New Stakes Created in Idaho (4), Philippines (3), Nigeria (2), Texas (2), Utah (2), Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, Peru, South Africa, Tennessee, and Wyoming; New Districts Created in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Thailand; Stakes Discontinued in Nevada and Utah; District Discontinued in South Africa

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has continued to experience significant organizational changes in recent months, with the creation of 20 new stakes and four new districts in the countries and states reviewed below. Particularly noteworthy developments include rapid stake growth in Mozambique, the reinstatement of stake-level administration in portions of the Philippines where stakes were previously discontinued, and renewed stake growth in Australia after a seven-year hiatus. Meanwhile, additional stake consolidations in Utah and Nevada illustrate contrasting trends in some well-established areas of the Church.

Idaho

Four new stakes were created in Idaho. 

The Kimberly Idaho East Stake was organized on August 23rd from the Kimberly Idaho Stake (organized in 1979). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Hansen, Kimberly 1st, Kimberly 3rd, Kimberly 6th, Murtaugh, and Rock Creek Wards and the Murtaugh Lake (Spanish) Branch. There are now two stakes in Kimberly and eight stakes in the greater Twin Falls metropolitan area (not including Wendell).

The Pocatello Idaho Hawthorne Stake was organized on August 23rd from the Chubbuck Idaho Stake (organized in 1978) and the Pocatello Idaho West Stake (organized in 1945). The new stake includes the following seven wards and one branch: the Connor, Cotant Park, Cottage, Hawthorne Park, Pine Ridge, Quinn, and Victor Wards and the Cottonwood Cove Branch. There are now 12 stakes in Pocatello.

The St Anthony Idaho Juniper Mountain Stake was organized on August 30th from the St Anthony Idaho Stake (organized in 1909). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Cottonwood, Egin Bench, Juniper Mountain, Parker, Riverview, Targhee, and White Sands Wards. There are now two stakes in St Anthony.

The Caldwell Idaho Lake Lowell Stake was organized on September 13th from the Caldwell Idaho Stake (organized in 1972), the Caldwell Idaho East Stake (organized in 1983), and the Caldwell Idaho Snake River Stake (organized in 2023). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Caldwell 5th, Caldwell 9th, Caldwell 10th, Caldwell 12th, Caldwell 13th, Caldwell 20th, and Caldwell 2nd Wards. There are now four stakes in Caldwell.

There are now 154 stakes in Idaho. 

The Philippines

Three new stakes were created in the Philippines. 

The Roxas Philippines Isabela Stake was organized on October 18th. The new stake includes the following five wards and four branches: the Aurora, Burgos, Caliguian, Roxas 1st, and Roxas 2nd Wards, and the Catabban, Mabini, Mallig, and San Pedro Roxas Branches. The area has a particularly interesting history of stake and district organizations. The original Burgos Philippines Stake was organized in 2001 from the Roxas Isabela Philippines District but was discontinued in 2005 due to challenges with member activity and local leadership development. The discontinued stake was divided into two districts: the Burgos Philippines District and the Roxas Philippines Isabela District. In January 2021, the Burgos Philippines District was discontinued, with four of its five branches reassigned to the Roxas Philippines Isabela District and the remaining branch reassigned to the Ilagan Philippines Stake. At the time, this consolidation appeared likely to be in preparation for the eventual reestablishment of a stake in the area, which has now occurred nearly 6 years later. The Church discontinued 10 stakes in the Philippines between 1992 and 2005, but stake-level administration has since been restored in six of these areas: Mangaldan in 2015 (now seven wards and one branch), Olongapo in 2017 (now five wards and two branches), Agoo in 2018 (now five wards and two branches), Camiling in 2020 (now 10 wards and one branch), Muñoz in 2025 (now six wards), and Roxas Philippines Isabela in 2026 (now five wards and four branches). The four discontinued stakes where stake-level administration has not yet been restored include Bauang (now a district with five branches), Kidapawan (now a district with seven branches), La Carlota (now a district with eight branches), and Ozamiz (now a district with eight branches). The organization of the Roxas Philippines Isabela Stake represents another significant milestone in the recovery of stake-level administration in areas of the Philippines where earlier efforts to establish sustainable stakes were unsuccessful.

The Butuan Philippines West Stake was organized on October 25th from a division of the Butuan Philippines Stake (organized in 1989). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Buenavista, Butuan 1st, Butuan 2nd, Nasipit, and Tungao Wards. Prior to this division, the original Butuan Philippines Stake was among the oldest stakes in the Philippines that had never been divided to create an additional stake, having operated for more than 37 years without a division. The organization of the new stake represents a significant milestone in the development of the Church in Butuan, particularly given the relatively limited stake growth historically experienced in the larger cities of Mindanao. There are now two stakes in Butuan.

The Palayan Philippines Stake was organized on November 1st from the Bongabon Philippines District (organized in 2004). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Bongabon, Dingalan Bay, Gabaldon, Kalikid, and Palayan Wards. The new stake encompasses portions of eastern Nueva Ecija Province, including the provincial capital of Palayan, and extends into neighboring Aurora Province, where the Dingalan Bay Ward is located. The Church has maintained a presence in this predominantly rural area of central Luzon for nearly four decades, with the first branches organized in Bongabon in 1988, Palayan in 1993, Kalikid in 2000, Dingalan Bay in 2001, and Gabaldon in 2006. The Bongabon Philippines District had at least five branches as early as 2008, yet it remained a district for more than two additional decades before advancing to stake status. The organization of the Palayan Philippines Stake therefore represents the culmination of a lengthy period of Church development rather than rapid congregational expansion. The advancement of all five branches to ward status suggests significant improvements in active membership and local priesthood leadership, particularly given the relatively small populations of the communities served and the geographic distances separating some of the congregations. This development also demonstrates that longstanding districts with as few as five branches can eventually become stakes without necessarily creating additional congregations or incorporating units from neighboring stakes or districts. The organization of the Palayan Philippines Stake is particularly noteworthy in the context of the Church's historical challenges in establishing self-sustaining stakes in rural areas of the Philippines, where the presence of multiple branches has not always translated into sufficient active membership and local leadership to support stake organizations.

There are now 145 stakes and 46 districts in the Philippines. There is considerable potential for additional stake growth in the Philippines in the coming years, including through the advancement of districts into stakes and the division of existing stakes. For example, the Balingasag Philippines District will become a stake at the end of the month. The following 21 stakes have nine or more wards, suggesting that many may be approaching the point at which stake divisions could become feasible, provided that membership activity and local leadership meet the necessary requirements.

• Angeles Philippines Stake (10 wards, 2 branches) 
• Bacolod Philippines South Stake (11 wards, 1 branch) 
• Binalbagan Philippines Stake (11 wards, 3 branches) 
• Camiling Philippines Stake (10 wards, 1 branch) 
• Catarman Philippines Stake (10 wards, 1 branch) 
• Cebu City Philippines Stake (9 wards) 
• Daet Philippines Stake (10 wards, 1 branch) 
• Dasmariñas Philippines Stake (11 wards) 
• Davao Philippines Buhangin Stake (9 wards, 1 branch) 
• General Santos Philippines Stake (10 wards, 1 branch)
• Goa Philippines Stake (9 wards, 1 branch) 
• Lucena Philippines Stake (9 wards, 2 branches) 
• Montalban Philippines Stake (9 wards) 
• Naic Philippines Stake (9 wards, 2 branches) 
• Paniqui Philippines Stake (10 wards, 1 branch) 
• Rosales Philippines Stake (10 wards) 
• Santa Ignacia Philippines Stake (9 wards) 
• Tacloban Philippines Stake (9 wards) 
• Talisay Philippines Stake (9 wards) 
• Tolosa Philippines Stake (9 wards, 1 branch) 
• Urdaneta Philippines Stake (10 wards, 2 branches) 

Nigeria

Two new stakes were created in Nigeria. 

The Abeokuta Nigeria Obantoko Stake was organized on September 20th from the Abeokuta Nigeria Oke-Ilewo Stake (organized in 2014 and formerly known as the Abeokuta Nigeria Stake). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Abiola-Way, Camp, Kugba, Obantoko, and Odeda Wards, and the Alabata, Apena, and Apete Branches. There are now three stakes in Abeokuta.

The Osogbo Nigeria Stake was organized on October 18th from a division of the Ile-Ife Nigeria Stake (organized in 2016). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Adams Estate, Fagbewesa, Ilaje, Ipetumodu, and Okesa Wards and the Okinni Branch. 

With these two new stakes, a temple announcement for Ibadan appears increasingly likely, as such a temple would service potentially 10 stakes in western Nigeria outside of the Lagos metropolitan area.

There are now 86 stakes and 13 districts in Nigeria. Nigeria currently has the sixth most stakes of any country in the world despite ranking 11th in total Church membership. This unusually high concentration of stakes relative to reported membership suggests comparatively strong member activity, local leadership development, and convert retention, particularly when compared with countries in Latin America with substantially larger membership totals.

Texas

Two new stakes were created in Texas. 

The Justin Texas Stake was organized on August 23rd from the Alliance Texas Stake (organized in 2014) and the Denton Texas Stake (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Avondale, Bonds Ranch, Decatur, Grasslands, Haslet, Justin, and Rhome Wards.

The Royse City Texas Stake was organized on October 18th from the Heath Texas Stake (organized in 2012) and the Richardson Texas Stake (organized in 1983). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Greenville 1st, Greenville 3rd, Nevada, Royse City 1st, and Royse City 2nd Wards and the Greenville 2nd (Spanish) Branch.

There are now 85 stakes and one district in Texas. 

Utah

In Utah, the Church created two new stakes and discontinued one stake. 

The Eagle Mountain Utah Brandon Park Stake was organized on August 30th from the Eagle Mountain Utah Central Stake (organized in 2011) and the Eagle Mountain Utah West Stake (organized in 2002). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Autumn Ridge, Brandon Park 1st, Brandon Park 2nd, Brandon Park 3rd, Brylee Farms, Eagle Park, and Sage Park Wards. There are now 12 stakes in Eagle Mountain.

The Syracuse Utah Waterfront Stake was organized on September 20th from the Syracuse Utah South Stake (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Barber Acres, Jensen Park, Parkview, Silver Lakes, South Bluff, Spring Haven, and Still Water Wards. There are now eight stakes in Syracuse.

The Salt Lake Granger West Stake (organized in 1970) was discontinued, marking the second stake discontinued in the Granger area of Salt Lake City in 2026. Retained congregations were reassigned to the West Valley Utah Lake Park Stake. There have now been nine stakes discontinued in the greater Salt Lake City metropolitan area in 2026, the highest number of stake discontinuations recorded in a single year. These consolidations reflect a long-term pattern of declining numbers of active Church members in older, established neighborhoods, particularly as active Latter-day Saint families have relocated to newer suburban communities without sufficient convert baptisms or new move-ins to offset these losses. Stake consolidations in many of these areas have arguably been overdue, as organizational boundaries have remained largely unchanged despite substantial demographic shifts over several decades. Given these ongoing trends, it appears likely that an additional 12–24 stakes may be discontinued in the greater Salt Lake City area in the coming years, particularly in neighborhoods where congregations have experienced sustained declines in active membership.

There are now 641 stakes and seven districts in Utah. 

Australia

A new stake was created in Australia - the first time a new stake has been created in the country since 2019. The Melbourne Australia Melton Stake was organized on November 8th from a division of the Melbourne Australia Deer Park Stake (organized in 1980) and the Melbourne Australia Wyndham Stake (organized in 1998). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Ballarat, Geelong, Melton 1st, Melton 2nd (Samoan), and Melton 3rd (Tongan) Wards, and the Horsham and Warrnambool Branches. The new stake is the Church's ninth stake in Melbourne. The number of stakes in Melbourne totaled one in 1960, two in 1971, three in 1980, four in 1986, five in 1995, six in 1998, and eight in 2013.

There are now 41 stakes and four districts in Australia. 

Brazil

A new stake was created in Brazil. The Rio Branco Brazil Seis de Agosto Stake was organized on November 8th from the Rio Branco Brazil Stake (organized in 1995). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Acre, Bahia, Floresta, Seis de Agosto, and Senador Guiomard Wards. There are now two stakes in Acre State - both of which are located in Rio Branco.

There are now 291 stakes and 31 districts in Brazil. 

Mozambique

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

The Dondo Mozambique Stake was organized on September 20th from a division of the Beira Mozambique Inhamízua Stake (organized in 2024). The new stake includes the following four wards: the Balança, Consito, Dondo, and Mafarinha Wards. It has been common for the Church in Mozambique to organize stakes with less than the required five wards outlined in the Church Handbook but then organize additional units in the next few months so there are at least five wards in the new stake. The new Dondo Mozambique Stake is likely to follow this same pattern. Rates of stake growth in Beira have been among the most rapid ever reported by the Church. There are now seven stakes in the Beira metropolitan area. 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 now seven in 2026. No other city in the world has gone from zero stakes in 2014 to seven stakes in 2026.

The Marromeu Mozambique District was organized on October 11th. The new district includes the following three branches that previously operated under the Mozambique Beira Mission or were organized in conjunction with the creation of the district: the Caia, Marromeu 1st, and Marromeu 2nd Branches. Despite its remote location, Marromeu was among the first communities reached by the Church in Mozambique, with the first branch organized in 2000. A second branch was organized shortly thereafter but was consolidated with the Marromeu 1st Branch in 2011. The reestablishment of a second branch in Marromeu and the organization of a district suggest that active membership and local leadership have developed sufficiently to support additional congregations and greater local ecclesiastical administration in this remote community along the Zambezi River. Interestingly, the Church's first and only meetinghouse in Marromeu, completed in the early 2010s, was reportedly regarded as one of the most modern and well-built structures in the town. Missionary reports have suggested that the building's appearance may have created challenges for the Church's integration into the surrounding community, illustrating how meetinghouse designs developed and approved by Church headquarters may not always be culturally appropriate for local conditions. Similar concerns have been reported elsewhere in Africa, where differences between Church meetinghouse architecture and surrounding communities may inadvertently create barriers to outreach and community acceptance. 

There are now 14 stakes and five districts in Mozambique. 

Perú

A new stake was created in Perú. The Piura Perú Primavera Stake was organized on October 25th from a division of the Piura Perú Castilla Stake (organized in 1990) and the Piura Perú Casuarinas Stake (organized in 1996 and formerly known as the Piura Perú Miraflores Stake). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Jorge Chávez, Las Palmeras, Miraflores, Ramón Castilla, San Pedro, and Tacalá Wards, and the Chulucanas and Tambogrande Branches. There are now four stakes in Piura. The total number of stakes in Piura increased from one in 1983 to two in 1990, three in 1996, and to four in 2026. The groundbreaking for the Piura Perú Temple (announced in 2023) was held yesterday on November 14th, 2026.

There are now 119 stakes and 17 districts in Perú.

South Africa

In South Africa, the Church created one new stake and discontinued one district. 

The Johannesburg South Africa Central Stake was organized on September 13th from a division of the Bedfordview South Africa Stake (organized in 1998), the Johannesburg South Africa North Stake (organized in 1970), and the Johannesburg South Africa South Stake (organized in 2023). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Alexandra, Johannesburg, Johannesburg YSA, Kensington, Randburg, and Sandton Wards. As part of the organization of the new stake, the nearby Vaal South Africa District (organized in 2015) was discontinued, and the three branches in the district were reassigned to the Johannesburg South Africa South Stake (which now has four wards and three branches, suggesting that branches may become wards in the near future). There are now 11 stakes in the Johannesburg/Pretoria metropolitan area. The number of stakes in the metro area increased from one in 1970 to two in 1978, three in 1987, four in 1995, five in 1998, six in 1999, seven in 2011, eight in 2015, nine in 2018, 10 in 2023, and 11 in 2026.

There are now 19 stakes and eight districts in South Africa.  

Tennessee

A new stake was created in Tennessee in the Nashville area. The Mount Juliet Tennessee Stake was organized on October 18th from the Cookeville Tennessee Stake (organized in 2016) and the Murfreesboro Tennessee Stake (organized in 2012). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Hermitage, Lebanon 1st, Lebanon 3rd, Mount Juliet, and Smyrna Wards, and the Buena Vista (Spanish), Lebanon 2nd (Spanish), and Percy Priest Branches. The greater Nashville area has emerged as an increasingly significant center of Church growth in the southeastern United States, with two additional stakes organized in 2026 bringing the total to six (Columbia, Franklin, Madison, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro, and Nashville). The number of stakes in the Nashville area has increased from one in 1970 to two in 1979, three in 2007, four in 2012, and six in 2026.

There are now 17 stakes in Tennessee. 

Wyoming

A new stake was created in Wyoming. The Salt River Wyoming Stake was organized on August 23rd from a division of the Afton Wyoming Stake. The new stake includes the following eight wards: the Bitter Creek, Cottonwood, Dry Creek, Fairview, Osmond, Salt River, Smoot, and West Hills Wards. There are now three stakes in Star Valley.

There are now 20 stakes in Wyoming. 

Botswana

A new district was created in Botswana. The Francistown Botswana District was organized on October 18th from three branches in the Francistown area that have operated for many years under the direct supervision of the Botswana/Namibia Mission, including the Francistown, Gerald, and Monarch Branches. The first branch in Francistown was organized in 2004.

There is now one stake and two districts in Botswana.

Kenya

A new district was created in Kenya. The Kisii Kenya District was organized on September 13th from a division of the Kisumu Kenya District (organized in 2019 and most recently divided in 2025). The new district includes the following five branches: the Bolo, Kisii, Migori, Nyabondo, and Oyugis Branches. The first branch in the city of Kisii was organized in 2025, and most branches in the surrounding area have been established since 2023. The Kisii Kenya District is the fifth new district organized in western Kenya since 2025, reflecting rapid expansion into previously unreached communities throughout the region. There are now nine districts in western Kenya without a single stake, representing the largest concentration of districts without stakes anywhere in the world. This unusual pattern of organizational development appears attributable to several factors, including the rapid expansion of the Church into predominantly rural communities, the relatively recent establishment of many congregations, and the considerable distances that separated these areas from mission headquarters prior to the creation of the Kenya Kisumu Mission in 2026. These circumstances have likely complicated efforts to develop sufficient active membership and local leadership to support stake organizations. Nevertheless, the proliferation of districts and branches in western Kenya suggests considerable potential for future stake growth, with Eldoret appearing particularly likely to become the region's first stake in the near future.

There are now four stakes and 13 districts in Kenya.

Thailand 

A new district was created in Thailand. The Phitsanulok Thailand District was organized on August 30th from a division of the Chiang Mai Thailand District (organized in 1979) and a mission branch in the Thailand Bangkok West Mission (Nakhon Sawan). The new district includes the following three branches: the Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, and Phitsanulok Branches. The Church in Thailand is currently experiencing its greatest expansion into previously unreached cities since the early 1990s when branches were organized in many of the largest cities in eastern Thailand. Cities where the Church organized its first branches in 2026 are scattered throughout several regions of Thailand and include Chachoengsao, Chaiyaphum, Lamphun, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Sawan, and Pak Chong. 

There are now four stakes and three districts in Thailand. 

Nevada

A stake was discontinued in Nevada. The Reno Nevada North Stake (organized in 1974) was discontinued, and its retained congregations were reassigned to the Reno Nevada Stake and the Reno Nevada Red Hill Stake. The discontinuation follows efforts approximately a decade ago to reorganize congregations into smaller wards, an approach that does not appear to have resulted in sustainable congregational strength in several areas of Reno. Subsequent consolidations suggest that the smaller ward model may have been difficult to sustain amid changing patterns of active membership and local leadership availability. The discontinuation of the Reno Nevada North Stake represents a further adjustment to these demographic and organizational realities. There are now four stakes in Reno.

There are now 43 stakes in Nevada. 

2026 Convert Baptisms Up More Than 20%; 450,000–500,000 Convert Baptisms Projected for 2026; Over 400 Temples "in the Near Future"

Presiding Bishop W. Christopher Waddell shared several statistical insights into the growth of the Church during a BYU-Hawaii devotional on October 13th, 2026. Entitled Caring for Those in Need, Bishop Waddell shared the following during the first 12 minutes of the video:

• Currently over 90,000 full-time missionaries serving (previously announced by the Church on September 18th, 2026).
• More than half of missionaries currently training at the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) are sister missionaries.
• Convert baptisms are up more than 20% for 2026 compared to 2025 (Bishop Waddell did not specify the periods being compared).
• He projected total convert baptisms for 2026 to likely range between 450,000 and 500,000.
• More than 400 temples in the worldwide Church "in the near future."

To my knowledge, this marks the first time in 2026 that a general Church leader has publicly shared a specific numerical projection for worldwide convert baptisms during the current year.

The year 2025 was a record year for convert baptisms. There were 385,490 converts baptized in 2025 (which represented an increase of 76,808 from 2024; a 24.9% annual increase). If there was an increase of exactly 20% in 2026 over 2025, there would be 462,588 converts baptized for the year. The ratio of convert baptisms to full-time missionaries would be approximately 5.1 in 2026 (assuming approximately 90,000 missionaries and 462,588 convert baptisms), the highest such ratio since 2010. Assuming that the increase in children of record for 2026 is comparable to recent years (approximately 91,000) and the combined number of deaths, membership record removals, and other adjustments is comparable to 2025 (approximately 100,000), then the Church may report a net increase of 440,000-490,000 members for 2026 which would rank among the largest annual net increases ever reported and could potentially be the second highest, exceeded only by 1989. Thus, the annual membership growth rate will likely range from 2.5-2.7% for 2026 - which would represent one of the highest annual membership growth rates since the early 2000s, potentially the highest since 2002. Church membership will likely range between 18.3-18.4 million at the end of the year. 

Additionally, Bishop Waddell shared that the total number of temples will surpass 400 "in the near future." Currently, there are 385 temples worldwide, including dedicated, under-construction, and announced temples. Thus, his comment suggests that at least 16 additional temples may be announced in the relatively near future, which would bring the worldwide total to more than 400. There has been significant progress with temple dedications and groundbreakings in 2026 that I detailed in a recent blog post. 

If these projections materialize, 2026 would represent a second consecutive year of exceptionally strong growth in convert baptisms and a significant acceleration in worldwide membership growth. Perhaps most notably, these trends suggest that the expansion of the full-time missionary force is being accompanied by increased convert baptisms per missionary, indicating that the recent growth in convert baptisms cannot be attributed solely to having more missionaries serving.

New Temple Predictions - October 2026 Edition

The Church has achieved considerable progress in the past 6 months with groundbreakings and dedications of previously announced temples. Eight new temples were dedicated during this time, bringing the total number of completed temples to 222. These new temples include the following:

• Davao Philippines Temple — May 3, 2026 — Dedicated by Dale G. Renlund
• Lindon Utah Temple — May 3, 2026 — Dedicated by Henry B. Eyring
• Bacolod Philippines Temple — May 31, 2026 — Dedicated by Neil L. Andersen
• Willamette Valley Oregon Temple — June 7, 2026 — Dedicated by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• Yorba Linda California Temple — June 7, 2026 — Dedicated by D. Todd Christofferson
• Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple — August 16, 2026 — Dedicated by Dallin H. Oaks
• Cleveland Ohio Temple — August 16, 2026 — Dedicated by David A. Bednar
• Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple — August 30, 2026 — Dedicated by Patrick Kearon

There are also 10 temples scheduled for dedication by the end of the year, which will bring the total number of completed temples to 232. These temples include the following:

• Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple — October 11, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Gerrit W. Gong
• Ephraim Utah Temple — October 11, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Ronald A. Rasband
• Managua Nicaragua Temple — October 18, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Ronald A. Rasband
• Montpelier Idaho Temple — October 18, 2026 — Scheduled dedication; dedicatory official not listed
• Cody Wyoming Temple — October 25, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Clark G. Gilbert
• Wichita Kansas Temple — November 1, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Patrick Kearon
• San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple — November 1, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Dale G. Renlund
• Modesto California Temple — November 22, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Quentin L. Cook
• Torreón Mexico Temple — November 22, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Gary E. Stevenson
• Pago Pago American Samoa Temple — December 13, 2026 — Scheduled dedication by Quentin L. Cook

Additionally, 11 temples have had official groundbreaking ceremonies in the past 6 months, including the following temples:

• Teresina Brazil Temple — April 18, 2026 — Groundbreaking by Ciro Schmeil
• Missoula Montana Temple — June 6, 2026 — Groundbreaking by José A. Teixeira
• Springfield Missouri Temple — June 6, 2026 — Groundbreaking by Aroldo B. Cavalcante
• Santos Brazil Temple — August 1, 2026 — Groundbreaking by Ronald M. Barcellos
• Naga Philippines Temple — August 8, 2026 — Groundbreaking by Steven D. Shumway
• Huntsville Alabama Temple — August 15, 2026 — Groundbreaking by John D. Amos
• Tulsa Oklahoma Temple — August 22, 2026 — Groundbreaking by Pedro X. Larreal
• Victoria British Columbia Temple — August 22, 2026 — Groundbreaking by James E. Evanson
• Coeur d'Alene Idaho Temple — August 29, 2026 — Groundbreaking by Hutch U. Fale
• Colorado Springs Colorado Temple — September 12, 2026 — Groundbreaking by Karl D. Hirst
• Barcelona Spain Temple — September 19, 2026 — Groundbreaking by James W. McConkie III 

There are also seven scheduled groundbreakings before the end of 2026. These temples include:

• Maceió Brazil Temple — October 10, 2026 — Scheduled groundbreaking by B. Corey Cuvelier
• Iquitos Peru Temple — October 10, 2026 — Scheduled groundbreaking by Sandino Roman
• Vienna Austria Temple — October 17, 2026 — Scheduled groundbreaking by Michael Cziesla
• Cincinnati Ohio Temple — November 7, 2026 — Scheduled groundbreaking by Alan T. Phillips
• Piura Peru Temple — November 14, 2026 — Scheduled groundbreaking by Steven C. Barlow
• Cuernavaca Mexico Temple — November 14, 2026 — Scheduled groundbreaking by Moisés Villanueva
• La Paz Bolivia Temple — November 21, 2026 — Scheduled groundbreaking by Juan Pablo Villar

Altogether, there will be 21 dedications and 22 groundbreakings in 2026 if all scheduled dedications and groundbreakings proceed as planned. 

Based on these statistics, I believe the Church may announce more temples in the coming months than it has during the past year. The total number of planned temples that have no groundbreaking or dedication date scheduled would decrease to 90 by the end of the year if no additional temples are announced (this number was 105 back in March of 2026). Only two temples have been announced since I last updated my new temples prediction list (i.e., the Marysville Washington Temple in April and the Otavalo Ecuador Temple in May), and only three new temples have been announced in the past 12 months (the other temple that was announced was the Portland Maine Temple in December of 2025). Recent temple announcements have followed a new pattern in which announcements are made locally by members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or Area Presidencies, although this may not preclude future announcements in General Conference. The large number of announced temples that has accumulated over the years is likely the greatest contributor in the dramatic slowdown in temple announcements, as efforts appear to have focused on the planning and construction of the hundreds of new temples announced since 2018.

I use several variables to identify prospective sites. 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 193 potential temples on the map (which is 3 potential temple sites more than the total number of potential sites identified in March 2026). The following five locations have been added to the temples prediction map with this current update—all of which are in Africa or the Intermountain West and have been added to the less-likely category:

• Abeokuta, Nigeria
• Ammon, Idaho
• Hyrum, Utah 
• Onitsha, Nigeria 
• West Haven, Utah 

Also, there were two 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: 

• Greensboro, North Carolina (two new stakes created in the Greensboro area earlier this year, steady growth in the number of members and congregations in North Carolina in recent years, small square footage for Raleigh North Carolina Temple) 
• Murcia or Málaga, Spain (recent creation of new congregations throughout Spain, organization of the Málaga Spain Stake earlier this year, steady growth in Spain in recent years as a whole)

There are dozens of additional locations that may be added to the less likely locations to have a temple announced in the coming months and years, pending whether recent growth developments are sustained and result in measurable, sustained growth and maturation of the Church. 

See below for my top 20 most likely locations for a temple announcement within the next 6 months. This is the same list I provided back in March, as none of these locations have had temples announced. Your predictions are 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

New Districts Created in the DR Congo (2), Ecuador, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, and Togo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Two new districts were organized in the DR Congo, each of which were created from a single mission branch and multiple new branches organized at the time the district was created.

Lukalaba DR Congo District was organized on May 31st from the Lukalaba Branch which was under the direct supervision of the DR Congo Mbuji-Mayi Mission. Three new branches were organized at the time the new district was organized for a total of four branches in the district: Kasansa, Katoto, Lukalaba, and Monzo. A member group also operated within the district at the time the district was organized (Kakona). The first branch to be created in Lukalaba was organized in 2024.

The Maluku DR Congo District was organized on June 7th from the Maluku Branch which was under the direct supervision of the DR Congo Kinshasa South Mission. Two new branches were organized at the time the new district was organized for a total of three branches in the district: Magengenge, Maluku, and Monaco. The Maluku Branch was originally organized in 2023.

The organization of new districts from the division of a single branch into two or more additional congregations is incredibly difficult to predict, and it is unclear whether additional branches in the DR Congo are likely to become districts like Lukalaba and Maluku. However, additional districts appear likely to be organized in the immediate future in the DR Congo due to steady growth and multiple current branches that are not currently within the boundaries of a stake or district. Based on the number of current branches in these areas, possible locations include, these locations include Demba (2), Kalemie (2), Kamina (2), Kenge (2), Menkao (5), and Uvira (2).

Currently, there are 49 stakes and 13 districts in the DR Congo.

Ecuador 

A new district was organized in Ecuador. The Orellana Ecuador District was organized on June 14th from mission branches in northeastern Ecuador. The new district includes the following seven branches: the El Coca, Lago Agrio, Loreto, Nueva Loja, Orellana, Sacha, and Shushufindi Branches. For more information about the historic creation of the first district in this region of Ecuador, click here, as this was explored in a recent monthly newsletter.

There are now 45 stakes and six districts in Ecuador.

Kenya

A new district was organized in Kenya. The Kwale Kenya District was organized on May 24th from a division of the Mombasa Kenya District (organized in 2015). The new district includes the following three branches (two of which have been organized since 2025) south of the Kilindini Port in Mombasa, namely the Likoni, Ujamaa, and Ukunda Branches. The realigned Mombasa Kenya District now has five branches.

There are now four stakes and 12 districts in Kenya.

Papua New Guinea (PNG)

A new district was organized in PNG. The Wewak PNG District was organized on May 18th from a division of the Sepik River PNG District (organized in 2012). Three new branches were organized in the Wewak area, bringing the total number of branches in the new district to four: White Bridge, Wewak 1st, Wewak 2nd, and Yawasoro. For more information about this development, click here to access a previous newsletter article.

There are now six stakes and nine districts in PNG.

Thailand

A new district was organized in Thailand for the first time in nearly 30 years. The Phitsanulok Thailand District was organized on August 30th from two branches in the Chiang Mai Thailand District (Kamphaeng Phet [organized in 2016] and Phitsanulok [organized in 1979]) and one newly organized mission branch (Nakhon Sawan). There are now three districts in the country, all of which are located in northern Thailand. There are also four stakes in Thailand.

Togo 

A new district was organized in Togo, marking the first time a district has been created outside of the capital city of Lomé. The Tsévié Togo District was organized on June 14th, 2026, from the Lomé Togo Agoe Stake (organized in 2023) and several mission branches in the Benin Cotonou Mission (Note: The Togo Lomé Mission was organized the following month). The new district includes the following six branches: the Davie, Kpalime, Notse, Tabligbo, Tsévié, and Zomayi Branches.

There are now three stakes and one district in Togo.

Note: Since the most recent update on new stakes and districts organized, at least seven additional stakes have been created. These include the Justin Texas Stake (August 23rd, 2026), Kimberly Idaho East Stake (August 23rd, 2026), Pocatello Idaho Hawthorne Stake (August 23rd, 2026), Salt River Wyoming Stake (August 23rd, 2026), Eagle Mountain Utah Brandon Park Stake (August 30th, 2026), St Anthony Idaho Juniper Mountain Stake (August 30th, 2026), and Caldwell Idaho Lake Lowell Stake (September 13th, 2026). Due to the unusually large number of new stakes and districts organized in recent months, I will provide a future update on these newly created stakes.

New Stakes Created in Nigeria (3), North Carolina (2), Utah (2), Alabama, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, the DR Congo, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Idaho, Kentucky, Mozambique, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Spain; and Uganda; Stakes Discontinued in Taiwan and Utah; Districts Discontinued in Cote d'Ivoire and Honduras

Nigeria

Three new stakes have been created in Nigeria. 

The Nsukka Nigeria Stake was organized on May 24th from the Nsukka Nigeria District (organized in 2016). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Achara, Nru, Obollo Afor, Obollo Eke, and Onuiyi Wards and the Enugu-Ezike Branch.

The Lagos Nigeria Gberigbe Stake was organized on May 31st from a division of the Lagos Nigeria Ikorodu Stake (organized in 2022 and which had 10 wards and seven branches immediately prior to the new stake creation). The new stake includes the following five wards and five branches: the Adamo, Gberigbe, Imota, Ita Oluwo, and Ladegboye Wards, and the Agbowa, Agura, Igbopa, Ijede, and Mowo Nla Branches. There are now 10 stakes in the greater Lagos metropolitan area. The first stake in Lagos was created in 1997 followed by additional stakes created in 2005, 2011, 2015 (2), 2018, 2022 (2), and 2024.

The Enugu Nigeria North Stake was organized on July 5th from a division of the Enugu Nigeria Stake (organized in 2014). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Abakpa, Emene, New Haven, Nike Lake, Trans Ekulu 1st, Trans Ekulu 2nd, and Ugboezeji Wards. There are now two stakes in Enugu.

With these three new stakes, there are now 84 stakes and 13 districts in Nigeria. With these three new stakes, there are now 84 stakes and 13 districts in Nigeria. Nigeria now has the sixth-most stakes of any country in the world, even though it ranks tenth in reported Church membership.

North Carolina

Two new stakes were created in North Carolina. 

The Mount Airy North Carolina Stake was organized on May 17th from the Hickory North Carolina Stake (organized in 1982) and the Winston-Salem North Carolina Stake (organized in 1977). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Dobson, Fort Chiswell, Mount Airy, North Wilkesboro, and Pilot Mountain Wards, and the Sparta and Stuart Branches. 

The Raleigh North Carolina East Stake was organized on May 31st from a division of the Raleigh North Carolina Stake (organized in 1962), the Raleigh North Carolina South Stake (organized in 2015), and the Wake Forest North Carolina Stake (organized in 2023). The new stake includes the following five wards and four branches: the Archer Lodge, Garner 1st, Knightdale 1st, Lake Wheeler, and Raleigh 2nd Wards, and the Lake Benson YSA, Garner 2nd, Knightdale 2nd, and Millbrook Branches. There are now six stakes in the Raleigh–Durham/Research Triangle area.

There are now 23 stakes in North Carolina. Three stakes have been organized in North Carolina since January of this year.

Utah

Two new stakes were created and one stake was discontinued in Utah. 

The Salem Utah Summer Spring Stake and the Washington Utah Long Valley Stake were both organized on June 7th. 

The Salem Utah Summer Spring Stake was organized from a division of the Salem Utah West Stake (organized in 1996) and includes the following six wards: the Salem 10th, Salem 11th, Salem 12th, Salem 13th, Salem 14th, and Salem Park Wards. There are now four stakes in Salem.

The Washington Utah Long Valley Stake was organized from a division of the Washington Utah East Stake (organized in 2008). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Long Valley 1st, Long Valley 2nd, Red Waters, Riverbend, and Scenic Sunrise Wards. There are now six stakes in Washington.

The Salt Lake Granger East Stake (organized in 1969) was recently discontinued and consolidated with the Salt Lake Granger North Stake and the West Valley Utah Granger Stake.

There are now 640 stakes and seven districts in Utah.

Alabama

A new stake was created in Alabama on May 17th. The Sipsey Alabama Stake was organized from the Madison Alabama Stake (organized in 2011) and the Tupelo Mississippi Stake (organized in 1991). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Cullman, Decatur, Elk River, Florence, and Russellville Wards and the Haleyville Branch. There are now three stakes in the greater Huntsville metropolitan area and northern Alabama.

There are now nine stakes in Alabama.

Canada

A new stake was created in Alberta, Canada on May 24th. The Spruce Grove Alberta Stake was created from the Edmonton Alberta North Stake (organized in 2001) and the Edmonton Alberta Riverbend Stake (organized in 1960). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Devon, Drayton Valley, Onoway, Pioneer, Spruce Grove, and Stony Plain Wards, and the Hinton and Whitecourt Branches. There are now eight stakes in the Edmonton metropolitan area.

There are now 57 stakes and three districts in Canada.

Cote d'Ivoire

A new stake was organized in Cote d'Ivoire on May 24th. The Bouafle Cote d'Ivoire Stake was organized from the Bouafle Cote d'Ivoire District (organized in 2016) and the Sinfra Cote d'Ivoire District (organized in 2019). The Sinfra Cote d'Ivoire District was discontinued as part of the process to create the new stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Agbanou, Bayota, Bouafle, Dehita, and Koko Wards, and the Bonon, Sinfra 1st, and Sinfra 2nd Branches. The Church in Cote d'Ivoire has for many years now organized new stakes outside of Abidjan through combining two districts to create a single stake, such as in Gagnoa (2022), Man (2023), San Pedro (2024), and Adzope (2025). There are now eight cities outside of Abidjan with stakes, and all of these cities have had their first stakes organized since 2015. Most of these stakes are located in the Yamoussoukro area, making this city a highly likely candidate for a temple announcement. With the creation of the new stake in Bouafle, there remains only one other likely possibility of a new stake being organized from combining two districts, namely from the two districts in Aboisso and Alepe.

There are now 24 stakes and seven districts in Cote d'Ivoire. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

A new stake was organized in the DR Congo on July 26th. The Fungurume DR Congo Stake was organized from a division of the Kikula DR Congo Stake (organized in 2021) and the Likasi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2016). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Dipeta, Fungurume, Kakanda, Kelangile, Mpala, and Nkolomoni Wards and the Kambove Branch. Four of the wards in the new stake are located in Fungurume where the first branch was organized in 2016. There are now five stakes in the Kolwezi/Likasi area, making a new temple announcement for this area of the DR Congo likely in the foreseeable future. 

There are now 49 stakes and 13 districts in the DR Congo. 

Ghana

A new stake was created in Ghana. The Kpong Ghana Stake was organized on July 12th from the Kpong Ghana District (organized in 2012). Information on which of the eight branches in the new stake have become wards remains unavailable.

There are now 32 stakes and 12 districts in Ghana. 

Guatemala

A new stake was organized in Guatemala on May 31st. The Polochic Guatemala Stake was organized from the Sacsuha Guatemala District (organized in 1990). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the El Estor, La Tinta, Panzos, Sacsuha, and Tucurú Wards, and the Canlun, Santo Domingo, and Teleman Branches. There are now three stakes in the Senahu area among the Q'eqchi' people.

There are now 52 stakes and nine districts in Guatemala. 

Haiti

A new stake was created in Haiti on July 12th. The Artibonite Haiti Stake was organized from the Saint Marc Haiti District (organized in 2012) and portions of the Gonaïves Haiti District (organized in 1999). The new stake has seven congregations within its boundaries, although the Church’s meetinghouse locator still lists all seven units as branches and has not yet been updated to show which branches became wards. The Gonaïves Haiti District has been retained and now includes two branches in Port-de-Paix and one branch in Gros Mornes. It is probable that the district will be renamed the Port-de-Paix Haiti District since none of the branches in the district are in Gonaïves, and both branches in Gonaïves are now part of the new Artibonite Haiti Stake.

There are now six stakes and three districts in Haiti. 

Honduras

A new stake was organized in Honduras on May 31st. The Gulf of Fonseca Honduras Stake was organized from the San Lorenzo Honduras District (organized in 1994) and the Monjaras Honduras District (organized in 2010). The Monjaras Honduras District was discontinued in the process of creating the new stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Guapinol, Marcovia, Monjaras, San Lorenzo 1st, and San Lorenzo 2nd Wards, and the Langue, Nacaome, and Pespire Branches. There are now three stakes in the Choluteca area, making it a likely candidate for a small temple.

There are now 33 stakes and two districts in Honduras. 

Idaho

A new stake was created in Idaho on May 17th. The Ammon Idaho Centennial Ranch Stake was organized from the Ammon Idaho East Stake (organized in 2017) and the Ammon Idaho North Stake (organized in 2008). The new stake includes the following eight wards: the Ammon 14th, Ammon 16th, Ammon 18th, Ammon 20th, Black Canyon, Stone Arbor, Thunder Ridge 1st, and Thunder Ridge 2nd Wards. There are now 22 stakes in the Idaho Falls metropolitan area (not including stakes in Rigby).

There are now 150 stakes in Idaho. 

Kentucky

A new stake was created in Kentucky on June 14th. The Bowling Green Kentucky Stake was organized from the Evansville Indiana Stake (organized in 1975), the Hopkinsville Kentucky Stake (organized in 1978), and the Madison Tennessee Stake (organized in 2007). The new stake includes the following four wards and five branches: the Bowling Green 1st, Bowling Green 2nd, Greenville, and Morgantown Wards, and the Bowling Green YSA, Bowling Green 3rd (Spanish), Franklin, Russellville, and Scottsville Branches.

There are now seven stakes in Kentucky. Prior to the creation of the Bowling Green Kentucky Stake, the most recently organized stake in Kentucky was the Elizabethtown Kentucky Stake (organized in 2017). 

Mozambique

A new stake was created in Mozambique on May 31st. The Maputo Mozambique Magoanine Stake was organized from a division of the Maputo Mozambique Stake (organized in 2015) and the Zimpeto Mozambique Stake (organized in 2023). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the CMC, Magoanine, Mahotas, Matendene, and Sommerschield Wards and the Grande Maputo Branch. There are four stakes in Maputo. The number of stakes in Maputo increased from one in 2015 to two in 2019, three in 2023, and four in 2026.

There are now 13 stakes and four districts in Mozambique. 

The Philippines 

A new stake was created in the Philippines on June 7th. The Gingoog Philippines Stake was organized from the Gingoog Philippines District (organized in 1987). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Cabuyo-an, Gingoog, Lunao, Medina, and Pangasihan Wards and the Kibungsod Branch. The Gingoog Philippines District was one of the oldest districts in the Philippines prior to the creation of the stake, signaling that the Church in the area has finally reached and sustained the minimum requirements for a stake to be organized. There are now 20 stakes and nine districts in Mindanao.

There are now 142 stakes and 48 districts in the Philippines.

Sierra Leone

A new stake was created in Sierra Leone on July 12th. The Kenema Sierra Leone West Stake was organized from a division of the Kenema Sierra Leone Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Dauda Town, Kenema, Kpayama, Nyandeyama, and Simbeck Wards. The first branch in Kenema was organized in 2003. There are now two stakes in Kenema.

There are now 12 stakes and three districts in Sierra Leone. 

Spain

A new stake was created in Spain on June 21st. The Málaga Spain Stake was organized from the Granada Spain Stake (organized in 2004). The new stake currently has three wards and two branches, including the Fuengirola, Málaga 2nd, and Málaga 3rd Wards, and the Marbella and Torre del Mar Branches. Current listings show three wards and two branches in the new stake, although the ward and branch designations may not yet be fully updated.

There are now 18 stakes and one district in Spain. Spain has more stakes than any other continental European country, whereas the United Kingdom has the most stakes (39) in Europe as a whole. 

Uganda

A new stake was created in Uganda on August 2nd. The Jinja Uganda West Stake was organized from a division of the Jinja Uganda Stake (organized in 2015). Congregations assigned to the new stake appear incomplete on the meetinghouse locator, given that the Jinja Uganda Stake had nine wards and five branches prior to the creation of the new stake, yet the Jinja Uganda West Stake currently has only three wards and two branches assigned (the Jinja, Mpumudde, and Njeru Wards, and the Lugazi and Mbiko Branches). There are now two stakes in Jinja.

There are now five stakes and four districts in Uganda.

Taiwan 

The Taichung Taiwan South Stake (organized in 2015) was recently discontinued. Retained units were reassigned to the Taichung Taiwan East Stake and the Taichung Taiwan West Stake. The Taichung Taiwan South Stake numbered among many of the new stakes organized in the mid-2010s with few active members. Only one other stake has been discontinued in Taiwan, namely the Pingtung Taiwan Stake in 2019.

 

There are now 15 stakes in Taiwan. 

 

Note: Due to the unusually large number of new stakes and districts organized in recent months, I will report on several additional new districts in a future post. These include the Wewak Papua New Guinea District (May 18th, 2026), Kwale Kenya District (May 24th, 2026), Lukalaba Democratic Republic of the Congo District (May 31st, 2026), Maluku Democratic Republic of the Congo District (June 2026), Orellana Ecuador District (June 14th, 2026), and Tsévié Togo District (June 14th, 2026).

June and July 2026 Newsletters

Our monthly newsletters for cumorah.com are now available for June 2026 and July 2026. These issues provide in-depth analysis regarding several recent Church growth developments around the world, with particular attention to the expansion of the Church into previously unreached areas, the creation of new congregations and administrative units, and changes in missionary outreach.

The June 2026 newsletter examines the organization of numerous new branches in Papua New Guinea, including expansion along the Markham–Ramu corridor northwest of Lae and the creation of additional branches in the Sepik River and Wewak areas. The issue also reviews the continued proliferation of branches in rural western Kenya, where the Church has expanded from only a handful of cities and towns with congregations in 2018 to more than 30 today. Additional developments include the creation of the first district in Togo outside of Lomé, the organization of the first district in northeastern Ecuador, and the increasing availability of Church materials and scriptures in additional languages.

The July 2026 newsletter focuses particularly on remarkable recent growth in the Sierra Leone Bo Mission, which was anticipated to reach approximately 10,000 convert baptisms within its first two years as of late July. The newsletter examines the rapid expansion of branches and member groups into rural areas of southern and eastern Sierra Leone, the extraordinary concentration of 30 wards and four stakes in Bo, and comparisons with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists that illustrate how unusual recent Latter-day Saint growth has been in the country. The issue also discusses rapid, largely member-driven growth in Mali, where prospective converts have been referred by local members, taught remotely by missionaries through technology, and baptized by local priesthood holders as several groups surrounding Bamako prepare to become branches. Finally, the newsletter highlights the creation of four new branches in previously unreached cities in Thailand—Chachoengsao, Chaiyaphum, Lamphun, and Nakhon Sawan—an important acceleration in national outreach after many years of comparatively little congregational expansion.

Together, these two issues illustrate several very different patterns of Church growth: rapid rural expansion and congregational multiplication in parts of Africa and Papua New Guinea, member-led growth in areas without a traditional missionary presence, and renewed efforts to expand into previously unreached cities in countries where growth has historically been slow.

May 2026 Newsletter and Analysis of United States Growth Trends

Click here to access the May 2026 newsletter for cumorah.com. This month's newsletter features an in-depth analysis of newly released 2025 state-by-state Church statistics for the United States, including historical trends in membership, congregations, wards, branches, and stakes spanning nearly four decades. The analysis highlights a year of essentially flat membership growth but continued organizational expansion through the creation of additional congregations and stakes, together with new insights into long-term changes in Church organization. Also included are updates on the first branch organized in São Tomé and Príncipe, the assignment of Seychelles to a mission for the first time, the announcement of the Otavalo Ecuador Temple, and the completion of The Cumorah Foundation's comprehensive historical database of U.S. Church statistics.

Comprehensive Historical Database of United States Church Statistics Released

The completion of a comprehensive historical database of state-by-state Church statistics for the United States is another significant milestone for The Cumorah Foundation. The database includes annual membership totals, congregations (including ward and branch breakdowns when available), stakes, districts, and missions for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Historical membership data are available from 1987–2025, with statistics for congregations, stakes, districts, and missions likewise spanning nearly four decades.

Data were compiled from the retired Deseret News Church Almanac series and the Church’s official Newsroom site where annual state-by-state statistics have been published. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive publicly available compilation of historical Church statistics for the United States ever assembled. The database also includes historical statistics for stakes, districts, and missions that are difficult to locate in a single source and, in many cases, are no longer readily available elsewhere.

State-by-state statistics were published by the Church every other year from 1987 through 1999 and annually thereafter through 2025, with the exception of 2020 when no state-by-state statistics were released due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Empty cells in the database indicate data that were not published or are otherwise unavailable for specific years and statistical categories. Most missing data consist of ward and branch breakdowns for selected years when the Church reported only total congregations. To provide a more complete historical record, ward and branch totals for 2012–2017 were reconstructed by tracking unit creations, consolidations, and closures within individual stakes and districts during the period when the Church did not publish ward-branch breakdowns.

This resource provides valuable data for researchers, historians, journalists, members, and others interested in analyzing long-term trends in Church growth, geographic expansion, congregational development, temple expansion, and organizational change within the United States. Users can identify historical milestones, compare growth patterns among states, examine changes in Church administration over time, and better understand how the Church has developed across different regions of the country.

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

First Branch Created in São Tomé and Príncipe

The Church recently organized its first official branch in the African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. The São Tomé Branch is under the direct supervision of the Angola Luanda Mission and serves the capital city of São Tomé, where approximately 40% of the nation's population resides. The country has a population of approximately 210,000 and Portuguese is the official language.

The Angola Luanda Mission has overseen missionary efforts in São Tomé and Príncipe since the mission's creation in 2013. In March 2015, the mission president visited the country, met with isolated members, and conducted a sacrament meeting. In 2017, the first known Latter-day Saint from São Tomé and Príncipe began missionary service in the Cape Verde Praia Mission. Progress accelerated in 2025 when the first full-time missionaries were assigned to the country. Later that year, Elder Ronald A. Rasband dedicated the nation for missionary work, the first convert baptisms were performed, and a member group was organized.

The organization of a branch less than one year after the assignment of full-time missionaries highlights the receptivity of local residents and the rapid development of the Church in the country. Prospects for future growth appear favorable, particularly if full-time missionaries continue to be assigned on a consistent basis and recent converts are successfully retained, strengthened, and prepared for leadership responsibilities. Given the country's small population and concentrated urban center, sustained missionary efforts could establish a stable and self-sufficient local Church presence in the coming years notwithstanding remote location and a relative small population.

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.