Sunday, May 16, 2021

New Stakes Created in Utah (2), Alaska, Ghana, Indiana, the Philippines, Pennsylvania, Portugal, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe; Stake Discontinued in Idaho; Districts Discontinued in Portugal (2) and Ecuador

Utah

Two new stakes have been created in Utah.

The Lake Point Utah stake was organized on February 7th from a division of the Stansbury Park Utah Stake. The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Adobe Rock, Big Canyon, Brigham Park, Lake Point, Oquirrh Mountain, Porter Way, and Rockwood Wards. The new stake is the Church's 12th stake in Tooele County.

The Orem Utah YSA 4th Stake was organized on March 14th. The new stake was organized from a division of the Orem Utah YSA 2nd Stake and the Orem Utah YSA 1st Stake. The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Orem YSA 14 (Spanish), Orem YSA 17th Ward, Orem YSA 19th, Orem YSA 21st, Orem YSA 23rd, Orem YSA 32nd, and Orem YSA 33rd Wards. 

There are now 617 stakes and two districts in Utah.

Alaska

A new stake was created in Alaska on March 28th. The North Pole Alaska Stake was organized from a division of the Fairbanks Alaska Stake (organized in 1979). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Badger Road, Delta Junction, Eielson, Fairbanks 3rd, and North Pole Wards, and the North Slope and Salcha Branches.

There are now nine stakes in Alaska.

Ghana

A new stake was organized in Ghana on April 18th. The Abura Ghana Stake was organized from a division of the Cape Coast Ghana Stake and the Yamoransa Ghana Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Abura 1st, Abura 2nd, Abura 3rd, Green Hill, Nkanfoa, and Ntranoa Wards, and the Akotokyer and Brafoyaw Branches. The new stake is the Church's third stake in the Cape Coast metropolitan area which appears the most likely candidate for the Church's third temple in Ghana one day. 

There are now 27 stakes and 10 districts in Ghana.

Indiana

A new stake was organized in Indiana on April 11th. The Fishers Indiana Stake was organized from the Indianapolis Indiana North Stake and the Lafayette Indiana Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Fishers 1st, Fishers 2nd, Fishers 3rd, Kokomo, Lawrence, and Noblesville Wards. The new stake is the Church's fourth stake in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and the first new stake organized in Indiana since 2007.

There are now 12 stakes in Indiana.

The Philippines

A new stake was organized in the Philippines on March 21st. The Imus Philippines Stake was organized from a division of the Bacoor Philippines Stake (organized in 2012). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Buhay Na Tubig, Imus 1st, Imus 2nd, Imus 3rd, and Medicion Wards. There are now 118 stakes and 60 districts in the Philippines. 

Pennsylvania

A new stake was organized in Pennsylvania on March 28th. The Gettysburg Pennsylvania Stake was organized from a division of the Chambersburg Pennsylvania Stake, Colombia Maryland Stake, and Frederick Maryland Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Carlisle, Fairview, Gettysburg, Hampstead, Hanover, and Westminster Wards, and the Cumberland Valley YSA Branch. 

There are now 13 stakes in Pennsylvania.

Portugal

A new stake was organized in Portugal on March 28th - the first time a new stake has been created in Portugal since 2002. The Almada Portugal Stake was organized from the Setubal Portugal Stake and the Madeira Portugal District. The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Almada, Barreiro, Costa da Caparica, Montijo, and Seixal Wards, and the Camacha and Funchal Branches. Moreover, the Church also discontinued the Algarve Portugal District as part of the new stake's creation. Three branches in the former Algarve Portugal District were advanced into wards. These changes resulted in no more districts on the mainland of Portugal. 

There are now seven stakes and one district in Portugal. The sole remaining district in Portugal is in the Azores.

Ukraine

The Church organized its second stake in Ukraine on April 25th - nearly 17 years after the creation of the first stake in Kyiv. The Kharkiv Ukraine Stake was organized from the Kharkiv Ukraine District and the Ukraine Dnipro Mission. There were 10 branches within the boundaries of the present Kharkiv Ukraine Stake immediately prior to the stake's creation. Information on which branches have become wards remains unavailable. The creation of the new stake appeared to be years in the making as the present-day boundaries of the stake once included another district based in Dnipro and there were several additional branches within the former two districts which were gradually consolidated to create larger congregations. There are now two stakes and three districts (four if Crimea is included) in Ukraine.

Zimbabwe

The Church organized a new stake in Zimbabwe. The Bindura Zimbabwe Stake was organized from the Bindura Zimbabwe District. The new stake includes the following six wards and three branches: the Aerodrome, Bindura, Chipadze, Chiwarido 1st, Chiwarido 2nd, and Chiwarido 3rd Wards, and the Avilion, Trojan, and Retreat Branches. The Church in the Bindura area has reported some of its most rapid growth in Zimbabwe during the past decade. The Bindura Zimbabwe District was originally organized in 2012 with four branches.

There are now eight stakes and two districts in Zimbabwe.

Ecuador

The Church discontinued the Jipijapa Ecuador District. Originally organized in 1988, the Jipijapa Ecuador District has experienced no increase in the number of branches for decades. The three branches that previously pertained to the district are now assigned to the Portoviejo Ecuador Stake. 

There are now 42 stakes and 5 districts in Ecuador.

Idaho

The Church discontinued a YSA stake in Idaho. The Pocatello Idaho YSA 2nd Stake (organized in 1998) was discontinued and consolidated with the Pocatello Idaho YSA 1st Stake (renamed the Pocatello Idaho YSA Stake). The sole YSA in Pocatello now contains eight wards. The Church has discontinued 11 YSA wards in the Pocatello area since 2012 - six of which had previously pertained to one of the two YSA stakes before the stakes were consolidated in March 2021.

There are now 134 stakes in Idaho.

71 comments:

Rolf said...

Some interesting facts from church news. It states that 1/4 of the active attendance globally is the active attendance in the Utah area. I've always assumed that we are between 5 to 6 million active members globally. Does anybody know how many active members there are in the Utah area?

"The Utah Area is the Church’s largest in terms of membership and activity, with more than 2 million Latter-day Saints participating in nearly 630 stakes. While that is only 13% of the Church’s 16.6 million membership worldwide, the Utah Area accounts for about a fourth of the Church’s active-attendance totals, Elder Christensen said."

https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-05-13/church-area-utah-area-blesses-benefits-global-church-213172

Rolf said...

Some interesting facts from church news. It states that 1/4 of the active attendance globally is the active attendance in the Utah area. I've always assumed that we are between 5 to 6 million active members globally. Does anybody know how many active members there are in the Utah area?

"The Utah Area is the Church’s largest in terms of membership and activity, with more than 2 million Latter-day Saints participating in nearly 630 stakes. While that is only 13% of the Church’s 16.6 million membership worldwide, the Utah Area accounts for about a fourth of the Church’s active-attendance totals, Elder Christensen said."

https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-05-13/church-area-utah-area-blesses-benefits-global-church-213172

Rolf said...

Some interesting facts from church news. It states that 1/4 of the active attendance globally is the active attendance in the Utah area. I've always assumed that we are between 5 to 6 million active members globally. Does anybody know how many active members there are in the Utah area?

The Utah Area is the Church’s largest in terms of membership and activity, with more than 2 million Latter-day Saints participating in nearly 630 stakes. While that is only 13% of the Church’s 16.6 million membership worldwide, the Utah Area accounts for about a fourth of the Church’s active-attendance totals, Elder Christensen said.

Eduardo said...

Mostly positive growth, good to see.
Alaska has a pretty high percentage of membership, but interesting that there are only 9 stakes. Must have districts? I will check.
Great to see Indiana chugging along. Indy has four stakes covering points of it.

Eduardo said...

Mostly positive growth, good to see.
Alaska has a pretty high percentage of membership, but interesting that there are only 9 stakes. Must have districts? I will check.
Great to see Indiana chugging along. Indy has four stakes covering points of it.

Eduardo said...

In 1987 there were 3 districts in Alaska (5 stakes), but by 2010 the last one went away, presumably by converting to a stake. Since then, 0.

Jim Anderson said...

Heard this, future stories here but not probably for a couple years will tell us where this happened.

Four years ago, President Nelson as a member of the Twelve was sent to 'a large Asian nation' that was hostile to Christianity. He was sent to dedicate the nation. There was a member there, so they did it in the attic. Three years later that country's ambassador to the US came and requested that he meet with the First Presidency. He told them things had changed, and that the Church was now welcome as they wanted the values the Church stood for.

There are two other countries, no details there, that this or something else also happened, that were dedicated by an apostle recently, where things are likewise beginning to open up.

Jim Anderson said...

This was broadcast this last weekend, has some more significant things they are trying in the Philippines, mostly relates to missionary work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qBBmuWNjE8

Cory said...

I've done some digging and found some convincing evidence the church is working with a contractor to build temples using prefabricated modular units. The first one appears to be the temple in Helena. This should help speed up the construction for many of the smaller temples that have recently been announced. You can read more about this here:

http://www.thisweekinmormons.com/2021/05/prefabricated-modular-temples-how-a-new-method-could-accelerate-temple-construction/

The Accountant said...

Not sure if anyone caught this short article in the church news this weekend but it would explain the headscratcher temple announcement of Yorba Linda. Big cities will have multiple temples instead of one big temple. (begun to see with Lima Peru and Manila Philippines, Sao Paulo East) It appears very soon the will be dozens of temples announced. There is lots to glean from these few paragraphs. What a really incredible time to live!

https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2021-05-15/sarah-jane-weaver-temples-pattern-connects-small-towns-large-cities-213205
javascript:void(0)

strangethingintheland said...

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/what-a-church-area-is-and-how-the-utah-area-blesses-and-benefits-from-a-global-church

thought this fact might provide useful context and be of interest to the author of the blog, as well as to readers of the blog.
"The Utah Area is the Church’s largest in terms of membership and activity, with more than 2 million Latter-day Saints participating in nearly 630 stakes. While that is only 13% of the Church’s 16.6 million membership worldwide, the Utah Area accounts for about a fourth of the Church’s active-attendance totals, Elder Christensen said."

Jim Anderson said...

Heard a general authority seventy state that in Utah, there were (about) 1 million active, 1 million less active, and the rest nonmembers.

But I am hearing things about people coming here, they get off the freeway maybe just for a burger or some gas, and they see a meetinghouse. They get curious, so they learn more and eventually many are baptized, happens with those that move in too.

And soon there will be multiple temples visible right by or near enough to a freeway through that will only pique interest.

Cedar City is west of I-15
Provo is visible head-on as you cross the railroad tracks coming into Provo on the Center Street exit, while coming in from the north when crossing directly over the freeway, the Provo City Center temple is visible, at least the main spire.
Orem is just barely west of the freeway, I see trucker trips on Youtube, both come through regularly, and the last one through I saw the steel structure, about ready to attach spire framework.
Taylorsville is just off I-215
Payson is visible to the southeast of the Payson exit, the exit the Walmart is at.
(Future) Syracuse will be very close to the new West Davis Highway which is a new freeway that began construction this year.

Others significantly visible:

UTA runs multiple buses and trains through Downtown, most are diverted north to avoid the construction site for the Salt Lake Temple presently.
The Ogden temple is at the north end of line for Frontrunner, and so people actually see it as they get off. Taking some buses takes them right by it, the under-construction BRT line will take a lot by it also.
Oquirrh Mountain is right off the Bangerter freeway (will be completed from 47th to 134th South with 98th still having a light until next year), west of it on a bluff.

Others are less visible but can be seen if you look. Some driving through will spot them.

Logan, Vernal, and Manti are right on the US highways that go through them, don't know how far off the highway Monticello is.

Temples are found in the game American Truck Simulator, where you simulate driving a semi, they compress things so a trip generally takes less than two hours. St. George they put that west of the freeway, Cedar City is visible too, you have to go IN to Provo to see Provo City Center, Logan is front and center when you go there, they did not get Oquirrh Mountain or others but what they did is good enough. Heard there are about a million that bought the game and I have seen the temples in Youtube videos of actual game play.

Half a million moved here in the last decade, the missionaries are very busy from what I have heard and they regularly say to the mission presidents they need more to meet the crush of people wanting to hear more, the Orem Mission which covers Orem north to the county line or so has about 250.

When finished, Brigham City to Payson will have 17 temples, 18 if you count Deseret Peak, that makes it just over 50k fully active members for each temple, although actual populations within districts will vary based on the number of stakes, etc. And activation efforts will bring in more, which will drive future temple building along with the missionary work and other move-ins. If all that plays out right, the number of temples could more than double, and many going forward would be in the over 70k size, two midsize temples exist, Draper and Oquirrh Mountain are under that.

Matt said...

Newport Beach California Temple is the busiest smaller temple by far in the Church. Before COVID, there was often a week or two week wait to get into a session. This is one of the reasons why Yorba Linda is getting a Temple.

The new Yorba Linda California Temple could take in around 10-12 stakes from the Newport Beach, Redlands, and Los Angeles Temple Districts.

twinnumerouno said...

The Vernal temple is actually on the 2nd block south of Highway 40, so about 1.5 blocks south. But you can easily see the spires from the highway if you look in the right place.

Several other Utah temples are clearly visible though at a distance from I-15- this would include at least Mt Timpanogos, Draper, Jordan River, Bountiful and I believe Brigham City. Having been living in the eastern US in the 90's, I found it thrilling while riding on I-15 during my occasional visits to look for all of the temples then operating in the Wasatch Front.

Ohhappydane33 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thomas Jay Kemp said...

@Natt - what was the Pre-Covid session schedule at the Newport Beach California Temple?
Since it was "the busiest smaller temple" at that time, with "a week or two week wait" time to get a session reservation ... did it have coverage gaps, available hours daily, the bandwidth to add additional sessions to accomodate the demand?

Were they open with scheduled sessions all day, every day?
If not - why not? A question of staffing?






Fredrick said...

I hope the Church doesn't get back into the small temple mindset. Many of the temples announced in the early 2000's are far smaller than they should have been. Newport Beach is just one example. I also think the temples in Oklahoma City, Columbia, SC, Spokane, WA should have been much larger to accomdo. I believe at 10,000 sq feet, the Helena, MT will be too small. That, unless, they do have plans to build another temple in Missoula.

Daniel Moretti said...

The new temples in Oceania (Tarawa and Port Villa) look like a hybrid design between the Okinawa model (a miniature of the predominant design in larger US temples) and the previous model of island temples (Praia, San Juan, Guam). I think the result of the rendering is elegant, and could be applied elsewhere. I believe, however, that the new temples in Europe will have more detailed designs, even if they are small in size.

James G. Stokes said...

Hello again, everyone! This afternoon, the First Presidency shared the locations and renderings for the Tarawa Kiribati and Port Vila Vanuatu Temples:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/new-temple-site-locations-announced-for-two-temples-to-be-built-in-oceania

You can read my analysis on this development in the following blog post:

https://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2021/05/breaking-temple-news-official-locations.html?

I think what we are seeing from President Nelson in terms of temple construction is a coordinated plan involving combinations of smaller temples for more isolated areas that can fill existing gaps in large temple districts and various medium- or -larger-sized temples where there is a higher concentration of Church members. What that could mean is multiple temples in major cities and communities, temples of various sizes to fill in the gaps when that makes sense, and several smaller temples in the US and elsewhere to ease travel.

For myself, I don't believe the announcement of temples in US cities which have been made in the last 6-7 weeks will illuminate the need for other temples of similar sizes in the United States.

That's why my current list of potential temple candidates for the October 2020 General Conference includes 8 in the Central US, 9 in the Eastern US, 11 in the Western States (with Utah excluded), and 9 just for the Utah Area. That's 37 candidates in North America alone. I have a feeling that we'd all be well advised to expand the net in considering future temple locations, because we could easily be heading into a period where the 20 temples announced last month is the lowest number we might see for temple announcements in the future.

Unknown said...

Good grief, oh unhappy Dane, this schtick is getting old. We all know you are outraged anytime someone references California in anything less than adulatory tones, no need to keep banging on about it. As far as I saw, no one ever said that members and places with declining membership “don’t deserve a temple” - that claim exists only in your own insecure imaginings. What many people, myself included, expressed was surprise that one was being announced given the pattern of ratios of stakes to temples we observe, particularly in urban areas where there already exist temples. Nothing about that denigrates the faithfulness of local membership.

Unknown said...

Good grief, oh unhappy Dane, this schtick is getting old. We all know you are outraged anytime someone references California in anything less than adulatory tones, no need to keep banging on about it. As far as I saw, no one ever said that members and places with declining membership “don’t deserve a temple” - that claim exists only in your own insecure imaginings. What many people, myself included, expressed was surprise that one was being announced given the pattern of ratios of stakes to temples we observe, particularly in urban areas where there already exist temples. Nothing about that denigrates the faithfulness of local membership.

Matt said...

Sessions were held ongoing from 5:30 am - 8:00 pm. While midday sessions had some availability, the popular evening and Saturday sessions were often full.

Ohhappydane33 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
James G. Stokes said...

Daniel, FWIW, the Kiribati and Vanuatu Temples also have similar or identical designs to the American Samoa, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea Temples, which were released last year in August and September:

https://news-nz.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renderings-released-for-new-pacific-temples

https://news-nz.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/rendering-released-and-location-announced-for-papua-new-guinea-temple

Hope that information is helpful to you and anyone else who reads it.

Jim Anderson said...

Regarding the need for smaller temples, Elder Bednar said some things and read something that then Elder Hinckley had said in a note to the Twelve in the early 1960s on one of his trips to Asia, it was maybe the first assignment even.

There is no text attached to this so you may have to hear the presentation in full until you hear it. He knew then big temples everywhere were not going to cut it, that was obvious to him there.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/an-evening-with-the-general-authorities/2020/02?lang=eng

Unknown said...

I am not Eduardo, who is far as I can tell has no problem disagreeing with you using his own persona. I am an infrequent commenter who is tired of your martyr complex over all things CA related. As for your claim about controlling the narrative, well, since you’re the one who can’t handle anyone saying something you disagree with it seems to me like that’s your problem. In fact my earlier comment is the first time I’ve ever commented on anything you’ve posted, so this idea that I am controlling the narrative is absurd. Also, it is hilarious, and more than a little revealing, that you are so obsessed with what Eduardo thinks that you assume I’m him.

Unknown said...

And I’m not the one making up stuff, claiming people said things that as far as I can tell no one ever did. If you can point to a single time someone actually said members and places with declining membership rates don’t deserve a temple I would be shocked. If you can’t point to it, well, that’s proof that you are the one projecting.

Daniel Moretti said...

In fact, James. For a moment, I thought in Port Moresby the design will look like Kinshasa. Sorry my bad english

Fredrick said...

With the announcement of the Yorba Linda Temple, I expect the Church will soon announce temples in Modesto (to take some pressure off Sacramento and Fresno) and in Bakerfield.

Cry harder.

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

@Fredrick

I don't know if the Hinckleyan Temples were too small. It seemed like the plan back then was an experiment to get as many Temples as possible to as many areas as feasible in as short a time as possible.

I do agree, though, that many of them seem too small for their current use. It will be nice to see some of them receive more than a face-lift at some point, and instead receive a significant expansion.

Since Spokane will be one of the closest temples to me when I move up to northwest Montana next month (though I believe we'll actually be assigned to Cardston), I'm rooting for that one to receive an upgrade.

I'm okay for now with Helena's size (I'll never turn down more temples in my home state, whatever their size), but I do hope also that the petite size is pointing toward another small temple announcement for Missoula.

Louisville KY was my mission temple. It'd be nice to see that one upgraded, too. Although, the plot of land it's on is pretty small. They'd have to buy adjacent properties, I think. That one will probably get a face-lift at some point like they did with Memphis and the others.

Chris D. said...

The "Kikwit Branch - 2178842", in central D.R.C., has been recently organized from the "Bandundu Branch - 2159864".

https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=-4.625455,18.354879&z=8&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&q=Kikwit%20Branch&find=ward:2178842

79 May 20, 2021 Kikwit Branch

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

@Daniel Moretti & James

At first glance, I thought the new Kiribati and Vanuatu designs were completely identical, but upon closer examination, it looks like the spires are very slightly different: one has more gold coloration on the tip of the spire, and one has an arched window on the spire, while the other's window is rectangular. Not huge differences, but I'm glad they made them somewhat distinct.

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

@James

Have you posted a list of your new "37 candidates in North America“ on your blog? I'd be curious to look at your breakdowns.

Eduardo said...

I lived in California for many years where I held callings in the elders quorum, activities committees, ward mission, and branch presidency. I observed a lot of good faith and awesome growth among the Saints there, including many of whom are family of mine.
That said, Church growth in the state has been disappointingly stagnant or retracting as far as units. Stakes and wards that I personally attended have disappeared, even whole buildings let go.
It is great that the Feather River and Yorba Linda temples have been planned, which is a tremendous sign of growth and progress. However, we (or people like me) want more California stakes and wards back, we want more membership to grow in the Golden State.
Any personal differences about these facts and assessments can be handled in a mature and civil manner. We can disagree with each other and Jesus can love and accept all of us. He is the One we follow, not anyone else. More glory and respect to Him, the fount of it all.
Let’s go to His temples and do work for our kindred, wherever we are!

Jim Anderson said...

Something got passed around Facebook this morning about the matter of modular construction of temples, this article found some major clues as to what may possibly be coming.

http://www.thisweekinmormons.com/2021/05/prefabricated-modular-temples-how-a-new-method-could-accelerate-temple-construction/?fbclid=IwAR2Gzjn-GHhQq3ZFGBr1cbI7A1o__M19JLrlfBoHIJJlT6WaAr_PyK76Lg4

Chris D. said...

A new curiosity of mine, the "Russia Temple", that had been for a short time renamed on the official List website of the church as "Russia Administration Building". Has now been renamed just "Classified". with announced date as April 2018.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/list?lang=eng

WestBerkeleyFlats said...

What's going on in Pocatello?

John Pack Lambert said...

I actually have to say that in the ling run building a temple in Yorba Linda is far better than having built a bogger temple in Newport Beach.

In spread out urban areas with high lebels of trafiic congestion multiple temples are probably better.

I also think some underestimate how much longer it takes to get larger temples approved.

In the early and mid-1990s no temples were going up in the eastern United States because of the difficulty in building larhe temples.

That is why Hartford did not happen at that time and why Nashville was so delayed.

The problem is not so much the time a larger building takes to build but the extreme difficulty in getting building one aporoved.

James G. Stokes said...

Johnathan, it's not necessarily a "new" list of 37 North American candidates, as most of them are carry-overs from my April list. But in answer to your question, the list is available on my blog:

https://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2021/04/initial-predictions-for-october-2021.html

I am not sure why, but I've gotten a feeling lately that I may need to make adjustments to all or part of my predictions. Not sure if there's something I'm overlooking or failing to consider. If I do wind up making updates, I'll try to remember to share the new links here or elsewhere. Thanks.

Alex said...

Hi everyone. I've received news that the Marikina Stake and Antipolo Stake of the Philippines are reorganized to create the new Marikina East Stake today. Also the Pamplona Philippines District will be re-organized to be the Sipocot Philippines Stake on July 25. Will be the 119th and 120th stake of the country.

Christopher Nicholson said...

I'm happy for temples to be more accessible - I just hope it doesn't become the norm to have hundreds of tiny temples that are empty most of the time.

As with the Shanghai Temple, I don't understand the point of announcing the Russia Temple to the entire world and then making it classified.

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

@John Pack Lambert

I hadn't thought of that, but I can see now how that may have been a factor in pushing for the smaller temples in the late 90s/early 2000s. For years, the Church was associated with building gigantic temples, but perhaps President Hinckley had the inkling that if communities saw that we could build smaller and mid-size structures as well (really, whatever size was appropriate for each individual community they were in), then the locals would see we were flexible and they would be more willing to permit said structures.

Now, twenty years later, we have so many examples of the small temples we can and are willing to build, that perhaps the experiment has worked and some public perception has changed?

Eduardo said...

I do not think the information is classified for the Russian temple, but more likely deemed sensitive and private. Not sure about China and the Shanghai case. Quite a few units in Pakistan and perhaps a few other Muslim countries are similar about publishing open details about our holy places.
I lived in Chile when dozens of our chapels were bombed and others attempted, when anti-Americans bombed McDonalds and U.S. banks and anything attributed to the U.S.A.
There are legitimate reasons why our Church tries to keep things more private and secure. A bit like our endowment ceremonies.

Chris D. said...

With the recent closure of the Balti and Orhei Branches in the Republic of Moldova in eastern Europe, the "Chisinau Moldova District - 1022342" now only has 2 branches remaining in the district. Namely, the Chisinau 1st Branch and the Chisinau 2nd Branch (Russian).

https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=47.493035,28.152466&z=7&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&find=stake:1022342

"Branches Closed
...
34 May 23, 2021 B?l?i Branch Balti, Moldova
35 May 23, 2021 Orhei Branch Orhei, Moldova"

Chris D. said...

In further consideration of my previous comment about the closure of the 2 northern branches of Balti and Orhei in the Republic of Moldova.

I wonder if the 2 remaining branches (Chisinau 1st Branch and the Chisinau 2nd Branch (Russian)) of the Chisinau Moldova District - 1022342, will consolidated with the west cross border 4 branches of the "Iasi Romania District - 2123193", to strengthen that district. Or if they will go the way of the Punta Arenas Costa Rica District directly closed and reassigned to the Mission as separate Mission Branches?

I wonder this, due to staffing issues the 2 Chisinau Branches may have to staff both branches and District authorities. It would make sense to consolidate. Or to the east with the Odessa Ukraine District - 617709?

There has been several precedents of cross border units organized. Just to name 2 that I am aware of in the countries of Colombia/Peru with the "Ipiales Colombia District - 606162", previously known as "Ibarra Ecuador District", and "Busia Uganda/Kenya District - 2132419".

Jim Anderson said...

Cuts both ways when it comes to cross-border units.

One bit of information not readily available to us is the matter of ease of crossing a border. I heard that was a factor in the Cambodia temple being announced when it was, as there it is quite expensive to obtain a passport to leave the country for anything, and most there cannot make all that much money easily to get that. Let alone the fact that no one can really afford a car, a whole family can often be seen on something similar to a motorcycle or moped.

That is common in some Asian countries, we know the developed ones, but there are still some that are not nearly so. So, the Temple Patron Assistance Fund has proved vital in getting families to a nearby or regional temple for their ordinances and maybe some proxy work that same trip. And that in part also explains the island temples being announced almost every conference too.

Chris D. said...

Confirmed to on Classic Maps, the recently organized "Marikina Philippines East Stake - 2168669", which includes the following 5 wards :

Bagong Nayon, Cogeo, Marikina 6th, Sumulong 1st and 2nd Wards.

https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=14.641127,121.158&z=13&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&q=Marikina%20Philippines%20East&find=stake:2168669

Chris D. said...

Confirmed also today on Classic Maps, the recently organized "Farmington Hills Michigan Stake - 2175258", which includes the following 6 wards :

Commerce, Farmington Hills, Howell, Livonia, Northville and White Lake (2179997) Wards.

https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=42.538644,-83.685482&z=10&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&find=stake:2175258

12 May 26, 2021 Farmington Hills Michigan Stake

Chris D. said...

Discontinued districts with the creation of the "Jyväskylä Finland Stake" :

Districts Closed
...
5 May 23, 2021 Oulu Finland District
6 May 23, 2021 Pietarsaari Finland District
7 May 23, 2021 Kuopio Finland District

Chris D. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
James G. Stokes said...

Rendering released for the Lindon Utah Temple:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/lindon-temple-location

My analysis on this development can be found in the following post:

https://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2021/05/breaking-temple-news-official-rendering.html?m=1

My thanks once again to you all.

Jamie said...

The Church recently announced that the 1939 Menge (German) edition of the Bible will be published in the Gospel Library app. Over the next few years, cross-references, footnotes, and other content will be added. When this is done, this version of the Bible will become the official German translation of the Bible for the Church.

Announcement is here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-church-of-jesus-christ-publishes-digital-version-of-the-bible-in-german

Not sure that German would have been my first guess as the next language selected for an official Church Bible edition, but it will be a blessing for German-speaking Saints nonetheless.

Chris D. said...

Recently closed 2 branches in Republic of Armenia.

"Branches Closed
...
36 May 28, 2021 Ashtarak Branch Ashtarak, Armenia
37 May 28, 2021 Charentsavan Branch Charentsavan, Armenia"

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

Possible future temple prospects in the Tooele Valley? See Elder Brook P. Hales' comments in the following Deseret News article?


https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/faith/2021/5/27/22455009/churchbeat-newsletter-lds-mormon-church-how-president-nelson-selected-deseret-peak-utah-temple-site

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

@Jamie

Nice to hear about the German version. I've been learning German slowly over the last few years. Perhaps I'll have picked up enough of it over the next few years to read that version of the Bible when it eventually comes out?

Chris D. said...

With the closure of the above mentioned 2 branches around Yerevan Armenia, also recently closed both the remaining 2 districts in the Republic of Armenia.

"Districts Closed
...
8 May 28, 2021 Vanadzor Armenia District
9 ????????? Yerevan Armenia District"

Yerevan Armenia District - 616850 (organized 16 July 1995, a stake from 2013-2016, and a district again 2016-today).

Vanadzor Armenia District - 2116707 (organized 15 Apr 2018).

Leaving the remaining 4 Branches for the Republic of Armenia under Georgia/Armenia Mission leadership, I am assuming.

1 Yerevan Central Branch - 342440
2 Artashat Branch - 296201
3 Arabkir Branch - 348171
4 Vanadzor Branch - 435228

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

Unfortunate to hear about the Armenia closures. I wonder if it's still fallout from the stake being downgraded in 2016, or inactivity/attrition due to the pandemic. I had hoped they'd turned some things around with the new district being created in 2018. I'm guessing Matt will give us further details when he does his next stake/district report.

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

@Jamie

If they're sticking with European languages for LDS Bible translations, my guess is that the next edition will be in French.

Jim Anderson said...

German is the language Joseph Smith studied the Bible in, and he said it was better than the English one, but that was 100 years before the version they are working with. But they are also trying something else, putting up the text but adding footnotes and other aids in in increments later.

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

Joseph studied the Martin Luther translation of the Bible, if I'm not mistaken.

John Pack Lambert said...

I think if Louisville goes close to capacity building a temple in either Cincinatti or Lexington or both makes far more sense than expanding Louisville.

Same with building a temple in say Coure d'Alene to relieve pressure on Spokane.

Also Lima Peru Temple is smaller than any temple built in the second wave under President Hinckley. Which is 1 reson I expect a 3rd Lima Tenple to be announced soon.

Chicago Tenple was expanded very shortly after creation. It is actually 1980s small temples not 1990s ones that have seen the most significant expansiond. Monticello amd Anchorage were expanded but they were only 1 instead of 2 ordinance rooms, which is what the next phase if Hickleyan temples were. Only Colonia Juarez, which is the sourfe of President Hinckley's vision for the small temples is still that size.

John Pack Lambert said...

I actually have moved San Jose to the top if my list. However I still see Modesto and Bakerfield as candidates. Also Santa Rosa or sonewhere near the coast north of San Francisco.

I am also rooting for a Baltimore Temple.

With a new stake in Michigan I am rooting harder for a Landing or Grand Rapids Temple. However I think Cleveland and either Madison, Appleton, Milwaukie or Green Bay will be the next 2 great lakes state temples. But what do I know, I didn't 3xpect a temple in Bussels.

John Pack Lambert said...

The facts on the ground was opposition to the specific size of the temple. Hinckleyan Temples are often smaller than their adjacent stake center.

Although La'ie, Lima and Fribourg among others were all smaller than Detroit, Birmingham and Spokane when first built.

The first Nashville Temple was about the same size as 2 of the churches at the proposed intersection. Some mega-churches of the 1990s have congregations over 10,000. There is 1 U know of that took over a university campus.

John Pack Lambert said...

I wonder if this also explains why Ufanda has not had a temple announced. Going to Kenya may not be as hard.

I also havd to wonder 8f Thailand fears the disruption of undocumented immigrants. Difficulty of border crossing is a factor behind dome temples.

John Pack Lambert said...

Unless they changed some boundaries that cant be right. Howell is non-contiguous to the others unless Brighton is also included. My sister is in that stake. So I can confirm the others, but she said her husband said the ward included was not Howell but dplit from it, so that would be Brighton formed over 20 years ago.

John Pack Lambert said...

If number of native or near native spwaking general authorities is at all a factor than I would guess French would be next. 3 general authorities, Bishop Causse, Elder Mutombo and Elder Kyungu are near native speakers, or native speakers. Bishop Causse's parents were Pied Noir so from Algeria and maybe Maltese or Italian and not actually French.

Elder Kyungu probably has either Swahili or a small language as his first language and probably learned Swahili before French, bit as a university student at the University of Lumbumbashi probably srudied in French. Elder Mutombos parents may have spoken tgeir village langiages at home, probably 2 different ones, and he probably kbows Lingala, the kiKongo derived language developed by missionaries as a lingua franca for the congo river vasin in the 19th-century. However he too probably learbed French by high school enough to lwarn other subjects in that medium and was probably using it eailier.

I gave to admit I would love to see a Swahili Latter-day,Saint Bible edition, but am not holding my breath.

I am more optimistic about a Kikongo Book 9f Mormon. With a district in the Congo River moth area, plus 2 or 3 more branches and a branch in Kikwit, there is enough church presence in the Kikongo region, even if we ignore thatmany in Kinshasa know Kikongo, as do some in the Democratic Republic of the Ckngo and Angola. I am not sure the Church has any presence in Angola's Kikongo zone, but it is not far from the small part of the country where the Angolan church mainly is.

John Pack Lambert said...

What about a Bible edition in Chinese. How about Japanese.

My understsnding us when the Church opened in Mongolian only the New Tesrament had been translared to that language. Is there now a translation of the Old,Testament in Mongolian?

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

@JPL

I'd like to see LDS Bible editions in Japanese and Chinese, too.

Did a little bit of digging, and it looks like you were right, there was no Mongolian translation of the Old Testament back in the 90's.

However, some translations have been made in the 2000's, and at least one more-accurate translation is currently in the works by native Mongolians, to be completed as of 2026.

Source:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_translations_into_Mongolian

Yamil Inosotroza said...

District discontinued in Brazil

https://www.facebook.com/167812703247693/posts/4481552871873633/

Jim Anderson said...

The matter of no real Old Testament translation into a language leads to the matter of how do we teach certain doctrines like the creation and fall, stories of the flood, the other big and well known stories of the Old Testament?

We do know the temple also goes through the Plan of Salvation from beginning to end, so to have a good grounding on the events discussed beforehand is crucial to understanding that. Before Bible translations were available in some parts of the world like Asia, the knowledge of those and other biblical events was not known, so even if done by others, translating the Bible is a part of the restoration.

John Pack Lambert said...

In China the early Christian missionaries learned that if you coopt existing religious concepts in a translation you will end up with people not really understanding your teachings because of the inprecise nature of the translation.