New Temple Predictions - March 2026 Edition

It has been 6 months since I most recently updated my temple prediction map. In a recent media interview, President Dallin H. Oaks indicated that many future temple announcements may occur at the regional or local level rather than during General Conference. However, it is likely that some announcements will continue in General Conference—particularly in areas with large Church membership (e.g., the western United States) or where regional announcements may be less practical (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa). Moreover, there is an enormous number of planned temples that have yet to begin construction, including 50 with no site announcement and 55 with a site announced but no groundbreaking set.

Several variables are used to identify prospective sites for future temple announcements. These include: the size of the Church in a given area (stakes, districts, wards, and branches), the age of the oldest stake, growth trends, distance to the nearest temple, traffic and transportation considerations, temple square footage, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions, and member/missionary reports on activity, temple attendance, and convert retention. Altogether, there are 190 potential temples on the map (which is 4 potential temple sites more than the total number of potential sites identified in September 2025). Despite a growing backlog of announced temples, global expansion—particularly in Africa—continues to create strong candidates for future temple announcements. The following five locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update—all of which are in Africa and less likely temples:

• Gboko, Nigeria 
• Mont Ngafula, Kinshasa, DR Congo
• Lusaka, Zambia
• Matadi DR Congo 
• Nampula, Mozambique 

Also, there were five locations that were moved from the less likely to be announced list to the more likely to be announced list. The following locations were moved from the “less likely” to the “more likely” category based on the following factors: 

• Blackfoot, Idaho (steady growth in new stakes and wards in the Blackfoot and Shelley areas)
• Cotonou, Benin (third stake in the metropolitan area was just organized; rapid growth and remote location)
• Eldoret, Kenya (proliferation of branches and districts; first stakes in western Kenya highly likely to be organized in the next 1-2 years; remote location)
• Hurricane, Utah (steady growth in the number of stakes and wards)
• Luputa, DR Congo (rapid growth; two new stakes recently organized [one in Luputa, one in Ngandajika]; remote location)

See below for my top 20 most likely locations for a temple announcement within the next 6 months. It is unclear whether we may have many new temples announced in the coming months considering the significant backlog in temples in the earliest planning stages. Your predictions are appreciated and welcome in the comments.

1. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
2. Bo, Sierra Leone
3. Port Harcourt, Nigeria
4. Rigby, Idaho
5. Lomé, Togo 
6. Southeast Salt Lake City, Utah (i.e., Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, or Sandy)
7. Evanston, Wyoming
8. San Pablo City, Philippines
9. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
10. Ibadan, Nigeria
11. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 
12. Lilongwe, Malawi
13. Santa Maria, Brazil
14. Kimbanseke, Kinshasa, DR Congo
15. Tema, Ghana
16. Yopougon, Côte d’Ivoire
17. San Luis Valley, Colorado
18. Longview, Texas
19. Lahore, Pakistan
20. Luputa, DR Congo 

 

Milestone of 3,700 Stakes Worldwide Reached; New Stakes Created in the DR Congo (2), Utah (2), Arizona, Ecuador, Idaho, Nigeria, Virginia, and Zimbabwe; New Districts Created in Cuba, the DR Congo, and Tanzania; Five Stakes Discontinued in Utah

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has reached the milestone of 3,700 stakes for the first time in its history. This threshold was achieved following sustained net stake growth in recent years. In 2025, 94 new stakes were organized and only seven were discontinued, resulting in a net increase of 87 stakes (a 2.4% annual increase). Thus far in 2026, at least nine new stakes have been organized, although five stakes have been discontinued. See the table below for the net increase in the number of stakes per year since 2005.

 

Year	Net New Stakes
2005	36
2006	44
2007	45
2008	28
2009	47
2010	31
2011	50
2012	59
2013	45
2014	64
2015	60
2016	92
2017	75
2018	42
2019	54
2020	26
2021	35
2022	23
2023	44
2024	43
2025	87

Stake growth remains one of the most important structural indicators of global Latter-day Saint growth, as the creation of new stakes is typically associated with increases in active membership, leadership development, and long-term institutional stability.Conversely, the discontinuation of stakes typically signals challenges such as declining activity rates, limited leadership depth, and insufficient convert retention or local membership growth to sustain stake-level operations. See below for a graph displaying the total number of stakes per year since 2005.

 

Below are country-by-country updates since my last post on stakes and districts that have been created or discontinued.

DR Congo 

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

The Diulu DR Congo Stake was organized on December 28th, 2025, from a division of the Mbuji-Mayi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2016) and the Dibindi DR Congo Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Bipemba 2nd, Dibindi 2nd, Diulu 1st, Diulu 2nd, Masanka, and Tshikila Wards and the Mpokolo Branch. The new stake is the Church's third stake in the city following the Mbuji-Mayi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2016) and the Dibindi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2022). One interesting note with the creation of this new stake was that it was created between Christmas and New Year's Day — an extremely rare occurrence in modern Church administration and likely a testament to the rapid growth of the Church in the country that necessitated an often inconvenient time of year to create the new stake.

The Ngandajika DR Congo Kabanda Stake was organized on January 11th from a division of the Ngandajika DR Congo Stake (organized in 2023). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Kabanda 1st, Kabanda 2nd, Kabidimba, Lunga, and Ngandajika Wards. There are now two stakes in Ngandajika.

The Mbandaka DR Congo District was organized on February 8th from three mission branches in the city of Mbandaka. The first branch in Mbandaka was organized in 2024. The new district is the Church's 10th new district to be created in the DR Congo since May of 2025.

There are now 46 stakes and 11 districts in the DR Congo. To illustrate the rapid growth of the Church in the country, there were only four stakes and three districts in 2005 and 13 stakes and four districts in 2015.

Utah

Two new stakes were created and five stakes were discontinued in Utah.

The Hurricane Utah Sky Mountain Stake was organized on January 11th from a division of the Hurricane Utah West Stake (organized in 1996). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Sky Mountain 1st, Sky Mountain 2nd, Sky Mountain 3rd, Sky Mountain 4th, Sky Mountain 5th, Sky Mountain 6th, and Sky Mountain 7th Wards. There are now five stakes in Hurricane.

The Lehi Utah Willow Creek Stake was organized on March 1st from the Lehi Utah Willow Park Stake (organized in 2008). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Colony Pointe, Green Park, Lehi 44th (Deaf), Meadow Vista, North Pointe (Portuguese), Pioneer Heights, and Willow Creek Wards. There are now 26 stakes in Lehi.

Five stakes were also discontinued in Utah. These stakes include the Murray Utah Little Cottonwood Stake (organized in 1971), the Murray Utah Parkway Stake (organized in 1992), the Salt Lake Granite Park Stake (organized in 1983), the South Salt Lake Stake (organized in 1941), and the Taylorsville Utah North Central Stake (organized in 1984). All five of these stakes are within approximately 7-8 miles of one another in the South Salt Lake, Murray, and Taylorsville areas where the Church has experienced steady decline for decades in active membership and congregation consolidations. Gentrification of urban neighborhoods, the exodus of young families to Utah County and beyond, and non-Latter-day Saints repopulating these historically strong Latter-day Saint strongholds appear to be the primary drivers of this decline. Based on current demographic and activity trends, an additional 1-2 dozen stakes in the greater Salt Lake City area may be discontinued over the next five years. While the number of stakes and congregations in the Salt Lake City area continues to slightly decline, state totals generally have been stable or have slightly increased in recent years.

There are now 643 stakes and seven districts in Utah. 

Arizona

A new stake was created in Arizona on March 1st. The Queen Creek Arizona Frontier Stake was organized from the Queen Creek Arizona North Stake (organized in 2008). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Barney Farms, Crismon, Gateway Quarter, Langley Gateway, and Terravella Wards. There are now 10 stakes in Queen Creek.

There are now 121 stakes and three districts in Arizona. 

Ecuador

A new stake was created in Ecuador on February 22nd. The Ibarra Ecuador Stake was organized from the Otavalo Ecuador Imbabura Stake (organized in 1997). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Ibarra Central, Iluman, Pucara, San Miguel, and San Roque Wards. Two wards and one branch were discontinued in the three previously operating stakes in Otavalo, resulting in each of the four stakes in the area now having five wards a piece. Otavalo appears to be a likely candidate for its own temple due to relatively high levels of member activity and leadership development for Latin America.

There are now 45 stakes and five districts in Ecuador.

Idaho

A new stake was created in Idaho on February 8th. The Shelley Idaho East Stake was organized from the Shelley Idaho Stake (organized in 1914) and the Shelley Idaho South Stake (organized in 1980). The new stake includes the following eight wards: the Shelley 2nd, Shelley 9th, Shelley 13th, Shelley 14th, Taylor 1st, Taylor 2nd, Taylor 3rd, and Taylor 4th Wards. There are now three stakes in Shelley.

There are now 148 stakes in Idaho. 

Nigeria 

A new stake was created in Nigeria on February 8th. The Ikot Use Ekong Nigeria Stake was organized on February 8th from the Eket Nigeria Stake (organized in 1996). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Edo, Idung Offiong 1st, Idung Offiong 2nd, Ikot Use Ekong, and Uquo Wards and the Akai Branch. 

There are now 81 stakes and 13 districts in Nigeria. 

Virginia

A new stake was created in Virginia on February 1st. Bella Vista Virginia Stake (Spanish) was organized from various stakes in northern Virginia. The new stake includes the following eight wards and one branch: the Bella Vista (Spanish), Little River (Spanish), Loudoun (Spanish), Occoquan River (Spanish), Old Town (Spanish), Potomac River (Spanish), Spring Lake (Spanish), and Sudley (Spanish) Wards and the Cub Run (Spanish) Branch. This marks the first Spanish-speaking stake to ever operate in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The Church in the United States appears to have reconsidered a previous policy reversal that disfavored the organization of Spanish-speaking stakes, which went into effect approximately 10–15 years ago, although all new Spanish-speaking stakes created in the past few years have been in Utah.

There are now 26 stakes in Virginia. 

Zimbabwe

A new stake was created on February 1st. The Bulawayo Zimbabwe Luveve Stake was organized on February 1st from a division of the Bulawayo Zimbabwe Stake (organized in 2005) and the Nkulumane Zimbabwe Stake (organized in 2013). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Cowdray Park 1st, Emakhandeni, Gwabalanda, Mpopoma, and Njube Wards, and the Cowdray Park 2nd, Cowdray Park 3rd, and Luveve Branches. There are now four stakes in Bulawayo that were organized in 2005, 2013, 2024, and 2026. Bulawayo appears highly likely to receive a temple announcement in the foreseeable future due to rapid growth and distance from the newly dedicated temple in Harare.

There are now 13 stakes and two districts in Zimbabwe. 

Cuba

A new district was created in Cuba in January. The Holguín Cuba District was organized from a division of the Havana Cuba District (organized in 2017). The new district includes the following five branches: the Buenaventura, Cabezo, Guaramanao, Holguín 1st, and Holguín 2nd Branches. The first branch in Holguín was created in 2021 and rapid growth has subsequently followed. There are now two branches in Holguín proper and three branches in surrounding small towns and villages. There have been no recent official Church membership figures published for Cuba, but there are likely more than 1,000 Latter-day Saints in this country of approximately 11 million people.

Tanzania 

A new district was created in Tanzania on February 15th. The Dar es Salaam Tanzania Kigamboni District was organized from a division of the Dar es Salaam Tanzania Chang'ombe District (organized in 2022). Five new branches were organized in the district from 2024 until it divided. The new district includes the following three branches: the Chamazi, Kigamboni, and Mbagala Branches. 

There is now one stake and four districts in Tanzania. The first stake in Tanzania was organized in January of 2025.

The Portland Maine Temple: Analysis

Yesterday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to build a temple in Portland, Maine in a stake Christmas fireside by Elder Allen D. Haynie, the United States Northeast Area President. This marks the first time that the Church has announced plans for a new temple outside of General Conference since the announcement of the Ephraim Utah temple on May 1st, 2021. Moreover, this announcement was also unique since an area president delivered it. Historically, the Church has tended to announce most temples in General Conference, although this has not always been the case; however, all new temples have been announced directly by the First Presidency or the presiding Church leader either personally or by letter. The news release yesterday noted that it is anticipated that additional new temples will be announced in a similar format, although this does not mean that temple announcements in General Conference will be retired. Localized temple announcements bring many advantages, such as delivering news of a new temple within the local time zone and adapting the announcement to the needs and circumstances of the membership to be served by the temple.

Maine (year-end 2024 membership: 11,384) was the state in the United States with the third most Latter-day Saints without a temple prior to yesterday's announcement. There remain only six states without a temple planned or dedicated, including Mississippi (22,297), West Virginia (17,557), New Hampshire (8,713), Delaware (5,865), Rhode Island (4,861), and Vermont (4,647). Mississippi and West Virginia appear the most likely to have a temple announced within the foreseeable future. The Church in Maine has experienced slow growth throughout its history. One in 123 people are Latter-day Saints, or 0.81% of the state population. Membership growth from 4,730 in 1983 to 7,900 in 1995 to 9,807 in 2005 and 10,966 in 2015. There has been a modest improvement in annual membership growth rates in the 2020s (0.6-1.6%) versus the 2010s (0.3-0.8% for most years). Congregational growth has been flat except for a couple branches becoming wards in the past decade. There are three stakes in Maine. The Portland Maine Temple will likely service 6-7 stakes in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Isolation from the nearest temple in Boston, Massachusetts appears to be the primary factor that has influenced the decision to build a temple in Maine.  

New Temple Predictions - September 2025 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in October. Several variables are used to identify prospective sites for future temple announcements. These include: the size of the Church in a given area (stakes, districts, wards, and branches), the age of the oldest stake, growth trends, distance to the nearest temple, traffic and transportation considerations, temple square footage, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions, and member/missionary reports on activity, temple attendance, and convert retention. Altogether, there are 186 potential temples on the map (which is 8 potential temple sites less than the total number of potential sites identified in March 2025, continuing a trend for many years of temple growth outpacing other growth metrics for the Church). The following five locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update - all of which are less likely temples:

• Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Eldoret, Kenya
• Fort Myers, Florida
• Greensboro, North Carolina
• Providence, Rhode Island

Also, there were two locations that were moved from the less likely to be announced list to the more likely to be announced list. Provided with a reasoning for the transfer from the less likely temples to be announced list to the more likely temples to be announced list, these locations include: 

• Augusta, Maine (remote location, third stake recently organized in Maine, no temple in the United States in the Northeast north of Boston, Massachusetts)
• Kinshasa DR Congo Kimbanseke (Kinshasa is now the metropolitan area with the most stakes of any city on the Afro-Eurasian landmass with 17, and several more stakes appear likely to be organized in the immediate future; rapid growth, high rates of member activity and convert retention, difficulty traveling to the current temple from far eastern areas of the metropolitan area)
• Tema, Ghana (12 stakes in the immediate Accra, Ghana and Tema, Ghana area, with four more stakes on the outskirts of the city; a couple stakes likely to divide in the near future; moderate growth in the city during the past two decades; improving accessibility to the temple for stakes in the northeast area of the metropolitan area)
• Yopougon, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan is the metropolitan city on the Afro-Eurasian landmass with the second most stakes (16) with a couple additional stakes likely to be organized soon; high rates of growth in the past decade; high Latter-day Saint density in the city population in the Yopougon area)

For the first time, I am providing my top 20 most likely locations for a temple announcement this October. With 15–20 temples announced in nearly every General Conference for several years, expanding the prediction list feels appropriate. I welcome your own prediction lists and insights in the comments. However, I anticipate that this period of rapid temple expansion will eventually wind down, as the overall growth of the Church has not kept pace with the rate of temple announcements.

1. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
2. Bo, Sierra Leone
3. Port Harcourt, Nigeria
4. Rigby, Idaho
5. Lomé, Togo 
6. Southeast Salt Lake City, Utah (i.e., Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, or Sandy)
7. Evanston, Wyoming
8. San Pablo City, Philippines
9. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
10. Ibadan, Nigeria
11. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 
12. Lilongwe, Malawi
13. Santa Maria, Brazil
14. Augusta, Maine
15. Kimbanseke, Kinshasa, DR Congo
16. Tema, Ghana
17. Yopougon, Côte d’Ivoire
18. San Luis Valley, Colorado
19. Longview, Texas
20. Lahore, Pakistan

 

New Stakes Created in the DR Congo (2), Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Two new stakes were recently created in the DR Congo.

The Kinshasa DR Congo Mapela Stake was organized on June 29th, 2025, from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo Mokali Stake (renamed the Kinshasa DR Congo Siforco Stake; organized in 2012). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Du Rail 1st, Du Rail 2nd, Mapela, Masina 2nd, Masina 5th, and Mulondo Wards. The new stake is the Church's third new stake created in Kinshasa this year, bringing the total number of stakes in the city to 17. Kinshasa has now surpassed Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, as the metropolitan city on the Afro-Eurasian landmass with the most stakes. New wards have been created in Kinshasa on nearly a weekly basis thus far in 2025, and there currently three stakes in the city that appear likely to divide in the immediate future. High rates of growth and member activity, a large number of stakes, and difficulty traveling across the city to reach the current temple (dedicated in 2019) suggest the announcement of a second temple for Kinshasa is highly likely in the immediate future.

The Church organized a new stake in Kolwezi on July 27th from a division of the original Kolwezi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2019). The new Kolwezi DR Congo Joli Site Stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Diur, Golf, Lupundu, Manika, Musompo 1st, and Musompo 2nd Wards and the Lualaba Branch. The Church organized the DR Congo Kolwezi Mission in 2024. Kolwezi appears likely to have a temple announcement in the medium term due to remote distance and high rates of growth in recent years. 

There are now 40 stakes and six districts in the DR Congo - double the number of stakes and districts in 2018 (19 stakes, 3 districts).

Papua New Guinea

Today, the Church organized the Minj Papua New Guinea Stake from the Minj Papua New Guinea District (organized in 2010). Information on which of the eight branches became wards in the new stake remains unavailable. The new stake is the Church's third new stake created in the country since January of this year, and all of these stakes have been organized from districts, suggesting maturation in leadership development and sustained rates of member activity to warrant additional stakes to function. Despite this progress, the Church in Papua New Guinea has never created a new stake by dividing another stake. This has largely been due to a rural population spread over large, difficult to access areas, as well as problems with inactivity and slow growth in Port Moresby since the first and only stake in the city was organized 30 years ago.

There are now six stakes and eight districts in Papua New Guinea.

Philippines

Today, a new stake was created in the Philippines. The Panabo Philippines Stake was organized from the Panabo Philippines district (organized in 1993). It is likely most, if not all, of the six branches in the former district became wards, and local members have confirmed that the Carmen Branch has become a ward. The new stake is the Church's fifth new stake created on Mindanao since 2020, and all five of these stakes were created from districts.

There are now 134 stakes and 53 districts in the Philippines. 

New Temple Predictions - March 2025 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in April. The size of the Church in a specific geographical area (i.e. number of stakes and districts, the number of wards and branches), the age of the oldest stake in a specific geographical area, church growth trends, the distance to the nearest temple, traffic/transportation, the square-footage of the nearest temple, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions scheduled at the nearest temple, and member and missionary reports regarding member activity, temple attendance, and convert retention are variables used to identify prospective sites for future temple announcements. Altogether, there are 194 potential temples on the map (which is 14 potential temple sites less than the total number of potential sites identified in September 2024). The following seven locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update - all of which are less likely temples:

• Cabanatuan City, Philippines
• Feira de Santana, Brazil
  
• General Santos, Philippines 
• Tagbilaran, Philippines
• Hilo, Hawaii
  
• Madang or Lae, Papua New Guinea
• Taravao, Tahiti
  

Also, there were six locations that were moved from the less likely to be announced list to the more likely to be announced list. Provided with a reasoning for the transfer from the less likely temples to be announced list to the more likely temples to be announced list, these locations included:

• Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (remote location, three stakes in the metropolitan area, creation of the Zimbabwe Bulawayo Mission in 2018)
• Caldwell or Nampa, Idaho (steady growth in the western Boise metropolitan area likely warrants a third temple for the area, now approximately 15 stakes in the area that could be part of a new temple district)
• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (remote location, first stake created in early 2025, rapid growth throughout the country, high prospects for a second stake in the near future, Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission organized in 2020).
• Ibadan, Nigeria (rapid growth in this area of Nigeria for many years, two stakes in Ibadan, Nigeria Ibadan Mission reinstated in 2018)
• Lilongwe, Malawi (remote location, first two stakes in Malawi were organized in 2024, rapid growth)
• Santa Maria, Brazil (large number of stakes in central and western Rio Grande do Sul State, two stakes now in Santa Maria, large number of stakes (29) assigned to the Porto Alegre Brazil Temple)

In my opinion, the following 10 locations appear most likely to have temples announced this coming General Conference. As always, your prediction lists are welcome and encouraged.

1. Spanish Fork, Utah
2. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
3. Bo, Sierra Leone
4. Port Harcourt, Nigeria
5. Rigby, Idaho
6. Lomé, Togo 
7. Southeast Salt Lake City, Utah (i.e., Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, or Sandy)
8. Evanston, Wyoming
9. San Pablo City, Philippines
10. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
    

See below for the map of likely and less likely new temple sites:

New Stakes Created in Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, the DR Congo, Hawaii, Idaho, Liberia, Montana, Nigeria, Portugal, the Philippines, and Virginia; New Districts Created in Liberia and Uganda; Districts Discontinued in Cote d'Ivoire, Japan, and Fiji

Brazil

A new stake was created in Brazil on January 26th. The Santa Maria West Stake was organized from the São Gabriel Brazil District (organized in 2001) and the Santa Maria Brazil Stake (organized in 1993). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Rosário do Sul, the Salgado Filho, the Santa Marta, the São Gabriel, and the Tancredo Neves Wards and the São Pedro Branch. The Church has sought for many years to divide the Santa Maria Brazil Stake which had 10 wards and one branch. The new stake is within the boundaries of a previously discontinued stake, the Rosário do Sul Brazil Stake, which operated from 1995 until 2001. There are now 27 stakes and four stakes in Rio Grande do Sul State. Santa Maria appears a likely location for a temple, as there is only one temple in Rio Grande do Sul located in Porto Alegre. A temple in Santa Maria could service 11 stakes and one district.

There are now 288 stakes and 37 districts in Brazil. 

Cote d'Ivoire

A new stake was created in Cote d'Ivoire on February 2nd. The Adzope Cote d'Ivoire Stake was created from the Adzope Cote d'Ivoire District (organized in 2016) and the Akoupé Cote d'Ivoire District (organized in 2017 and discontinued when the new stake was organized). The new stake includes the following four wards and five branches: the Adzope 3rd, the Affery 1st, the Affery 2nd, and the Akoupé 1st Wards and the Adzope 1st, the Adzope 2nd, the Adzope 4th, the Adzope 5th, and the Adzope 6th Branches. The four original branches in Affery were consolidated into two wards, the two branches in Akoupé were combined to make a single ward, and no branches were consolidated in the city of Adzope. Both district branches in the two districts were discontinued, which occurs whenever a district that has a district branch is organized into a stake. This new stake has followed the pattern seen with many other recently organized stakes in Cote d'Ivoire, such as in Gagnoa, Man, and San Pedro. Although it is discouraging that these districts have not been able to become separate stakes (which has appeared to be due to the significant slowdown in Church growth in the country during the past five years), it is nonetheless encouraging to note that these cities had no organized branches prior to approximately 10 years ago, and thus, there has been significant growth and leadership development in these nascent areas for the Church. The Adzope Cote d'Ivoire Stake is the first stake to be created in the cities to the immediate north and east of Abidjan that are outside of the metropolitan area.

There are now 22 stakes and nine districts in Cote d'Ivoire

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

The Church organized a new stake in Kinshasa on February 9th. The Kinshasa DR Congo Limete Stake was organized from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo Stake (organized in 1996) and the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Masina Stake (organized in 1999). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Kingabwa 1st, the Kingabwa 2nd, the Limete 1st, the Limete 2nd, and the Ndanu 1st Wards and the Ndanu 2nd Branch. The new stake is the Church's 15th stake in Kinshasa to be organized.

There are now 33 stakes and three districts in the DR Congo.

Hawaii

A new stake was created in Hawaii for the first time since 2014. The Puna Hawaii Stake was created from a division of the Hilo Hawaii Stake (organized in 1968). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Ka'u, the Kea'au, the Pahoa, the Waikahe 1st, and the Waikahe 2nd Wards. The Church has experienced steady growth on the western half of the Big Island of Hawaii, and there were only seven wards and one branch in the Hilo Hawaii Stake for many years in the mid-2000s. The neighboring Kona Hawaii Stake also appears likely to divide soon, as this stake has grown to 10 wards and one branch (up from eight wards in the mid-2000s).

There are now 17 stakes in Hawaii.

Idaho 

A new stake was created in Idaho on January 12th. The Idaho Falls Canterbury Park Stake was organized from a division of the Idaho Falls Taylor Mountain Stake (organized in 1996). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Bristol Heights, the Carriage Gate, the Castlerock, the Gem Lake, the Park Taylor, the Stonebrook, and the Victorian Village Wards. There are now approximately 20 stakes in Idaho Falls.

There are now 143 stakes in Idaho.

Liberia

A new stake and a new district were created in Liberia.

The Thinker Village Liberia Stake was organized on February 2nd from a division of the Paynesville Liberia Stake (organized in 2017). Approximately 1,500 attended the conference to create the new stake, and each stake now has approximately 2,000 members which is the minimum required to create a stake. The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Boys Town, the Duport Road, the Gbengbar Town, the Outland, the SKD Boulevard, the Thinker Village, and the Voker Mission Wards. There are now seven stakes in Monrovia - all of which have been organized within the past decade.

The Harbel Liberia District was created on January 12th from seven mission branches in the Harbel, Buchanan, and Tameque areas, including the Barclay Farm, the Buchanan 1st, the Buchanan 2nd, the Cotton Tree, the Dolo's Town, the Harbel, and the LAC Branches. The first branch in the area was organized in Harbel back in 2008. Over 900 attended the conference to create the new district. Harbel is the second city outside of Monrovia to have had a district organized.

There are now seven stakes and two districts in Liberia.

Montana

A new stake was created in Montana on February 16th. The Three Forks Montana Stake was organized from a division of the Bozeman Montana Stake (organized in 1979), the Butte Montana Stake (organized in 1953), and the Helena Montana Stake (organized in 1968). The new stake includes the following seven wards and two branches: the Belgrade 1st, the Belgrade 2nd, the Gallatin, the Sheridan, the Three Forks, the Townsend, and the Whitehall Wards and the Ennis and White Sulphur Springs Branches.

There are now 14 stakes in Montana.

Nigeria

A new stake was created in Nigeria on February 2nd. The Abuja Nigeria Karu Stake was organized from a division of the Abuja Nigeria Wuse Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the follow five wards and three branches: the Jikwoyi, the Karu, the Masaka, the New Nyanya, and the Nyanya Wards and the Aso, the GRA, and the Orozo Branches. The new stake is the Church's fourth stake in Abuja, where a mission was organized in 2023 and a temple was announced in October of 2024.

There are now 79 stakes and 14 districts in Nigeria.

Portugal

A new stake was created in Portugal on February 16th. The Santarém Portugal Stake was created from a division of the Lisbon Portugal Stake (organized in 1981) and the Oeiras Portugal Stake (organized in 1989). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Alverca, the Bom Sucesso, the Carregado, the Santarém, and the Torres Vedras Ward, and the Abrantes, the Tomar, and the Vila Franca de Xira Branches. The Church previously operated a district in Santarém from 1991 to 2020, and the six branches that were part of the former district were reassigned to the Lisbon Portugal Stake or the Oeiras Portugal Stake in 2020. 

There are now eight stakes and one district in Portugal.

The Philippines

The Malaybalay Philippines Stake was created on February 2nd from the Malaybalay Philippines District (organized in 1992). Nearly 1,200 attended the conference to create the new stake. All six branches in the district were organized into wards, including the Malaybalay 1st, the Malaybalay 2nd, the Malaybalay 3rd, the Maramag, the Quezon Bukidnon, and the Valencia Wards. There are now 16 stakes and 12 districts on the island of Mindanao.

There are now 132 stakes and 55 districts in the Philippines.

Virginia 

A new stake was organized in Virginia on January 26th, 2025. The Brambleton Virginia Stake was created from a division of the Ashburn Virginia Stake (organized in 1995), the Gainesville Virginia Stake (organized in 2016), and the Oakton Virginia Stake (organized in 1963). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Algonkian, the Ashburn, the Brambleton, the Broadlands, the Sterling Park, and the Tall Cedars Wards and the Loudoun (Spanish) Branch. There are now 15 stakes in the DC metropolitan area.

There are now 23 stakes in Virginia.

Uganda 

A new district was created in Uganda. The Lira Uganda District was organized from three mission branches located in the city of Lira, including the Adyel, the Lira, and the Odokomit Branches. The first branch in Lira was organized in 2011. The new district is the Church's third district to be created in Uganda within the past four months.

There are now three stakes and five districts in Uganda.

Japan

The Nagasaki Japan District (organized in 1982) was discontinued and consolidated with the neighboring Fukuoka Japan Stake. None of the four branches in the former Nagasaki Japan District were discontinued. The decision was likely made to consolidate the district with the neighboring stake to conserve leadership resources and perhaps for branches in the former district to become wards eventually. Stagnant growth or decline has occurred on Kyushu for decades.

There are now 22 stakes and nine districts in Japan.

Fiji

The Taveuni Fiji District (organized in 1997) was discontinued and consolidated with the Labasa Fiji District (organized in 2017 but which previously operated from 1989 to 2008). The realigned district is now called the Vanua Levu Fiji District. This decision was probably made due to a renewed effort to create a stake on Vanua Levu and surrounding islands. There are now 11 branches in the Vanua Levu Fiji District. No branches were discontinued with the closure of the district in Taveuni. 

There are now four stakes and one district in Fiji.

First Stake to be Organized in Tanzania on January 26th, 2025

Reports from Latter-day Saints living in Tanzania indicate that the Church will organize its first stake in the East African nation of Tanzania this Sunday. The Dar es Salaam Tanzania Stake will be created from the Dar es Salaam Tanzania District, which was organized in 2005. Currently, there are 10 branches in the district, but it is unclear how many of these branches will become wards once the stake is organized.

Among countries with at least 2,000 Latter-day Saints, Tanzania provides a remarkable example of a nation that has experienced a dramatic shift from slow or stagnant growth to some of the most rapid growth rates in the worldwide Church over the past decade. From 2004 to 2018, there were only four branches in Dar es Salaam. It took nearly three decades for the Church to reach 2,000 members after its initial establishment in 1992. However, everything changed with the organization of the Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission in 2020. Before this, the Kenya Nairobi Mission oversaw missionary efforts and Church administration in Tanzania, which meant limited resources were allocated to the nation’s 65.4 million people (2024 estimate).

Another major catalyst for growth was the Church’s decision in the 2010s to officially change the language used in Church administration and worship services from English to Swahili, enabling more effective missionary efforts. Church membership in Tanzania grew from 1,793 at the end of 2019 to 3,969 by the end of 2023. The number of branches in the country also increased significantly, from six in 2018 to 34 as of the end of 2024. Many of these new branches began as member groups to improve accessibility to worship services in major cities with an official Church presence.

Three additional districts were organized during this period of rapid growth: a second district in Dar es Salaam in 2022 (which reportedly will not be realigned or combined with the new stake) and the first districts in Arusha (2022) and Mwanza (2023). Given the higher member activity standards for new stake organization outside the United States, which were implemented in 2024, the creation of the first stake in Tanzania is an even greater accomplishment and a testament to the quality of this recent growth.

The creation of a second stake in Dar es Salaam also appears likely, as the Dar es Salaam Tanzania Chang'ombe District currently has eight branches and has experienced similarly impressive growth rates. Furthermore, the announcement of a temple in Dar es Salaam seems increasingly plausible given these developments, which establish a more self-sustaining center of strength for the Church in the area.

Despite this progress, the Church in Tanzania remains relatively small compared to the nation’s population. As of the end of 2023, only one in every 17,000 Tanzanians was a member on Church records, and only five cities have had branches organized.

For statistical data on the Church in Tanzania, click here.

New Temples Announced in October 2024 - Part I: Outside of the United States

Juchitán de Zaragoza Mexico Temple

The Juchitán de Zaragoza Mexico Temple will be the Church's 26th temple in Mexico and second temple in Oaxaca State. Previously dedicated or announced temples include the Mexico City Mexico Temple (dedicated in 1983), the Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple (dedicated in 1999), the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Oaxaca Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Tampico Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Villahermosa Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Mérida Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Veracruz Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Guadalajara Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2001), the Monterrey Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2002), the Tijuana Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2015), the Puebla Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2024), the Querétaro Mexico Temple (announced in April 2021), the Torreón Mexico Temple (announced in April 2021), the Culiacán Mexico Temple (announced in October 2021), the San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple (announced in April 2022), the Mexico City Benemérito Mexico Temple (announced in April 2022), the Cuernavaca Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Pachuca Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Toluca Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Tula Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Cancún México Temple (announced October 2023), and the Chihuahua Mexico Temple (announced April 2024). The new temple in Juchitán de Zaragoza will likely have a small district consisting of three stakes and four districts in southeastern Oaxaca State. Thus, the temple will likely be a small temple given few stakes and districts in the area which are nonetheless far distant from the nearest temples in Oaxaca and Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The Church discontinued many congregations in the Juchitán area in 2017 to create wards that had larger numbers of active members. There are currently 230 stakes, 44 districts, and 34 missions in Mexico. There were 1,876 official congregations in Mexico as of year-end 2023. Church membership in Mexico is at 1.52 million, although membership growth rates have been very slow in recent years. Moreover, member activity rates in Mexico are low overall at approximately 20%. 

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Santa Ana El Salvador Temple

The Santa Ana El Salvador Temple will be the Church's second temple in El Salvador following the dedication of the San Salvador El Salvador Temple in 2011. The new temple will likely service nine stakes in extreme western El Salvador - all of which are assigned to the San Salvador El Salvador Temple. There are four stakes in Santa Ana which were organized in 1979, 1980, 2009, and 2017. The Church has experienced essentially stagnant growth in El Salvador as a whole for many years in regard to membership growth, albeit there were two new stakes created in western El Salvador in 2017 and some branches have matured into wards within the past 5-10 years. The new temple is likely to be a small- to medium-sized temple. 

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Medellín Colombia Temple

The Medellín Colombia Temple will be the Church's fourth temple in Colombia following the Bogotá Colombia Temple (dedicated in 1999), the Barranquilla Colombia Temple (dedicated in 2018), and the Cali Colombia Temple (announced in April 2021). The new temple will likely be a small temple that services four stakes and one district - all of which are assigned to the Bogotá Colombia Temple. There are three stakes in Medellín which were organized in 1988, 1996, and 2023. The Colombia Medellín Mission was organized in 2012. The Church in Colombia has experienced slow growth for many years. As of year-end 2023, there were 215,331 Latter-day Saints, 256 official congregations, 31 stakes, 10 districts, and five missions.

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Santiago Dominican Republic Temple

The Santiago Dominican Republic Temple will be the Church's second temple in the Dominican Republic following the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple (dedicated in 2000). The new temple will likely be a small- to medium-sized temple and service seven stakes and three districts in northern Dominican Republic - all of which are assigned to the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple. Steady growth has occurred in the past couple decades in the area, and two new stakes have been organized since 2010. With approximately 150,000 Latter-day Saints, the Dominican Republic was the country with the most members with only one temple prior to today's announcement.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Puerto Montt Chile Temple

The Puerto Montt Chile Temple will be the Church's sixth temple in Chile following the Santiago Chile Temple (dedicated in 1983), the Concepción Chile Temple (dedicated in 2018), the Antofagasta Chile Temple (announced in 2019), the Santiago Chile West Temple (announced in October 2021), and the Viña del Mar Chile (announced in October 2023). The new temple will likely be a small temple and service seven stakes and three districts in extreme southern Chile. The area is currently serviced by the Concepción Chile Temple. The Church recently organized a new stake in the Puerto Montt area (Puerto Varas) in March of 2024, and a few branches have become wards recently in the area. However, this region of Chile has historically had little to no growth in the number of congregations for decades. There are currently 79 stakes, 10 districts, and 11 missions in Chile. 

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Dublin Ireland Temple

The Dublin Ireland Temple will be the Church's first temple in Ireland. The Church reported 4,076 members as of year-end 2023. There is one stake in Dublin (organized in 1995) and one stake in Belfast, Northern Ireland (organized in 1974) which appear likely to comprise the new temple district. Currently, the two stakes are assigned to the Preston England Temple (dedicated in 1998). Thus, the new temple will likely be a small temple. The Church used to operate a mission in Dublin, Ireland which closed and was consolidated with the mission in Scotland in 2010. Stagnant membership growth has occurred for most years in Ireland in the past couple decades, although there have been a couple years that have had significant growth during this time. The Church recently discontinued the Limerick Ireland District and consolidated it with the Dublin Ireland Stake. There are now six wards and six branches in Ireland. There are seven wards and three branches in Northern Ireland.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Milan Italy Temple

The Milan Italy Temple will be the Church's second temple in Italy following the Rome Italy Temple in 2019. Milan has historically been what appeared to be a more likely location to have a temple announced in Italy before the Rome Italy Temple given there are more stakes in northern Italy than southern Italy and that some of the stakes in northern Italy have operated for more than a decade longer than in southern Italy. Currently, northern Italy is assigned to the Rome Italy Temple. The new temple will likely service 5-6 stakes in northern Italy. The new temple will likely be a small- to medium-sized temple. Milan is the only city in northern Italy that has two stakes (which were organized in 1981 and 2012). Membership growth rates in Italy have been low for many years. There were 28,409 members, 10 stakes, 94 official congregations, and two missions in Italy as of year-end 2023. Italy has undergone a significant transformation in the past 15-20 years from mostly comprising branches and districts to being mostly made up of wards and stakes.

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Abuja Nigeria Temple

The Abuja Nigeria Temple will be the Church's sixth temple in Nigeria following the Aba Nigeria Temple (dedicated in 2005), the Lagos Nigeria Temple (announced in 2018), the Benin City Nigeria Temple (announced in 2020), the Eket Nigeria Temple (announced in October 2022), and the Calabar Nigeria Temple (announced in October 2023). As I noted when the Calabar Nigeria Temple was announced, the Church has never announced so many new temples in a country with only one dedicated temple since Mexico had at one point nine temples announced in February 1999 before a second temple was dedicated in March 1999 (which was the Colonia Juarez Mexico Temple). The new temple in Abuja will likely be a small temple and service four stakes (three of which are in Abuja) and three districts in central Nigeria - all of which are assigned to the Aba Nigeria Temple. The first stake in Abuja was organized in 2012 followed by additional stakes in 2016 and 2019. The Church has grown rapidly in central Nigeria within the past decade after decades of slow or stagnant growth. Just a few weeks ago, the Church created its first stake in Jos where a district had operated for more than 30 years. Prospects appear favorable for more stakes to be created in central Nigeria in the foreseeable future, particularly in Makurdi and Gboko, although 1-2 additional stakes appear likely to be created in Abuja within the next few years. The creation of the Nigeria Abuja Mission in 2023 also is likely to significantly accelerate growth in vast areas of Nigeria inhabited by approximately 100 million people where most do not live near an official Latter-day Saint congregation (although it is unlikely that much expansion will occur in the far northern states that are staunchly Muslim and follow Sharia law). Even with today's announcement, prospects appear favorable for more temple announcements in Nigeria in the coming years. Some likely candidates include:

• Enugu (5 stakes, 4 districts)
• Ibadan (8 stakes, 1 district)
  
• Port Harcourt (9 stakes, 2 districts)
  
• Umuahia (6 stakes, 1 district)
  
• Uyo (6 stakes)
• Warri (2 stakes)

The Church reported 232,654 members 810 congregations in Nigeria as of year-end 2023. There are currently 76 stakes, 13 districts, and 11 missions in Nigeria.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Kampala Uganda Temple

The Kampala Uganda Temple will be the first temple to be built in Uganda. Prior to today's announcement, Uganda was the country with the most Latter-day Saints without a temple per 2023 figures (22,138 members). Stakes and districts in Uganda are assigned to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, although Uganda will likely be reassigned to the Nairobi Kenya Temple once it is completed. There are three stakes and three districts in Uganda. There are two stakes in Kampala which were organized in 2010 and 2017. The new temple will likely service members in Uganda, Ethiopia, and perhaps Burundi and Rwanda - the latter two have recently experienced unprecedented growth. The temple will likely be a small temple. Prospects appear favorable for accelerated growth in Uganda given the Uganda Kampala Mission now only services the countries of Uganda and South Sudan. In the past year, the Church has organized many new branches in cities and towns in Uganda that have never had a branch, including in Bukomero, Buwenge, Bweyale, Kalisizo, Kibale, Mbarara, and Soroti.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Maputo Mozambique Temple

The Maputo Mozambique Temple will be the Church's second temple in Mozambique following the announcement of the Beira Mozambique Temple in April of 2021. The new temple will likely be a small temple and service the three stakes in Maputo as well as two districts (one in Mozambique and one in Eswatini). As I noted in the post regarding today's announcement, this marks the first time the Church has announced two temples in a country that previously has not had any temples (although there was a time in the United States after the destruction of the Nauvoo Temple and before the dedication of the first temples in Utah when temples were announced in Utah that were not completed yet). The temple in Beira remains in the planning stages. Church growth rates in Mozambique have been among the most rapid in the world and have been concentrated in Beira (which now has four stakes) and Maputo. The Church created its first two stakes in Mozambique in 2015. Additional stakes were created in Maputo in 2019 and 2023. There are now eight stakes and two districts in the country - all of which are assigned to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. Church membership increased by 34.1% during 2023 to 24,733. There are now 75 official congregations in Mozambique.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

New Temple Predictions - September 2024 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in October. The size of the Church in a specific geographical area (i.e. number of stakes and districts, the number of wards and branches), the age of the oldest stake in a specific geographical area, church growth trends, the distance to the nearest temple, traffic/transportation, the square-footage of the nearest temple, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions scheduled at the nearest temple, and member and missionary reports regarding member activity, temple attendance, and convert retention are variables used to identify prospective sites for future temple announcements. Altogether, there are 208 potential temples on the map (which is 5 potential temple sites less than the total number of potential sites identified in March 2024). The following nine locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update - all of which are less likely temples:

• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Kigali, Rwanda
  
• Lilongwe, Malawi
• Macon, Georgia
  
• Mwene-Ditu, Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
• Saleilua, Samoa
  
• Takoradi, Ghana
  
• Tema, Ghana
  
• Yaoundé, Cameroon
  

Also, there were five locations that were moved from the less likely to be announced list to the more likely to be announced list. Provided with a reasoning for the transfer from the less likely temples to be announced list to the more likely temples to be announced list, these locations included:

• Abuja, Nigeria (remote distance, three stakes in the metropolitan area, creation of the Nigeria Abuja Mission in 2024, significant recent growth in Jos, Nigeria that appears likely to become a stake in the immediate future)
• Cottonwood Heights/Holladay/Sandy Utah Temple (temple in this area could serve 20-30 stakes, this area of the Salt Lake metropolitan area is the most unreached by current temples).
  
• Lomé, Togo (significant recent growth in the Benin Cotonou Mission where there are now five stakes and one district)
  
• Port Harcourt, Nigeria (metropolitan area on the Afro-Eurasian landmass with the most stakes [7] without a temple, multiple new stakes likely to be created in the immediate future, two missions now headquartered in city [second mission created in 2024], significant steady growth in the number of stakes. Although the Aba Nigeria Temple is nearby, the Aba Nigeria Temple is on the opposite side of the city from where Port Harcourt is located. There has also been significant growth in Aba as well that can better support the current temple. There are now five stakes in Aba alone)
• Rigby, Idaho (significant recent growth in the number of congregations and stakes in the Idaho Falls, Idaho area, additional new stakes likely to be organized in the near future, Idaho Falls Idaho Temple now has 31 stakes assigned)
  

In my opinion, the following 10 locations appear most likely to have temples announced this coming General Conference. As always, your prediction lists are welcome and encouraged.

1. Spanish Fork, Utah
2. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
3. Kampala, Uganda
4. Santiago, Dominican Republic
5. Osorno, Chile OR Puerto Montt, Chile
6. El Paso, Texas
7. Price, Utah
8. Bo, Sierra Leone
9. Port Harcourt, Nigeria
10. Rigby, Idaho
    

See below for the map of likely and less likely new temple sites:

 

New Temple Predictions - March 2024 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in April. The size of the Church in a specific geographical area (i.e. number of stakes and districts, the number of wards and branches), the age of the oldest stake in a specific geographical area, church growth trends, the distance to the nearest temple, traffic/transportation, the square-footage of the nearest temple, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions scheduled at the nearest temple, and member and missionary reports regarding member activity, temple attendance, and convert retention are variables used to identify prospective sites for future temple announcements. Altogether, there are 208 potential temples on the map (which is 8 potential temple site less than the total number of potential sites identified in September 2023). The following 12 locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update - all of which are less likely temples:

• Butuan, Philippines 
• Daejeon, Korea
  
• Gaborone, Botswana 
• Honolulu, Hawaii
  
• Huntsville, Alabama
• Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo 
• Nagoya, Japan
• Portoviejo, Ecuador
  
• Pretoria, South Africa
• Pucallpa, Peru
  
• Sagay, Philippines
  
• Warri, Nigeria
  

Also, there were five locations that were moved from the less likely to be announced list to the more likely to be announced list. These locations included:

• Glasgow, Scotland OR Edinburgh, Scotland (the largest number of stakes without a nearby temple in Europe)
  
• Maputo, Mozambique (third stake recently organized, long distance to the nearest temples in Beira, Mozambique and Johannesburg, South Africa)
  
• Osorno, Chile (increases in the number of wards in the area, long distance from Concepcion, Chile)
  
• San Pablo City, Philippines (closest temple is the Alabang Philippines Temple, few other locations in the Philippines with as many stakes to be serviced by a temple)
  
• Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire (steady, rapid growth in the number of stakes in central and northern Cote d'Ivoire).
  

In my opinion, the following 10 locations appear most likely to have temples announced this coming General Conference. As always, your prediction lists are welcome and encouraged.

1. Spanish Fork, Utah
2. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
3. Kampala, Uganda
4. São José, Brazil
5. Santiago, Dominican Republic
6. Maracaibo, Venezuela 
7. Osorno, Chile OR Puerto Montt, Chile
8. El Paso, Texas
9. Price, Utah
10. Bo, Sierra Leone
    

See below for the map of likely and less likely new temple sites:

 

 

New Temples Announced in October 2023 - Part II: Africa

Calabar Nigeria Temple

The Calabar Nigeria Temple will be the Church's fifth temple in Nigeria following temples in Aba (dedicated in 2005), Lagos (announced in 2018), Benin City (announced in 2020), and Eket (announced in October 2022). This marks the first time the Church has ever announced so many new temples in a country with only one dedicated temple since Mexico had at one point nine temples announced in February 1999 before a second temple was dedicated in March 1999 (which was the Colonia Juarez Mexico Temple). The new temple will likely include all four stakes and the one district located in Cross Rivers State - the smallest prospective temple district in Nigeria among temples announced. However, the Church in Cross Rivers State has experienced rapid growth during the past two decades. The first stake was organized in Calabar in 2002 from the Calabar Nigeria District, and two additional stakes were organized in the city in 2015 and 2017. The Church has maintained an official presence in Calabar since the early 1980s. Many members in the area speak Efik. Two of the stakes in Calabar appear likely to divide in the foreseeable future due to the steady creation of new wards, suggesting that there may be five stakes in the city within the next 2-3 years. Moreover, the new temple will also likely include the nearby Akamkpa Nigeria Stake (organized in 2022) and the Ugep Nigeria District (also organized in 2022). The Church previously headquartered a mission in the city of Calabar until it was relocated to Uyo within the past decade. I added Calabar to my list of likely new temples to be announced in September 2019 as a less likely location to have a temple announced.

With the steady creation of new stakes and significant active membership growth in many areas of the country (there are currently 70 stakes, 15 districts, and approximately 225,000 members in the country), Nigeria appears a likely candidate for many new temples to be announced, especially if temples service small numbers of stakes like the future Calabar Nigeria Temple. Below is a list of likely locations for future temple announcements in Nigeria (with the current number of stakes and districts likely to be serviced by each temple), given the development of the newly announced Calabar Nigeria Temple.

• Abuja (3 stakes, 1 district)
  
• Enugu (5 stakes, 4 districts)
• Ibadan (6 stakes, 3 districts)
  
• Port Harcourt (8 stakes, 1 district)
• Umuahia (6 stakes)
  
• Uyo (6 stakes)
  

Cape Coast Ghana Temple

The Cape Coast Ghana Temple is the Church's third temple in Ghana following the Accra Ghana Temple (dedicated in 2004) and the Kumasi Ghana Temple (announced in April 2021). The Church organized some of its first congregations in Ghana in Cape Coast in the late 1970s. The Church created its first stake in Cape Coast in 1991 followed by two additional stakes in the Cape Coast area in 2016 and 2021. The new temple will likely service the seven stakes and three districts located within the boundaries of the Ghana Cape Coast Mission (organized in 2005). I have included Cape Coast as a more likely location for a future temple for at least a couple years ago given the large number of stakes assigned to the Accra Ghana Temple, steady growth in the Cape Coast area, and distance to the Accra Ghana Temple. The Church reported 101,924 members at year-end 2022. There are now 29 stakes and 11 districts in Ghana.

Luanda Angola Temple

The Luanda Angola Temple is the Church's first temple in Angola. The temple announcement is unprecedented for Africa as there has never been a temple announced in an African country with as few Latter-day Saints as Angola (4,760 as of year-end 2022) and where there is only one stake (although this stake appears likely to divide in the near future). The Johannesburg South Africa Temple was previously the temple announced in an African country with the fewest members at the time of the announcement (approximately 8,500 members in two stakes in 1981). I added Luanda to the less likely list of potential locations for a temple announcement in February 2022. There are numerous factors that may have influenced the announcement of a temple in Angola despite few members of the Church in the country and a fairly recent Church establishment (first branch was organized in 1996, the first and only mission was organized in 2013, and the first and only stake was organized in 2018). Securing land is very difficult in Luanda, and the city ranks among the most expensive cities to live in within the world. Thus, it may take a considerable amount of time to secure a suitable site to build the temple. Also, the Luanda Angola Stake is a remote stake with no other nearby Portuguese-speaking countries with an established Church presence. Finally, access to temples in other countries appears more difficult than other African nations due to distance and travel costs. Furthermore, the Church has experienced unprecedented growth and expansion into many areas of the country within the past 1-2 years. The new temple will likely service only one stake and one district at present, although there is a strong probability that additional stakes will be organized in the immediate future. Angola did not even rank within the top 10 countries with the most members without a temple per year-end 2022 membership figures, although with rapid membership growth in 2023 in many areas, there may be as many as 6,000-7,000 members by the end of the year (which would have placed Angola as high as fourth among countries with the most members without a temple).

Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) Temple

The Mbuji-Mayi DR Congo Temple will be the Church's fourth temple in the DR Congo following temples in Kinshasa (dedicated in 2019), Lubumbashi (announced in 2020), and Kananga (announced October 2021). I added Mbuji-Mayi as a less likely location for a future temple announcement in February 2023. The Church created its first mission in Mbuji-Mayi in 2016, and this mission divided earlier in 2023 to create a separate mission in Kananga. This area of the central DR Congo, known as the Kasai Region, has experienced some of the most rapid growth in the worldwide Church in modern history. The first branches were created in the region in 1997, and today there are now nine stakes in the region with the creation of several new stakes appearing imminent due to rapid growth in the numbers of active members. The new temple in Mbuji-Mayi will likely include six stakes in its temple district based upon the current organization of the Church in the area. A separate temple for Mbuji-Mayi in addition to the previously announced Kananga DR Congo Temple appeared warranted due to extreme difficulties with travel in the DR Congo and the development of a strong center of strength in Mbuji-Mayi. The Church organized its first stake in Mbuji-Mayi in 2016 followed by a second stake in the city in 2022. Other stakes likely to be assigned to the new temple district are located in Luputa (two stakes created in 2011 and 2021), Mwene-Ditu (organized in 2019 and currently has 12 wards), and Ngandajika (organized in 2023). There were 102,862 Latter-day Saints in the DR Congo as of year-end 2022. Given rapid growth, extremely high member activity rates, and travel difficulties, the Church in the DR Congo will likely announce additional temples in the coming years. Some likely locations in the DR Congo for temple announcements in the next five years include the following:

• Kinshasa (second temple) - 5-6 stakes 
• Kolwezi (1 stakes, but this stake appears likely to divide in the immediate future)
  
• Likasi (3 stakes - one of which appears ready to divide in the immediate future [Kolwezi])
  
• Luputa or Mwene-Ditu (3 stakes - one of which appears ready to divide in the immediate future
• Matadi (1 district that appears close to become a stake and several nearby mission branches that may be organized into a district in Muanda)
  

The Impending End to Large Numbers of Temple Announcements?

The Church has announced a large number of new temples within the past 6 years. The last General Conference when no new temples were announced was in October 2017. In 2017, the Church announced five new temples (all in April), whereas there were four new temples announced in 2016, three new temples announced in 2015, and no new temples announced in 2014. However, the rate of new temple announcements has accelerated to approximately 30-35 a year since 2021, as shown below:

• 2018 - 19
  
• 2019 - 16
  
• 2020 - 14
  
• 2021 - 34
  
• 2022 - 35
• 2023 - 15
  

In my most recent temple predictions map published earlier this month, I identified 216 potential locations that appear likely to have a temple announced based upon the factors that have probably contributed to the announcement of recently announced temples. If the rate of temples announced remains at 30 per yer, this means that all the locations I have identified on this map will be exhausted by the end of the year 2030. There may be a few probable locations that I have missed in my map, but I find it highly unlikely, with the current number of stakes and congregations, for there to be many additional locations that appear likely candidates for temple announcements. Therefore, if the current rate of temple announcements is sustained, it appears unlikely that this number of temples will be announced every year for longer than 6 years unless there is a significant increase in growth that warrants the construction of additional temples. The Church reported 21.5 stakes per temple as of year-end 2000. Currently, there is one temple per 11.25 stakes. If this ratio is to be maintained and 30 new temples are announced per year, then the Church would need to have a net increase of 337 stakes per year to keep this ratio at 11 stakes per temple. In contrast, the Church reported an average net increase of 51.6 stakes during the past 10 years. If the Church were to target an average of six stakes per temple district (which in many areas of the world is a realistic number for a small temple due to geographic distance), then there would be 591 temples. However, considering thousands of stakes operate in metropolitan areas where temples already operate, there appears to be little need to have such a large number of temples at present.

Church growth rates are rarely consistent for a considerable period of time, and these rates often ebb and flow and cycle through periods of deceleration and acceleration (especially within individual countries). It will therefore be imperative for significant increases in active membership to warrant the construction of additional temples by 2030 unless the rate at which new temples are announced decelerates. 

There is a high degree of uncertainty what locations may be likely future candidates for temples that currently do not appear to be probable ones. However, based on my experience with tracking the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than 20 years, I would consider the following 41 locations as possible candidates by 2030 (none of these locations are currently listed as likely locations for temple announcements at present). I do not have the time to provide my rationale for each of these possibilities, but if there is a question about one, do not hesitate to comment below:

• Abeokuta, Nigeria 
• Accra, Ghana (2nd temple)
  
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
• Akure, Nigeria 
• Aparri, Philippines
  
• Assin Foso, Ghana
  
• Blantyre, Malawi
• Bujumbura, Burundi 
• Butuan City, Philippines
  
• Colombo, Sri Lanka
  
• Eldoret, Kenya
• Gaborone, Botswana
• General Santos, Philippines 
• Georgetown, Guyana
  
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  
• Huambo, Angola
• Jos, Nigeria
  
• Kigali, Rwanda
• Kisangani DR Congo
  
• Kolwezi, DR Congo 
• Lae, Papua New Guinea
  
• Legazpi, Philippines
  
• Makurdi, Nigeria
  
• Maseru, Lesotho
  
• Matadi DR Congo
• Mbabane, Eswatini
  
• Mwene-Ditu, DR Congo
• Nampula, Mozambique 
• Onitsha, Nigeria
  
• Owerri, Nigeria
  
• Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo
• Sagay, Philippines
  
• Seville, Spain 
• Tagbilaran, Philippines
• Talca, Chile
  
• Takoradi, Ghana
  
• Toamasina, Madagascar
• Ubon, Thailand
  
• Warri, Nigeria
  
• Yaounde, Cameroon
• Yenagoa, Nigeria
  

New Temple Predictions - September 2023 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference later this month in September. The size of the Church in a specific geographical area (i.e. number of stakes and districts, the number of wards and branches), the age of the oldest stake in a specific geographical area, church growth trends, the distance to the nearest temple, traffic/transportation, the square-footage of the nearest temple, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions scheduled at the nearest temple, and member and missionary reports regarding member activity, temple attendance, and convert retention are variables used to identify prospective sites for future temple announcements. Altogether, there are 216 potential temples on the map (which is just 1 potential temple site lower than the total number of potential sites identified in February 2023. The following 12 locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update - all of which are less likely temples:

• Amarillo, Texas
• Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
• Fort Wayne, Indiana
  
• Joinville, Brazil
• Ponta Grossa, Brazil 
• Rigby, Idaho
• Richfield, Utah
  
• Tremonton, Utah
• Tulsa, Oklahoma
  
• Umuahia, Nigeria
  
• Uyo, Nigeria
• Victorville or Lancaster, California
  

Three potential temples sites were transferred from the less likely temples list to the more likely temples list. I also provided with the reasoning why this change was made. These sites include:

• Bo, Sierra Leone (rapid growth in stakes and congregations - likely the city with over 100,000 people with the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints on the Afro-Eurasian landmass. There were approximately 223,000 people in the city per 2021 census figures, and currently there are 27 wards in the city, or one ward per approximately 8,259 people. The average ward or branch in Sierra Leone had 321 people as of year-end 2022, indicating that Church membership for Bo may be as high as 8,667, or 3.9% of the city population. Latter-day Saints are one of the largest Christian denominations in Bo. There are three stakes in Bo (all organized since 2017) with the strong possibility of 1-2 new stakes being created in the immediate future).
  
• Lehi, Utah (steady growth in the number of congregations and stakes in the area).
  
• Osorno, Chile (recent progress with branches maturing into wards in the area, long distance from the nearest temple in Concepcion).
  

The following 10 locations appear most likely to have temples announced this coming General Conference. As always, your prediction lists are welcome and encouraged.

1. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2. Spanish Fork, Utah
3. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
4. Colorado Springs, Colorado 
5. Kampala, Uganda
6. São José, Brazil
7. Viña del Mar, Chile 
8. João Pessoa, Brazil
9. Santiago, Dominican Republic
10. Maracaibo, Venezuela
    

See below for the map of likely and less likely new temple sites:

 

New Temple Predictions - February 2023 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in April. The size of the Church in a specific geographical area (i.e. number of stakes and districts, the number of wards and branches), the age of the oldest stake in a specific geographical area, church growth trends, the distance to the nearest temple, the square-footage of the nearest temple, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions scheduled at the nearest temple, and member and missionary reports regarding member activity, temple attendance, and convert retention are variables used to identify prospective sites for future temple announcements. Also, I have considered traffic and transportation concerns with adding new temple locations to the map. My goal this time was to include all possible locations where temples may be announced considering the characteristics of locations where temples have been recently announced. Altogether, there are 217 potential temples on the map (20 more likely temples, 197 less likely temples) - 54 more locations than included on the map in September 2022. The following 66 locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update - all of which are less likely temples:

• Aguascalientes Mexico Temple
• Appleton Wisconsin Temple
• Aracaju Brazil Temple
• Arlington Washington Temple
• Beaumont Texas Temple
• Beaver Utah Temple
• Blackfoot Idaho Temple
• Broomfield Colorado Temple
• Caldwell Idaho Temple
• Cardiff Wales Temple
• Castle Dale Utah Temple
• Chalco Mexico Temple
• Ciudad Obregón Mexico Temple
• Coatzacoalcos Mexico Temple
• Concord New Hampshire Temple
• Cottonwood Heights/Holladay/Sandy Utah Temple
• Daru Papua New Guinea Temple
• Durango Mexico Temple
• Goodyear Arizona Temple
• Grace Idaho Temple
• Greenville South Carolina Temple
• Hamburg Germany Temple
• Harrisburg Pennsylvania Temple
• Hurricane Utah Temple
• Iowa City Iowa Temple
• Juchitán Mexico Temple
• Kanab Utah Temple
• La Ceiba Honduras Temple
• La Plata Argentina Temple
• Lethbridge Alberta Temple
• Likasi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
• Mar del Plata Argentina Temple
• Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
• Morgan Utah Temple
• Moscow Idaho Temple
• Nealticán Mexico Temple
• Nephi Utah Temple
• Norfolk Virginia Temple
• North Lima Peru Temple
• North London England Temple
• North Ogden Utah Temple
• Ontario Oregon Temple
• Paducah Kentucky Temple
• Preston Idaho Temple
• Quezon City Philippines Temple
• Retalhuleu Guatemala Temple
• Roosevelt Utah Temple
• São Luís Brazil Temple
• São Paulo Brazil South Temple
• San Juan Argentina Temple
• San Miguel de Tucumán Argentina Temple
• Santa Fe Argentina Temple
• Scotch Plains New Jersey Temple
• South Houston Texas Temple
• Southern Santiago Chile Temple
• Springfield Missouri Temple
• Sucre Bolivia Temple
• Sunderland England Temple
• Taichung Taiwan Temple
• Tapachula Mexico Temple
• Temecula California Temple
• Temuco Chile Temple
• Uberlândia Brazil Temple
• Vancouver Washington Temple
• Xalapa Mexico Temple
• Yakima Washington Temple

With this update, no temples were transferred from the less likely to be announced to the more likely to be announced category or vice versa. 

The following 10 locations appear most likely to have temples announced this coming General Conference. As always, your prediction lists are welcome and encouraged. 

1. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2. Spanish Fork, Utah 
3. Charlotte, North Carolina
4. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
5. Colorado Springs, Colorado 
6. Kampala, Uganda
7. Iquitos, Peru 
8. São José, Brazil
9. Viña del Mar, Chile 
10. João Pessoa, Brazil
    

See below for the map of likely and less likely new temple sites:

Metropolian Areas With the Most Stakes Without a Temple

As we are in a period of significant expansion in regard to the construction of new temples, I wanted to provide a list of the metropolitan areas in the world with the most stakes without a temple announced or dedicated. See below for a list of the 23 metropolitan areas of the world with at least four stakes without a temple. Metropolitan areas are defined as conglomerations of population centers and neighborhoods. These locations are ranked in order from the most stakes to the least stakes. There are dozens of metropolitan areas with three stakes, but they are not included on this list.

• Spanish Fork/Springville/Mapleton, Utah - 21 stakes
  
• Viña del Mar, Chile - 9 stakes (includes Valparaíso and Villa Alemana)
• Port Harcourt, Nigeria - 7 stakes
  
• San Jose, California - 7 stakes (includes outlying suburbs) 
• Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio - 6 stakes
  
• Blackfoot, Idaho - 5 stakes
• Charlotte, North Carolina - 5 stakes
  
• Colorado Springs, Colorado - 5 stakes
• Honolulu, Hawaii - 5 stakes
  
• João Pessoa, Brazil - 5 stakes 
• Maracaibo, Venezuela - 5 stakes
• Murrieta, California - 5 stakes (includes outlying suburbs)
  
• Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California - 5 stakes
  
• Price, Utah - 5 stakes (includes Helper and Wellington) 
• Hurricane, Utah - 4 stakes (includes La Verkin)
• Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (4 stakes)
  
• Natal, Brazil - 4 stakes
• Rigby, Idaho - 4 stakes
  
• Santa Ana, El Salvador - 4 stakes 
• Santaquin, Utah - 4 stakes (includes Goshen)
  
• Sorocaba, Brazil - 4 stakes
• Taichung, Taiwan - 4 stakes (includes Chung Hsing)
  
• Uyo, Nigeria - 4 stakes (includes Abak)
  

Update to Temple Prediction Map - Pakistan

I have added one more less likely site for a potential temple announcement, namely Lahore, Pakistan. 

The Church in Pakistan has more than 5,000 members organized in three districts and 13 branches. Multiple member groups also operate, such as in Mian Channu. The first mission of the Church in Pakistan, the Pakistan Service Mission, was organized in 2021 from a division of the India New Delhi Mission. The creation of the new mission was greatly needed given difficulties with travel between India and Pakistan, and the need for greater supervision and support of missionary and leadership development efforts. Church attendance has waxed and waned over the years in Pakistan from as high as 42% of total membership on Church records to as low as 10%. Local members report that much of these wide historical fluctuations have been due to leadership development issues and convert attrition. More recently, local members report significant improvements in church/conference attendance and an increase in convert baptisms. For example, more than 400 young single adults in Pakistan attended a special conference in 2021. Generally, the Church has baptized approximately 100 converts per year in Pakistan in recent years. An extremely well attended recent conference for the Lahore Pakistan District, with perhaps as many as 1,000 in attendance, suggests that the district may become a stake in the near future. In 2019, there were enough Latter-day Saints on Church records for both the Islamabad Pakistan District and the Lahore Pakistan District to become stakes.

New Delhi, India has been identified as a less likely site for a temple announcement on my temple prediction map, and this city was identified by Elder Neal A. Maxwell in 1992 for a proposed temple. However, a future temple in New Delhi would likely be very difficult, if not impossible, for most Pakistani Latter-day Saints to utilize given the political situation between India and Pakistan despite relatively close proximity to Pakistan. The planned Dubai United Arab of Emirates Temple is likely to be more easily accessed than a temple in India. Therefore, I have added Lahore, Pakistan to the temple prediction map (see below).

New Temple Predictions - September 2022 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in October. Historically, data used to identify probable locations for future temples include the size of the Church in a specific geographical area (i.e. number of stakes and districts, the number of wards and branches), the age of the oldest stake in a specific geographical area, church growth trends, distance to the nearest temple, the square-footage of the nearest temple, the historical number of weekly endowment sessions scheduled at the nearest temple, and member and missionary reports regarding member activity, temple attendance, and convert retention. I have made updates to the current predictions map given recent trends in temple announcements that have favored locations distant to the nearest temple where there are at least two stakes that would be serviced by a temple. Altogether, there are 163 potential temples on the map (27 more like temples, 137 less likely temples).

Thirty-three (33) less likely locations and two more likely locations were added to the temple prediction map in September 2022. Most of these locations have not experienced significant church growth in recent years, but many of these locations appear likely candidates for a future small temple due to remote location. Many of the Church's recently announced temples have been in locations with few Latter-day Saints but where there is sufficient membership to support a small temple. Locations added to the temples prediction map for September 2022 include:

• Resistencia, Argentina 
• Kingman, Arizona 
• Page, Arizona
  
• Yuma, Arizona 
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Araçatuba, Brazil  
• Goiânia, Brazil 
• Passo Fundo, Brazil 
• Redding, California 
• San Jose, California (more likely)
  
• Santa Maria, California 
• Santa Rosa, California
  
• La Serena, Chile 
• Rancagua, Chile
  
• Bucaramanga, Colombia 
• Medellín, Colombia
  
• Otavalo, Ecuador 
• Pensacola, Florida 
• Düsseldorf, Germany OR Dortmund, Germany 
• Bloomington, Illinois 
• Acapulco, Mexico 
• Mexicali, Mexico 
• Poza Rica, Mexico
  
• Grand Rapids, Michigan 
• Great Falls, Montana
  
• Hastings, New Zealand 
• Wilmington, North Carolina
• Cincinnati, Ohio Temple OR Dayton, Ohio 
• Bend, Oregon 
• Huánuco, Peru 
• Barquisimeto, Venezuela 
• Guayana City, Venezuela 
• Valencia, Venezuela 

The following prospective temple was transferred from the less likely category to the more likely category:

• São José, Brazil

The following 10 locations appear most likely to have temples announced this coming General Conference. You are welcome to provide your top 10 picks for temple announcements in the comments below.

1. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2. Spanish Fork, Utah 
3. Charlotte, North Carolina
4. Santiago/Tuguegarao Philippines
5. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
6. Tacoma Washington
7. Colorado Springs, Colorado 
8. Kampala, Uganda
9. Iquitos, Peru 
10. São José, Brazil
    

See below for the map of likely and less likely new temple sites:

 

Aggregate Predictions for New Temples

Thanks to Nate, one of the followers of this blog, for creating an aggregate of the 10 "most anticipated" temples to be announced. Based on the predictions of 20 lists submitted, the following are the 10 most anticipated temples to be announced:

1. Iquitos, Peru
2. Kampala, Uganda
3. Angeles, Philippines
4. Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
5. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
6. Spanish Fork, Utah
7. Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
8. Charlotte, North Carolina
9. Uyo, Nigeria
10. Herriman, Utah 

And here are the next 10 most anticipated temples:

1. Colorado Springs, Colorado
2. Osorno, Chile
3. Flagstaff, Arizona
4. Austin, Texas
5. Tacoma, Washington
6. Henderson, Nevada
7. Osaka, Japan
8. Bakersfield, California
9. Santiago, Dominican Republic
10. Rosario, Argentina
    

New Temple Predictions - February 2022 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in April. Data used to identify probable locations for future temples include the size of the Church in a specific geographical area (i.e. number of stakes and districts, the number of wards and branches), the age of the oldest stake in a specific geographical area, church growth trends, distance to the nearest temple, the square-footage of the nearest temple, the historical number of endowment sessions scheduled at the nearest temple, and member and missionary reports regarding member activity, temple attendance, and convert retention. Altogether, there are 144 potential temples on the map (33 more like temples, 108 less likely temples).

Thirteen (13) less likely locations were added to the temple prediction map in February 2022. Most of these locations have not experienced significant church growth in recent years, but many of these locations appear likely candidates for a future small temple due to remote location. Many of the Church's recently announced temples have been in locations with few Latter-day Saints, but there is sufficient membership to support a small temple.

• Birmingham, England 
• Brisbane South, Australia
  
• Cotonou, Benin 
• Jackson, Mississippi
  
• Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia
  
• Luanda, Angola
  
• Luputa, DR Congo 
• Majuro, Marshall Islands
  
• Munich, Germany
• Murcia, Spain
• Porto, Portugal
• Roanoke, Virgina
  
• Prince George, British Columbia
  

The following prospective temple was transferred from the less likely category to the more likely category:

• El Paso, Texas
  

The following 10 locations appear most likely to have temples announced this coming General Conference. You are welcome to provide your top 10 picks for temple announcements in the comments below.

1. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2. Spanish Fork, Utah 
3. Austin, Texas
4. Charlotte, North Carolina
5. Santiago/Tuguegarao Philippines
6. Angeles or Olongapo, Philippines 
7. Tacoma Washington
8. Colorado Springs, Colorado 
9. Kampala, Uganda
10. Iquitos, Peru
    

See below for the map of likely and less likely new temple sites: