New Stakes Created in the DR Congo, Madagascar, Mexico, and Utah

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

The Church organized a new stake in the DR Congo on November 12th. The Dibindi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake was organized from a division of the Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (organized from a district in 2016). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Bipemba 1st, Dibindi 1st, Dibindi 2nd, Kanshi, Misesa, and Tshitenge Wards. The new stake is the Church's second stake in the city of Mbuji-Mayi where a mission was organized to service the central DR Congo in 2016. The Church plans to create a second mission in the central DR Congo in mid-2023 from a division of the DR Congo Mbuji-Mayi Mission. The new mission will be located in the city of Kananga where a temple was announced in October 2021. There are now eight stakes and one district in the Kasai region of the DR Congo. The first stake in the Kasai region was created in 2011.

There are now 26 stakes and three districts in the DR Congo.

Madagascar

The Church in Madagascar organized its first stake outside of the capital city of Antananarivo on December 11th. The Toamasina Madagascar Stake was organized from the Toamasina Madagascar District (organized in 2010). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Andranomadio, Ankirihiry, Mangarano, Morarano, and Toamasina Wards. There are now three stakes and two districts in Madagascar. The Church announced a temple in Antananarivo, Madagascar in October 2021. After a period of rapid membership growth between the late 2000s and early 2010s, annual membership growth rates have been moderate to slow during the past decade.

Mexico

A new stake was organized in Mérida, Mexico on December 4th. The Mérida México Caucel was organized from a division of the Mérida México Centro Stake and the Mérida México Chuburná Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Canek, Caucel, Herradura, Pensiones, and Santa Fe Wards, and the Hunucma Branch. The new stake is the Church's seventh stake in Mérida where the Church's first stake in the city was organized in 1977. 

There are now 227 stakes and 47 districts in Mexico.

Utah

The Church organized a new stake in Utah in Vineyard. The Vineyard Utah Springs Park Stake was organized on December 11th from a division of the Orem Utah Geneva Heights Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Geneva Heights 8th, Geneva Heights 10th, Geneva Heights 11th, Geneva Heights 12th, and the Lakefront Wards. 

There are now 629 stakes and two districts in Utah.

New Stakes Organized in Arizona, Mexico, and Madagascar

Arizona

With 13 wards and two branches, the Prescott Arizona Stake was divided last Sunday to form the Prescott Valley Arizona Stake.  The new stake includes the following eight wards: Agua Fria, Del Rio, Dewey, Glassford Hill, Mingus Foothills, Paulden, and Territorial Wards.  There are now 91 stakes in Arizona.

Mexico

A new stake was created last Sunday in Mexico from a division of the Teziutlan Mexico Stake, which had 10 wards and three branches.  The Martinez de la Torre Mexico stake was organized the following five wards and two branches: Ejidal, Independencia, Martinez de la Torre, Plaza Verde, and Tlapacoyan Wards, and the Misantla and San Rafael Branches.  The Teziutlan Mexico Stake was originally organized in 1999 and has experienced steady congregational growth in recent years.  There are now 222 stakes in Mexico and 17 in Veracruz State

Madagascar

With 12 wards and two branches, the Antananarivo Madagascar Stake was divided to create a second stake in the city.  I will provide the name of the new stake and congregational information once it becomes available.  There are now two stakes and two districts in the country.