With the number of full-time missionaries serving reaching all-time highs (excluding the couple years of artificially high numbers as a result of the lowering of the minimum age for missionary service a decade ago), prospects appear good for the creation of new missions in 2025. There appear to currently be approximately 74,000 to 75,000 full-time missionaries serving. Currently, there are 450 missions in the worldwide Church. The following locations appear most likely to have new missions organized in the near future. Missions in bold appear highly likely to be organized.
AFRICA (14 missions)
- Cote d'Ivoire Daloa (3-4 stakes, 2-3 districts)
- Gabon Libreville (1 district, 1 mission branch)
- Ghana Kumasi (second mission) (3 stakes, 2-3 districts)
- Liberia Monrovia (second mission) (3 stakes)
- Malawi Lilongwe (2 stakes)
- Mauritius and Reunion (2 districts)
- Nigeria Benin City (second mission) (4-5 stakes)
- Nigeria Eket (6-8 stakes)
- Nigeria Lagos (second mission) (4 stakes)
- Nigeria Makurdi (3 districts)
- Nigeria Warri (3 stakes, 3 districts)
- Senegal Dakar (1 district, several mission branches in neighboring countries)
- Sierra Leone Freetown (second mission) (3 stakes)
- Togo Lome (3 stakes)
ASIA (8 missions)
- Georgia Tbilisi (2 mission branches)
- Korea Daejeon (4 stakes)
- Middle East/African North Service Mission (2 stakes, 3 districts)
- Philippines Ormoc (3 stakes, 4 districts)
- Philippines Palawan/Mindoro (1 stake, 4 districts)
- Sri Lanka Colombo (1 district)
- Thailand Ubon (1 stake, 1 district)
- Timor-Leste Dili (1 mission branch)
EUROPE (9 missions)
- Austria Vienna (2 stakes)
- Belgium Brussels (2 stakes)
- France Paris (second mission) (3 stakes)
- France Toulouse (2 stakes)
- Germany Düsseldorf (2 stakes)
- Iceland Reykjavik (1 district)
- Ireland Dublin (2 stakes)
- Italy Palermo (1 stake)
- Spain Granada (5 stakes)
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (28 missions)
- Argentina Buenos Aires (fifth mission) (5-6 stakes)
- Argentina Posadas (2 stakes, 5 districts)
- Belize Belmopan (2 districts)
- Bolivia Riberalta (3 districts)
- Bolivia Tarija (4 stakes, 2 districts)
- Brazil Juazeiro do Norte (1 stake, 2 districts, 2 mission branches)
- Brazil Joinville (5 stakes)
- Brazil Novo Hamburgo (6 stakes, 1 district)
- Brazil Porto Velho (2 stakes)
- Brazil São Luís (2 stakes, 1 district)
- Brazil São Paulo (sixth mission) (4-5 million, ~7 stakes)
- Brazil Sorocaba (5 stakes, 2 districts)
- Colombia Bucaramanga (4 stakes)
- Cuba Havana (1 district)
- Ecuador Machala (4 stakes, 1 district)
- Mexico Acapulco (3 stakes, 1 district)
- Mexico Ciudad Obregón (3 stakes, 3 districts)
- Mexico Coatzacoalcos (3 stakes, 3 districts)
- Mexico Juchitán (3 stakes, 4 districts)
- Mexico Morelia (4 stakes, 1 district)
- Mexico Reynosa (5 stakes, 1 district)
- Mexico San Luis Potosí (3 stakes)
- Mexico Toluca (3 stakes)
- Panama Panama City (second mission) - (3-4 stakes, 1-3 districts)
- Peru Pisco (4 stakes, 2 districts)
- Peru Pucallpa (2 stakes)
- Peru Puno (3 stakes)
- Peru Tacna (5 stakes)
NORTH AMERICA (14 missions)
- Arizona Scottsdale (~10 stakes)
- Canada Toronto (second mission) (4 stakes)
- Colorado Grand Junction (5 stakes)
- Connecticut Hartford (5 stakes)
- Florida Orland (second mission) (5 stakes)
- Georgia Macon (5 stakes)
- Idaho Nampa (~20 stakes)
- Illinois Peoria (4 stakes)
- Missouri Springfield (5 stakes)
- North Carolina Raleigh (second mission) (6-7 stakes)
- Ohio Cleveland (5 stakes)
- Oklahoma Tulsa (5 stakes)
- Pennsylvania Harrisburg (6 stakes)
- Wyoming Casper (5 stakes)
OCEANIA (7 missions)
- Australia Brisbane (second mission) (~6 stakes)
- Australia Sydney (second mission) (~6 stakes)
- French Polynesia (second mission) (~5 stakes)
- Kiribati Tarawa (2 stakes, 3 districts)
- Papua New Guinea Daru (1 stake, 3 districts)
- Samoa (second mission) (~12 stakes)
- Solomon Islands Honiara (1 district)
35 comments:
Matt, I'm sorry. The continent totals don't match the lists. Were there other names not included in the lists provided? Or just didn't update the totals?
I'm excited to see how the new adjustments for single senior missionaries will impact the number of missions around the world. Especially that they can start as young as age 40. Along with BYU announcing a med school that is said to help support the church's mission around the world.
L Chris Jones.
I was talking to the family of a young man in our ward who just started his mission in Brazil. They said he was told that a new Brazilian MTC was going to be built adjacent to the São Paulo East temple, while the current MTC would be turned into an extension for BYU. Having attended BYU and served in Brazil, both events are significant, has anyone heard about this or seen any official announcements? Thanks!
Matt, also a reminder from your Potential New Temples map, specifically your updated list for the current Rio de Janeiro Temple District:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1W60CDwd4qDDMA3tW74z8g-2WxNw&ll=-23.000790300000006%2C-43.4002291&z=8
"name
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple
description
Announced: 2013
Dedicated: 2022
Square Footage: 29,966
TEMPLE DISTRICT
STAKES - 19
Arsenal Brazil - 2009
Campos Brazil - 1997
Cariacica Brazil - 2005
Juiz de Fora Brazil - 1996
Macaé Brazil - 2010
Niterói Brazil - 1976
Nova Iguaçu Brazil - 1997
Petrópolis Brazil - 1982
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Andaraí - 1979
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Campo Grande - 1996
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Engenho de Dentro - 2011
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Itaguaí - 2005
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Jacarepaguá - 1998
Rio de Janeiro Brazil Madureira - 1982
Rio de Janeiro Brazil - 1972
Teresópolis Brazil - 1998
Vila Velha Brazil - 1995
Vitória Brazil - 1987
Volta Redonda Brazil - 1997
DISTRICTS - 4
Cabo Frio Brazil - 2017
Colatina Brazil - 1993
Leopoldina Brazil - 2015
Três Rios Brazil - 2016"
The old "Rio de Janeiro Brazil - 1972" was renamed the "Duque de Caxias Brazil Stake" earlier this year, for the name of the Municipio where the stakecenter is located.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/506494
And the old "Rio de Janeiro Brazil Andaraí - 1979", has also been renamed the new "Rio de Janeiro Brazil Stake", earlier this year.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/511838
Also, as I posted here yesterday, from the Ogden Utah Temple District, the old "Morgan Utah North - 1981" has been renamed the "Mountain Green Utah Stake"
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1W60CDwd4qDDMA3tW74z8g-2WxNw&ll=41.22778600000001%2C-111.971506&z=8
"name
Ogden Utah Temple
description
Announced: 1967
Dedicated: 1972
Square Footage: 112,232
TEMPLE DISTRICT
STAKES - 65
Bridger Valley Wyoming - 1976
Clearfield Utah - 1959
Clearfield Utah North - 1978
Clearfield Utah South - 1997
Clinton Utah - 1975
Clinton Utah North - 1984
Clinton Utah West - 2011
Coalville Utah - 1877
Evanston Wyoming - 1898
Evanston Wyoming South - 1984
Farr West Utah - 2000
Farr West Utah Poplar - 2009
Harrisville Utah - 1984
Hooper Utah - 1942
Hooper Utah Pioneer Trail - 2014
Huntsville Utah - 1978
Kanesville Utah - 1987
Morgan Utah - 1877
Morgan Utah North - 1981
Morgan Utah West - 2017
North Ogden Utah - 1943
North Ogden Utah Ben Lomond - 1978
North Ogden Utah Coldwater - 1991
North Ogden Utah East - 2000
Ogden Utah - 1908
Ogden Utah Burch Creek - 1979
Ogden Utah East - 1952
Ogden Utah Lorin Farr - 1952
Ogden Utah Mound Fort - 1942
Ogden Utah Mount Lewis - 1980
Ogden Utah Pleasant Valley - 2004
Ogden Utah Rock Cliff - 1960
Ogden Utah Weber - 1970
Ogden Utah Weber Heights - 1958
Ogden Utah Weber North - 1980
Ogden Utah West - 1980
Ogden Utah YSA 1st - 1968
Ogden Utah YSA 2nd - 2003
Plain City Utah - 1977
Pleasant View Utah - 1971
Pleasant View Utah Orchard Springs - 2020
Pleasant View Utah South - 2008
Riverdale Utah - 1952
Roy Utah - 1961
Roy Utah Midland - 2000
Roy Utah North - 1967
Roy Utah South - 1988
Roy Utah West - 1978
South Ogden Utah - 1941
South Weber Utah - 1988
South Weber Utah Pioneer - 2023
Sunset Utah - 1966
Syracuse Utah - 1915
Syracuse Utah Bluff - 2004
Syracuse Utah Fremont Park - 2022
Syracuse Utah Lake View YSA - 2011
Syracuse Utah Legacy Park - 2007
Syracuse Utah South - 1992
Syracuse Utah West - 2000
Washington Terrace Utah East - 1963
Washington Terrace Utah West - 1976
West Haven Utah - 2010
West Haven Utah North - 2023
West Point Utah - 1980
West Point Utah Lakeside - 2001"
I forgot to post this reference link.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/514470
^This is Bryce (a Bryce because I think more than one Bryce posts here) In 2000 I was part of the last group who spent half our time at the Provo MTC, half at the brand new Brazil MTC (after that, young men went straight to the Brazil MTC). The MTC was about 40 minutes from the São Paulo temple by bus, so changing locations doesn't surprise me but I hadn't heard anything about plans to move. And a decision to keep the old building and turn it into an extension of BYU would be significant because it seemed leaders have been set on expanding online over expanding the physical campuses, so it would be a pretty big deal I think.
I was talking to the family of a young man in our ward who just started his mission in Brazil. They said he was told that a new Brazilian MTC was going to be built adjacent to the São Paulo East temple, while the current MTC would be turned into an extension for BYU.
This is Bryce (a Bryce because I think more than one Bryce posts here). In 2000 I was part of the last group who spent half our time at the Provo MTC, half at the brand new Brazil MTC (after that, young men went straight to the Brazil MTC). The MTC was about 40 minutes from the São Paulo temple by bus, so changing locations doesn't surprise me but I hadn't heard anything about plans to move. And a decision to keep the old building and turn it into an extension of BYU would be significant because it seemed leaders have been set on expanding online over expanding the physical campuses, so it would be a pretty big deal I think.
Also, from yesterdays post, from the Logan Utah Temple District :
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1W60CDwd4qDDMA3tW74z8g-2WxNw&ll=41.734160999999986%2C-111.827943&z=8
Both the "Providence Utah YSA - 2010" and "Smithfield Utah YSA - 2010" Stakes were recently discontinued/merged/consolidated.
"name
Logan Utah Temple
description
Announced: 1876
Dedicated: 1884
Square Footage: 119,619
TEMPLE DISTRICT
STAKES - 45
Benson Utah - 1978
Franklin Idaho - 1983
Hyde Park Utah - 1985
Hyde Park Utah North Park - 2022
Hyrum Utah Central - 2024
Hyrum Utah East - 1979
Hyrum Utah West - 2021
Lewiston Utah - 2023
Logan Utah - 1920
Logan Utah Cache - 1877
Logan Utah Cache West - 1983
Logan Utah Central - 1981
Logan Utah East - 1947
Logan Utah Married Student 1st - 1967
Logan Utah Married Student 2nd - 1999
Logan Utah Mount Logan - 1946
Logan Utah South - 1982
Logan Utah YSA 1st - 1958
Logan Utah YSA 2nd - 1976
Logan Utah YSA 3rd - 1989
Logan Utah YSA 4th - 1995
Logan Utah YSA 5th - 1998
Logan Utah YSA 6th - 2004
Logan Utah YSA 7th - 2018
Mendon Utah - 1997
Nibley Utah - 2004
Nibley Utah West - 2019
North Logan Utah - 1970
North Logan Utah Green Canyon - 1996
Paradise Utah - 1901
Paris Idaho - 1869
Preston Idaho East - 2024
Preston Idaho North - 1884
Preston Idaho South - 1920
Providence Utah - 1971
Providence Utah South - 1982
Providence Utah YSA - 2010
Richmond Utah - 1901
River Heights Utah - 2009
Smithfield Utah - 1938
Smithfield Utah North - 1982
Smithfield Utah South - 2010
Smithfield Utah West - 2021
Smithfield Utah YSA - 2010
Wellsville Utah - 1979"
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/1410172
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/1409980
And since we are on the subject, from the Salt Lake Temple District, (to update") :
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1W60CDwd4qDDMA3tW74z8g-2WxNw&ll=40.770468%2C-111.89195800000002&z=8
The old "Salt Lake Butler" Stake was recently renamed the "Cottonwood Heights Utah Butler" Stake with last week's merger. And the old "Cottonwood Heights Utah Wasatch" Stake was discontinued/merged.
"name
Salt Lake Temple
description
Announced: 1847
Dedicated: 1893
Square Footage: 382,207
TEMPLE DISTRICT
STAKES - 60
Cottonwood Heights Utah Brighton Stake
Cottonwood Heights Utah Wasatch Stake
Elko Nevada East Stake
Elko Nevada West Stake
Erda Utah Stake
Grantsville Utah Stake
Grantsville Utah West Stake
Kamas Utah Stake
Lake Point Utah Stake
Park City Utah Stake
Salt Lake Big Cottonwood Stake
Salt Lake Bonneville Stake
Salt Lake Bonneville YSA Stake
Salt Lake Butler Stake
Salt Lake Butler West Stake
Salt Lake Cannon Stake
Salt Lake Canyon Rim Stake
Salt Lake Central Stake
Salt Lake Cottonwood Stake
Salt Lake East Mill Creek North Stake
Salt Lake East Mill Creek Stake
Salt Lake Emigration Stake
Salt Lake Ensign Stake
Salt Lake Granite Park Stake
Salt Lake Granite Stake
Salt Lake Grant Stake
Salt Lake Highland Stake
Salt Lake Holladay North Stake
Salt Lake Holladay South Stake
Salt Lake Holladay Stake
Salt Lake Holladay YSA Stake
Salt Lake Liberty Stake
Salt Lake Little Cottonwood Stake
Salt Lake Married Student Stake
Salt Lake Millcreek Stake
Salt Lake Monument Park Stake
Salt Lake Mount Olympus Stake
Salt Lake Olympus Stake
Salt Lake Parleys Stake
Salt Lake Pioneer Stake
Salt Lake Pioneer YSA Stake
Salt Lake Riverside Stake
Salt Lake Rose Park North Stake
Salt Lake Rose Park Stake
Salt Lake South Cottonwood Stake
Salt Lake Stake
Salt Lake Valley View Stake
Salt Lake Wasatch Stake
Salt Lake Wilford Stake
Salt Lake Winder Stake
Salt Lake Winder West Stake
South Salt Lake Stake
Stansbury Park Utah South Stake
Stansbury Park Utah Stake
Tooele Utah East Stake
Tooele Utah North Stake
Tooele Utah South Stake
Tooele Utah Stake
Tooele Utah Valley View Stake
Tooele Utah West Stake
DISTRICTS - 1
Wendover Utah District"
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/503975
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/512931
I think the BYU medical school announcement I said something about it's having some worldwide significance and impact. Maybe expanding physical locations outside the United States would have some great impact.
, in addition to the pathway program.
The East temple lot is quite large, it is possible to house an MTC. This news, if proven, really moves me.
Apologies for the multiple comments, I hit Publish too early on my previous two attempts lol... this comment was meant to be my full thoughts - Bryce
One mission that I would like to see is the Canada Saskatoon or Canada Regina Mission, currently all of Saskatchewan is part of the Canada Winnipeg Mission. It's enormous, it's all of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northern Ontario and part of northern Minnesota. You have the potential of multiple day transfers, especially if you go from like I-Falls to Saskatoon or Prince Albert. Another is the return of the Canada Halifax Mission. Currently it's the Canada Montreal Mission but Quebec and the Maritime provinces are two different places, different languages, culture. I know one person who transferred from Halifax to Montreal and had to fly and they don't speak French much in the Maritimes
I highly doubt there will be a noticeable number if single men in their 40s, and very few in their 50s serving fulltime missions. I have a hope that we might see 1000 single men called, but I might be too hopeful. The fact that men generally die younger than women means that there is not like to very much impact. If there is a more general willingness to call single women as missionaries over 40 it might help. The publicizing that they do not need mission companions does help. My grandmother looked into serving a mission after my grandfather died, and I think she was basically told she needed to find another woman who could be her companion.
The mission that will probably be most effected is Salt Lake Headquarers. It might be split in 2 now. The other missions I could see being impacted the most are in areas. I wonder if there might be an area like Brazil or Mexico where it might are sense to form a separate mission for the central area mission staff. Probably not anytime soon. Salt Lake Headquaters exists largely because of how huge the staffing of the Family History Library and the Church History Library and archives is. No other place has anything anywhere near that level.
As much as I want to see BYU-Brazil, I have heard enough rumors of BYU creating new campuses over the year, and know the Ch6rch did actually buy locations for one plan in the early 1960s, that while I have great hope BYU will expand I have to admit that it is not great.
I would have said BYU medical school was not going to happen even 6 months ago, actually up until it was announced, so who actually knows.
BYU Mexico and BYU Brazil would be the easiest. Turning BYU's London Crnter yo BYU England would be more difficult. A BYU-Canada would be neat,but I am not sure how doable it would be. BYU-Congo seems a very hard to do idea.
For any of these to succeed you would need yo have a quick plan to staff them almost entirely with non-American faculty, and mainly with faculty of the nation where they are. This might require starting fairly small.
Regrading BYU expansions, this is unlikely, for reasons that will become more apparent around the new year. Stay tuned for some important CES-related announcements, likely in January.
--Felix
I highly doubt that the European missions would happen. Many of these had missions and closed decades ago. The slow growth doesn’t warrant it.
The big problem is the issue of revalidation or accreditation of certificates obtained in US institutions, even if operating in Brazil, with the Brazilian government, in the same way that Brazilian diplomas need to be revalidated in the USA. If adjustments and agreements are not made between the Brazilian Ministry of Education and BYU, certificates and titles granted by the Church institution may not be valid in Brazil and only be recognized in the USA. So it seems to be a long journey before we could see a BYU Brazil fully operational.
Seeing reports that the SL South Cottonwood Stake recently collapsed their units down to 3 wards, Little Cottonwood Stake down to 4 wards.
I couldn't verify - but if this is true, what is the minimum number of wards for a stake? I had seen 4 before, but never 3. It's a little odd to me to see an increased focus on larger wards through consolidation, but at the same time having smaller stakes (which will inevitably pull members from fewer wards for stake callings).
Thanks for catching that - I used the prior post from last year and forgot to update these totals. They are now updated.
I have only seen one stake with three wards that functioned for longer than 6 months without getting discontinued (Sioux Falls Iowa Stake). This suggests another stake closure is imminent.
The Kearns Utah South Stake has been functioning at 3 wards for around 4 months now I believe. Likely to see an imminent stake closure there too, though honestly I would've thought it would happen sooner.
Also the Holbrook Arizona Stake has been functioning at 3 wards for quite some time. Since there are also 3 branches in the stake, it seems less likely this stake will be imminently consolidated.
On a personally relevant note, one of my areas in the Missouri St. Louis Mission covered the town of Troy, which had once had a branch that was closed and merged into the Wentzville Ward. On Sunday, the Troy unit was reinstated, and as a ward! The Church is growing remarkably fast in the middle of Missouri right now thanks to a lot of new move-ins. It's super exciting to see and I'm jealous of the missionaries who are serving there now!
Not a hugely surprising change. The old "Morgan North" name was a relic of a time when that stake extended much closer to Morgan proper. With the creation of the Morgan West Stake, all of the Mountain Green wards were consolidated into their own stake that isn't at all close to Morgan proper, so calling it the Mountain Green Stake makes much more sense. At the rate Morgan County is growing, it wouldn't surprise me to see three or four more stakes and possibly a temple there in the next decade.
My general rule is that just about everything makes more growth more likely. If we can get back to back 6 months announcements of Orem and Lindon Temples just about anything is possible.
That said, the are deep logistical reasons why I do not expect any additional BYU locations anytime soon.
On a different note I realized that on my initial reading of Saints Vol. 4 I missed p. 324-327. I am not exactly a ure how this happened, but sometimes online I do notcrealize there is more chapter and accidentally go over to the next. These are the pages that tell of the Cannons and Mabeys coming to Aboh, Nigeria and baptizing Anthony Obinna and 17 others and organizing the first branch in Nigeria. It felt like thry had missed something when I moved on, and in fact I had.
I am now glad I stuck with rereading the printed book from the start. Right now I am to the part where thry speak about the 1980 consolidation of church meetings. I am to page 339 of 667, which considering I am only 25 of the 65 years through the book does seem odd. I guess there are reasons why it gets hard to adequately cover recent events. I am glad thry brought the narrative all the way to April 2020.
I do have yo admit a big part of me wishes that each volume of Saints had had at least 1000 pages of text.
The minimum number of wards for a stake is 5 as stated in the General Handbook but there are many stakes around the world that have 4 wards with some or no branches. Haven't seen 3 wards outside of the US.
The church created its 5th stake in the Harare Metropolitan on November, 3rd, 2024, the Harare Zimbabwe Chitungwiza Stake (2274361).
The Saratov Russia Stake currently sits at 3 wards, 4 branches.
The Sioux Falls Iowa Stake currently sits at 4 wards, 5 branches.
Missoula Montana Temple Site Location Revealed!
(And Colorado Springs)
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/locations-colorado-springs-missoula-montana-temples
It'll be on the south side of Missoula, not too far from my old hometown.
Four new wards in Northwest Arkansas created on 11/4. Two in Bentonville Stake, Morningside and Highlands wards. Now up to 13 wards in the stake. Also two new wards in Rogers Stake, Beaver Lake Ward and the Cave Springs Ward. They now have 10 wards and two branches (YSA & Spanish.) There are now 21 units meeting in the 4 buildings in Centerton, Bentonville, Rogers, and Bella Vista buildings, Cave Springs is sharing with a Springdale chapel for the time being.
A new stake center is set to open in Centerton late next year, we assume a new stake will be created then. Two other chapels have been approved for Rogers Stake, though land has not yet been bought.
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