, and the pluses to getting more people close to the temple are quite high.
The Salt Lake Temple will only have two baptistries. Work on the annex addition wrapped up earlier this year, unless I am mistaken. But my understanding is that the baptistries in the Salt Lake Temple were built specifically with bigger groups in mind, whatever that may mean. The Jakarta temple will be 40,350, but it will be a multi-story edifice, so it wouldn't shock me if the design of that temple is similar or identical to the Bangkok Thailand Temple. In Asian nations, it's much easier to build up than it is to build out. I wouldn't be shocked if the Anchorage method is used again elsewhere, but on the other hand I wouldn't be shocked if it was a one-time thing for that particular renovation.
Since I have been updating my temples map, I observed that there are currently 14 temples that are over 1,000 miles away from the closest operating temple. I have created circles and calculated distance based on the radius from the target temple to the closest operating temple. Then, any temples under construction or with a site announced, I would be able to see based on the circle drawn if those temples, when completed, would be closer.
As a note, a temple without a site announced I do not make a new circle for those temples until a site is announced, nor to I make distance circles for temple closer than 200 miles from each other.
1. Praia Cape Verde
- 1,641 Fortaleza Brazil
* 1,639 Natal Brazil
* 1,588 Kumasi Ghana
* 1,481 Abidjan Ivory Coast
X Monrovia Liberia
* 833 Freetown Sierra Leone
2. Bengaluru India
- 1,538 Bangkok Thailand
3 Papeete Tahiti
- 1,501 Apia Samoa
* 1,425 Pago Pago American Samoa
X Utiroa French Polynesia (less than 200 miles)
4. Nairobi Kenya
- 1,497 Kinshasa DRC
X Brazzaville Congo
- 1,411 Antananarivo Madagascar
X Beira Mozambique
- 1,199 Harare Zimbabwe
- 1,037 Kananga DRC
X Mbuji-Mayi DRC
- 956 Lubumbashi DRC
5. Jakarta Indonesia
- 1,439 Bangkok Thailand
- 1,231 Phnom Penh Cambodia
- 558 Singapore
6. Yigo Guam - this one is strange because Cagayan de Oro Philippines is further away from Yigo than Okinawa, yet the temple site is depicted to be within the circle for Okinawa.
- 1,415 Okinawa Japan
- 1,386 Davao Philippines
- 1,354 Tacloban City Philippines
7. Tarawa Kiribati
- 1,387 Suva Fiji
- 1,348 Port Vila Vanuatu
8. Anchorage Alaksa
- 1,341 Vancouver British Columbia
X Fairbanks Alaska - approximately 266 miles from a suspected temple site
9. Perth Australia
- 1,328 Adelaide Australia
10. Port Moresby Papua New Guinea
- 1,295 Brisbane Australia
11. Hamilton New Zealand
- 1,280 Nuku'alofa Tonga
- 228 Wellington New Zealand
- <200 Auckland New Zealand
12. Antananarivo Madagascar
- 1,273 Durban South Africa
- 1,078 Harare Zimbabwe
X Beira Mozambique - approximately 827 miles
13. Ulaanbaatar Mongola
X Seoul Korea - approximately 1,238 miles
14. Bangkok Thailand
- 1,071 Hong Kong China
- 884 Singapore
- 328 Phom Penh Cambodia
When the current catalog of temples are completed, there will only be 6 remaining on the list of temples over 1,000 miles from the closest operating temple.
1. Bengaluru India
2. Yigo Guam
3. Tarawa Kiribati
4. Perth Australia
5. Port Moresby Papua New Guinea
6. Ulaanbaatar Mongolia
@Eduardo, I don't know if mainland China is *technically* included in the boundaries of any mission or not, but if it is it might be the largest on earth in terms of population (assuming it is all in the boundaries of one mission), but as I discuss below it also may not. When I served in the India New Delhi mission, although we were restricted to Delhi and a few neighboring cities that were part of the metropolitan area, our mission boundaries included all of Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, as well as all of India north of the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh (at the time what is now Telangana was part of Andhra). Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal together are about 70 million people more than the south Indian states that were part of the Bangalore mission, which means it is possible that the India New Delhi Mission encompassed more people than the total population of China, and as such would certainly have been the most populous on earth. Since then, Pakistan has become its own mission (proselyting, in spite of its name, unless that has changed in the past year) but the New Delhi mission has gained Maharashtra and I think possibly Andhra from the Bangalore mission, which altogether mean a net loss of ~70 million people in the New Delhi Mission's boundaries, all of which is to say it may still be larger than the total population of China depending on what one makes of the discrepancies between the official figures for China vs what was suggested by the leaked Shanghai police database a few years ago.
Daniel - the Spanish branch is up and running in Champaign. It is primarily run by white RMs whose families have been assigned to the branch, though. Native Spanish speaker attendance is around 10 each week. But yeah - opportunity for growth for sure.
Daniel Moretti, is there still a Shanghai temple planned? I was under the impression the Chinese government put an end to it after it was announced by the church, saying it wasn't authorized. I can't imagine it exists without it becoming public knowledge, although I've heard rumors.
It's still on the Church's official list. The Chinese government denied it was approved by them at the time it was announced. But it's still a planned temple. And if anyone can get a temple in Shanghai approved, it's "old friend of China" and President Nelson still holds that distinction.
I understand that Salt Lake is a very common destination wedding/sealing temple for members living outside of Utah. I’ve never understood the appeal of a destination wedding myself (and personally would have it at Nauvoo if I were going to have a destination wedding), but it’s apparently really common. I’d assume that a lot of members living in Utah also choose to be sealed in Salt Lake instead of their assigned temples. The wait list for live sealing appointments apparently was at least six months or so prior to the renovation. If anything, 23 sealing rooms might not be enough! As for three baptistries, I understand that a lot of the baptistry patrons in Utah temples are youths with limited use recommends attending the temple on their own. As more temples are built in the Salt Lake Valley that split the Salt Lake Temple’s district (Taylorsville’s recent dedication, for instance, or a potential Cottonwood Heights/Holladay temple), that might reduce the need for more than two baptistries.
My understanding is that, while Manhattan isn’t gaining floor space, we are getting an increase in ordinance capacity. During one of our last shift meetings, a member of the temple presidency told us that the confirmation and initiatory capacity would be doubling and that endowment capacity would be increased by a third (which brings Manhattan to about the same capacity for initiatory and endowment sessions as Philadelphia, despite Philadelphia being three times as large). We probably actually could use a second baptistry, with how busy it tends to be on Fridays and Saturdays (though there just isn’t any space for one).
I think it’s a similar situation to Russia. The temple is definitely still planned, it doesn’t seem like those plans have changed. But, barring regime change or an unexpected rapprochement, the plans may be longer term plans.
Of course, God is a God of miracles, and, if He wants His Saints in those lands to have access to a temple, and they live worthy of one, He can certainly bring about miracles to bring temples to those lands. The Freiburg Germany Temple is a great example, sudden rapprochement on the part of the East German government allowed it to be built (and regime change occurred fairly quickly after its dedication regardless).
I think the situation is very different between China and Russia. In Russia there is a warmongering and anti-imperialist feeling against everything that comes from the USA, especially due to the war and Biden's support for Zelenskyi. China is a communist country in terms of social and political organization but is open to the world and essentially capitalist in economic relations between companies and markets. There is much more freedom today in China than in Russia, for sure, including faith and assembly. And I believe this can be seen in the relationship between the church and the Chinese mainland government.
Daniel, religious liberty (freedom) in China is kind of a fiction dorama...
I agree. It's a supervised liberty, but it's still a permission to exist. Something like what happens in Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE, I think... In Russia we have heard reports of persecution and expulsion of Jehovah's Witnesses, so it seems to me a worse situation.
With the completion of the Salvador Brazil temple, only one House of the Lord is under construction in the country, with a list of 11 pending units (exactly half of the total list). Greater investment is needed to progress such projects. Brazil already had a peak of 3 works in progress at the same time at the beginning of the century (Recife, Porto Alegre and Campinas). After all, only 2 lots have yet to be defined, assuming the real estate team is doing a good job. The rendering of several of them has yet to be published. I await the start of several works in the southeast, especially in Ribeirão Preto and São Paulo East.
Daniel, if it helps, I believe the Church is trying to be more thorough in the process of designing temples and getting them approved. Taking the time to get that done right may ensure there are no delays in construction once groundbreakings are held. If that is the approach the Church is taking, when the approvals have been secured, construction can then commence and continue without interruptions or delays. So if that's why we haven't heard about additional groundbreakings worldwide in general and for Brazil specifically, I think the current lack of such news will be worth it in the longer term
One last collaboration: I believe Brazil will reach 40 temples by 2040. I can imagine the locations of these new 17 temples easily, based on distances and number of members. This would be a positive scenario. In the worst case, five more could come.
As best I can tell as journalist spoke with Shanghai who denied the Shanghai RlTemple was authorized. It was less than clear that that was even the right person to reach out to on such matters. In the case of China I have a feeling that President Nelson, President Oaks and Elder Gong have a better sense of who to talk to to make things happen in China than some random journalist does.
The Paris France Temple did not have a groundbreaking. I would imagine that the building process for the Shanghai China Temple will be even more low key.
I am a little surprised that we have not heard more about the temple in the United Arab Emirates.
I am quite excited that 4 of the 15 temples announced last month have official sites already. I do hope to see more Temple developments continue. It would be nice if we could have 35 or more ground breaking happen this year, but I just hope we do see lots of work move forward.
Now that Urdaneta is dedicated is Ivory Coast the longest in progress temple?
I wish there was an edit function. I guess I should read before posting.
It would not surprise me if Brazil has 40 temples announced by 2030. There will be 13 general conferences between now and the end of 2030. That would mean an average of just over 1 Temple announced per conference for Brazil.
Russia! The most blessed place ever to have to suffer from the worst choices, century after century. Declining birth rates, rampant alcoholism and heroin addiction, now a war that is making convicted criminals returning war heroes. Yikes, they are going to be a mere shadow of its former self, I think. They need true temples and ordinances of the priesthood in the worst way.
China, too, with modern day gulags, forced labor camps, re-education centers forcing devout Muslims to become atheist, as the millions of Buddhist Tibetans and others before them.
North Korea. Could it be worse? Maybe. Things could always be a lot worse, really.
Africa as a continent is looking up, despite terrible events in Sudan and some ridiculous terrorists in many other parts.
Haiti needs some changing, and of course Venezuela.
But God has it all figured out. Even the Holy Land.
We need more missionaries, faithful temple workers, ministering visitors. And tithing and fast offerings.
Elder Richard E. Cook emeritus General Authority and 1st Mission President to Mongolia recently passed at 93.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2024/05/02/elder-richard-e-cook-dies-first-mongolia-mission-president-obituary/
I see 40 temples dedicated in Brazil before 2040...
Finally today the new Pandan Philippines District has been updated on the Meetinghouse Locator mapsite.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2255219
Does anyone know anything about what happened with the modular temple thing? I remember there was alot of excitement about it, but how many temples have used it?
2 so far (Helena Montana and Casper Wyoming) have used the modular method. A few more currently under construction (Torreon Mexico, Port Vila Vanuatu, and Port Moresby Papua New Guinea) also appear to be of the modular design, and at least one temple (Cody Wyoming) is confirmed to be using modules as well.
The problem? The modules are hard to manufacture, and only one company currently does so. There was at one point a plan to send out people from that company to train other companies on how to manufacture those modules, but supply chain and equipment issues have hindered that, from what I understand.
Above and beyond that, the Church intended originally to use the modular method on Elko Nevada and instead decided to use the typical method for a comparison/contrast vs. the modular method. Based on how that turns out, that may determine how frequently, if at all, the modular method is used going forward.
Thanks James G.S.
I hope the kinks can be worked out now that the supply chain is behaving better. I could see a large benefit in remote areas where construction standards are subpar and construction workers in general are sparse, but where transporting modules is easy. Would be easier if they stuck with one design for say a 6500-7000sq/ft temple and another for a 9000-9500sq/ft temple and not make layout changes for several years.
A random thought that popped into my head.
With the recent quick turnaround times for Temples announced this past April, do you think it may be possible to see the Temple in Victoria, BC have a site announced for May 20, which is Victoria Day?
Craig H
Contrary to the obituary for Elder Cook, he did not live in Detroit. He was a member of the Bloomfield Hills waters in the northern suburbs, which is where the Detroit Temple is now. He either lived in Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham or Bloomfield Township.
Those of us who actually live in Detroit tire of sloppiness around the use of the term.
Maybe I am just feeling needlessly grumpy today.
I once went to a fireside where the cooks came and explained about Mongolia and their mission there.
Right now, the only modules they make are for the 10,000 square foot temples. But the Church's construction teams have also developed precast concrete panels (where some electrical and mechanical systems are built into panels that are then precast for installation at the temple sites) that are used for larger temples. I don't know what's holding up the use and expansion of the modules, but hopefully the Church can use them on expanded designs soon.
That could very well happen. Great thought, Craig H.
It seems like nonmodular temples are taking in some modular aspects to their design.
As for the Shanghai Temple, it seemed like significant discussions with officials had occurred. The unique temple policy that was outlined seemed to reflect the type of policies that China's allowed for church meetings.
While I can only speculate for what happened with the Shanghai Temple announcement, I think one of two things are happening.
1) China went back on their word (which is typical). When they go back on their word, it likely involves denying any agreement took place. It happened with COVID and it's happened with a number of business dealings. It's ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. One reason of going back on their word is that about the same time the announcement came, the CCP was pulling back on the little bit of religious freedom that was given, or maybe they didn't want the agreement publicized outside of China.
2) Because of it's only to be used for Chinese nationals and not anyone else, the church may ban publicising the construction, dedication, and operation of the temple to those outside of China. It's unclear if the worldwide announcement of the Shanghai Temple triggered outcome #1.
Elder Cook was the mission president in Mongolia when my wife joined the church. She was among the first to be Baptized in her home town.
I don't believe either scenario applies. Shanghai is not the only temple announced more than two years ago that has not had any official details confirmed. I believe that the Shanghai temple will have the typical milestones, but that it'll take time before anything happens. We have seen multi-year delays in the construction of other temples. Shanghai is likely another that will take a decade or two to get up and running. The Church already made it clear it would only be for Chinese nationals. But I do not believe that any Chinese regulation would require the Church to keep the temple details secret. The reality of it is that we don't know for sure what's happening with that temple. So until anything is officially confirmed (and I believe the Church will confirm those details when they happen) it's probably better not to speculate on that matter.
I noticed that as well. I'd be interested to know why that is.
David is correct on point number 2. My parents neighbor is one of the higher ups in the temple department that is in charge of purchasing materials and their delivery. he and his wife visited Shanghai about a year ago…. And his wife in a since deleted social media post alluded to the purpose of being there. Apparently the temple is not new construction, its in an existing high rise where chinese nationals already meet.
I think the Shanghai Temple will have the same protocol as our meetinghouse for Chinese citizens. They are not published such as on the meetinghouse locator or church maps. But we have a leader or member in China that is the point of contact for members there to find church meetings. Only locations for expatriate branches are published. And the temple will be for Chinese citizens only. I think It will probably look like any other office building in its on the outside as it will blend into its surroundings.
More info on the church in China: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/China?lang=eng
Posted on the Church News website this morning, the Bio of the President and companion, recently called, to the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple. If anyone is curious.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/05/03/new-temple-president-matron-buenos-aires-argentina/
From The April 5, 2020 General Conference announcement:
Context for the plan for Shanghai is very important.
For more than two decades, temple-worthy members in the People’s Republic of China have attended the Hong Kong China Temple. But in July 2019, that temple was closed for long-planned and much-needed renovation.
In Shanghai, a modest multipurpose meeting place will provide a way for Chinese members to continue to participate in ordinances of the temple—in the People’s Republic of China—for them and their ancestors.
In every country, this Church teaches its members to honor, obey, and sustain the law. We teach the importance of the family, of being good parents and exemplary citizens.
Because we respect the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, the Church does not send proselyting missionaries there; nor will we do so now. Expatriate and Chinese congregations will continue to meet separately. The Church’s legal status there remains unchanged. In an initial phase of facility use, entry will be by appointment only. The house of the Lord in Shanghai will not be a destination place for tourists from other countries.
Even President Nelson seemed to feel that he had to make a strong explanation of the importance of the "context"of the Shanghai Temple. It appears it will be similar to the temple in Manhattan, that it will be remodeled into an existing "multipurpose meeting place." But will probably have little to no signage, or spires identifying it's purpose as a religious facility at least on the outside. I anticipate we will not see or know much on it's progress until after it is dedicated, which I think will be by invitation only without a formal announcement beforehand.
Chris, a question for you: the Church put out a list of 73 temples whose leaders comprise the "class of 2024". With the leaders of Buenos Aires featured today, only 3 couples remain. I know one of them will be for the Washington D.C. Temple, but which other two temples will get new leaders this year? Thanks.
L. Chris Jones, I believe you are correct in your assessments. But I believe the Church will also officially acknowledge the dedication of the Shanghai temple in some manner, even if it is just a one-sentence statement.
On my list of remote temples, I almost forgot about Ulaanbaatar, which I did include on the list, but I now realized I completely forgot about Dubai, which is by far the most remote temple of the Church. I guess I missed it because I did not make any circles for it (because of no site announcement). That brings the total to 15 temples further than 1,000 miles away from the closest operating temple and 7 temples further away than 1,000 miles from the nearest temple.
Dubai United Arab Emirates
X Kyiv Ukraine - approximately 2185 miles
X Bengaluru India - approximately 1686 miles
James Stokes, Sorry. I'm going to have to defer that question to Rick Satterfield. He keeps track on his site of Temple updates. He can be reached on the Contact Us on the site. I'don't keep track that closely to the list of Temple Presidents. Only Mission and Stake Presidents I'm currently keeping a list. Sorry, not more help.
I recently attended a presentation by someone from the Special Projects Department (in charge of temple planning, among other things). He showed a list of all temples the department is currently working on (meaning actively undergoing planning or construction). Shanghai, Russia, and Dubai were all notably absent. Also, he noted that the Tarawa, Kiribati temple will be modular; not only that, but they will be shipping the cranes necessary to install the modules to Kiribati because there aren't any cranes (or even any construction companies) there. Expect to see many more modular temples in the near future, based on the presentation.
This just reported update about the Heber Valley Utah Temple construction. If anyone is interested.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/court-allows-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-to-join-heber-valley-temple-lawsuit/ar-AA1o7pL9?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=c4933c17ef1f4c45fa2aeca0cd128a52&ei=39
Is there a congregation growth rate too ?
The Shanghai Temple may well be in an already used building, like Manhattan. It appears it may well be adapted to local and government situations. The Kinshasa Temple was less ornatate then some. The Shanghai Temple was even more so than other buildings.
Part of me almost wonders of the Shanghai Temple will be more along the lines of an Endowment House.
I would not be shocked if it's dedication were not publicized.
However all temples to date have Deen dedicated by apostles.
I would not be surprised if some level of progress has been made without an announcement. I would not even be surprised if the first word we get of its dedication is after the fact. However, just the fact it was announced makes me think we will learn of its dedication.
I believe China did once allow President Nelson, I believe when he was president if the 12, to address a gathering of Chinese nationals. I would not be surprised if he dedicates the Shanghai Temple.
On the other hand President Nelson has not traveled outside the US since 2019. President Oaks and Elder Gong also might be able to get approval.
To be fair the impression I get from above is that whatever is happening with the Shanghai Temple is being done low key.
Which actually leads me to another thought about why Shanghai officials denied it to a journalist at some point. Sometimes government officials deny things that they allow because even though they allow some religious things they want an image of not allowing them.
If Saudi Arabia was serious about not having churches meet in the country, it would happen less. Or at least those who do such would suffer more negative consequences. Governments often allow things thry officially do not, but they have to keep up the image of not allowing it.
I hope we get at least 1 new temple dedication date announced, 1 new groundbreaking date, and 1 new temple site on Monday. I will be glad whatever we get.
One of my fellow temple workers mentioned on a recent trip to Utah he was not able to go to the Orem Temple because it was all full. He also mentioned that it is fully reserved through most of May.
To be fair much of this is probably due to Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple being shut down and rebuilt. Still it does indicate to MD that Utah needs all the planned temples.
It also makes me think a Spanish Fork Remole is very likely to be announced this fall.
Herriman, Sandy/Holliday/Cottonwood Heights and a 2nd temple for Weber County, and maybe even a Farmington Utah Temple seem doable. Proce Utah also seems likely, but for more distance reasons.
A 3rd temple in Cache Valley is also probable, but maybe not yet.
I am guessing the next temple in Texas will be El Paso, but I could also see one in Northeast Texas somewhat east of Dallas, and I think Waco is also a contender.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Charleston, South Carolina seem possibilities. Huntsville Alabama, and a 2nd temple in Georgia also see likely. My impression is Georgia's 2nd temple will be somewhere in the south end of the Atlanta metro area.
I think a temple for Bangor, Maine is a strong possibility. I also think a New Hampshire Temple is likely.
The others for the US this year might include somewhere in Wisconsin, I hope Appleton, a 2rd temple in New York State, a New Jersey Temple, 2 more in California and one in the Idaho panhandle.
That is probably more than will be announced in the US in October.
I try to wait until quite a bit closer to general conference to make a full prediction list, but these seem likely.
None are actually based on recent developments. Charleston maybe the most by recent developments, but those are still a few months old.
2 more in California I am thinking would be one in northern California, and one inland southern California. Probably Temecula and either San Francisco, or somewhere north like Aanta Rosa, or such. I think long term we need a San Francisco Temple, in the city proper, a temple somewhere in the counties north of the bay, a temple in San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara, a temple in Ventura County, and a temple in Temecula. A temple in the San Fermando Valley is also a hoped for dream, but I do not know if you could do that with the size of the LA Temple.
I am thinking Temecula and somewhere north of the San Francisco Bay are most likely short term.
No. Tarawa has both had a site announced and an exterior rendering released:
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/tarawa-kiribati-temple/
You're thinking of the Russia temple, which has not had any official information announced. Unless you meant to ask if Tarawa is the temple that has had a site announced the longest without having a groundbreaking, in which case the answer is yes.
What is a registering degree? I've not heard of that. I think you meant "engineering degree".
Also the Los Angeles California Temple is the oldest temple without a renovation (at least one that required a rededication). So I anticipate a an announcement for that the next few years. Maybe after Yorba Linda and Bakersfield are completed.
JPL, thankfully for the people of Orem, your friend is greatly embellishing how full the Orem temple is. Nearly every single day in May has availability for appointments. There are 3 days that are full right now.
James, since you wrote, the rest of this week has become full for endowments at Orem. You are correct, however, in noting that, if one schedules more than a week out, you can get a morning or afternoon session easily. For now, 5/23 has numerous slots. However, evening slots (6pm on) are full largely throughout the month, and all the remaining Saturday slots are only early mornings or only a few seats.
Female initiatory are booked until June 1, and male availability (I assume) is greater because more men work.
So the unifying lesson is, if you are traveling to Orem AND you specifically want to get an endowment, make your reservation early.
(Even though I'm perhaps disagreeing with James, I really understand how he arrived at his conclusions.)
While reviewing the Meetinghouse Locator mapsite, I wonder how soon we may be able to see a possible "Libreville Gabon District", or if it is in planning already. I haven't reviewed the most recent country Memberships totals for this year.
With both the, Libreville 1st and 2nd Branches, plus the Port Gentil Branch, as a 3rd branch.
I believe all 3 could form in theory the first district in the country of Gabon in central Africa. Even if Port Gentil Branch is some distance from Libreville.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/2221691
Any thoughts?
Also, may have been commented here previously, I am impressed with a branch in the far north of the Republic of the Congo. The Ouesso Branch.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/2177498
I also see 4 meetinghouse markers incorrectly marked on the map in the north of Republic of Congo-Brazzaville and east and west Central African Republic.
For example, https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/320803
The way some of these Utah temple appointments fill up, I could envision some devout and dutiful Utahns going on trips to smaller temples that are more remote or in further cities, hopefully taking advantage of the travel time to see and do, and working hard where there is less traffic to do needed ordinances. Some temples could use help: I have seen the need in Toronto or D.C.
So, if you want to do some temple initiatories or endowments, or even vicarious baptisms, take a road or plane trip. Why not train? Do some face to face proselytism while you are at it.
Great problems, finding appointment space in the Houses of the Lord. California has a lot of attractions, and more temples than ever.
I believe Hong Kong still has a mission and freedom to preach, but I do not know as much since the PRC crack down a few years ago. The Chinese government rulers are playing with fire. They will come to grips eventually, by hook or by crook.
Any recent reports on countries developing in West Africa? Guinea, the Gambia, Senegal? How about Guinea-Bissau?
East Africa is picking up, right?
How about Sri Lanka, lately? I really miss the Church Almanac. It has been a long, sad, decade plus without it. The online blogs and websites are aaiitte, but not like that old rag. Did someone say a new one will be published?
Was I dreaming?
What I meant to say was is Tarawa the temple that had its actual site announced longest ago that has not had a groundbreaking date announced. I know I garbled what I said, but that is what I was trying to say. Cagayan de Ora and Russia were announced earlier, but TRawa had its site announced much earlier than Cagayan de Oro.
How close is Abijan to being done?
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/abidjan-ivory-coast-temple/
The Abidjan temple is estimated to be completed in late 2024, and since dedications take place several months after their completion, it's likely that the dedication of that temple won't be until February or March 2025.
In Detroit Temple we only book 2 initiators slots, so we always have 1 open slot. They have told us it is temple department policy that 1 set of initiatorsy booths (we only have 1 set in Detroit for male, 1 for female) can only have 3 patrons at once. This is only a few months old, and we still have workers who will allow 4 in. So we always have space for walk ins.
In the case of Saturday morning at 8:30 we have workers scheduled but do not schedule any patrons. This is basically to allow people to do initiatory on for a person and then immediately do the endowment for that person. Sometimes 9:00 patrons start early. At least for brethren we generally do not have enough workers to allow us to do a last minute initiatory before the 11:00 session, you would want to come before 10 to do that. We only have 2 non-scheduled spots for the endowment, so proportionately we have more walk in space for initiatory.
I did mean engineering degree in the case of Elder Casillas.
And yes, Tarawa is the temple that had its' site announced longest ago but has not yet had a groundbreaking. That could change soon, if, as noted above, Tarawa is a modular temple that will have its' modules on-site soon.
there are already 2 temples in New York
Today I overheard a conversation between our de facto branch mission leader, he is actually 2nd counselor in the elders Quorum Presidency who oversees missionary work, and a counselor in the stake Presidency. The opening issue was hoe to handle the fact that many of the people who the missionaries are teaching who live in the west end of our branch, when the vast majority of active members live east of the chapel, do not have access to cars. The stake Presidency member did highlight bus options. There is a bus that goes a block from our building, and it runs on Sunday. However he also said another thing to consider might be forming a group.
As of today they called a group leader for the Spanish-language group. He has a Spanish last name, and first name for that matter. He lives in Bloomfield Hills, but the group I believe they said would be based in Roseville. They also called a member of the YSA branch to be the assistant to the Arabic speaking group leader. That group leader was called a few weeks ago, maybe a few months ago.
My branch was very close to being a ward. However we Will have at least 8 people, including 5 participating adults move out. We were about 15 participating adults short. Groups add to building toward a ward, or at least do not take away.
I am not sure this will happen anytime soon. There are lots of things to think about. Realistically I think we would do the group meeting at a different time than our regular meetings. The logistics here would also require finding a meeting site of some sort.
The other Detroit based branch used to have a group under it, but thry have since gone from meeting at a church-owned building is Southfield to a leased space in Detroit. So the meeting place is more accessible to anyone in the branch.
We will see what happens.
Hmm, I meant to say an additional temple in New York State. Although with the way some use New York State,they exclude New York City, I wasnot using that odd formation.
I would love to see New York City be a city with 2 temples. With 6 stakes at least partially in the city, I do not see it short term. Unless it is about as far east as you can get in Queens.
I am thinking the New Jersey Temple will be in New Brunswick, Morristown or somewhere else on the edge of metro New York City. Jersey City and some other places in New Jersey will remain in the Manhattan Temple district.
I was thinking an Albany, Syracuse or Utica, or maybe another place in that general vicinity, Temple seems somewhat likely. Probably Utica or Albany over Syracuse.
I would love to see a Bufalo Temple, but I think that is still a good deal off.
Little Rock, Arkansas seems a doable Temple, as does Norfolk or that general area in Virginia.
Someone said the Church News is trying to develop a new almanac, but it might be an online only publication.
The country histories in the Church history section in gospel library try to fill some of this role. They try to focus on the first nationals from a place to join the Church, and not just tell the story of the outsiders. I believe the Haitian one has many, many references to Elder Fritzner Joseph, who was called as an area seventy this spring. Starting with an account of him finding off a crocodile attack at his baptism. To be fair it was a bet crocodile kept by the children of the Canadian diplomatic official who was one of the few members in the country them. Elder Joseph was baptized when Haiti was Stull under the Florida Fort Laderdale mission. I believe it was 1980.
He was the first missionary to serve from Haiti, and later the first head of seminaries and institutes. Fritzner and Gina Joseph were the first Haitian couple sealed in the temple. Thry were sealed in the DC Temple. Their son was not the first child born in the covenant in Haiti,if for no other reason than he was born in Utah where the Joseph's were receiving training to continue as the first Haitin couple to be mission leaders. They had been leading the mission for 9 months,and would ourselves anyone else in the mission leader training seminar with them. The first stake in Haiti was organized only a few months after the Joseph's concluded their term leading the mission. It was largely because of the focus on leadership development the Joseph's gave as mission leaders that Haiti got a stake.
The Joseph were also the first president and matron of the Haoti Port-au-Prince temple serving from 2019-2023. They started in September 2019. In 2019 most temple presidents started in November. So at the end of their term the Joseph's were the longest serving temple leaders. Although the Nixons who started in 2019 as well served until the Manhattan Temple closed for renovation.
There is also a connection from Haiti to Gabon. Michael and MariaMoody were the leaders of the Haiti Port-au-Prince mission from 2000-2003, thry may have been the last non-Haitian leaders of that mission. As of 2010 they were temple president and matron in Tahiti. Thry later served as missionaries in Gabon. Michael Moody was head of the Church music committee when the 1985 hymnal came out. He also wrote the music for President Faust's hymn "Thos is the Christ". I wonder if that will be in the new hymnbook.
What if they reannounce the temple in Harrison/White Planes New York?
This next Saturday the youth in my ward are having an all-day temple trip where they will do baptisms in three temples (Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello).
Just heard on pretty good authority that a Dublin Ireland temple is in the works.
Yeah Michael, I agree with you. I didn’t mean to say the Orem temple isn’t busy. But the claim was that the temple was fully reserved for most of May. That just seems to be a pretty strong exaggeration.
@Unknown
I wonder how the flooding in Dubai will affect that Temple's progress.
JPL, it's not so much a "new Almanac" as it is an Almanac subsection of the Church News. And it looks like that subsection is exclusively for temples, at least for now:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/almanac/temples/
What does "on pretty good authority" mean? That's vaguely ambiguous enough to make it hard to take as writ.
Coming to Toronto to do temple work probably isn't a good idea right now as it is closed for renovations until at least August
I don’t want to say too much. Area authority level though. The same one who told me that there would be exactly 15 temples announced in April, which I predicted here before conference occurred.
James, with all due respect, what you've said and the way you've said it makes me wonder if you've been getting privileged information that may be of a nature that it shouldn't be passed around, unless you've been given specific permission to share it here in more than vague terms. I've mentioned before my network of Church member contacts. Often what I get from them is accompanied by a clear deliniation of how much I can share publicly. My advice to you is to go back to your source and make sure that whomever it may be is okay with you passing such things along here. Due to past experiences I've had, I understand the importance of confidentiality in some respects, and as a participant on this blog, I just want to be sure on my end that you're not betraying a confidence in these matters. And if you can't be more specific, that raises red flags for me about how much you should be sharing about such things here. I mean no offense, and I hope none is taken, but it is a concern I have on my end, based on what you've said and how you've said it.
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