Retalhuleu Guatemala Temple
The Retalhuleu Guatemala Temple is the Church's sixth temple announced for Guatemala following temples in Guatemala City (dedicated in 1984), Quetzaltenango (dedicated in 2011), Cobán (announced in 2019), Miraflores Guatemala City (announced in 2020), and Huehuetenango (announced in October 2022). Retalhuleu was added to the Potential New Temples map in February 2023. The new temple will likely service five stakes and one district, and one stake (Mazatenango) appears likely to divide in the near future as there are 11 wards and 2 branches in this stake (a second stake used to operate in Mazatenango from 1998 to 2008). Stakes in the area have experienced stagnant congregational growth with no appreciable numbers of new congregations being created or congregations being closed. The new temple will likely be a small temple given there are few stakes in the area. The Church created the Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission in 2010. The most recently organized stake in the likely new temple district was created in 1999 in Retalhuleu. The first stake in Retalhuleu was organized in 1980. Stakes in the Retalhuleu area are currently assigned to the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple (dedicated in 2011) which is a 90-minute drive from Retalhuleu. The Church reported 287,000 members in Guatemala as of year-end 2022.
Iquitos Peru Temple
Iquitos has been a location that has long been on the Potential New Temples map due to its remote location and three stakes in the city. The Iquitos Peru Temple is the Church's seventh temple in Peru following temples in Lima (dedicated in 1986), Trujillo (dedicated in 2015), Lima Los Olivos (announced in 2016), Arequipa (dedicated in 2019), Cusco (announced in April 2022), and Chiclayo (announced in October 2022). The new temple will likely service at least the three stakes in Iquitos which were organized in 1980, 1992, and 1995. Slow growth has occurred in the Peruvian Amazon in recent years, although two districts have advanced into stakes within the past several years. New congregations have been organized in recent years in Iquitos and Pucallpa. The Church used to operate two additional stakes in Iquitos (organized in 1985 and 1995) that were both discontinued in 1998. Currently, one of the stakes in Iquitos (Iquitos Peru Nueve de Octubre) appears likely to divide as there are 10 wards and 1 branch in the stake. It is also possible the new temple may service the two stakes up the Ucayali River in the city of Pucallpa and a stake and a district in San Martin Region. The Church created the Peru Iquitos Mission in 2013. Stakes in the Peruvian Amazon are currently assigned to the Lima Peru Temple. The Church reported 630,000 members in Peru as of year-end 2022.
Teresina Brazil Temple
The Teresina Brazil Temple is the Church's 19th temple in Brazil following temples in São Paulo (dedicated in 1978), Recife (dedicated in 2000), Porto Alegre (dedicated in 2000), Campinas (dedicated in 2002), Curitiba (dedicated in 2008), Manaus (dedicated in 2012), Fortaleza (dedicated in 2019), Rio de Janeiro (dedicated in 2022), Belem (dedicated in 2022), Brasília (announced in 2017, dedication scheduled for September 2023), Salvador (announced in 2018), São Paulo Brazil East (announced in 2020), Belo Horizonte (announced in April 2021), Vitória (announced in October 2021), Maceió (announced in April 2022), Santos (announced in April 2022), Londrina (announced in October 2022), and Riberão Prêto (announced in October 2022). The new temple will likely service seven stakes and two districts in the Brazilian states of Maranhão and Piauí. Steady growth has occurred in Teresina where the first stake was organized in 1993 followed by additional stakes organized in 2005 and 2016. Stakes in Teresina are currently assigned to the Fortaleza Brazil Temple which is an 8-hour drive one way, whereas stakes in Maranhão are assigned to the Belem Brazil Temple. The Church has regularly organized new congregations in Maranhão and Piauí. The Church organized the Brazil Teresina Mission in 2009. The Church reported nearly 1.5 million members in Brazil as of year-end 2022.
Natal Brazil Temple
The Natal Brazil Temple is the Church's 20th temple in Brazil. The announcement of the new temple marks the third time in Church history in Brazil when two temples were announced on the same day (the other such instances occurred in April 2022 and October 2022). The new temple will likely service the six stakes and one district in Rio Grande do Norte State. The Church has four stakes in Natal which were organized in 1992, 1998, and 2006 (2). The Church has had fluctuating growth rates in Rio Grande do Norte State during the past couple days, as some years have had rapid growth, whereas the Church has experienced slow or stagnant growth for other years. Stakes in Rio Grande do Norte are currently assigned to the Recife Brazil Temple except for the Mossoró Brazil Stake which is assigned to the Fortaleza Brazil Temple. The Brazil Natal Mission was organized in 2013.
I do hope Mazatenango gets a temple announced soon. This is mainly because of it being super fun if Quezaltenango, Huehuetwnango and Mazatenango all have temples. I will take any route to get more temples.
ReplyDeleteThe announced number of temples Guatemala is equal to the total operating number of temples in all Latin America when I first attended the temple as a youth to do baptisms for the dead.
8 hours one way from Teresina to Forteleza is a very long journey. The distance in Brazil are huge, and the 20 announced temples will need to be joined by more in the future.
ReplyDeleteNot about temped, but in our Area (NANE) there was a push to invite as many people as we could for Easter Sunday. We had 172, a 50% increase over our average for the last quarter, and a number we haven't approached on at least 5 years, but probably a lot longer than that.
ReplyDeleteCurious if other places had large spikes today
*Not about temples*
DeleteWe had 96 people today. We normally have about 75. Many of the visitors were family members of members. I am not sure how much this was coming out for Easter and how many will come back. I hope some come back because they felt the spirit. Another was a member who decided gor a time to go to some Protestant Church. I hope many come back.
ReplyDeleteWe had our average around 200 people, filling the chapel and most of the cultural hall. However, I think around January, there were a few more still, and generally quite a few people are traveling because Easter is a four-day weekend. For example, the families of the bishop (8 people) and one of his counselors (5 people) were both out of town. We had a few people visiting as well but I think generally there were more people gone than coming in because of Easter.
ReplyDeleteWe also had (of those I know) 8 investigators at church today, which is a bit more than usual. 6 of them are part of a larger family that has been coming for a few months. One side of that family was baptized earlier this year, while many relatives are still waiting and making progress. We are down to one set of missionaries for the Friedrichsdorf and Usingen wards, and they are very busy right now. We've been trying to have them over for dinner for a while now but they are usually teaching in the evenings and on weekends.
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ReplyDeleteI'm from Mazatenango stake and I think we're getting close to get divided so I was expecting them to announce a new temple in Retalhuleu but not this soon. I am so grateful! I also believe it is going to be a small temple, probably the Huehuetenango and Coban floorplan. I would love the Bahia Blanca floorplan but I'll love it no matter what. I wonder where's the temple site going to be, because I saw the churches there and I don't think there's enough space for a temple so I guess the church will have to buy some property
ReplyDeleteWhile reviewing my list of known Wards / Branches assigned to the Stakes and Districts of the Carribean Area, currently. I have discovered from the Meetinghouse locator website, that the 5 branches that were previously assigned to the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic El Almirante Stake - 559679. 4 have been reassigned to the "Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission. And the 4th was upgraded from Branch to Ward. Since July / August 2022 that i took a stake screenshot of the units.
ReplyDeleteThe Bayaguana Branch - 435317, Gonzalo Branch - 545147, Monte Plata Branch - 258962 and Sabana Grande de Boyá Branch - 250678 were all reassigned to the East Mission.
The Paraiso Oriental Branch became the Paraiso Oriental Ward - 1463578.
Great to see remote peoples of Guatemala, Peru, and Brazil receiving temples. It should spur some growth. The resources of our faith should facilitate more people to be aware of all the things that matter most: family in the past and present. This is the Spirit of Elijah and the prophesied Gathering of the Tribes of Israel. !Que emocionante! The Culmination of the Fulness of Times.
ReplyDeleteLike I have wondered before, I question how much of the native languages in Guatemala and also parts of Peru (Quechua, another like Amaya? can't recall) are slowing down the work of the Gospel in those places. But then again, these people will blossom as a rose, as proclaimed in scripture.
Recent friends of my daughter have been called to Guatemala City and Buenos Aires; she should receive her call in the next two days.
A ver si le toca Chile o no.
I am so excited for the people living walking distance from the temples, like some I know in Concepcion de Chile. I bet some members could establish places of housing/lodging, that could help travelers accommodate themselves and help out their bottom line mutually.
Incredible times! Viva la obra. Para siempre.
We had 299 at our Easter service in San Diego, California yesterday. Our average is about 220, but I think our bishop is disappointed because his goal was to have 300 attend.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone with access to the CDOL tell me when the "Minsk Belarus District - 616915" ceased to exist? It is no longer located on the Meetinghouse Locator site.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses/@53.526533,28.626864,6s&id=meetinghouse:5000517-01-01 no known branches in that meetinghouse in Minsk, Belarus.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses/@53.526533,28.626864,6s&id=meetinghouse:5791391-01-01 nor in this meetinghouse located in Vitebsk, Belarus.
Or is it just considered a sensitive unit again, due to being an ally with the aggressor nation in the current conflict in the European continent. If that were the case all the current Wards and branches of the Russian Federation and Ukraine would be hidden from public view.
Not a whole lot of info that I can find. No past leaders, etc.
DeleteHey Matt,
ReplyDeleteHas anyone done an analysis using staggered regression of temple construction and subsequent congregational/membership growth?
For example, let's say that in 2003 a temple in South America was built. What I'd like to see is a difference-in-differences analysis, where you compare:
1. The change in growth from 2000-2003 compared to 2003 to 2006 within the new temple district, with
2. The change in growth from 2000-20003 compared to 2003 to 2006 for a SIMILAR area but without a new temple built in that time period.
I'd like to see some empirics in terms of whether the "build it and they will come" approach has been effective in the past, and to what extent.
Hi James - I have certainly looked at this, and I have seen inconsistent results, but this has been just looking at changes in growth rates, not performing a logistical regression.
ReplyDeleteHere's an article I wrote about 10-12 years ago about this:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cumorah.com/articles/ldsGrowthCaseStudies/479
Sent to me earlier today by email. New stake organized on March 19th.
ReplyDeleteThe Lehi Utah Cold Spring Ranch Stake was created on March 19.
Cold Spring Ranch 1st Ward (2177285)
Cold Spring Ranch 2nd Ward (2189631)
Evans Farm Ward (2099578)
Hardman Farms Ward (2164760)
Holbrook Farms 2nd Ward (2130211)
Holbrook Farms 3rd Ward (2144352)
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeleteThanks! That's really cool. I do think you'd want to control for growth in non-temple areas in case there are other reasons congregations aren't going up. Could also look at convert baptisms.
If you're willing to share the data, I'd be happy to play around with it and do a multivariate analysis!
I am impressed with the new update to the meetinghouse locator website today.
ReplyDeleteFor Ex.,
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/517070
Except you can't see maps on your mobile device. Just the list of wards or branches appears. Also, contacting the Bishop is via a message and not their phone, which may cause a delayed response.
DeleteMatt, on my android mobile phone using my preferred Mozilla Firefox browser, I went to the 3 elipses dots I'm the corner and in dropdown menu I selected the DESKTOP VIEW, instead of the mobile view on the website and in a much smaller version I can see both the list on the left of the screen, and the actual map and boundaries after logging in. most browsers have a desktop view to switch the website. depending on if you searched the site using iPhone safari or Google Chrome or any other you may need to search in the settings to find it.
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ReplyDeleteChris D. said...
ReplyDeleteMatt, Sometime since last August 2022, 4 Districts of the Russian Federation have been discontinued and 1 District of the Republic of Belarus. All non-existent or Historical on the Maps site and CDOL.
2050943 Samara Russia (possibly 22 January 2023)
2058499 Simferopol Russia (possibly 30 November 2022)
417157 Volgograd Russia (possibly 23 January 2023)
617296 Vladivostok Russia (possibly 23 January 2023)
616915 Minsk Belarus (possibly 29 January 2023)
Does anybody know how many Turkish speaking wards, branches, or groups there are in the world? Or where they are? I was thinking Cyprus for starters.
ReplyDeleteAlso, any good growth with any Turkmen, Uzbek, Kazakh, or Kyrgyz?
I have a close contact who is going to preach Turkic-family group speaking.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/4/14/23679037/new-leaders-of-5-missions-called-to-serve-from-california-to-cape-verde
ReplyDeleteA curiosity in today's batch of 5 new Mission Leaders biographies posted in Church News article, the "Bulgaria/Central Eurasian Mission" is now changed to "Bulgaria/Greece Mission" with the new President and Companion.
I wonder if there will be official news about a new Mission organized for Turkey or split off as the Central Eurasian Mission alone from before it was joined with Bulgaria a few years ago.
Comments?
Like the possibility of a new Arizona Flagstaff Mission mentioned in previous comments.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/14/23682335/2023-2024-area-presidency-assignments-announced
ReplyDeleteAlso posted to the 2023-2024 Area Leadership assignments for the current 23 Areas.
The only comment I have about the new Area Leadership announcements for 2023-2024 is that it looks as though the Europe North offices were moved from Birmingham to London, UK.
ReplyDeleteAlso, all 3 leaders of the Europe East Area are Area Seventies, Not General Authority Seventies.
Some of the new mission leaders assigned today are assigned to the Bulgaria/Greece mission. I believe this represents a realignment of missions since I believe Greece used to be in the Adriatic South Mission.
ReplyDeleteMy area, we now have a second counselor in the area presidency from Colombia. I think this is the first time we have a non-American in our area presidency. Someone will say "is not Elder Sikehena not American." I guess, in a way that is true, but he has been a US resident since age 10 or so.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I noticed is Elder Girard will be second counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency. I didn't think much of that at first, but when I noticed that Elder Girard was involved with events at Moorehouse College it dawned on my how key to outreach and interaction with African-Americans Elder Girard has been. The others there were Elder Stanfill, North America South East Area President, Elder Matthew S. Holland, his first counselor, and Elder Peter M. Johnson.
So I am guessing Elder Girard will no longer be over public relations. I am wondering who will take that role. I have crazy hope it will be Elder Corbitt but we shall see.
According to my records of Mission Presidents assigned, 1 Mission Biography remaining to be posted for 2023-2026 period.
ReplyDeleteADRIATIC SOUTH 2020-2023 PAUL R. BURDON
ADRIATIC SOUTH 2023-2026 David A. Nelson (??? Unknown to replace reassigned Pres. David A. Nelson to Bulgaria/Greece Mission to replace Pres. Samuel M. T. Koivisto) (possible replacement Pres. Michael Auras who was originally assigned in January announcement to the Bulgaria/Central Eurasian Mission ?)
BULGARIA/CENTRAL EURASIAN 2020-2023 SAMUEL M. T. KOIVISTO
BULGARIA/CENTRAL EURASIAN 2023-2026 Michael Auras DAVID A. NELSON
"David A. Nelson, 54, and Emily Wood Nelson, four children, Slate Canyon 10th Ward, Provo Utah Stake: Bulgaria/Greece Mission, succeeding President Samuel M. T. Koivisto and Sister Anna-Maria Koivisto."
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/4/14/23679037/new-leaders-of-5-missions-called-to-serve-from-california-to-cape-verde
"Michael Auras, 48, and Johanna Auras, six children, Landshut Ward, Munich Germany Stake: Bulgaria/Central Eurasian Mission, succeeding President Samuel M. T. Koivisto and Sister Anna-Maria Koivisto."
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/1/27/23570061/new-mission-presidents-to-serve-from-brazil-to-bulgaria
"Two missions in Europe have also been renamed. They are:
ReplyDeleteAdriatic South Mission to Albania Tirana Mission
Bulgaria/Central Eurasian Mission to Bulgaria/Greece Mission
The Church News will begin profiling new mission leadership couples in the coming weeks and months.
This article has been updated on March 29 with two updated mission names."
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/1/6/23531979/complete-list-134-new-mission-president-companion-assignments-2023
One more observation of today's announcement of the 23 Area Presidencies. As I mentioned above the 3 Presidents of the Europe East Area in Moscow, Russia are all Area Seventies.
ReplyDeleteNow researching the Area President Elder Alexey V. Samaykin, (Area Seventy), will possibly concurrently preside over the Russia Novosibirsk Mission. Position he has held since 2020 and would have been replaced this year. (2020-2023) No replacement Presiding Elder for the Novosibirsk Mission has been announced to date.
"The Europe East Area Presidency for 2023-2024, from left to right: Elder Nikolai Ustyuzahaninov, first counselor; Elder Alexey V. Samaykin, president..."
https://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/14/23682335/2023-2024-area-presidency-assignments-announced
"Alexey V. Samaykin, 43, and Lidia Samaykina, three children, Arbatskii Ward, Moscow Russia Stake: Russia Novosibirsk Mission, succeeding President Stephen E. Lamb and Sister Marjorie Lamb."
https://www.thechurchnews.com/2020/1/19/23264827/new-mission-presidents-july-2020
Found today on the Meetinghouse Locator site.
ReplyDeleteDo you know when the last District President for the Nowra Australia District was released?
Looks like the Nowra and Ulladulla Branches at some point were combined into a ward and was incorporated to the Canberra Australia Stake.
Also the Narooma Branch was transferred to the Canberra Australia Stake
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ReplyDeleteThank you Chris! I overlooked the new stake in Richland.
ReplyDeleteSo, which stake was discontinued then? Was it the Salt Lake Hillside Stake? I am having a hard time figuring out which one was discontinued.
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ReplyDeleteChurch News Room posted an update on April 20 listing the Adriatic South Mission renamed to the Albania Tirana Mission with Michael Auras as the mission president.
ReplyDeletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/2023-mission-leadership-assignments