Temple Dedications Accelerate in 2026

The rate at which new temples are being dedicated has accelerated in 2026 compared to recent years to near-record levels. So far in 2026, there have been six temples dedicated:

• Burley Idaho Temple — January 11, 2026
• Alabang Philippines Temple — January 18, 2026
• Harare Zimbabwe Temple — March 1, 2026
• Davao Philippines Temple — May 3, 2026
• Lindon Utah Temple — May 3, 2026
• Bacolod Philippines Temple — May 31, 2026 

The Church has already scheduled an additional 12 temple dedications between June and November 2026. The current schedule includes the following temples:

• Yorba Linda California Temple — June 7, 2026
• Willamette Valley Oregon Temple — June 7, 2026
• Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple — August 16, 2026
• Cleveland Ohio Temple — August 16, 2026
• Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple — August 30, 2026
• Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple — October 11, 2026
• Ephraim Utah Temple — October 11, 2026
• Managua Nicaragua Temple — October 18, 2026
• Montpelier Idaho Temple — October 18, 2026
• Cody Wyoming Temple — October 25, 2026
• Wichita Kansas Temple — November 1, 2026
• San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple — November 1, 2026

This brings the total number of temples dedicated or scheduled for dedication in 2026 to 18. If all currently scheduled dedications occur as planned, 2026 will become the year with the second-highest number of temple dedications in Church history. The most temples ever dedicated in a single year was in 2000 when 34 temples were dedicated. Aside from the record-setting year 2000, the only years with comparable numbers of temple dedications have been 2024 (16), 1999 (15), and 2023 (11). Additionally, there are nine more temples where construction has been completed or is nearly finished that may be dedicated in late 2026 or early 2027:

• Fort Worth Texas Temple
• Knoxville Tennessee Temple
• Modesto California Temple
• Neiafu Tonga Temple 
• Pago Pago American Samoa Temple 
• Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple 
• Ribeirão Preto Brazil Temple 
• Smithfield Utah Temple 
• Torreón Mexico Temple

The schedule is remarkable not only because of the number of temples being dedicated, but also because of the frequency at which dedications are occurring. Between June 7 and November 1, the Church has scheduled 11 temple dedications in a span of just 148 days. This equates to one temple dedication approximately every 2 weeks. There are seven temple dedications scheduled during a span of just 22 days between October 11 and November 1.

Another notable feature of the current schedule is the increasing prevalence of simultaneous temple dedications. Five separate weekends currently feature two temple dedications occurring on the same day. Such scheduling would have been highly unusual in previous decades when temple dedications were relatively infrequent and often represented major Churchwide events. The current pace suggests that the Church is adapting its operational approach to accommodate a rapidly growing number of temples reaching completion.

The accelerating pace of temple dedications also reflects the maturation of the Church's temple construction program. During the past decade, Church leadership has announced temples at an unprecedented rate. While much attention has focused on the growing number of announced temples, less attention has been given to the increasing number of temples now reaching completion and entering operation. The current schedule indicates that many of the temples announced during recent years are now beginning to come online in substantial numbers.

Another noteworthy trend is the broad participation of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in temple dedications. Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Patrick Kearon, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Elder Ronald A. Rasband, and Elder Dale G. Renlund have all been assigned to dedicate temples during the coming months. The increasing involvement of members of the Quorum of the Twelve likely reflects the practical necessity of conducting multiple dedications in close succession across several continents.

The rapid increase in temple dedications suggests that the Church's temple-building program is entering a new phase. For much of the past decade, attention has focused on the unprecedented number of temple announcements. However, the more significant development may now be the growing number of temples reaching completion and becoming operational. If current trends continue, temple dedications may become increasingly frequent during the next several years as the large number of temples currently under construction progress toward completion.

At present, there are 52 temples under construction or with a groundbreaking date announced. Consequently, the Church appears well positioned to maintain an elevated rate of temple dedications for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, there remain 104 temples in the planning stages for which no groundbreaking has yet been announced. Whether the Church can sustain the current pace of temple dedications over the longer term will depend largely on how quickly these planned temples move through the design, approval, and construction process.

New Stakes Created in the DR Congo (3), Mozambique (2), Zimbabwe (2), Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Florida, Honduras, Idaho, Madagascar, México, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Zambia; New Districts Created in Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo; Stakes Discontinued in Utah (5) and the United Kingdom; Districts Discontinued in Argentina and Zambia

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Three new stakes have been created in the DR Congo.

The Lubumbashi DR Congo Bel-Air Stake was organized on March 8th from the Lubumbashi DR Congo Stake (organized in 1997) and the Ruashi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2017). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Bel-Air, Bongonga, Kilobelobe, Kiwele, Neflier, and Nyashi 2nd Wards. There are now seven stakes in Lubumbashi. Rapid growth has occurred in the city in the past couple decades, with the number of stakes increasing from one in 1997 to two in 2009, three in 2013, four in 2017, five in 2024, six in 2025, and seven in 2026.

The Kinshasa DR Congo Mont Amba Stake was organized on May 9th from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo Ngaba Stake (organized in 2016). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Kisenso, Lemba 1st, Livulu, Mont Amba, and Plateau Wards. There are now 19 stakes in Kinshasa - more than any other metropolitan area on the Afro-Eurasian landmass.

The Kisangani DR Congo Stake was organized from the Kisangani DR Congo District (organized in 2023) on May 9th. Information on which of the nine branches in the district have become wards remains unavailable. The new stake is the Church's first stake in the northern DR Congo. The first branch in Kisangani was organized in 2015. 

There are now 49 stakes and 10 districts in the DR Congo. 

Mozambique

Two new stakes and one new district were created in Mozambique. It is important to note that some new wards and branches being created in Mozambique are not being readily updated on the Church's meetinghouse locator website, including branches becoming wards. As a result, some of the information contained below may not include some newly organized units or current information.

Beira Mozambique Chamba Stake was organized on March 15th from the Beira Mozambique Inhamízua Stake (organized in 2024) and the Beira Mozambique Manga Stake (organized in 2017). The new stake includes the following four wards and one branch: the Campo do Povo, Chamba, Chingussura, and Zona Verde Wards and the Matadouro Branch. There are now six stakes in Beira. Rapid growth has occurred in the city where the first stake was organized in 2015. The number of stakes in Beira increased from one in 2015 to two in 2017, three in 2023, four in 2024, five in 2025, and six in 2026.

The Nampula Mozambique Mutauanha Stake was organized on March 15th from a division of the Nampula Mozambique Stake (organized in 2021). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Muatala, Murrapaniua, Mutauanha, Namaita, and Substação Wards and the Luaha Branch. The Church's third mission in Mozambique, the Mozambique Nampula Mission, is scheduled to open this summer from a division of the Mozambique Beira Mission.

The Quelimane Mozambique District was organized on April 12th from mission branches in the Mozambique Beira Mission. The new district includes the following three branches: the Coalane, Quelimane, and the Samugue Branch. The Church in Quelimane has experienced numerous setbacks since the first branch was organized in 2005, including the apostasy of leaders and members in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It is unclear whether any of these former members have rejoined the Church or if recent growth in the city (the two other branches were created in 2023 and in 2026) has been due to new converts joining the Church.

There are now 12 stakes and four districts in Mozambique. 

Zimbabwe

Two new stakes were created in Zimbabwe.

The Mkoba Zimbabwe Stake was organized on March 22nd from a division of the Gweru Zimbabwe Stake (organized in 2011). The new stake includes the following four wards: the Mkoba 1st, Mkoba 2nd, Mkoba 3rd, and Mkoba 5th Wards. There are now two stakes in the city of Gweru.

The Harare Zimbabwe Kuwadzana Stake was organized on May 3rd from a division of the Harare Zimbabwe Stake (organized in 1999) and the Harare Zimbabwe Marimba Park Stake (organized in 2008). The new stake includes the following four wards and four branches: the Kuwadzana 1st, Kuwadzana 2nd, Kuwadzana 3rd, and Mufakose 2nd Wards and the Kuwadzana 4th, Norton, Warren Park, and Whitecliff Branches. There are now seven stakes in Harare. The number of stakes in the city increased from one in 1999 to two in 2008, three in 2014, four in 2016, five in 2024, six in 2025, and seven in 2026.

There are now 15 stakes and two districts in Zimbabwe. 

Argentina

One new stake was created in Argentina. The Tartagal Argentina Stake was organized on April 19th from the Tartagal Argentina District (organized in 1996) and the Oran Argentina District (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following five wards and five branches: the Orán, Pizarro, Salvador Mazza, Tartagal, and Villa Saavedra Wards, and the Aguaray, Colonia Santa Rosa, Embarcación, Mosconi, and Pichanal Branches. The Oran Argentina District was also discontinued when the new stake was organized.

There are now 81 stakes and 23 districts in Argentina. 

Benin

A new stake was created in Benin. The Cotonou Benin Akpakpa Stake was organized on March 8th from a division of the Cococodji Benin Stake (organized in 2021) and the Cotonou Benin Stake (organized in 2016). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Akpakpa, Avotrou, Finagnon, Jericho 1st, Jericho 2nd, and Porto Novo Wards and the Dowa and Gbegame Branches. There are now three stakes in Cotonou.

There are now three stakes and one district in Benin. 

Brazil

A new stake was created and a district was discontinued in Brazil. Bauru Brazil Jardim Santana Stake was created on March 8th from a division of the Bauru Brazil Stake (organized in 1992) and the Botucatu Brazil District becoming a stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Bela Vista, Jardim Santana, Jaú, Marechal Rondon, and Pederneiras Wards and the São Manuel Branch. There are now two stakes in Bauru.

There are now 290 stakes and 31 districts in Brazil. 

Florida

A new stake was created in Florida. The St Augustine Florida Stake was created on March 29th from a division of the Jacksonville Florida South Stake (organized in 2009). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Mill Creek, Palatka, Silverleaf, St Augustine 1st, and St Augustine Shores Wards and the Green Cove Springs and St Augustine 2nd (Deaf) Branches.

There are now 34 stakes in Florida. 

Honduras

A new stake was created in Honduras. The Santa Rosa de Copan Honduras Stake was organized on April 19th from the Santa Rosa de Copan Honduras District (organized in 1995). The new stake includes the following five wards and five branches: the Dolores, La Entrada, El Dorado, Miraflores, and Santa Rosa Wards, and the Copan Ruinas, Florida, Gracias, Nueva Ocotepeque, and San Marcos de Ocotepeque Branches. 

There are now 32 stakes and four districts in Honduras. 

Idaho

A new stake was created in Idaho. The Lewiston Idaho South Stake was organized on March 15th from the Lewiston Idaho Stake (organized in 1958). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: Grangeville 1st, Grangeville 2nd, Kamiah, Orchards 1st, and Orchards 2nd Wards and the Lewis-Clark YSA Branch.

There are now 149 stakes in Idaho. 

Madagascar

A new stake was created in Madagascar. The Antananarivo Madagascar Ampitatafika Stake was organized on March 1st from a division of the Antananarivo Madagascar Ampefiloha Stake (organized in 2023), the Antananarivo Madagascar Ivandry Stake (organized in 2011), and the Antananarivo Madagascar Manakambahiny Stake (organized in 2000). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Ambohidrapeto, Ambohimanarina, Ampitatafika, Itaosy, and Tanjombato Wards. There are now four stakes in Antananarivo.

There are now six stakes and one district in Madagascar. 

México

A new stake was created in Mexico. The León México Aeropuerto Stake was organized on March 8th from a division of the León México Stake (organized in 1996) and the Guanajuato México District (which became the new stake). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Guanajuato, Las Torres, Olímpica, Parque del Sur, and Silao Wards. There are now two stakes in León.

There are now 232 stakes and 41 districts in México. 

North Carolina

A new stake was created in North Carolina. The Mebane North Carolina Stake was organized on April 26th from the Durham North Carolina Stake (organized in 1987) and the Greensboro North Carolina Stake (organized in 1961). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Caswell, Elon, Hillsborough, Lake Mackintosh, and Mebane Wards and the Roxboro and Burlington (Spanish) Branches. 

There are now 22 stakes in North Carolina. 

Tennessee

A new stake was created in Tennessee. The Columbia Tennessee Stake was organized on March 22nd from the Franklin Tennessee Stake (organized in 1979) and the Murfreesboro Tennessee Stake (organized in 2012). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Columbia, Lawrenceburg, Linden, Spring Hill 1st, and Spring Hill 3rd Wards and the Lewisburg Branch. 

There are now 15 stakes in Tennessee. 

Utah

A new stake was created and four stakes were discontinued in Utah.

The Saratoga Springs Utah Mountain View Stake was organized on March 22nd from a division of the Saratoga Springs Utah North Stake (organized in 2004). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Harvest Hills 4th, Harvest Hills 5th, Harvest Hills 6th, Harvest Hills 7th, Wildflower 1st, and Wildflower 2nd Wards. 

Additionally, five stakes were recently discontinued in Utah, bringing the total number of discontinued stakes in Utah in 2026 to nine. Stakes discontinued included the Price Utah North Stake (organized in 1945), Price Utah YSA (organized in 1996), Sandy Utah Alta View Stake (organized in 1984), Taylorsville Utah North Stake (organized in 1973), and Wellington Utah Stake (organized in 1980). Like other recently discontinued stakes, stakes discontinued in the Salt Lake area have been in areas with a steady decline in active membership. The three stakes discontinued in the Price area have appeared to be attributed to essentially stagnant growth or decline for many years coupled with probable efforts to free up members in leadership positions to staff the new temple once it is completed.

There are now 639 stakes and seven districts in Utah. 

Zambia

A new stake was created in Zambia. The Copperbelt Zambia Stake was organized on April 26th from the Kitwe Zambia District (organized in 2005) and the Ndola Zambia District (organized in 2015 and discontinued when the new stake was organized). Information on which of the 11 branches in the two combined districts became wards remains unavailable.

There are now two stakes in Zambia and no districts. 

Kenya

A new district was created in Kenya. The Bomet Kenya District was organized on March 8th. The new district was organized from three branches in the Kenya Nairobi West Mission, including the Bomet, Kapkesosio, and Kyongong Branches. The first branch in Bomet was organized in 2023.

There are now four stakes and 11 districts in Kenya.

Nigeria

A new district was created in Nigeria. The Mangu Nigeria District was organized on March 8th from a division of the Jos Nigeria Stake (organized in 2024). The new district includes the following seven branches: the Chapkwai, Dadin Kowa, Gerkawa, Gindiri, Mabudi, Mangu, and Pankshin Branches. These branches have been primarily organized in villages and small towns in rural areas southeast of Jos. Rapid growth has occurred here, where all branches in the new district have been organized since 2024.

There are now 81 stakes and 14 districts in Nigeria. 

Republic of the Congo

A new district was created in the Republic of the Congo. The Nkayi Republic of the Congo District was organized on April 19th from five mission branches in cities between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. The new district includes the following branches: the Bouansa, Dolisie, Madingou, Mindouli, and Nkayi Branches. The first branch in this area of the country was organized in 2019 in Dolisie.

There are now five stakes and one district in the Republic of the Congo. 

United Kingdom

Two stakes were discontinued in the United Kingdom. The Poole England Stake (organized in 1982) and the Ashton England Stake (organized in 1982) were recently discontinued and retained congregations were reassigned to neighboring stakes. The discontinuation of these two stakes has continued a recent trend of consolidating stakes in England in the past few years, as there were three stakes discontinued in 2023 in the London area and one stake discontinued in 2022 in Lichfield. It is probable that additional stakes may be discontinued in the United Kingdom in the coming months and years, as the Church in the United Kingdom has historically had small numbers of active members per ward or branch and few convert baptisms.

There are now 40 stakes in the United Kingdom.

**Please note that there are some recently organized stakes and districts that I have not yet reported in this post due to the large volume of recent stake and district creations. These will be reported in a future blog post**

New Temple Announced for Otavalo, Ecuador

This evening, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to construct a new temple in Otavalo, Ecuador. The new temple will be the Church's third temple in Ecuador following temples in Guayaquil (dedicated in 1999) and Quito (dedicated in 2022). With 279,046 members as of year-end 2025, Ecuador ranks as the country with the 10th most Latter-day Saints worldwide and previously had more members per temple than any other country with only two temples. There are currently 45 stakes and five districts in Ecuador. As of year-end 2025, there were 338 official congregations and seven missions.

Otavalo has had a longstanding reputation for relatively high member activity rates, mature local leadership, and an unusually high percentage of Latter-day Saints in the general population (estimated at 10% in the early 2010s). The Otavalo people have been uniquely receptive to the Latter-day Saint missionary efforts since the earliest days of the Church in Ecuador. In fact, the first branch of the Church in Ecuador was organized in Otavalo in the 1960s. More historical information on the Church in Otavalo can be found here. The new temple will likely serve five stakes and one district. There are three stakes in Otavalo and one nearby stake organized earlier this year in Ibarra. One stake and one district that will likely be included in the temple district are in southern Colombia. 

There are now 385 temples planned, under construction, or dedicated. There have now been two temples announced in 2026, with the first temple announcement for Marysville, Washington.

Comprehensive Historical Database of Church Growth Statistics and April 2026 Newsletter

Click here to access our April 2026 newsletter for cumorah.com. We will again begin issuing monthly newsletters going forward. Archived newsletters dating back to 2012 are also available on the site here.

The most significant announcement from The Cumorah Foundation this month is the completion of a comprehensive historical database of country-by-country Church statistics spanning more than a century. The database includes annual membership totals dating back to 1920 (when available) as well as annual statistics for congregations (including ward and branch breakdowns), stakes, districts, missions, and temples (announced and dedicated) for every country or territory for which data have been published by the Church. Historical data for wards, branches, stakes, districts, missions, and temples are available from 1987–2025.

Data were compiled from the retired Deseret News Church Almanac series and the Church’s official Newsroom site where annual country-by-country statistics have been published. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive publicly available compilation of historical Church statistics ever assembled.

This resource provides valuable data for researchers, historians, journalists, members, and others interested in analyzing long-term trends in Church growth, missionary expansion, organizational development, congregational consolidation, and geographic outreach throughout the world. Users can identify historical milestones, compare regional growth patterns, and examine changes in Church development over time at both global and national levels.

The database is available for viewing in Google Sheets and may also be downloaded here.