Below is an updated list of the countries with the most Latter-day
Saints without a stake. Membership totals are as of 2013 and
congregational and district totals are current. Membership totals for mainland China and
Pakistan are estimates as no official statistics are available. The
number of branches and districts in mainland China is not provided due to the sensitive nature of the
Church in that country. Previous lists of the most countries without a stake can be found
here.
- Cambodia - 12,223 members - 28 branches - 6 districts
- China - 11,000 members?
- Malaysia - 9,259 members - 34 branches - 8 districts
- Liberia - 8,081 members - 22 branches - 2 districts
- Mozambique - 6,900 members - 21 branches - 2 districts
- Vanuatu - 6,103 members - 31 branches - 3 districts
- Jamaica - 5,712 members - 19 branches - 2 districts
- Guyana - 5,474 members - 13 branches - 1 district
- Belize - 4,502 members - 11 branches - 2 districts
- Pakistan - 3,700 members? - 13 branches? - 3 districts
- Romania - 2,990 members - 16 branches - 2 districts
- Zambia - 2,758 members - 12 branches - 2 districts
- Bulgaria - 2,402 members - 9 branches - 0 districts
- Czech Republic - 2,396 members - 13 branches - 2 districts
- Cook Islands - 1,844 members - 5 branches - 1 district
- Poland - 1,813 members - 14 branches - 2 districts
- Ethiopia - 1,807 members - 6 branches - 1 district
- Swaziland - 1,693 members - 4 branches - 1 district
- Malawi - 1,653 members - 8 branches - 1 district
- Benin - 1,439 members - 11 branches - 1 district
Prospects appear most favorable for the formation of stakes within the
next few years in Cambodia, Malaysia, Liberia, Mozambique, Vanuatu, Jamaica, Belize, Zambia, and Benin as all of these countries has at least one district that is close
to reaching the minimum qualifications for a stake to operate. Low
member activity rates, an insufficient number of branches in individual
member districts, and few full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood
holders will likely continue to delay the organization of stakes in
other countries for several more years to come.
The Amasaman Ward, Accra Ghana Tesano Stake, was created on 6 April. There are now 7 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
ReplyDeleteAlajo Ward
Amasaman Ward
New Town Ward
North Ridge Ward
Ofankor Ward
Tantra Hills Ward
Tesano Ward
Adoagyiri Branch
Nsawam Branch
The Herriman YSA 2nd Ward, Fort Herriman Utah Stake, was created on 30 March. There are now 8 wards in the stake:
Copper Creek 1st Ward
Copper Creek 2nd Ward
Copper Creek 3rd Ward
Herriman 1st Ward
Herriman 4th Ward
Legacy Creek Ward
Legacy Ranch Ward
Tuscany Ward
The Badagry Branch, Lagos Nigeria South Stake, was created on 16 March and the Mosafejor Branch, Lagos Nigeria South Stake, was created on 23 March. There are now 7 wards and 3 branches in the stake:
Ajah Ward
Apapa Ward
Festac Ward
Ikoyi Ward
Lekki Ward
Okokomaiko Ward
Satellite Ward
Ajangbadi Branch
Badagry Branch
Mosafejor Branch
The Krobo and Vatican City branches, Ghana Kumasi Mission, were created on 6 April. There are now 8 independent branches in the mission:
Nkawkaw Ghana District
Obuasi Ghana District
Sunyani Ghana District
Agona-Asamang Branch
Bibiani Branch
Education Ridge Branch
Ghana Kumasi Mission Branch
Krobo Branch
Mampong Branch
Vatican City Branch
Vitin Branch
The Ragay Branch, Pamplona Philippines District, Philippines Naga Mission, was created on 16 March. There are now 6 branches in the district:
Libmanan Branch
Lubigan Branch
Pamplona Branch
Pasacao Branch
Ragay Branch
Sipocot Branch
Countries on this list in earlier years (or would have been if the list went back 5 or 6 years) include Albania, Micronesia, Togo, Cape Verde, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Armenia, Russia, India, Uganda, Guam, Hungary, Indonesia, Trinidad, and Mongolia.
ReplyDeleteHave I missed any?
Liberia is in a class of its own, having had a stake that was discontinued when the country suffered great instability and the stake could no longer function.
In the Dover Delaware Stake, the Dover 1st Ward has become the Camden Ward, and the Dover 2nd Branch has become the Dover Ward.
ReplyDeleteChina, what a nut to crack. I just heard in church today how a foreign service spouse could not share much gospel-wise while in China, but recently sent an email to some of those old friends. Maybe the Internet and social media is the cure.
ReplyDeleteThe protestors in Palmyra are angry now, wait till they have thousands of Chinese crawling over the pageant in the years to come.
Cambodia and Malaysia are just on the cusp...
Just got word from an Elder in the Philippines Iloilo mission that they will be opening some areas in northern Antique. He is being assigned in Culasi. I emailed him asking where the other areas were, but if I had to guess I would probably say that the other is either Tibiao, Pandan, or Libertad. I'll update as I get more information.
ReplyDeleteI am hearing that a New Stake will be created in North Dallas (Allen?) and in Bluffdale Utah.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tibiao is indeed the other area that is opening.
ReplyDeleteThe Chilton Park and Foxwood wards, Eagle Mountain Utah East Stake, were created on 13 April. There are now 11 wards in the stake:
ReplyDeleteCedar Crest Ward
Chilton Park Ward
Foxwood Ward
Freemont Springs Ward
Kiowa Valley Ward
Liberty Farms Ward
Porter's Crossing Ward
Rush Valley Ward
Silver Creek Ward
Silver Lake Ward
South Pass Ward
The Garfield 6th Ward, Rigby Idaho South Stake, was created on 13 April. There are now 8 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Garfield 1st Ward
Garfield 2nd Ward
Garfield 3rd Ward
Garfield 4th Ward
Garfield 5th Ward
Garfield 6th Ward
Rigby 1st Ward
Rigby 11th Ward
Rigby 17th Branch (Spanish)
The Midvale 15th Branch, Midvale Utah North Stake, was created on 13 April. There are now 6 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Midvale 1st Ward
Midvale 2nd Ward
Midvale 3rd Ward
Midvale 4th Ward
Midvale 9th Ward (Spanish)
Midvale 11th Ward
Midvale 15th Branch
The Ugboikhoko Ward, Benin City Nigeria Ihogbe Stake, was created on 6 April. There are now 8 wards in the stake:
Evbuotubu Ward
Ihogbe 1st Ward
Ihogbe 2nd Ward
Oliha Ward
Ugboikhoko Ward
Uzebu 1st Ward
Uzebu 2nd Ward
West Circular Ward
The Vineyard 8th Ward, Orem Utah Vineyard Stake, was created on 13 April. There are now 8 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Vineyard 1st Ward
Vineyard 2nd Ward
Vineyard 3rd Ward (Spanish)
Vineyard 4th Ward
Vineyard 5th Ward
Vineyard 6th Ward
Vineyard 7th Ward
Vineyard 8th Ward
Geneva Branch (Care Center)
The Visalia 8th Ward, Visalia California Stake, was created on 13 April. There are now 8 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Exeter Ward
Visalia 1st Ward
Visalia 2nd Ward
Visalia 3rd Ward
Visalia 4th Ward
Visalia 5th Ward (Spanish)
Visalia 6th Ward
Visalia 8th Ward
Visalia 7th Branch (Student)
I am in the Frisco Texas stake. It was announced in church on Sunday that a new stake would be created at our stake conference in 3 weeks. Not sure if this is the rumor mentioned in the comment above
ReplyDeleteAny idea why Midvale 15th is a branch?
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting the Bulgaria doesn't even have a district. You would think that with 9 branches and all of the member groups that are going they would be able to staff a district. Is there something else going on that is preventing that?
ReplyDeleteMy mother and step-father served a LDS charities mission in Cambodia in 2000-2002.
ReplyDeleteMy step-dad (my mom passed away recently) forwarded me this:
Dear former mission presidents & wives,
I am pleased to share with you that approval has been given to hold special district conferences on May 24-25, 2014 for the purpose of establishing the Phnom Penh North Stake and the Phnom Penh South Stake. This is an important milestone in the ongoing growth and progress of the Church here in Cambodia, and exciting news for all of our members. You have been an important part of helping establish the church here in Cambodia, and some of you have expressed a desire to participate when it happens, so I wanted to inform you as soon as I was allowed to do so.
This will be announced to members generally in the North and South Districts this coming Sunday April 27. We want them to hear it through proper channels when the announcement is made in their meetings rather than through Facebook or e-mail or phone calls. So please do not contact members here yet or share this with others at home until after Sunday. Please do not forward this message to others or talk to others about it until after Sunday. I’m sending an early notice to you in case it is helpful in terms of possible travel plans.
The Phnom Penh North District will hold its general session of conference from 9:00am to 11:00am on May 25 at the North District Center. The Phnom Penh South District will hold its general session of conference from 2:00pm to 4:00pm the same day, at the South District Center.
On May 31, 2014, as you may already be aware, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Church in Cambodia. We are renting a 3,000 seat theater on Diamond Island for this major event, which will include a program, special video presentations, cultural performances, and a dinner following. The event will be free for our members, but will require a ticket, which are soon to be distributed. Elder Gerrit A. Gong, the Asia Area President, will be here to preside at that meeting. We would of course welcome you if you are able to come and attend.
On May 13, 2014, BYU Young Ambassadors will be performing at the same theater, at 7:00pm. This event will be a benefit performance/musical for a new women’s hospital proposed to be built in Phnom Penh. Tickets need to be purchased for this event.
If some of you decide to come to Cambodia for the special organizing conferences, we could try to hold a returned local missionary reunion with you present during that time. As you can see it is a busy month. We have considered that a returned missionary reunion could possibly be held on Friday evening May 30, if you were planning to stay for the 20 year anniversary celebration also. We would probably look to you to help with some or all of the preparations and planning for it.
Best wishes,
David C. Moon