Two new stakes were organized in Brazil.
The Feira de Santana Brazil North Stake was organized on November 18th from a division of the Feira de Santana Brazil Kalilandia Stake and the Camacari Brazil Central Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards: Alagoinhas, Conceição do Coité, Feira de Santana 3rd, Nova Esperança, Serrinha, and Sobradinho Wards. There are now three stakes in Feira de Santana, and 11 stakes in Bahia State. The capital of Bahia State, Salvador, was one of the 12 locations where President Nelson announced a new temple during the October 2018 General Conference.
The São José dos Campos Brazil South Stake was organized on November 25th from a division of the São José dos Campos Brazil Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Cicade Jardim, Jacarei, Jardim Satelite, Morumbi, and Parque Industrial Wards. The original São José dos Campos Brazil Stake numbered among the Church's oldest stakes in Brazil that has never appeared to have been divided to organize a new stake since its original creation in 1985. There are now 78 stakes and seven districts in Sao Paolo State. There are now 273 stakes and 38 districts in Brazil.
The Church organized a new stake in Santaquin, Utah on November 11th. The Santaquin Utah East Stake was organized from the Santaquin Utah Stake. The new stake includes the follow seven wards and one branch: the Santaquin 2nd, Santaquin 3rd, Santaquin 8th, Santaquin 12th, Santaquin 16th, and the Santaquin 22nd Wards, and the Santaquin 17th Branch (Care Center).
There are now 596 stakes and one district in Utah.
Venezuela
The Church organized a new stake in Venezuela on October 21st. The Coro Venezuela Stake was organized from a division of the Punto Fijo Venezuela Stake. The new stake includes the following four wards: the Alta Vista, Los Medanos, Manaure, and Puerto Cumarebo Wards. The Coro Venezuela Stake was originally organized as a district in 2005, but was consolidated with the district in Falcon in 2008 to prepare for the organization of a stake. The Punto Fijo Venezuela Stake currently has only four wards and one branch. The decision to divide the stake appears attributed to reduce travel times for members at a time when the Venezuelan economy is in crisis. Surprisingly, the stake appeared to meet the qualifications to operate two separate stakes instead of the stake returning back to district status.
There are now 34 stakes and five districts in Venezuela.
Benin
The Church organized a new district in the West African country of Benin. The Cococodji Benin District was organized from a division of the Cotonou Benin Stake. Currently, the Church's meetinghouse website shows only three branches assigned to the district (Agla, Cocotomey, and Hilacondji) albeit there appear to be at least two wards in the stake that appear to have been transferred to the district and downgraded to branch status (Cococodji and Hevie). The Cotonou Benin Stake had nine wards and eight branches prior to the creation of the new district. The Church in Benin has grown most rapidly and efficiently when member groups and branches have been organized rather than waiting for the number of active members to become adequate large to split large units or for branches to become wards. This decision to organize a district instead of waiting to have enough wards to create a second stake in Cotonou appears more likely to help the Church take advantage of good opportunities for growth in Benin where there were less than 100 members in 2005. Today, there are more than 3,000 members in Benin. There is now one stake and one district in the country.
I bet Venezuela's situation makes a temple announcement for Maracaibo more likely as well. Reducing travel times seems to be an even bigger priority for President Nelson than his predecessors.
ReplyDeleteFor the Santaquin Stake, I have a correction. You said there are 7 wards, but only listed 6. Looking at the LDS Classic Maps, it shows that the Santaquin 10th ward is also in the new stake.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Matt, for another great report. Christopher Nicholson, I am still finalizing my list of prospective locations which may have a temple announced next April, but I believe Maracaibo has made my list for this go-round. The one possible barrier I see in terms of that prospect is the tumultuous political situation there presently (unless that has settled down and I am not aware of that having occurred). Earlier this year, the two US senators from Utah, along with the outgoing representative for the 4th congressional district, worked together to bring about the release of Utahn Josh Holt, who had, along with his new wife been forcibly and unlawfully detained in a prison in that nation for several months on false charges of illegal weapons possession.
ReplyDeleteIf I understand the news coverage on that story correctly, one of the reasons that situation dragged on as long as it did is primarily because it took the government of Venezuela a while to be amenable to the release of the Holts. And I believe that it was only when political pressure was brought to bear on Venezuela's president that he agreed to reasonable conditions of release for the couple.
I thought I had heard since then that there has been a change in the leader of Venezuela's government, but if that is not the case, it may be a while before another temple is announced there. That said, President Nelson has been known for announcing temples in locations sooner than some of us have anticipated, and he has continued to express his willingness to work with governmental and religious leaders all over the world to clear hurdles for temples in such locations. I am confident enough to have a temple for Maracaibo on my list for next conference, given what I have heard about President Nelson's ongoing plans, but would not be surprised at all if a temple in Maracaibo is delayed for around a year or more while the political situation settles.
Jarom, well spotted on the additional ward for the new Santaquin Stake. My family spent around 6 years or so in the neighboring town of Payson during my elementary school years. That will be another stake for the Payson Utah Temple district, which will mean a total of 29 stakes will be served by that temple. I would be interested to know how busy the Payson Utah Temple is on a regular basis. Given that the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple is anticipated to split the current Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple district roughly in half, that would leave each of the two districts with roughly 30 stakes apiece. My reason for mentioning that is that if all goes well within the next little while, I could see a potential need to split the Payson Utah Temple district in a similar way (roughly in half). That will be interesting to see.
The final thing I want to mention here is that, while I have no desire to offend or bother anyone by doing so, I want to thank Matt additionally for continuing to allow me to share the latest from my blog here. I have already covered a wide range of subjects since my release from the hospital last Wednesday, and I do continue to welcome and appreciate any feedback on that latest content. I have also recently outlined some of my top-priority projects for posts I will be doing before the end of this year. So for any that would like to check out and comment on such content, I am pleased to again share the address of my blog below. Thanks again to all of you.
http://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com
There was a new stake created this weekend in Laredo, TX. It was made from the Laredo District. I don't have info on how many units.
ReplyDeleteThe church organized the first stake in Angola. One of my brother in law's former missionary companion, being from Angola, was called as the Stake President. My BIL said he is a great person and will be a wonderful Stake President.
ReplyDeleteFacebook announcement of Angola Luanda Stake: https://www.facebook.com/groups/466704443412450/2009439675805578/?comment_id=2011906448892234¬if_id=1543937888987138¬if_t=group_comment_reply
ReplyDelete6 wards and 6 branches.
Viva Angola! Y Laredo tambien!
ReplyDeleteAmazing that crecimiento sucede in Venezuela despite all the emmigration and economic trials. Que Dios le bendiga a Venezuela.
ReplyDelete