Percent Latter-day Saints by Country in 2021 - North America
See below for the percentage of Latter-day Saints by country in North America as of year-end 2021. You can click on the table to
make it larger. Countries with an asterisk have estimated membership totals.
Bryan - Most of the branches closed in Russia have had 15 or fewer active members and have strongly relied on full-time missionaries to function for decades. I imagine the current war in Ukraine has made it so that there are even fewer resources available to support many of these branches and they have been made into groups or totally disbanded with essentially all foreign missionaries being taken out of Russia (in the past, European/Australia missionaries remained even if North American missions were removed). Areas covered by many branches in cities around Moscow that have closed are now within the boundaries of the Moscow Russia Stake so that way the stake leadership can provide support to these small groups of members. The reality of the Church in Russia nowadays is probably similar to the Church in Nazi Germany in terms of the delicate care needed by leaders and local members alike to avoid any suspicion that Church members are not loyal, nationalistic citizens. The temple in Russia has no realistic prospects of happening given the current situation.
Also, with the recent consolidation of the "Novokuybishevsk Branch" of the "Samara Russia District - 2050943", the District has been reduced to just 2 regular Branches. The "Samara Branch" and the "Toliatti Branch", plus the Samara Russia District Branch. I wonder how long till the Samara Russia District itself will be consolidated?
More Great News! The "Gagnao Cote d'Ivoire District - 2022451", originally organized 03/30/2014, was recently reorganized as the "Gagnoa Cote d'Ivoire Stake - 2022451".
"Stakes reorganized from Districts ... 4 Jun 24, 2022 Gagnoa Cote d'Ivoire Stake"
I wonder if that increases the prospects of a Mongolian temple. Mongolia has seemed to have good relationships with the church and it is a Visa-Free country for those with a Russian Passport. Although it's a long ways from most of its population.
The "Kigali Rwanda District" just organized a 5th branch recently, called the "Nyamata Branch". The new branch is located just south of the capital, Kigali, in the "Eastern Province".
I heard today that supply chain issues expected to delay the Saratoga Springs UT Temple until at least December. Supply chain issues affecting other temple construction timelines as well.
Johnathan Reese Whiting, that is not correct. According to an article featured in the November 2003 Ensign, then-Elder Nelson dedicated both Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic that year. So it has happened, it's just taken some time for the Church to cultivate a good relationship with the governments of both nations. But both of those nations are now staunch supporters of religious freedom, so hopefully recent apostolic visits to both nations will yield positive results.
Anonymous, I'd noticed that the completion estimates for several temples had been pushed back on the Church of Jesus Christ Temples page, so if that's due to a supply chain issue, it would make sense. I heard through the grapevine from one of my contacts that the dedication of the Helena Montana Temple was expected sometime in December, so beginning at the end of this year, we will have several temple events to look forward to.
11 comments:
"22 June 2022 - Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan News Release
Elder Cook Meets With Leaders of Kazakhstan"
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-cook-meets-leaders-kazakhstan
There's been a LOT of branch closures in Russia recently...
Any chance it might affect the temple there?
Bryan - Most of the branches closed in Russia have had 15 or fewer active members and have strongly relied on full-time missionaries to function for decades. I imagine the current war in Ukraine has made it so that there are even fewer resources available to support many of these branches and they have been made into groups or totally disbanded with essentially all foreign missionaries being taken out of Russia (in the past, European/Australia missionaries remained even if North American missions were removed). Areas covered by many branches in cities around Moscow that have closed are now within the boundaries of the Moscow Russia Stake so that way the stake leadership can provide support to these small groups of members. The reality of the Church in Russia nowadays is probably similar to the Church in Nazi Germany in terms of the delicate care needed by leaders and local members alike to avoid any suspicion that Church members are not loyal, nationalistic citizens. The temple in Russia has no realistic prospects of happening given the current situation.
Also, with the recent consolidation of the "Novokuybishevsk Branch" of the "Samara Russia District - 2050943", the District has been reduced to just 2 regular Branches. The "Samara Branch" and the "Toliatti Branch", plus the Samara Russia District Branch. I wonder how long till the Samara Russia District itself will be consolidated?
"Branches Closed
...
56 Jun 22, 2022 Novokuybishevsk Branch Novokuybyshevsk, Russia"
http://www.fullerconsideration.com/units.php
https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=53.166731,50.098235&z=11&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&q=342513&find=ward:342513
Public visitation periods and dedication dates for the Belém Brasil and Quito Ecuador temples announced!
More Great News! The "Gagnao Cote d'Ivoire District - 2022451", originally organized 03/30/2014, was recently reorganized as the "Gagnoa Cote d'Ivoire Stake - 2022451".
"Stakes reorganized from Districts
...
4 Jun 24, 2022 Gagnoa Cote d'Ivoire Stake"
http://www.fullerconsideration.com/units.php
https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=6.113825,-5.79002&z=10&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&q=2022451&find=stake:2022451
I wonder if that increases the prospects of a Mongolian temple. Mongolia has seemed to have good relationships with the church and it is a Visa-Free country for those with a Russian Passport. Although it's a long ways from most of its population.
The "Kigali Rwanda District" just organized a 5th branch recently, called the "Nyamata Branch". The new branch is located just south of the capital, Kigali, in the "Eastern Province".
85 Jun 24, 2022 Nyamata Branch Nyamata, Rwanda
https://classic.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/#ll=-2.172532,30.227043&z=10&m=google.hybrid&layers=stakecenter&q=2096420&find=stake:2096420
I heard today that supply chain issues expected to delay the Saratoga Springs UT Temple until at least December. Supply chain issues affecting other temple construction timelines as well.
@Christopher Duerig
That's really cool.
I'm guessing Kazakhstan hasn't yet been officially dedicated for the Preaching of the Gospel?
Johnathan Reese Whiting, that is not correct. According to an article featured in the November 2003 Ensign, then-Elder Nelson dedicated both Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic that year. So it has happened, it's just taken some time for the Church to cultivate a good relationship with the governments of both nations. But both of those nations are now staunch supporters of religious freedom, so hopefully recent apostolic visits to both nations will yield positive results.
Anonymous, I'd noticed that the completion estimates for several temples had been pushed back on the Church of Jesus Christ Temples page, so if that's due to a supply chain issue, it would make sense. I heard through the grapevine from one of my contacts that the dedication of the Helena Montana Temple was expected sometime in December, so beginning at the end of this year, we will have several temple events to look forward to.
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