Monthly Newsletter

Click here to access our October 2015 edition of our monthly newsletter for cumorah.com.

Potential New Mission Districts

I have provided an updated list of mission districts which I think are likely to be organized in the next couple years. Mission districts are analogous to stakes as they administer multiple branches (usually three to ten), but they have less independence in church administration and leadership than stakes. The creation of mission districts signals progress in church growth as it is an important step for the Church to establish a "center of strength" in a new location from a handful of mission branches into a more organized entity which has potential to become a stake. The creation of a district from mission branches suggests maturation in local leadership to provide sufficient manpower and quality leaders in staffing both branch and district callings.

Potential new districts listed below were identified based on recent congregational growth trends, missionary reports on the number of convert baptisms and activity rates, and distance and location from other nearby stakes and districts. Previous lists are available for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Locations where there are fewer than three branches are included if there is a high likelihood that additional branches will be organized within the near future in order for a district to be organized.

Like other administrative and congregational units, the creation of districts is approved by the First Presidency.  Information used to compile this list does not contain any unauthorized information and I take full responsibility for this work.

AFRICA (27)

• Abengourou Cote d'Ivoire (3) [Abengourou 1st, Abengourou 2nd, Abengourou 3rd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Aboisso Cote d'Ivoire (2) [Aboisso and Rive Gauche Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Adzope Cote d'Ivoire (3) [Adzope 1st, Adzope 2nd, Adzope 3rd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Akoupé Cote d'Ivoire (2) [Affery and Akoupé Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Akure Nigeria (2) [Akure 1st and Akure 2nd Branches - all assigned to the Nigeria Benin City Mission]
• Atta Nigeria (6) [Atta, Amaimo, Amakohia, Ogwa, Orlu, and Umundugba Branches - all currently administered by the Owerri Nigeria Stake]
• Axim Ghana (3) [Agona Nkwanta, Axim, and Nkroful Branches - all currently administered by the Ghana Cape Coast Mission]
• Bouake Cote d'Ivoire (3) [Bouake 1st, Bouake 2nd, and Bouake 3rd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission]
• Bujumbura Burundi (5) [Bujumbura 1st, Bujumbura 2nd, Bujumbura 3rd, Kalundu, and Uvira Branches - all currently administered by the DR Congo Lubumbashi Mission]
• Divo Cote d'Ivoire (4) [Divo, Konankro, Lakota, and Plateau Branches - all currently assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission]
• Douala Cameron (4) [Bonaberri, Douala, New Bell, and Village Branches - all currently assigned to the Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission]
• Fort Dauphin Madagascar (2) [Fort Dauphin and Tanambao Branches - both currently administered by the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission]
• Francistown Botswana (3) [Francistown, Gerald, and Monarch Branches- all currently administered by the Botswana/Namibia Mission]
• Gulu Uganda (2) [Bar Dege and Gulu Branches and the Kitgum Group - all currently administered by the Uganda Kampala Mission] 
• Kadoma Zimbabwe (3) [Chegutu, Kadoma 1st, and Kadoma 2nd Branches - all currently assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission]
• Kitale Kenya (5) [Kitale, Mautuma, Misikhu, Naitiri, and Sikhendu Branches - all currently administered by the Eldoret Kenya District] 
• Klerksdorp South Africa (3) [Jouberton, Klerksdorp, and Potchefstroom Branches - all currently assigned to the South Africa Johannesburg Mission]
• Lira Uganda (2) [Adyel and Lira Branches - both administered by the Uganda Kampala Mission]
• Marondera Zimbabawe (2) [Dombotombo and Marondera Branches - both administered by the Zimbabwe Harare Mission]
• Makeni Sierra Leone (3) [Makama Rogbaneh, and Teko Road Branches - all administered by the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission] 
• Maseru Lesotho (3) [Leribe, Maseru, and Masianokeng Branches - all assigned to the Bloemfontein South Africa Stake]
• Meagui Cote d'Ivoire (4) [Meagui 1st, Meagui 2nd, Soubre 1st, and Soubre 2nd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission]
• Nelspruit South Africa (2) [KaNyamazane and Nelspruit Branches - both currently assigned to the South Africa Johannesburg Misson]
• Ngandajika DR Congo (2) [Ngandajika and Tshioji Branches - both currently administered by the Luputa DR Congo Stake]
• Nsukka Nigeria (2) [Nsukka and Obollo-Afor Branches - both administered by the Nigeria Enugu Mission]
• Rwanda Kigali (3) [Kigali 1st, Kigali 2nd, and Kigali 3rd Branches - all currently administered by the Uganda Kampala Mission]
• Techiman Ghana (4) [Dwumoh, Kenten, Krobo, and Vatican Branches - all currently assigned to the Ghana Kumasi Mission]

ASIA (2)

• Tagudin Philippines (4) [Balaoan, Bangar, Luna, and Tagudin Branches - branches currently assigned to either the Candon Phillipines or San Fernando Philippines Stakes] 
• Vladivostok Russia (4) [Artyom, Nakhodka, Ussuriysk, and Vladivostok Branches - all assigned to the Russia Vladivostok Mission]

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (3)

• Cruzeiro do Sul Brazil (3) [Cruzeiro do Sul, Formoso, and Remanso Branches - all branches currently assigned to the Brazil Manaus Mission]
• Marabá Brazil (3) [Canaã dos Carajás, Marabá, and Parauapebas Branches - all currently assigned to the Brazil Belem Mission]
• Tefé Brazil (3) [Coari, Jutaí, and Tefé Branches - all currently assigned to the Brazil Manaus Mission]

OCEANIA

• Aoba Vanuatu (6) [Apopo, Lobori, Lolotinge, Lovutialao, Navuti, and Redcliff Branches - all currently assigned to the Luganville Vanuatu District]

New Stakes Created in Arizona, Missouri, and Utah

Arizona
A new stake was created yesterday in the Tuscon area. The Marana Arizona Stake was organized from a division of the Tuscon Arizona West and Tuscon Arizona North Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: Avra Valley, Continental Ranch, Cortaro, Picture Rocks, Red Rock, and Tucson YSA 1st Wards and the El Rio Branch (Spanish). The organization of the new stake came as a surprise to local members and church leaders. One local member reported that the vising general authority and area seventy were not apprised of the plans to create the new stake until October 23rd. Local members indicate that the creation of the new stake was primarily motivated by a desire for the Church to focus on reactivation efforts in the area.

There are now 98 stakes in Arizona

Missouri
The Church organized a new stake in Missouri on October 18th. The Far West Missouri Stake was organized from a division of the Liberty Missouri and Platte City Missouri Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards and four branches: the Cameron 1st, Far West, Gallatin, Kearney 1st, Kearney 3rd, and Maryville Wards, and the Albany, Chillicothe, Trenton, and Wood Heights Branches. The Church once briefly operated a stake in Far West during the early days of the Church.

There are now 17 stakes in Missouri

Utah
Two new stakes were recently organized in Utah.

The Lehi Utah Thanksgiving Stake was organized on October 11th from a division of the Lehi Utah Gateway Stake. The new stake includes the following nine wards: the Cranberry Farms 1st, Pilgrims Landing 1st, Pilgrims Landing 2nd, Pilgrims Landing 3rd, Pilgrims Landing 4th, Sunset Hollow, Thanksgiving Meadows 1st, Thanksgiving Meadows 2nd, and Thanksgiving Village Wards.

The Eagle Mountain Utah Silver Lake Stake was organized on October 25th from a division of the Eagle Mountain Utah East Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Cedar Crest, Foxwood, Silver Creek, Silver Lake, and Woodhaven Wards

There are now 578 stakes and one district in Utah.

New Stakes Created in Brazil, Nigeria, and Utah; New Districts Created in Argentina, Brazil, and Ukraine; Districts Discontinued in Malaysia and New Jersey

Brazil
A new stake was created on September 20th. The Sete Lagoas Brazil East was organized from the Sete Lagoas Brazil Stake and includes the following five wards: the Belo Vale, Curvelo, Interlagos, Nova Cidade, and Sete Lagoas 2nd Wards. The new stake is the second to be organized in the city of Sete Lagoas and is the 13th stake to be organized in Minas Gerais State.

A new district was organized from three mission branches in the Brazil Salvador Mission. The Barreiras Brazil District was organized on September 27th and includes the Barreiras 1st, Barreiras 2nd, and the Luis Eduardo Magalhaes Branches. The new district becomes the first new district in Brazil organized from mission branches since xxx.

There are now 256 stakes and 38 districts in Brazil.

Nigeria
The Church organized its sixth stake in Benin City on September 20th. The Benin City Nigeria Oregbeni Stake was organized from a division of the Benin City Nigeria New Benin Stake and the Benin City Nigeria Ikpokpan Stake. The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Esigie, Igun 1st, Igun 2nd, Ogbeson, Oregbeni, Sokponba, and Ugbekun Wards.

There are now 30 stakes and 19 districts in Nigeria.

Utah
A new stake was organized last Sunday in South Jordan, Utah. The South Jordan Utah Midas Creek Stake was organized from a division of the South Jordan Utah Country Crossing Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Country Crossing 1st, Country Crossing 3rd, Country Crossing 5th, Country Crossing 6th, Country Crossing 9th, and Country Crossing 10th Wards.

There are now 577 stakes and one district in Utah

Argentina
A new district was organized on September 27th. The Punilla Argentina District was organized from mission branches in the Argentina Cordoba Mission and a division of the Córdoba Argentina Sierras Stake. The following four branches are included in the new district: the Cosquin, Cruz del Eje, Dean Funes, and La Falda Branches.

There are now 74 stakes and 30 districts in Argentina.

Ukraine
The Church organized a new district in the Crimean Peninsula on September 20th. The Simferopol Russia District was organized from the four mission branches in the Crimean Peninsula, namely the Bahate, Sevastopol, Simferopol's'ka, and Yevpatoriis'ka Branches. The Church previously operated a district that included these four branches from 2004 until 2007 that was called the Sevastopol Ukraine District. The Church reassigned these four branches to the Russia Rostov-na-Donu Mission several months ago due to the Russian occupation of the Crimean Peninsula. It is interesting to note that the Church has named the district the Simferopol Russia District instead of the Simferopol Ukraine District due to this recent political change.

There are now three districts and one stake in Ukraine (including the Simferopol Russia District) and two stakes and seven districts in Ukraine (including the Simferopol Russia District).

Malaysia
The Church recently discontinued the Johor Bahru Malaysia District. Organized in 2011, the district was previously organized from a division of the Singapore Stake. Only two branches have operated in the district since its organization. The two branches (Johor Bahru and Masai [Malay]) now directly report to the Singapore Mission.

There are now six districts in Malaysia.

New Jersey
I have confirmed that the Paterson New Jersey District was discontinued as part of the organization of the new Liberty Park New Jersey Stake. All three branches that previously pertained to the district are now part of the Soldier Hill New Jersey Stake.

There are now six stakes in New Jersey.

Potential New Missions in 2016

Below is a list of potential new missions that may be created in 2016. Criteria for identifying potential new missions include recent LDS membership, congregational, and organizational (stakes and districts) growth trends, trends in new mission creations within the past decade, population size, and the boundaries of current missions. It is unclear whether any new missions will be organized next year as the number of members serving full-time missions has appeared to hold steady around 80,000-83,000 within the past nine months. However, the average number of missionaries per missions continues to be higher than historically averages. This suggests that dozens of new missions could theoretically be created in the immediate future.

• Australia Brisbane (2nd mission)
• Brazil Aracatuba
• Brazil Jaboatao
• Brazil Manaus (2nd mission)
• Brazil Porto Velho
• Brazil Sao Luis
• Brazil Sorocaba
• Burundi/Rwanda
• Cambodia Phnom Penh (2nd mission - Vietnamese speaking to also include Vietnam) OR Vietnam Hanoi
• Cameroon Yaounde
• Colorado Grand Junction
• Cote d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro
• Democratic Republic of Congo Kananga
• Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa (2nd mission)
• Ethiopia Addis Ababa
• Ghana Kumasi (2nd mission)
• Idaho Falls Idaho
• Malawi Lilongwe
• Mexico Chilpancingo
• Mexico Juchitan
• Mexico Toluca
• Nigeria Aba
• Nigeria Ibadan
• Nigeria Uyo
• Philippines Bacolod (2nd mission)
• Philippines Cabanatuan
• Philippines Davao (2nd mission)
• Philippines Dumaguete
• Philippines Lucena
• Philippines Ormoc
• Philippines Santiago
• Samoa Apia (2nd mission)
• Slovakia Bratislava
• Solomon Islands Honiara
• Spain Alicante
• Taiwan Kaohsiung
• Tanzania Dar Es Salaam
• Texas Austin
• Texas El Paso
• Texas Plano
• Thailand Bangkok (2nd mission)
• Tonga Nuku'alofa (2nd mission)
• Zimbabwe Bulawayo

Additions to Temple Prediction Map

After further contemplation, I have added the following cities as likely locations for temple announcements in the near future:

• Querétaro, Mexico
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

I added Querétaro because of distance to the nearest temples in Mexico City and Guadalajara and recent growth. The Church has been experiencing steady congregational growth (unlike most major cities in Mexico over the past five years) and there are three stakes in the metropolitan area. Additionally, the Church organized a separate mission headquartered in Querétaro in 2013.

I added Ulaanbaatar because the Asia Area has appeared to make some good progress towards preparing for the organization of additional stakes in Mongolia. The Asia Area has made some great progress in other nations such as Taiwan and Thailand in recent years. Mongolian members have also been faithful at attending the Hong Kong China Temple for many years.

Monthly Newsletter - September 2015

Click here to access the September 2015 edition of our newsletter for cumorah.com.