51 New Stakes Created in 2025 Thus Far; New Stakes Created in the DR Congo (4), Colorado, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and the Philippines; New Districts Created in Angola and the DR Congo

The Church has created at least 51 new stakes thus far in 2025 - the highest number of new stakes created during the first half of the calendar year since 2016 when there were a total of 100 new stakes created for the year. See below for a pie chart showing the distribution of new stakes created thus far in 2025 versus the first 50 new stakes created in 2016. As indicated by these pie charts, the distribution of new stakes created in 2025 is remarkably similar to 2016 except with more new stakes created in North America and fewer new stakes created in Latin America in 2025.

Prospects appear likely for many new stakes to be created for the remainder of 2025. For example, one recent report from a senior missionary serving in the Africa Central Area noted that there will be 17 new stakes organized just within this area alone by the end of the year (so far this year, eight new stakes have been organized in the Africa Central Area). To put this into perspective, the Africa Central Area has generally had fewer than five new stakes per year but will reportedly have 25 new stakes in 2025 - approximately half the number of new stakes organized in an average year during the past two decades. 

Now, for an update new stakes recently created:

DR Congo 

Four new stakes and one new district were recently created in the DR Congo. 

Three new stakes were created in the city of Kananga on June 15th where the total number of stakes increased from three to six, as each of the previous three stakes was divided to create a new stake. The new Kananga DR Congo Ndesha Stake is reported to include the following six wards: the Kapanda, Katoka 1st, Kele-Kele, Lulua, Ndesha 3rd, and Tshibandabanda Wards. The new Kananga DR Congo Lukonga Stake includes the following five wards: the Kamilabi, Lukonga 1st, Lukonga 2nd, Ndesha 1st, and the Ndesha 2nd Wards. Information on which wards are assigned to the new Kananga DR Congo Nganza Stake remains unavailable. 

The Church organized its 16th stake in Kinshasa on June 22nd. The Kinshasa DR Congo Kimbwala Stake was organized from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo Lukunga Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Kimbwala 1st, Kimbwala 2nd, Lutendele 1st, Lutendele 2nd, Mbudi, and Tshikapa Wards and the Mafuta Branch. Kinshasa now ties with Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, as the metropolitan area on the Afro-Eurasian landmass with the most stakes (16). Several more new stakes appear likely to be created in Kinshasa in the immediate future from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo N'Djili Stake (11 wards, 2 branches), the Kinshasa DR Congo Ngaliema Stake (11 wards), and the Kinshasa DR Congo Kimbanseke Stake (10 wards). 

Finally, a new district was recently created from three mission branches in the city of Kikwit where the first branch was organized in 2021. The Kikwit DR Congo District includes the following three branches: the Kazamba, the Kikwit, and the Lukolela Branches. The new district is the Church's fourth new district to be organized in the DR Congo in 2025. 

There are now 38 stakes and five districts in the DR Congo. The DR Congo now has the 14th most stakes of any country in the world, having recently surpassed Bolivia (33), Venezuela (33), and Colombia (32). In addition to the three large stakes in Kinshasa that appear likely to divide in the immediate future, six more stakes appear likely to divide in the near future, including:

• Katuba DR Congo Stake (11 wards) 
• Kolwezi DR Congo Stake (12 wards, 2 branches)
• Luputa DR Stake (10 wards, 1 branch)
• Mbuji-Mayi DR Congo Stake (9 wards) 
• Mwene-Ditu DR Congo Stake (9 wards, 2 branches - NOTE: this stake divided in June 2024)
• Ngandajika DR Congo Stake (11 wards - NOTE: this stake was just created in March 2023)

Consequently, there may be as many as 47 stakes in the DR Congo by year-end 2026, which would place the DR Congo as the country with the 11th most stakes in the world. 

Colorado

A new stake was created in Colorado on June 8th. The Fruita Colorado Stake was created from a division of the Grand Junction Colorado West Stake (organized in 1983). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Adobe Creek, Aspen, Highline, Monument, Rimrock, and Salt Wash Wards. There are now three stakes in Grand Junction (the first stake in the city was created in 1955). The new stake is the Church's first new stake in Colorado since 2017.

There are now 36 stakes in Colorado. 

Papua New Guinea

The Church organized a new stake in Papua New Guinea. The Oro Papua New Guinea Stake was created from the Oro Papua New Guinea District (organized in 2002) on June 22nd. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Ititi, Korisata, Popondetta 1st, Popondetta 2nd, and Utukiari Wards. Rapid growth has recently occurred in this area of Papua New Guinea which has had a Church presence for several decades. At the beginning of the conference to create the new stake, 107 new converts were baptized in the Bangoho River. There also appear to be several member groups that operate within the stake, such as in Afore, Kiorata, Sangara, and Warigena (per previously shown meetinghouses on the meetinghouse locator website which are now no longer visible). 

The Church in Papua New Guinea has had an unprecedented year in regard to new stake creations, as stakes were recently organized nine months earlier in Madang (September 2024) and one month earlier in Lae (May 2025). Moreover, local members report that a new stake will be created from the Minj Papua New Guinea District on August 3rd. There are currently five stakes and nine districts in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea has one of the most rural populations in the world (86.3%) which has complicated efforts to create stakes in areas with low population density and limited accessibility due to remoteness. Several additional districts appear likely to become stakes in the foreseeable future, including Gerehu (seven branches), Moveave (eight branches), Rigo (10 branches), and Sogere (11 branches). With each new stake created, the prospects increase for the expansion into unreached areas, as mission resources can be rebalanced from strengthening districts to become stakes to establishing groups and branches in additional communities. Papua New Guinea has enormous potential to become a major powerhouse for the Church in the Pacific considering it is one of the most populous nations in the region with over 10 million people yet remains only 0.38% Latter-day Saint.

Peru

A new stake was created in Peru on June 22nd. The Cañete Perú Stake was organized from the Cañete Perú District (organized in 1997). All five branches in the former district were organized into wards, namely the Cañete, the Imperial, the Mala, the Nuevo Imperial, and the Quilmaná Wards.

There are now 117 stakes and 17 districts in Peru. 

Philippines

A new stake was created in the Philippines on June 22nd. The Siniloan Philippines Stake was created from the Siniloan Philippines District (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Pakil 1st, Pakil 2nd, Santa Maria, Siniloan 1st, and Siniloan 2nd Ward and the Infanta Branch. The new stake is the Church's second new stake to be created in the Philippines this year.

There are now 133 stakes and 54 districts in the Philippines. 

Angola 

The Church recently organized a new district in Angola. The Menongue Angola District includes three branches (including one newly organized branch created at the time of the district's formation). The two original branches in Menongue previously were under the direct supervision of the Angola Luanda Mission. The three branches in the new district are the Menongue 1st, Menongue 2nd, and the Menongue 3rd Branches. The Church created its first branch in Menongue in 2022.

There are now two stakes and three districts in Angola.  

Worldwide Number of Convert Baptisms Reach All-time High

Yesterday, The Church News published an article regarding instruction provided by apostle Elder Quintin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the annual new mission presidents training seminar in Provo, Utah. Elder Cook shared the following statistics in his remarks:

• The worldwide number of convert baptisms during the 12-month period from June 2024 to May 2025 was the highest ever reported during any 12-month period of the Church since its founding in 1830.
• During the first quarter of 2025, "every region of the world" had at least a 20% increase in the number of convert baptisms compared to the first quarter of 2024.
• The annual number of convert baptisms in 2024 (308,682) was the highest reported in approximately 25 years, and "the rate of increase for New Members Attending Sacrament Meeting was even higher."
• People who attend sacrament meeting within one week of first meeting with full-time missionaries are 10 times more likely to be baptized and confirmed. 

These reports are highly encouraging after decades of stagnation or decline in annual convert baptisms. From 2000 to 2019, the average was 264,769 per year. The Church's all-time high for the most converts ever baptized in a single calendar year was 330,877 in 1990. The next highest years were 1996 (321,385), 1989 (318,940), and 1997 (317,798). Therefore, there have been more than 330,877 converts baptized between June 2024 and May 2025. Moreover, the first quarter of 2025 saw more than a 20% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024. If the number of convert baptisms increases by 20% in 2025, then there would be 370,418 converts baptized in 2025 — approximately 40,000 more than the previous all-time high. If the trajectory continues into 2026, we may witness the highest sustained growth in convert baptisms since the early 1990s—a dramatic reversal after two decades of stagnation and slowing membership growth rates. From 2016 to 2022, there were fewer than 250,000 convert baptisms per year. Elder Cook indicated that three principles have improved the effectiveness of the missionary program: (1) focusing all activities on the missionary purpose and the doctrine of Christ, (2) inviting and helping people to attend sacrament meeting, and (3) effectively finding people to teach.

Perhaps the most remarkable and surprising statistic shared by Elder Cook in this article was that "every region of the world" had at least a 20% increase in the number of converts baptized in 2025 compared to 2024. It is unclear how broadly he is defining world regions, but this is probably broken down by continent. Although Elder Cook indicated growth in every region, the Church does not release detailed regional data, making it difficult to independently verify where the greatest increases are occurring. The statistic shared by Elder Cook suggests that there has been an increase in global receptivity to the Latter-day Saint Gospel message, improvements in the effectiveness of the missionary program, or a combination of the two. Although the number of converts baptized worldwide has increased at a more rapid rate regardless of world region, it is probable that many of the new converts in more secularized areas of the world are from migrant, immigrant, or minority groups who have historically exhibited higher receptivity than their more established, ethnic majority counterparts. Convert retention also appears to be good considering Elder Cook's remark that sacrament meeting attendance for new converts was an even higher rate of increase than the total number of converts baptized. Historically, some critics have expressed concern about rushed baptisms and long-term retention challenges. However, Elder Cook’s emphasis on sacrament attendance and doctrinal focus may reflect efforts to address these very issues, although retention 5–10 years after baptism has historically — and continues to — remain a major challenge. It remains unclear how these recent gains are distributed across global regions. While the Church faces increasing secularization and disaffiliation in many developed countries, these new trends may reflect growth in more receptive areas — including among immigrant populations in those same secular regions.

It remains to be seen whether this momentum will continue into future years. However, the current trend suggests that significant structural improvements in missionary work are underway — despite low member activity rates (15–25% of nominal membership) in most countries. While these new figures are the highest since the 1990s, at the time when the Church reported its most significant numerical increases in convert baptisms, it is worth remembering that many of those convert booms did not result in sustained activity or stake viability. The future impact of the current growth will likely depend on improvements in post-baptism support and doctrinal engagement. If the Church can sustain these gains while simultaneously improving long-term integration, doctrinal conversion, and local leadership development, it may mark not only a numerical revival — but a qualitative one as well.

May 2025 Monthly Newsletter

Click here to access our monthly newsletter for cumorah.com for the month of May.

Europe Central Turkic and Persian-Speaking Mission to be Created in July 2025

New Mission Created for Turkish and Persian Speakers in Europe

Today, Church News published an article announcing the calling of a mission president and his wife to lead the new Europe Central Turkic and Persian-Speaking Mission. This appears to be a newly created mission, as no mission currently operates under this name. However, it essentially represents a reinstatement of the former Central Eurasian Mission, which operated beginning in 2015.

The Church previously organized the Central Eurasian Mission with headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, although the mission was later relocated to Bulgaria. From 2012 to 2018, foreign missionaries served in Turkey as volunteers who taught by referral. In 2018, the mission headquarters were relocated to Sofia, Bulgaria, and the mission was consolidated with the Bulgaria Sofia Mission. In 2023, the Church organized the Europe Central Area District, which currently includes branches in Turkey and Azerbaijan and provides ecclesiastical support to isolated members and groups in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—none of which have officially organized branches (but all have had a member group in the past and may still have member groups today). As of year-end 2024, there were fewer than 1,000 Latter-day Saints in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Central Asian Turkic republics combined.

Importantly, the creation of the new mission appears primarily motivated by the need to better coordinate missionary efforts among the millions of Turkish and Persian speakers living in Central Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Although the headquarters of the new mission have not been announced, they are likely to be located in this region. It is unclear how many European nations will be serviced by the new mission.

The Church has experienced its greatest missionary success with Persian-speakers among peoples from the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. There may be as many as 10,000 Persian Latter-day Saints worldwide. Several Persian-language branches now operate in the United States and Turkey, in addition to multiple member groups in other countries such as Canada.

It is also worth noting that the creation of this new mission does not appear to be connected to the recent outbreak of war between Israel and Iran. Rather, it reflects the steady increase in convert baptisms among Persian and Turkish-speaking populations in Europe over the past decade. The sustained growth in this demographic has reached a point where a dedicated, multinational mission is now warranted to better serve their needs.

Outlook and Future Developments

Prospects appear favorable for the creation of additional member groups—and potentially the first Persian- or Turkish-speaking branches in Central Europe—in the coming months and years. In some congregations, Persian or Turkic members already constitute a significant minority of active membership.

However, the outlook for missionary activity in Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia remains poor for the foreseeable future due to longstanding restrictions on religious freedom, war, and the transient nature of many converts, which limits the development of stable local leadership.

New Stakes Created in Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington; New Districts Created in the DR Congo (2) and Colombia; Districts Discontinued in Brazil and Colombia

Cameroon 

The Church created its first stake in the African nation of Cameroon on June 1st. The Yaounde Cameroon Stake was organized from the Yaounde Cameroon District (organized in 2012). Over 900 people attended the meeting to create the new stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and four branches: the Anguissa, the Bastos, the Ekounou, the Eleveur, and the Mimboman Wards and the Biyem-Assi, the Messassi, the Obili (English), and the Soa Branches. Reports over the past couple years have noted that the district was close to becoming a stake but continued to need to maintain the minimum standards for the stake to be created. Cameroon is the second African nation thus far in 2025 to have had its first stake organized (the first stake in Tanzania was organized in Dar es Salaam in January). 

There is now one stake and one district in Cameroon. The Church reported 3,327 members in Cameroon as of year-end 2024. 

Chile 

The Church organized a new stake in Chile on May 11th. The Alto Hospicio Chile Stake was organized from the Alto Hospicio Chile District (organized in 2005) which was created when the Church's second stake in Iquique, the Iquique Chile South Stake, was discontinued (originally organized in 1997). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the La Pampa, the Las Américas, the Los Aromos, the Los Cóndores, and the Tarapacá Wards and the Pica and Pozo Almonte Branches. Local leaders are ambitious that a third stake may be created in Iquique one day, although this goal appears unlikely to be reached for many years considering the Iquique Chile Stake has only six wards. The new stake in Alto Hospicio is the first new stake created in northern Chile since 2014.

There are now 80 stakes and nine districts in Chile. 

Colombia

A new stake was organized in Colombia from the Palmira Colombia District (organized in 1986) and the Tuluá Colombia District (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Bizerta, Buga, El Recreo, Santa Bárbara, and Tuluá Wards and the Andalucía, El Cerrito, and Zarzal Branches. Several branches were discontinued as part of the process of converting branches into wards, including two branches in Tuluá and one branch in Buga. 

A new district was organized from three mission branches in the Colombia Bogota North Mission. The Casanare Colombia District was organized with three branches, namely the Aguazul, the El Alcaraván, and the Los Helechos Branches.

There are now 32 stakes and nine districts in Colombia. 

Kansas

A new stake was organized in Kansas on June 1st. The Overland Park Kansas Stake was organized from the Lenexa Kansas Stake (organized in 1994) and the Olathe Kansas Stake (organized in 1986). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Heritage Park, Overland Park 1st, Overland Park 2nd, Overland Park 3rd, Paola, and Stanley Wards and the Mound City Branch. The new stake is the first new stake created in Kansas since the Garden City Kansas Stake was organized in 2003.

There are now eight stakes in Kansas. 

Maine

A new stake was organized in Maine on June 8th. The Portland Maine Stake was organized from the Augusta Maine Stake (organized in 1968). The new stake includes the following seven wards and one branch: the Cornish, Oxford, Portland, Saco, Topsham, Windham, and Yarmouth Wards and the Casco Bay YSA Branch. The other two stakes and the Saint John New Brunswick Stake were also realigned as part of the new stake creation. The last time a new stake was created in Maine was in 1986.

There are now three stakes in Maine.

Missouri

A new stake was organized in Missouri on June 8th. The Shoal Creek Missouri Stake was created from the Liberty Missouri Stake (organized in 1979) and the Platte City Missouri Stake (organized in 1997). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the New Mark, North Kansas City, Oak Grove, Platte Woods, Smithville Lake, and Tiffany Springs Wards and the San Rafael (Spanish) Branch.

Papua New Guinea

A new stake was organized in Papua New Guinea on May 25th. The Lae Papua New Guinea Stake was organized from the Lae Papua New Guinea District (organized in 2017). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Lae, Malahang, Ngasuwampu, Taraka, Wara Kalap, and Yalu Bridge Wards and the Kavieng and Yalu Branches. The creation of the new stake is a major success that would have been unlikely without the creation of the Papua New Guinea Lae Mission in 2013. More information about the creation of the new stake can be found here. The new stake is the Church's second stake to be created in northern Papua New Guinea within the past 12 months.

There are now four stakes and 10 districts in Papua New Guinea. 

Also, the Church's fifth stake in Papua New Guinea, the Oro Papua New Guinea Stake, is scheduled to be organized on June 15th. 

Peru

A new stake was organized in Peru on May 18th. The Lima Perú La Victoria Stake was organized from the Lima Perú Limatambo Stake (organized in 1970), the Lima Perú Magdalena Stake (organized in 1974), and the Lima Perú San Luis Stake (organized in 1983). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Balconcillo, the El Porvenir, the Jesús María, the La Victoria, and the Santa Beatriz Wards. 

There are now 50 stakes in the Lima metropolitan area - more than any other metropolitan area in the world outside of the United States.

There are now 116 stakes and 18 districts in Peru. The Cañete Perú Stake will be organized from the Cañete Perú District on June 22nd.

Tennessee

A new stake was created in Tennessee on June 8th from the Chattanooga Tennessee Stake. The new Cleveland Tennessee Stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Athens, Cleveland, Dalton, Dayton, and Ooltewah Wards and the Collegedale Branch. This new stake is the Church's second new stake to be created in Tennessee this year.

There are now 13 stakes in Tennessee.

Utah

A new stake was organized in Utah on June 8th. The Lehi Utah Hardman Farms Stake was organized from a division of the Lehi Utah Holbrook Farms Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Hardman Farms 1st, Hardman Farms 2nd, Hardman Farms 3rd, Hardman Farms 4th, Hardman Farms 5th, and the Hardman Farms 6th Wards.

There are now 25 stakes in Lehi. 

There are now 644 stakes and six districts in Utah. 

Virginia

A new stake was organized in Virginia on June 1st. The Mechanicsville Virginia Stake was organized from the Richmond Virginia Stake, the Richmond Virginia Chesterfield Stake, the Richmond Virginia Midlothian Stake, and the Newport News Virginia Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Chickahominy, Meadowbrook, Mechanicsville, Scotchtown, and Tappahannock Wards and the New Kent and Richmond Branches. 

There are now four stakes in the Richmond metropolitan area.

There are now 25 stakes in Virginia. 

Washington

A new stake was organized in Washington State on June 1st. The Moses Lake Washington Stake was organized from the Moses Lake Washington Stake and one branch from the Spokane Washington West Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Garden Heights, Larson Heights, O'Sullivan, Pioneer, and Ridgeview Wards and the Ritzville Branch. 

There are now two stakes in Moses Lake. 

There are now 62 stakes in Washington State.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Two new districts were recently organized in the DR Congo. 

The Bandundu DR Congo District was organized from three branches that formerly were under the direct supervision of the DR Congo Kinshasa South Mission, namely the Bandundu, Disasi, and Mayoyo Branches. All three branches are located in the city of Bandundu where the first branch was created in 2020.

The Tshitenge Democratic Republic of the Congo District was organized from four branches in the Dibindi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2022) and one recently organized mission branch (Lukalaba). The new district includes the following five branches: the Kabwe, Kambanja, Lukalaba, Sangu, and the Tshitenge Branches. The first branch in this area was created in Tshitenge in 2011 back when Mbuji-Mayi was a district.

Prospects appear favorable for the organization of many additional districts in the DR Congo due to the rapid and unprecedented expansion of the Church into previously unreached areas. Locations that appear likely to have districts organized within the near future include Boma (2 branches), Bukavu (2 branches), Kamanda (2 branches), Kikwit (3 branches), Kimpese (3 branches), Kipushi (2 branches), Luiza (2 branches), Muanda (2 branches), Tshikapa (2 branches), and Uvira (2 branches).

There are now 34 stakes and five districts in the DR Congo. On June 15th, three new stakes will be created in Kananga and one new stake will be created in Kinshasa, thereby bringing the total number of stakes in the country to 38.

Brazil

A district was recently discontinued in Brazil. The Três Rios Brazil District (organized in 2016) was discontinued. The district previously had five branches. Two branches in Três Rios were consolidated to create a ward in the Petrópolis Brazil Stake and one branch was also assigned to this stake. Another branch was reassigned to the Volta Redonda Brazil Stake (Vassouras) and another branch was discontinued (Valença).

There are now 288 stakes and 35 districts in Brazil.