This morning, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints announced that young women may now begin full-time missionary service at age 18 — the same minimum age as young men
This decision carries significant potential: by providing additional options for young women to serve missions right after high school (or its equivalent), the worldwide full-time missionary force may grow in scale and diversity. It opens a new season of opportunity for women who desire to serve, whether before pursuing further education, entering the workforce, or undertaking other life ventures. While missionary service remains optional for young women, the change reflects a continued evolution in how the Church supports individual choice, preparation, and contribution with its proselytism efforts Effective immediately, young women graduating this year and going forward will be eligible to submit mission applications starting at age 18. Moreover, the recent announcement to create 55 new missions in 2026 will provide additional support to accommodate potentially large influxes in young women serving missions in the next 12 months.
I will provide additional analysis of today's announcement in the coming days.
Looking forward to any further analysis you will provide, Matt! With missionary service being optional for women still, I am not entirely convinced this will lead directly to more women serving, but I recognize I don't have the data you do to back that belief up. This is a tremendous announcement, as it puts women and men on equal footing when it comes to the decision to serve a mission, even though it remains a choice rather than a priesthood duty for women. Thanks again for this update, Matt!
ReplyDeleteI think this will significantly increase sisters who want to serve thereby increasing church growth for the number of mission. And they would number of sisters (back when the age was 21) who in high school expressed wanting to serve missions, but by the time they reached missionary age, they were further involved in their college education or dating someone or getting married.
DeleteThis is an exciting development that will probably increase missionary numbers more than one might think from an adjustment that because it applies after completing high school or its equivalent is less than a year for most young people and not at all for a few.
ReplyDeleteThis gives most young people the option of serving missions immediately on graduation, and while there will be young women who chose some college or other endeavors for a time and then go on missions, as there are young men who do so, the option to go then will allow some yo go who if they start some other endeavor find it not possible to arrange to serve.
The decision to announce it now and let it go in effect as of today instead of waiting to announce it at general conference as the previous missionary age change was done is exciting. It also probably creates a little less rush for leaders. Those who are in a situation to go immediately now would be whenever you announced it. However a bunch are high school students who do not graduate until June, and another bunch are in college or other commitments, many of which will not be able to go until April-June anyway. Announcing it now gives people a longer time to prep for the crunch times, and also avoids having people free at other times swept into the crunch time push of April-June that would occur if this was announced in April.
Although I am sure whenever such a change is announced it will lead to lots of people contacting their bishop,even if many of them will not be able to actually start serving for several months.
Some time ago, here on the blog, someone mentioned the Shelley Idaho Stake had split. But until today, there are no changes to the Wards in the Stake on the Meetinghouse website.
ReplyDeleteBut i see now it has 2 upcoming Conferences 2 weeks January 25th and Feb 8th, 2026.
It's quite possible one of those is the regular Semi-Annual Stake Conference, and the other is a visit of a GA. Or one may be a Stake realignment?
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/500682
A continuation of my last comment about the Shelley Idaho Stake (500682). The date of the second Stake conference Feb 7-8, 2026, the Shelley Idaho South Stake (513636), also has Stake Conference planned.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/500682
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/513636
Sometime in the last 6 months in the new Canada Area, in the Longueuil Québec Stake (475963), both the Shawinigan Branch (French) (1995715), and the Trois Rivières Branch (French) (115673), were transferred to the Québec City District (606537). I wonder if in preparation to organize a Stake of 7 Units?
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/606537
Also, sometime in the last 6 months, in the Dartmouth Nova Scotia Stake (517364), the Sackville Ward (196606) was renamed the Bedford Basin Ward (196606), the Dartmouth Ward (97583) was renamed the Forest Hills Ward (97583), and the Cole Harbour Ward (187658) was consolidated.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/517364
#Matt, If you are interested. In the recent realignment of the Raymond Alberta Stake (500518), the wards were renamed :
ReplyDeleteBroadway Branch (2246856) - > Broadway Branch (2246856)
Raymond 8th Ward (273724) - > Centennial Park Ward (273724)
Raymond 1st Ward (51675) - > Church Avenue Ward (51675)
Raymond 2nd Ward (51683) - > Memorial Park Ward (51683)
Raymond 3rd Ward (51292) - > Park Avenue Ward (51292)
Raymond 11th Ward (2161451) - > Pebble Creek Ward (2161451)
Prairie Ridge Branch (2072971) - > Prairie Ridge Branch (2072971)
Raymond 5th Ward (125407) - > Railway Avenue Ward (125407)
Raymond 7th Ward (173169) - > South Broadway Ward (173169)
Raymond 9th Ward (1550497) - > Southwest Park Ward (1550497)
Raymond 10th Ward (2072963) - > Taylor Street Ward (2072963)
Raymond 6th Ward (172707) - > Victoria Park Ward (172707)
Raymond 4th Ward (51284) - > Westridge Ward (51284)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/500518
With this alone, we'll see a bump, but not a spike as seen in the 2012 announcement. It would take additional motivation (beyond what's been applied so far) to see change that's remotely comparable to post-2012 announcement.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think this is probably enough to fill the 55 new missions at least at current levels, as sisters that had to wait until 19 to serve will be joined by those that can now serve at age 18. Like with 2012. that would cause a short-term spike that would come down and level off at a higher level after a couple of years.
On a side note, something that could create a bigger bump is extending missionary service time. I'm only stating this hypothetically as it wasn't part of this announcement. An service extension (whether voluntary or standardized) that would increase overall average service by two months would automatically fill the 55 new missions at current levels assuming everything else stayed the same (no extra MTC time).
What about if Women's missionary service time were extended to at least 20 months?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is curious, here is my list of next weekend November 29-30, 188 known Stake/District Conferences:
ReplyDelete11/30/25 Bondoyi Democratic Republic of the Congo
11/30/25 Brazzaville Republic of the Congo
11/30/25 Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Lukonga
11/30/25 Katuba Democratic Republic of the Congo
11/30/25 Kikula Democratic Republic of the Congo
11/30/25 Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Kimbwala
11/30/25 Makelekele Republic of the Congo
11/30/25 Beira Mozambique Munhava
11/30/25 Beira Mozambique
11/30/25 Bulawayo Zimbabwe Masiyephambili
11/30/25 Lilongwe Malawi
11/30/25 Viana Angola
11/30/25 Aba Nigeria Umuola
11/30/25 Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Yopougon Attie
11/30/25 Abobo Cote d'Ivoire East
11/30/25 Abuja Nigeria Wuse
11/30/25 Accra Ghana Kasoa
11/30/25 Ashaiman Ghana Bethlehem
11/30/25 Enugu Nigeria
11/30/25 Freetown Sierra Leone
11/30/25 Ibadan Nigeria
11/30/25 Ibiono Nigeria
11/30/25 Ikot Akpaden Nigeria
11/30/25 Ikot Akpatek Nigeria
11/30/25 Koumassi Cote d'Ivoire
11/30/25 Paynesville Liberia
11/30/25 Uyo Nigeria
11/30/25 Warri Nigeria
11/30/25 Hong Kong China Tolo Harbour
11/30/25 Hyderabad India
11/30/25 Taipei Taiwan East
11/30/25 Tokyo Japan
11/30/25 Curitiba Brazil Campo Comprido
11/30/25 Fortaleza Brazil Dunas
11/30/25 Foz do Iguaçu Brazil
11/30/25 Macaé Brazil
11/30/25 Maceió Brazil Tabuleiro
11/30/25 Palhoça Brazil
11/30/25 Palmas Brazil North
11/30/25 Ponta Grossa Brazil Campos Gerais
11/30/25 Recife Brazil Imbiribeira
11/30/25 Santa Cruz do Sul Brazil
11/30/25 São Paulo Brazil Sapopemba
11/30/25 Lethbridge Alberta Henderson Lake
11/30/25 Guarenas Venezuela
11/30/25 Kingston Jamaica
11/30/25 Maracay Venezuela
11/30/25 Santiago Dominican Republic North
11/30/25 Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Las Americas
11/30/25 Escuintla Guatemala
11/30/25 Guatemala City Don Justo
11/30/25 Paraiso El Salvador
11/30/25 San José Costa Rica La Sabana
11/30/25 San Pedro Guatemala
11/30/25 San Vicente El Salvador
11/30/25 Senahu Guatemala
11/30/25 Sonsonate El Salvador
11/30/25 Tegucigalpa Honduras Villa Olímpica
11/30/25 Cartagena Spain
11/30/25 Friedrichsdorf Germany
11/30/25 Paris France East
11/30/25 The Hague Netherlands
11/30/25 Toulouse France
11/30/25 Belfast Northern Ireland
11/30/25 Canterbury England
11/30/25 Crawley England
11/30/25 Leeds England
11/30/25 Leicester England
11/30/25 Liverpool England
11/30/25 São Filipe Cape Verde
11/30/25 Aguascalientes México
11/30/25 Amecameca México
11/30/25 Cancún México
11/30/25 Cuernavaca México
11/30/25 Durango México
11/30/25 Guadalajara México Lomas
11/30/25 Lázaro Cárdenas México
11/30/25 Madero México
11/30/25 México City Coacalco
11/30/25 México City El Lago
11/30/25 Oaxaca México Brenamiel
11/30/25 Orizaba México
11/30/25 Poza Rica México Palmas
11/30/25 Puebla México Arboledas
11/30/25 Querétaro México Valle
11/30/25 Saltillo México República
11/30/25 San Nicolás México
11/30/25 Apia Samoa West
11/30/25 Faaa Tahiti Takaroa
11/30/25 Gold Coast Australia
11/30/25 Ipswich Australia
11/30/25 Kwajalein Marshall Islands
11/30/25 Macarthur Australia
11/30/25 Melbourne Australia Wyndham
11/30/25 Nuku'alofa Tonga Vaini
11/30/25 Oro Papua New Guinea
11/30/25 Pago Pago Samoa Central
11/30/25 Pesega Samoa
11/30/25 Porirua New Zealand
11/30/25 Rotorua New Zealand
Katuba DRC is possible-- 12 wards, 1 branch. But not every DRC stake this big splits.
Delete11/30/25 Alicia Philippines
ReplyDelete11/30/25 Baguio Philippines
11/30/25 Batangas Philippines
11/30/25 Cagayan de Oro Philippines West
11/30/25 Camarin Philippines
11/30/25 Cavite Philippines
11/30/25 Dasmariñas Philippines
11/30/25 Ilagan Philippines
11/30/25 Iriga Philippines
11/30/25 Makati Philippines
11/30/25 Marikina Philippines
11/30/25 Morong Rizal Philippines
11/30/25 Tagbilaran Philippines
11/30/25 Tagum Philippines
11/30/25 Toledo Philippines
11/30/25 Vigan Philippines
11/30/25 Arequipa Perú Central
11/30/25 Babahoyo Ecuador
11/30/25 Cañete Perú
11/30/25 Cochabamba Bolivia Aeropuerto
11/30/25 El Alto Bolivia Los Andes
11/30/25 Esmeraldas Ecuador
11/30/25 Huánuco Perú
11/30/25 Iquitos Perú Punchana
11/30/25 Juliaca Perú
11/30/25 Lima Perú Chorrillos
11/30/25 Lima Perú Chosica
11/30/25 Lima Perú Las Palmeras
11/30/25 Lima Perú Limatambo
11/30/25 Lima Perú Torre Blanca
11/30/25 Lima Perú Villa Salvador
11/30/25 Medellin Colombia Centro
11/30/25 Paita Perú
11/30/25 Pisco Perú
11/30/25 Portoviejo Ecuador
11/30/25 Santa Cruz Bolivia Central
11/30/25 Trujillo Perú Jerusalén
11/30/25 Asunción Paraguay
11/30/25 Bahía Blanca Argentina
11/30/25 Buenos Aires Argentina Caseros
11/30/25 Buenos Aires Argentina Congreso
11/30/25 Buenos Aires Argentina Litoral
11/30/25 Buenos Aires Argentina Marcos Paz
11/30/25 Concepción Chile Chiguayante
11/30/25 Corrientes Argentina
11/30/25 General Roca Argentina
11/30/25 Godoy Cruz Argentina
11/30/25 La Plata Argentina South
11/30/25 Limpio Paraguay
11/30/25 Linares Chile
11/30/25 Mar del Plata Argentina North
11/30/25 Mercedes Uruguay
11/30/25 Montevideo Uruguay North
11/30/25 Olavarría Argentina
11/30/25 Pergamino Argentina
11/30/25 Rosario Argentina West
11/30/25 San Antonio Chile
11/30/25 San Luis Argentina
11/30/25 Santiago Chile Javiera Carrera
11/30/25 Santiago Chile Las Condes
11/30/25 Santiago Chile Los Alerces
11/30/25 Santiago Chile Olimpo
11/30/25 Santiago Chile Quilicura
11/30/25 Santiago Chile República
11/30/25 Santiago Chile San Miguel
11/30/25 Talca Chile
11/30/25 Trelew Argentina South
11/30/25 Tucumán Argentina
11/30/25 Tucumán Argentina West
11/30/25 Valparaíso Chile West
11/30/25 Ñemby Paraguay
11/30/25 Açores Portugal
11/30/25 St Denis Reunion
11/30/25 Gangneung Korea
11/30/25 Valera Venezuela
11/30/25 Marbel Philippines
11/30/25 Porlamar Venezuela
11/30/25 Borongan Philippines
11/30/25 Vilnius Lithuania
11/30/25 Jeju Korea
11/30/25 Chennai India
11/30/25 Kpong Ghana
11/30/25 Agbor Nigeria
11/30/25 Havana Cuba
11/30/25 Bibiani Ghana
11/30/25 Axim Ghana
11/30/25 Saratov Russia
11/30/25 Nakuru Kenya
How about extending the Sisters' missionary service time to 20 months?
ReplyDeleteThe interviews with President Freeman and Sister Wright seemed to indicate that the overwhelming response from young women when asked was that they preferred to keep sisters' missions at 18 months.
DeleteThe freaking antis will spin everything into the church being a nefarious evil thing. We cant do anything without being criticized. damned if you do damned if you don't
ReplyDeleteThis is a great change especially if any young women are already planning to serve who could potentially move up their applications if they desire. Also in Australia, it's just about high school graduation time so this news might be good for some of the young women who are interested in serving.
ReplyDeleteAmong other recent ward changes in Caribbean Area, the former mission branch, Calabozo Branch (338731), of the Venezuela Caracas Mission (2019558), was transferred in the last 6 months to the La Pascua Venezuela District (610828).
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/610828
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/mission/2019558
Also, the Demerara Branch (464430), was transferred from the Georgetown Guyana District (388734) to the Berbice Guyana District (2099136).
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/388734
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2099136
A new branch Ciudad Juan Bosch (2305623) was organized in the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Las Americas Stake (559660)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/559660
A new branch, Madeline Branch (2316773), was organized in the Cap-Haïtien Haiti District (2114526)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2114526
The Port-De-Paix Branch (289566), of the Gonaïves Haiti District (278610), was split and renamed the Port-de-Paix 1st Branch. And the new Port-De-Paix 2nd Branch (2312425) was organized.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/278610
Also,l the Gabions Branch (375748), in the Les Cayes Haiti District (612766), was split and renamed the Gabions 1st Branch (375748), and the new Gabions 2nd Branch (2309807) was organized.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/612766
Two new stakes have been created today in Spain. The Barcelona stake has been divided and the Granollers stake has been created as a result. It's the fourth stake in Catalonia. In Madrid the fourth stake has also been created. Wonderful day for.the growth of the Church in Spain :)
ReplyDeleteStake presidents in the AR Little Rock Mission/Memphis Temple District (same boundaries-6 stakes) had a meeting yesterday with 3 general/area authorities. Then they all took a stake to host a special Stake Conference. No announcements, no boundary realignment, nothing on the piece of property the church bought... It was a good stake conference though.
ReplyDeleteWe will have at least 10 new stakes each for the DR Congo and the Philippines for 2025 - Just received word of the Marbel Philippines Stake will be organized Nov 30th and the Bocaue Philippines Stake will be organized Dec 7th.
ReplyDeleteIt appears the Bocaue Ward is part of the Valenzuela Philippines Stake (528013), for the proposed split.
Deletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/528013
Matt, is there a list somewhere showing stakes and districts with the most units?
ReplyDeleteMike Z., This is not a list ranked largest to smallest Stakes / Districts. But here is my current list of about 32,000 known Wards and Branches, grouped together by Stakes, Districts and Missions worldwide. With a Stake total # of Units under each. You can copy and rearrange to your needs. You're welcome.
DeleteI'm in the process of reviewing a few stakes daily comparing to my Summer 2025 list for changes.
https://1drv.ms/x/c/1db9589a4503c3cf/ESVU56mU9jVNmQWzCW3tSboB1kqDaFNoCL1-CgFpym115Q?e=7aZAWv
It was great to see the dedication of the Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple today.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest brother served in the Buenos Aires South Mission from 1973 to 1975. At that time they couldn’t even really fathom having a temple in Argentina. I’ll never forget in one of my brother‘s letters, him talking about how he and his companion, in a three month period, knocked on every door in the city of Neuquen and nobody would let them in. He wrote that at their branch meetings each Sunday they had 8 to 12 people and whatever those numbers were, four of them were missionaries.
But, the Lord and the Holy Ghost know the timetable, and it took the older generation passing away before the next became a little more open minded. And finally today where there’s a lot more open minded people there. They are now two stakes with 15 wards and two branches in those two stakes.
So in that period of roughly 50 years, the church now has gone from 4 to 8 active members, excluding the missionaries, to being a strong hold for the Lord in the church.
The same thing will happen all over the world and it’s exciting to see it . Those of us who have been blessed with the spirit of the Holy Ghost know exactly what’s going, on while everybody else is left to scratch their heads and wonder why, or how to stop it.
They can’t stop it because truly this is the work of the Lord!
@Gary C Williams
DeleteI was excited to hear about the Bahía Blanca dedication, as well.
I had a district leader friend of mine who served there (before he got sent back to the states for the remainder of his mission, due to injury).
I believe Buenos Aires was still the only temple in Argentina at the time (back in '02-'04)?
Sometime in the recent past (last six months), the Center 3rd Ward (106542) and the Rosedale Ward (1929) in the Salt Lake Riverside Stake (501425) have both been consolidated. Leaving the Salt Lake Riverside Stake with 4 wards and a branch. And the neighboring Salt Lake Rose Park Stake (502421) with 5 wards.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Taylorsville 9th Ward (2089) and Taylorsville 30th Ward (116815) of the Taylorsville Utah Central Stake (506575) have been consolidated as well. The Taylorville Gardens Ward (2615) has been renamed the Heritage Park Gardens Ward (2615) in the same Stake. Which sounds a lot like the neighboring Taylorsville Utah Heritage Park Stake (508950). Leaving the Taylorsville Utah Central Stake with 4 Wards and a branch.
And all 4 Stakes had conference this weekend.
The Granollers Spain Stake (2306611) has been added to the map.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2306611
But the new Madrid Spain South Stake, at the time of this post has not been updated yet.
And the Salt Lake Riverside Stake (501425) has no associated Wards or Branches. As I predicted last week.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/501425
Meadow Ward (116173) - > Salt Lake Pioneer Stake (500542)
Riverside 1st Ward (4448) - > Salt Lake Rose Park Stake (502421)
Riverside 2nd Branch (2052687) - > Salt Lake Rose Park Stake (502421)
Twenty Ninth Ward (3662) - > Salt Lake Pioneer Stake (500542)
North Star Ward (Spanish) (453587) - > Salt Lake Pioneer Stake (500542)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/500542
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/502421
And previously consolidated before conference were the :
Center 3rd Ward (106542) - > Merged ??
Rosedale Ward (1929) - > Merged ??
Also the Taylorsville Utah Central Stake (506575), no longer has any associated Wards or Branches.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/506575
Golden Living Center Branch (Retirement) (174416) - > Taylorsville Utah Heritage Park Stake (508950)
Taylorsville 10th Ward (2623) - > Heritage Park 10th Ward (2623) - > Taylorsville Utah Heritage Park Stake (508950)
Taylorsville 19th Ward (94706) - > Heritage Park 19th Ward (94706) - > Taylorsville Utah Heritage Park Stake (508950)
Taylorsville Gardens Ward (2615) - > Heritage Park Gardens Ward (2615) - > Taylorsville Utah Heritage Park Stake (508950)
Sauniatu Ward (Samoan) (211222) - > Taylorsville Utah Heritage Park Stake (508950)
And previously consolidated before this weekend's conference :
Taylorsville 9th Ward (2089) - > Merged ??
Taylorsville 30th Ward (116815) - > Merged ??
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/508950
I just went through DR Congo and found that 10 stakes appear likely to be created over the next year, 8 from stakes splitting and 2 districts advancing to stakes. Here's the breakdown by region
ReplyDeleteThe Mbuji-Mayi/Mwene-Ditu area is packed with potential stake splits:
Mbuji-Mayi Stake (10 wards, 1 branch)
Mwene-Ditu Stake (12 wards, 1 branch)
Kabusanga Stake (10 wards)
Luputa Stake (12 wards, 1 branch)
Ngandajika Stake (11 wards, stake conference in January)
And then the Tshitenge District has no district conferences scheduled. Only 5 branches, but my gut says they're prepping to make it part of a stake, which would likely make 6 new stakes in this region.
Lots of stakes have recently been split in Kinshasa, but 2 stakes are still big enough to split next year:
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Ngaba Stake (11 wards)
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Ngaliema Stake (12 wards)
And in Lumbumbashi, the Katuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (12 wards, 1 branch) may split as soon as this weekend.
Finally, the Kisangani Democratic Republic of the Congo District, with 9 branches and only one district conferences scheduled (12/14-15/2025) may well become a stake as well.
I think (though not sure) the Luputa Stake was split last weekend. No confirmation yet, but some comments in French on their main stake page were congratulating the two new stake presidents
DeleteThank you, Caleb. The following video on the Facebook page starts the Letter of Creation read in French about 46:30 into the video. The audio quality is not that great. But it sounds like the new stake to be called Katubi DRC. Although i may be wrong.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/61576662464546/videos/1552121435797640
If anyone here speaks french and can correct me.
It has been called the Katubi DRC Stake, according to the meeting minutes here.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/augu.kanangila.3/posts/pfbid02pQvgEo9zCfZnGY3WUiuX4gcRN8MTuVoKF1Zk2nww2e3BDA3ttFpDybNxEkbr2YALl?rdid=O53yX94iXYp2BGa9#
A third stake was created in Antofagasta Chile this past weekend. The Antofagasta Chile East Stake.
ReplyDeleteThis link is in Spanish, but describes the stake creation. https://www.faroalasnaciones.com/se-crea-la-tercera-estaca-de-antofagasta-la-81-de-chile/
And from that news article i gather :
DeleteAntofagasta Chile East Stake ( ) : 5 Wards
124168 Antofagasta Centro Ward
352802 Bolívar Ward
165964 Caliche Ward
61743 Centenario Ward
124303 Las Rocas Ward
Antofagasta Chile La Portada Stake (522392) 5 Wards + 1 Branch :
2067021 Cerro Moreno Ward
228850 Las Arenas Ward
2215454 Las Palmeras Ward
288683 Mejillones Branch
2255251 Sierra Nevada Ward
114952 Tocopilla Ward
Antofagasta Chile Stake (513377) 5 Wards and 1 Branch :
228818 Angamos Ward
114928 Miramar Ward
165972 Orígenes Ward
2271443 Parque Japonés Ward
197815 Quito Ward
288624 Tal-Tal Branch
From what is said in the link, the Antofagasta Chile Stake had one ward (Antofagasta Centro) transferred to the new stake and is left with 5 wards and 1 branch. From the Antofagasta Chile La Portada Stake, the new stake gained the Bolivar, Caliche, Centenario, and Las Rocas Wards, also leaving that stake with 5 wards and 1 branch.
DeleteI'm surprised they didn't just reinstate the old "Antofagasta Chile Caliche Stake" that existed from November 4th, 1984 - June 15th, 2003, since the new stake includes the Caliche Ward.
DeleteAntofagasta Chile Caliche (1984-11-04, 1997-06-24) (Discontinued 2003-06-15)
1. 2003-06-15 Discontinued
2. 2000-09-03 Mario Rafael Martinez C.
3. 1998-03-01 Javier Alonso Ortiz Leiva
4. 1993-09-05 Juan Jesus Lee Olivares
5. 1984-11-04 Ricardo Manuel Palma Fuentes
I also missed last night in the Salt Lake Pioneer Stake realignment,
ReplyDeleteThe Poplar Grove Ward (4650) was transferred to the Salt Lake Cannon Stake
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/502219
And in the Salt Lake Cannon Stake (502219), the Cannon 3rd Ward (5231) was consolidated.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/502219
A new Stake created in Mozambique last sunday, Chimoio Mozambique Stake.
ReplyDeleteA new Stake created in Mozambique last sunday, Chimoio Mozambique Stake.
ReplyDeleteHeres the Facebook video of the District Conference to organize the Stake. (In Portuguese) from "Amigos de Distrito de Chimoio".
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/share/p/1M71ghGLpG/
If no one has posted yet, here is the organization of the new Madrid Spain South Stake, in the Spain Madrid South Mission
ReplyDeleteMadrid Spain South Stake (2306298)
Organized 23 November 2025
- Alcázar Branch
- Aranjuez Ward
- Arganda del Rey Ward
- Ciudad Real Branch
- Leganés Ward
- Móstoles Ward
- Parla Branch
- Talavera Branch
- Toledo Ward
- Valdepeñas Branch
It looks like the Luputa Stake was indeed split this past weekend, and the new stake in the Katubi DR Congo Stake
ReplyDeleteThe Huanuco Peru Stake will be split next weekend to create a new stake, which will total 3 stakes in Huanuco.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/EstacaHuanucoPeru
I noticed 7 new missions in Africa West Area but no additional missions in Nigeria. Half of the church in the Africa West Area is in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteThe Minatitlán Mexico Tecnológico District (526819), of the Mexico Villahermosa Mission, has become a Stake recentlly. Possibly this weekend?
ReplyDeleteMinatitlán México Stake | Meetinghouse Locator
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/526819
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/missions/1175165
It looks like Mozambique will get another stake next weekend when the Beira Mozambique Munhava Stake will be divided. Will likely also involve the Beira Mozambique Stake, given the same stake conference date.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557427963345
New missiona leaders have been called for the Venezuela Valencia Mission and will start serving later this month. We don't often see new mission leaders begin serving in December, so I wonder what happened there.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the meetinghouse locator, the new stake in Luputa is actually called the Luputa DR Congo Katubi Stake
ReplyDeleteNew leaders of the Venezuela Valencia Mission have been called and will begin their service in December instead of next July.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2025/11/26/new-venezuela-valencia-mission-president-companion-diaz/
In the reshuffling of the Madrid Spain stakes this last weekend,
ReplyDeleteThe Madrid 1st Ward (80403), and Madrid 4th Ward (171158), from the Madrid Spain East Stake (528714) were both transferred to the Madrid Spain Central Stake (1958046).
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/1958046
Leaving the Madrid Spain Central Stake - 6 Congregations
Madrid Spain East Stake - 6 Congregations
Madrid Spain South Stake - 10 Congregations
Madrid Spain West Stake - 9 Congregations
I know i talked above about the possibility of the Makelekele Republic of the Congo Stake (2025302), from a member comment on facebook about a possible new stake in the area. But now i feel the likelyhood of it happening being greater. Since the Brazzaville Republic of the Congo (430072) also has a conference planned for this weekend 11/30/25. Now a 3rd Metro Brazzaville stake, the Diata Republic of the Congo (2156342) just had a conference a week ago and has another planned this weekend 11/29-11/30/25.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2156342
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/430072
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2025302
With all 3 Metro Stakes on same weekend, I find it highly likely of a realignment coming.
Any thoughts?
Here is a youtube page for last week's live conference feed for Diata. Scheduled 11/22-11-23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICL_gjHtXgk
And meetinghouse says they have another this weekend.
And here is the Facebook group "News of Diata Stake" of last sunday session in Diata Stake. So 2 weekends in a row of conference means either a GA multistake visit or other changes.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/pieudediata
I also have a feeling we will be hearing this weekend about the Beira Mozambique (423076) and Beira Mozambique Munhava (2227452) Stakes.
ReplyDeleteWith 7 Wards and 9 Wards + 2 Branches, respectively. Eighteen total Congregations, which could become 3 Stakes of 6 Congregations each.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/423076
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2227452
@Matt, I was wrong the new Katubi Stake is named
ReplyDeleteLuputa Democratic Republic of the Congo Katubi Stake (2302810)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2302810
You can all take this observation with a grain of salt, as they say. As Michael Worley mentioned above about his observations of possible splits in the DRC in near future. He mentioned the Mbuji-Mayi DRC Stake.
ReplyDeleteWell, the only 2 Stakes in the Church to schedule a Stake Conference the last weekend of this year 12/27-12/28 are the neighboring Mbuji-Mayi DRC Stake (1482785) + Dibindi DRC Stake (2186950). With 10 Wards and 1 Branch in the former and 7 Wards in the latter. Easily 3 Stakes of 6 Congregations each.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/1482785
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2186950
Just a thought. Like I said the only 2 Stakes that weekend worldwide.
And another observation, the Ananindeua Brazil Stake (1461370), located directly north of Belem Brazil, just had a conference this last weekend 11/22-11/23/25.
ReplyDeleteAnd has another planned in about 2 weeks from now 12/13-12/14/25. With no apparent reason for realignment. The 3 Stakes directly neighboring it have next conferences in mid 2026 (May-Jun). So maybe just a GA visit in 2 weeks. It's regular next 6 month Conference is on June 21st, 2026
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/1461370
We might here news this weekend between the neighboring Durazno Uruguay Stake (512524) and Mercedes Urugay Stake (522295)
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/512524
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/522295
The Durazno Uruguay Stake just had a Conference this last weekend 11/22-11/23, and has another scheduled this weekend 11/29-11/30. Although unless its a merger (both stakes have 11 wards and 1 branch between them). The most likely reason for 2 conferences a week apart, may be a GA multistake visit?
I know it's way far ahead, but it will be interesting to see on Feb 1st, 2026, what happens between the neighboring stakes of Annandale Virginia (505625), with 8 Wards, and Centreville Virginia (508209), with 8 Wards and 2 Branches. Or 18 Units between them. Could possibly make 3 Stakes of 6 Units each?
ReplyDeleteEspecially since Annandale has a regular conference 3 weeks later on February 22nd. And the Centreville Stake has a regular conference on June 14.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/505625
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/508209
The Snowflake Arizona Stake (500291), just had a conference this past weekend 11/23 and has another in a week from now on 12/07/25, the same day as it's neighbor to the south Centennial Arizona Stake (2069466). Could be a coincidence or a realignment or a GA visit. We'll see in a week.
ReplyDeletehttps://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/500291
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2069466
New Stake created in the Snowflake/Taylor Arizona area last weekend.
ReplyDeleteI am not seeing anywhere online where this was reported. Where did you hear about it?
DeleteIs there anywhere where I can get a list of stakes within each mission? The meetinghouse locator site shows a map of each mission, but these maps only show the center part of the boundaries.
ReplyDelete