Sunday, January 8, 2023

New Stakes Created in the DR Congo, Madagascar, Mexico, and Utah

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

The Church organized a new stake in the DR Congo on November 12th. The Dibindi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake was organized from a division of the Mbuji-Mayi Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake (organized from a district in 2016). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Bipemba 1st, Dibindi 1st, Dibindi 2nd, Kanshi, Misesa, and Tshitenge Wards. The new stake is the Church's second stake in the city of Mbuji-Mayi where a mission was organized to service the central DR Congo in 2016. The Church plans to create a second mission in the central DR Congo in mid-2023 from a division of the DR Congo Mbuji-Mayi Mission. The new mission will be located in the city of Kananga where a temple was announced in October 2021. There are now eight stakes and one district in the Kasai region of the DR Congo. The first stake in the Kasai region was created in 2011.

There are now 26 stakes and three districts in the DR Congo.

Madagascar

The Church in Madagascar organized its first stake outside of the capital city of Antananarivo on December 11th. The Toamasina Madagascar Stake was organized from the Toamasina Madagascar District (organized in 2010). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Andranomadio, Ankirihiry, Mangarano, Morarano, and Toamasina Wards. There are now three stakes and two districts in Madagascar. The Church announced a temple in Antananarivo, Madagascar in October 2021. After a period of rapid membership growth between the late 2000s and early 2010s, annual membership growth rates have been moderate to slow during the past decade.

Mexico

A new stake was organized in Mérida, Mexico on December 4th. The Mérida México Caucel was organized from a division of the Mérida México Centro Stake and the Mérida México Chuburná Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Canek, Caucel, Herradura, Pensiones, and Santa Fe Wards, and the Hunucma Branch. The new stake is the Church's seventh stake in Mérida where the Church's first stake in the city was organized in 1977. 

There are now 227 stakes and 47 districts in Mexico.

Utah

The Church organized a new stake in Utah in Vineyard. The Vineyard Utah Springs Park Stake was organized on December 11th from a division of the Orem Utah Geneva Heights Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Geneva Heights 8th, Geneva Heights 10th, Geneva Heights 11th, Geneva Heights 12th, and the Lakefront Wards. 

There are now 629 stakes and two districts in Utah.

41 comments:

Valenzuela y Escobar said...

The church continues to grow slowly but surely, with those who did not have the priesthood, until the Prophet of the moment determined it, without a doubt, I do not think they have access to the entire gospel as we have in other continents.
More full-time missionaries are needed, so that the gospel reaches everywhere, although it seems impossible in view of the closure of several missionary training centers.
The gospel can change lives, partly if they have sincere leaders who love their faithful brothers, there is still a lack of love in our churches, and fewer people who criticize the newly baptized, there is a lack of support and the fruits of the gospel will be seen .

Jesse said...

I'm curious if anyone can speak to the slow pace of breaking ground on and completing temples relative to the pace of temple announcements. Currently there are no temples with groundbreaking dates. Only 16 temples have been dedicated in the 5 years of President Nelson's presidency, an average of slightly more than 3 per year. Is Covid still the primary factor or are there other causes?

Unknown said...

What countries that the church currently has little/no presence in seem most ripe for missionary work (taking into account government restrictions, violence, or other factors that might prevent missionary work)?

Some places that I hope the church will soon begin proselyting in include the Gambia (there is a branch, but I am under the impression there are no missionaries there), Guinea, Burkina Faso (I think there may be a home group in Ouagadougou already), Sao Tome and Principe, Chad, Seychelles, East Timor, and the Faroe Islands (though I am not sure the Faroese would be particularly receptive if they are anything like other Scandinavian populaces these days).

There are also a few locations that the church could operate in, but which have such small populations that it may be difficult to justify sending some of the limited number of missionaries to them such as Wallis and Futuna, Montserrat, Greenland, and Nunavut, though of course missionaries have been sent to various Pacific Islands with tiny populations, so maybe that isn't really a barrier. In Greenland and Nunavut as a whole the issue probably is not too few people, but rather too few people in any one place -- in both of those the population is spread out in small settlements across a vast territory. Interestingly, Nunavut is the only state, territory, or province in US/Mexico/Canada that does not have a congregation.

--Felix

James G. Stokes said...

Approvals take time, Jesse. In an "Inside Church Headquarters" mini-series, the Church News shared insights about temple building:

https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022/12/1/23488159/video-miracle-of-a-temple-presiding-bishopric

As that article states, there have been ways for the Church to accelerate temple construction, including the initial site announcement, and that construction timetables have been accelerates due to new innovations like precast concrete walls with some systems installed and the modular designs.

Right now there are 27 temples which have had sites locations confirmed. Almost all of them could, like Queretaro Mexico, have groundbreakings this year. At least 6 such announcements may occur in the coming weeks.

But the Church has to balance getting approvals for the construction of new temples with announcements about site locations, the release of exterior renderings, and the setting of dedications or rededications for finished temples.

It's both a delicate balancing act and an inspiring process to watch. The Church has teams actively working on all elements of the process. With the holiday season ended, we can look forward to the announcement of several groundbreakings and dedications in the weeks ahead. If the Church's pattern holds true, the next big announcement should occur in the next 4-5 hours. Hope that helps address your question

James G. Stokes said...

Oh, and it's also worth mentioning that the Church reportedly is planning on dedicating 20-30 temples this year alone, which adds to the complex temple construction puzzle.

James G. Stokes said...

I should also probably note that 2 temples are currently completed and awaiting the announcement of their opening arrangements, 4 others are nearly completed, and two more are approaching completion. So with 8 temples likely to be ready for dedication announcements in the next 4-6 weeks, the timing on those announcements may impact how many new temples have groundbreakings announced and when. See what I mean about the delicate balancing act?

Noah said...

A large factor delaying completion of several temples is supply chain issues. One in particular is electrial materials/appliances manufactured in China. Companies like Square D had been backlogged by tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of orders for over 6 months on circuit breakers alone. Luckily it appears these issues are slowly fading as about 7 temples are practically finished with construction, not including San Juan, Richmond, and Saratoga Springs. The Church is currently on pace to reach 200 dedicated temples in 2024, meaning that at least 25 temples will be dedicated in the next 24 months. As far as 200 temples in operation, it depends on when renovations wrap up for the Manti Temple and how many temples will close for renovation between now and the end of 2024. The Provo Temple is expected to close this year, and closures for Kona and Stockholm temples are already announced. The Salt Lake Temple's renovation is not expected to be completed until 2025. In order to reach 200 temples in operation in 2024, the Church will need to rededicate the Manti Temple and dedicate 29 new temples, assuming no other temples close for renovation.

Noah said...

* The Manti Temple and 26 temples not currently scheduled for dedication.

Jesse said...

Thank you both for your feedback, those are fantastic numbers, I do hope it plays out according to the information you have given. Definitely grateful and eager for the new temple in Lone Mountain Nevada, which will be very close to where I live!

Noah said...

Current:
175 Dedicated Temples, 4 closed for renovation, 171 in operation

Add Columbus Ohio (rededication), San Juan Puerto Rico, Richmond Virginia, and Saratoga Springs:
178 Dedicated Temples, 3 closed for renovation, 175 in operation

Subtract Provo Utah, Kona Hawaii, and Stockholm Sweden:
178 Dedicated Temples, 6 closed for renovation, 172 in opeartion

Add St. George and 7 temples pratically completed (Bentonville Arkansas, Okinawa Japan, Feather River California, Bangkok Thailand, Brasilia Brazil, Moses Lake Washington, and Lima Peru Los Olivos):
185 Dedicated Temples, 5 closed for renovation, 180 in operation

Add 7 other temples expected to be completed in 2023 (Helena Montana, McAllen Texas, Layton Utah, Urdaneta Philippines, Orem Utah, Taylorsville Utah, and Red Cliffs Utah):
192 Dedicated Temples, 5 closed for renovation, 187 in operation

Add Manti and up to 17 temples expected to be completed in 2024 (Abidjan Ivory Coast, Puebla Mexico, Salta Argentina, Coban Guatemala, Tallahassee Florida, Mendoza Argentina, Deseret Peak Utah, Auckland New Zealand, Casper Wyoming, San Pedro Sula Honduras, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Alabang Philippines, Nairobi Kenya, Harare Zimbabwe, and Phnom Penh Cambodia):
209 Dedicated Temples, 4 closed for renovation, 205 in operation

There are also 27 temples with sites announced, which I believe is the most the Church has had at any given time. The vast majority of these sites were announced in the last couple months of 2022. We also know that the Dubai Temple will be built somewhere in District 2020.

James G. Stokes said...

It's also worth mentioning that, as far as the Church Temples site is concerned, completion estimates and completion order frequently changes. Just this weekend, the temple in Okinawa Japan, which was previously anticipated to wrap up construction in the early-to-mid portion of this year (roughly between March and May) had a status update indicating it was actually already completed.

Some of the temples at the top of the queue now previously had completion estimates ranging from sometime in 2022 to mid- or mid-to-late 2023. And every time a temple dedication is announced, that pushes up the completion estimates of the temple(s) immediately below them.

So it's conceivably possible that the Red Cliffs Utah Temple might not actually be the last new temple dedicated this year. That honor may go to Abidjan, Puebla, or even Salta. Temple construction is constantly in flux.

Noah said...

The ones I put for 2023 (with exception of the Red Cliffs Temple) are the ones that as of this moment are almost guaranteed to be dedicated this year, since we know the Church anticipates to begin the reconstruction of the Provo Temple this year which implies that the Orem Temple and the others further along in construction will be completed this year. Since there is no official date for this closure yet, it is difficult to determine how many more temples will be completed after Orem this year.

Michael Worley said...

Where do we know that "the Church anticipates to begin the reconstruction of the Provo Temple this year" from?

James G. Stokes said...

I'm not saying you're wrong, Noah (as the Orem dedication is the first one anticipated in the latter part of this year), and I also think that Provo will close this year. But insofar as I'm aware, the Church never actually stated officially or even implied that the renovation for Provo will begin by the end of this year for sure. The Church Temples site merely noted that Provo "is scheduled to close following the dedication of the Orem Utah Temple":

https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/provo-utah-temple/

Sorry to nitpick. I just want to be sure that we are not putting words in the Church's mouth that were never officially stated. It's more implied than explicit.

Noah said...

https://www.thechurchnews.com/2022/7/26/23279489/overnight-fire-at-the-orem-utah-temple-extinguished-under-investigation-construction

The bottom of this article states: "No completion date has been officially announced, but the temple is expected to be finished sometime in 2023."

Although this references the Orem Temple and not the Provo Temple, it should be noted that Orem's dedication and Provo's closure will likely be conducted around the same time.

James G. Stokes said...

Thanks for that article, but that is still no more and no less than a reporter's general note, not necessarily indicative of the Church's official plans for Provo. I crunched some estimates, and if they are correct, depending on the length and duration of Orem's open house (which will likely span 4-6 weeks at minimum, based on what I've been able to research), the earliest window within which Orem is likely to be dedicated is October or November.

And the Church will likely give Orem temple workers several weeks to get used to the existing activity level before hitting that temple with a windfall of patrons that will result once Provo closes.

That is just my assessment, based on what I know about open house and dedication schedules and the closure of temples for renovation. I'd be elated to be wrong, but any assessment of the renovation window that fails to account for Orem's new temple workers being sufficiently prepared to take in the patrons of what is purportedly still the busiest temple in the Church is likely to fall woefully short. Hope that explains where I'm coming from

Noah said...

That makes sense. I am only aware of the Orem and St. George Temples that have these editor's notes stating that the temples are expected to be finished in 2023. I have not seen this mentioned for any other temple on either church news sites.

Unknown said...

There is a senior missionary couple from my ward assigned to the St George temple. The intention is that they will be released when the temple is finished (but before the open house if I remember correctly). They were initially supposed to be done a few months ago but have had their call extended a few times. Currently they expect to return home in April, so that should give you a sense of when the St George temple is likely to be finished.

--Felix

James G. Stokes said...

Great insight, Felix. Thank you. I should note that I anticipate that open house tours for St. George, being the first operating Church temple that is still owned by the Church, is likely to draw widespread interest, requiring a longer open house and perhaps multiple dedication days rather than 3 dedicatory sessions on a single day.

George Garwood said...

I agree why are they announcing so many temples and yet they're not finishing the ones that have already been announced. You talk about pay as you go we're committing millions of dollars to building temples that have not even gotten a place to build them on yet

George Garwood said...

So why are we buying all these things from China why aren't we buying American made products to put into our temples

James G. Stokes said...

2 hours ago, the first major temple construction announcement of 2023 was made:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/location-of-barcelona-spain-temple-announced

So the number of temples with sites announced now totals 28. Almost all of those could have ground broken this year. And that doesn't account for the rare case in which the Church announced a site, rendering, and groundbreaking in one go. That has happened at least two times every year beginning in 2020. My thanks once again to you all.

Noah said...

George,

I wouldn't say the Church is necessarily purchasing materials from China. The companies the Church hires to install utilities purchase many of their products from vendors whose manufacturing hqs are based in China.

Pascal Friedmann said...

Managing supply chains is extremely complicated. I would argue that it is not possible to avoid Chinese-manufactured components on a building project of the scope of a temple, even if one were to try it for some odd reason. Again, not a strong rationale to avoid China, as it would likely slow things down further.

Adam said...

If it got us open proselytizing, I'd hope all of our materials came from China.

Chances are they get the highest value materials regardless of origin, as any wise steward does.

John Pack Lambert said...

I have hope we will see a Mbuji-Mayi Temple announced this year, but it still might be a few years in the future.

The first president of the Mbuji-Mayi Mission was Alfred Kyungu who is now a general authority seventy. About the same time the mission was created Kasai region went through a war. The crazy thing is I only really know about that war because Elder Thierry Mutombo, the other general authority seventy from DR Congo mentioned it in his general conference talk.

DeeAnn said...

Who really knows why, but if it were covid related I would think we would have seen more mission presidents staying 4 years. The new mission president to Poland is also a returned missionary from Poland, although he served later than I did, I'm guessing the mid 90's.

Johnathan Reese Whiting said...

Other than supply chain, weren't there some bugs they needed to work out of the new modular designs? Wasn't Helena's progress slightly delayed due to it being the modular prototype?

I would imagine if that were the case, it could delay groundbreakings of other temples that were slated to use a similar design, while they adjust plans and procedures for the modules.

Anybody heard or read anything concrete about this?

James G. Stokes said...

The only thing I know for sure is that modular temples are taking longer to build than anticipated. That could explain why we haven't seen more of those announced.

On another note, I received information around 12 hours ago that, for reasons that might only be clear to those privy to the relevant discussions at Church headquarters that a slower approach to announcing the dedicationn of completed temples is being taken.

That may result in the bulk of 2023 temple dedications occurring in the back half of this year. If that happens, we could see a couple of new temples dedicated in July for the first time since the early 2000s. It will be interesting to see what happens in that respect.

James G. Stokes said...

That could also mean a minimum of 3-4 temples would be dedicated per month beginning in August or September. And that would be possible since President Nelson has an established tradition of delegating the bulk of temple dedications to his fellow Apostles.

John Pack Lambert said...

The Church News just ran an article on New Mission Training Center leaders training. The leaders for the New Zealand MTC were actually initially called to start 2 years ago.

The thing that caught my eye is they speak of the India Service Support center. It is not clear if this just supports the training of service missionaries, or if proselytize missionaries are sent here as well, but they use the other name because of anti-missionary feeling. I am also not sure where in India this is. Is this a new institution?

John Pack Lambert said...

So we got the first batch of new mission presidents. There are 5 of the 8 from the US with 3 from Utah, 1 from Kentucky and 1 from Oregon. There is also one couple from Columbia, one couple from Mexico and one from New Zealand. Well the New Zealand couple are natives of the Philippines, which is where they will serve over the Manila mission. The couple the from Columbia are going to the Guatemala East Mission. The couple from Mexico are resident in Oaxoaxca (I hope I spelled that right) and going to Xalapa, so from south west to sort of east sort of central and south. That couple the wife was born in Colorado but of Hispanic heritage. She is an area organization advisor. She is the first person called as a mission leader.

Chris D. said...

The only thing I found from the article that didn't match my records was that Elder Villanueva for the Mexico Xalapa Mission. It says he is succeeding Pres. David R. Day, instead of my records show, President David H. Perkins (2020-2023).

"David H. Perkins, 60, and Geralyn Parker Perkins, five children, Valley View 5th Ward, Salt Lake Valley View Stake: México Xalapa Mission, succeeding President Sergio A. Esquihuas"

https://www.thechurchnews.com/2020/4/19/23264943/read-about-these-8-new-mission-presidents-and-companions-here

James G. Stokes said...

JPL, I assume you meant "Colombia" and "Oaxaca", and, with reference to "the first person called as a mission leader", I think you were trying to say "the first area organization adviser called as a mission leader."

James G. Stokes said...

Christopher, I assume you meant "Brother Villanueva", not to be confused with Elder Moises Villanueva, a GA Seventy. Hope that helps.

Chris D. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John Pack Lambert said...

No, I meant Oaxaca. I meant "she is the first person serving as an area organization advisor called to serve as a mission leader", but I think that calling was started in 2021, so I could be wrong.

When I said Oaxaca I meant Oaxaca. That is a the Nexican couple serving elsewhere in Mexico, which are distinct from the Colombia Couple serving in Guatemala.

Eduardo said...

I guess when you talk about Oaxaca, you mean the whole state and not the city, capital of the state? I am not tracking the whole conversation, but Oaxaca could be a reference to more than one thing. Great to see the Church of Jesus Christ growing in Mexico despite the drug violence. I have a friend in the Mexico Centro de Capacitaciones Misional now, it is a great experience for him and so many others.

The remnants of Lehi are blossoming as a rose, even though it can be hard to see. It is happening. I wonder what Israelite tribes most of the African converts are being recognized as. Ephraim? That would make sense, but I would like to know.

We have compelling evidence that Utah is becoming more diverse... I posted a blog article about that once, I will look for it. Diversity is great for Zion, and the converts keep coming.

Some really cool people are becoming missionaries soon. I recently compared our full-time missionaries as "Special Forces", in contrast with the regular membership being like the regular military services. I think it works.

James G. Stokes said...

Sorry. My point was that in your original comment above, you spelled the Mexican city as Oaxoaxaca, when you meant Oaxaca, and you said "Columbia" when you meant the South American nation of Colombia. At least, that's what I'm seeing when I look at your comment in question, so my hope was to attempt to be helpful. Apparently, I wasn't actually any help in this case, and that's on me. Sorry it didn't work out this time.

Bryan Dorman said...

Elder Gerrit W. Gong was recently in Mexico with special meetings with all the stake presidents of the country plus temple and mission presidents. He also recently took a side trip to Nealtican, and that was reported by the one of the Nealtican stake presidencies. The motive for the specific visit to Nealtican was NOT made apparent but I speculate that maybe, just maybe, Elder Gong was there to look for a potential site to build a temple.

Nealtican proper (a small town of less than 20k individuals) has three stakes and there is a nearby stake in Atlixco and a district in Izúcar. Some of the wards in the Cholula and Ometoxtla stakes could easily be absorbed into a potential Nealtican temple district. If the two Tlaxcala stakes broke off to form a third stake in San Martin Texmelucan (this is the current goal of both Tlaxcala stakes) this could also make the temple more probable with a hypothetical Texmelucan stake going to Nealtican.

If they decided to build a temple there it would be comparable to the temple in Colonia Juarez in Chihuahua.

Dad Little said...

About the descendants of Lehi: Just attended "Gathering of Tribes," an unofficial Church gathering of indigenous people who are members of the Church in the Southwest U.S. Several hundred members in attendance. Many Native American tribes (Navajo, Hopi, Hualapai, Apache, Pima, Papago), Polynesians, Central and South America also represented. Commenting on "hard to see" Lamanites blossoming. At least in U.S., among my tribe (Navajo) members of the Church have been stake presidents, counselors in stake presidency, mission president, counselor in mission presidency, bishopric members, high councilors, patriarchs, temple workers, temple sealers, physicians, engineers, lawyers, therapists, etc. Hundreds of young Navajos have served full-time missions. I see the prayers of Lehi and the prophets of the Book of Mormon coming true.