Today, the Salt Lake Tribune published an interview I had yesterday for their Mormonland podcast series. The podcast can be accessed here. The interview reviews the recent announcement regarding changes for organizing new wards and stakes as well as discussion regarding the recent Cragun, Bull, and Phillips study on self-affiliation of Latter-day Saints in Utah.
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Mormonland Podcast Apperance
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Thanks, Matt! Also, in case you weren't aware, Ryan Cragun himself is going on Mormon Stories tonight to discuss their study.
Good job Matt!!!
Great job! :)
We are starting to get in some numbers from mission leaders about convert baptisms for 2023. Apparently New York Syracuse had exactly 300: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1kfcuoR4fI/
I know from putting together anecdotal evidence that this is probably one of the lower numbers among US missions, albeit quite decent still. Given that there are 110 missions in the US, even taking this as the mean would put us at 33,000 convert baptisms for the year. Again, this number is likely quite a bit higher, but that would not be a bad year on its own.
Matt, 22% of people who are on the roster but do not consider themselves members is actually very consistent with retention rates of other religions that require significant lifestyle sacrifices, such as the Amish. Coming at this from purely significant materialist point of view, it would appear that this type of religiousness is more robust because it address is the free rider problem. Have you done any Research into the heritability of religiousness? As well as the big five factors of personality that also predict for religiousness?
Pascal, how do 300 convert baptisms convert in terms of units? Presumably, that should convert to a couple of new wards in just that mission.
Any time baptisms go up I'm a little skeptical because unit growth tends to lag dramatically. Last year there was a net growth of ~197,000 members through children of record and convert baptisms.
At 250 per ward, that would be 788 new wards and up to 157 stakes. Instead, in 2023 we saw the net creation of only 23 stakes (and fewer wards, if I remember correctly). That's the equivalent of a 15% retention rate of new membership. Still positive growth, but it means that the Syracuse mission may see an increase in 45 people attending if extrapolated.
I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer - it's just that the numbers tell a clear story of major attrition.
James - the information you provided for the net increase in the number of stakes for 2023 is incorrect. Based on the most current information I have, there was a net increase of 43 stakes for 2023.
Yes, that is often correct that the unit growth lags behind membership growth. However, it is also important to note that branches are often quite productive with convert baptisms, and these can often mature into wards. This is an aspect of growth not reflected in just the number of total congregations changing year to year.
Something else I would like to add to Matt's comments is that unit creation is a result of robust leadership development, and this leadership usually doesn't come as a result of convert baptisms - at least not immediately. You would not call a recent convert as a stake president. In fact, in much of the world where the opportunity to do so exists, you would quite rarely see adult converts called to leadership positions. At least this is my subjective experience: Most of the strength in the Church that eventually creates new units comes from multi-generational families. So these converts may not be responsible for the creation of new wards and stakes, but their children and grandchildren might be.
Pascal - This is true, but it also depends on WHERE it is. National outreach expansion with creating small new branches drives growth in much of Africa and even some areas of Latin America, like Brazil, and also in the Philippines in some areas. However, you are correct that this is what drives growth in places like the United States, Oceania, some areas of Africa and Latin America, and Europe (when it does actually happen).
I question a great deal of the numbers that were stated and have some questions for Matt if you're so inclined, and I'm referring to US/Canada only. You stated you felt that 40% activity rate is right, but is it? I've lived in major metro areas with 12 or so stakes that I was privy to 'unit statistics' because of a project with YSA we were doing, that average across that area was over 60% - there were a couple over 70%. In my current area, in Norther Davis County we have extreme growth with, again, 70% is activity. Do we really think that in many areas with very high activity is countered by the rest of the country, wouldn't that mean that a huge majority are in the 5%, 10%, etc.. that just doesn't sound reasonable to me.
Also... just a quick question about Ward Sizes, Stake Sizes, etc... Having been through both of these in both outside Mormon corridor and outside I have some observations as well. Stake Presidents just don't have much incentive anymore (they used to when Temple building was associated with # of Stakes) to create new stakes. To get a Stake President to create a new stake is like asking him to split his child or whatever. What I'm getting at is that Stakes normally SPLIT - which means they grow to be 6K-7K to 8K even before they are split. This is often building related. This has generally been my observation in the two areas I've lived, again, both outside and inside the Mormon corridor.
The last thing I'll say is that congregation growth is also hard to determine for growth reasons, particularly along the Wasatch front. I've now lived in two wards that grew to over 900 members with about 800 attending each week before a ward was 'split' - Twice in the same stake, and I know there was a third in our stake that did the same thing. One reason for this is the church mandated that all meetinghouses be Filled before they'd build any more along the Wasatch front. This is a major reason for the last 20 years that wards, especially in Mormon Corridor areas grow to be large rather than having smaller wards. It was my experience outside the Mormon Corridor was that a 3rd ward was often created out of 2, which often kept their numbers smaller (this was back when the SP's were trying to influence SLC to build them a temple) but it remains to this day, and while the wards and creation of wards results in smaller units outside the Mormon Corridor, the Stakes are still only SPLIT rather than having one made out of 2....
Which brings me back to the statistics.... the congregations with the LARGEST % activity are often the LARGEST in terms of numbers as well - While the congregations with the lowest % activity are often some of the smallestn in terms of numbers.
Yes, I agree - hence I added my disclaimer about "where the opportunity exists", i.e., where the Church can build on a relatively large supply of multi-generational families in the Church. Like you said, there is certainly rapid growth through Church planting in unreached and less reached areas as well, but again on a global scale, this affects a relatively small percentage of worldwide Church membership.
Within Europe in particular, this trend towards n+1-generation leadership is extreme. In most European countries, perhaps with the exception of the UK and Spain, leadership positions are usually held by members of family clans (if you have a negative view) or "Church royalty" (if you have a more positive view). In Germany, likely more than 90% of bishops, stake presidents, area and General authorities, are members of somewhere in the vicinity of 15 to 20 families. It is hard to tell exactly how many there are due to intermarriage, but you will notice rather quickly that very little upward mobility exists for "newcomers". In fact, I can think of exactly three German adult converts who have become bishops, and of one member of the Seventy (who is included in both of those tallies). The remainder comes from at minimum multi-generational families or more likely "Church royalty".
There are obviously a lot of negatives to this, but besides the fact that I know I will probably never have to become bishop unless I move abroad, there are also positives as well. The main one I can think of is that it really undermines any serious fluctuation in available leadership. Children learn at a young age from their fathers how to be bishops and stake presidents, and many of them eventually also come to hold these callings as adults. They learn how to heed the Lord's call, how to combine leadership in the Church, at work and in the family in a productive manner, and they are raised up from a very early age to one day be Church leaders. All this in a front row seat. From a missionary standpoint, it makes the task of growing the Church in these countries a lot more manageable. You don't have to baptize hundreds of "lukewarm" people, like it has been the case elsewhere at times, but you can focus very much on finding, teaching, and baptizing "the elect" - the ones who will, perhaps, one day be the parents or grandparents in their own family line of "Church royalty".
Pascal, that is interesting feedback and perspective that you share. I find the German narrative ironic and compelling. Germany is a land that helped the Medieval Christian Church overcome Rome, where princes and kings of smaller monarchies eventually developed into the industrial modernized power, that became for a brief time the machine that killed millions, that spurred the modern creation of Israel, which is another story or stories in the history of mankind. That is ongoing, still...
About the Church of Jesus Christ in Germany and surrounding countries at present, or in the last 50 years, there is the native growth to consider, which may be the generational clergy as you state, but there has always been a large number foreigners who come into the faith by way of Germany, like Romanians or north Africans, or perhaps the Turks and newer generations of Syrians and Afghans, among other refugees.
Perhaps many of those converts do not stay in retention very much, as they are transient in many cases to begin with, but Germany, probably like Italy, France, and Britain, attracts many immigrants, a number of whom meet our missionaries, and some join.
The long-term affect may not be effective in terms of activity or unit growth, but the seeds keep being sown as the Gospel does spread there and elsewhere.
It takes some persistence to effectively become a stalwart Latter-Day Saint, and as discussed above there is a rate of attrition that is considerable, like in any religion or movement.
Germany is growing, still, and this is a part of the Church's worldwide presence to be accounted for. Speaking of materialism, the wealth generated in Germany serves its purposes for the growth witnessed in the Latter-Days, pushing and pulling people here and there.
It is interesting to see the growth and developments continue. Thanks for the discussions and research, all.
More from Mormonland, posted earlier today on the Salt Lake Tribune website.
"The Mormon Land newsletter is The Salt Lake Tribune’s weekly highlight reel of developments in and about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Support us on Patreon and get the full newsletter, podcast transcripts and exclusive access to all Tribune religion content.
Big buy in Florida
Much has been written about the church’s vast landholdings in northern and central Florida. The Utah-based faith owns hundreds of thousands of forested acres in the Panhandle, for instance, and an expansive collection of pasturelands outside resort-rich Orlando.
Well, it just bolstered its property portfolio in the southern part of the Sunshine State.
Property Reserve Inc., a commercial real estate arm of the church, recently bought large swaths of an industrial park in the Miami area, in three separate purchases totaling $174 million, The Real Deal reports.
The church now owns four warehouses at Beacon Logistics Park in Hialeah and two more that are under construction, the Commercial Observer noted, amounting to more than 1 million square feet."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/latest-from-mormon-land-your-new-year-s-resolutions-church-buys-florida-industrial-park-for-174m/ar-AA1msnOJ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=9d7756cf9d664d5a89b90ce7a76ac841&ei=14
Also from same post on Salt Lake Tribune, Mormonland :
"Your ideas for the church in 2024
We asked you for New Year’s resolutions for the church, and more than 700 responses poured in. This week and next we’ll offer a sampling of those suggestions. So let’s get right to it. Here is the first batch:
• Trust us, the members of the church, with information about the finances.
• Make it a trillion.
• Make tithing optional.
• Women on the stands. More women speakers at conference. Women taking part in all important decisions. A true embracing of our unique doctrine of Heavenly Mother.
• Get out of the routine programming of General Conference. Maybe let Gladys Knight select the music.
• Let nonmember or inactive parents attend their children’s temple weddings.
• Equal sealing policies for men and women.
• Buy The Tribune and shut it down.
• Ignore the voices of the leftist media.
• Be honest. Protect children from abuse. Do what is right and let the consequences follow. Be inclusive.
• Spend at least $1 billion to build permanent homeless shelters and low-income housing, starting in and around Salt Lake City.
• Start talking seriously and clearly about issues of social justice in this country and abroad.
• More baptisms. More temples.
• Give women the priesthood.
• Retire apostles at 75.
• Abolish polygamy once and for all. And, yes, that means in the temple ceremony.
• Take a proactive role getting more water to the Great Salt Lake.
• Allow our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters who are living authentically to worship with us in full fellowship.
• Eliminate family expenses for missions.
• Let people enjoy a cup of coffee.
• Provide education grants rather than loans to all members.
• Continue following the revelation it gets from the Lord through his prophets."
That last one negates many of the others that came before it. That irony isn't lost on me.
And the Church already made a massive donation to save the Great Salt Lake.
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/3/15/23641544/church-of-jesus-christ-the-mormons-makes-water-shares-donation-for-the-great-salt-lake
Look for the Church to announce tomorrow (Friday) nearly all the new Mission Leaders.
Shawz, Glad to see the church is strong where you're at. At least where I've resided active members make up less than 40%. In the ward I was clerk at (about a decade ago), we had about 160 attending sacrament and more than 500 on record. The ward I'm in now has a sacrament meeting attendance of a little more than 100. I'm not sure how many members on record though, but I can tell you its below the 40% stated.
The new policy should allow very active wards and stakes in the US to split; where as for mine, it won't make much difference.
Here is my list of New 2024 Mission Presidents I calculate will be announced tomorrow based off the standard 3 years Mission Presidents callings.
HIST. # MISSION (POST 07/1974) YEARS LIFEY.ORG
1 ENGLAND LONDON 2021-2024 ORVILLE THOMPSON
1 ENGLAND LONDON 2024-2027
5 CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES 2021-2024 JOHN J. EGBERT
5 CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES 2024-2027
6 DENMARK COPENHAGEN 2021-2024 LEIF MATTSSON
6 DENMARK COPENHAGEN 2024-2027
11 AUSTRALIA SYDNEY 2021-2024 GABRIEL W. REID
11 AUSTRALIA SYDNEY 2024-2027
23 MÉXICO MÉXICO CITY SOUTH 2021-2024 DALE N. LYMAN
23 MÉXICO MÉXICO CITY SOUTH 2024-2027
25 SAMOA APIA 2021-2024 M. FRED PURCELL
25 SAMOA APIA 2024-2027
29 GERMANY HAMBURG 2010-2024 CONSOLIDATED
29 GERMANY HAMBURG 2024-2027
36 NORWAY OSLO 2021-2024 KIRT W. MONTAGUE
36 NORWAY OSLO 2024-2027
46 MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON 2021-2024 BRIAN M. BROUGH
46 MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON 2024-2027
48 CANADA CALGARY 2021-2024 LANCE R. DAVIS
48 CANADA CALGARY 2024-2027
57 MONTANA BILLINGS 2021-2024 BRET J. WALL
57 MONTANA BILLINGS 2024-2027
58 COSTA RICA SAN JOSÉ EAST 2021-2024 ANDREW H. JOHNSON
58 COSTA RICA SAN JOSÉ EAST 2024-2027
60 CHINA HONG KONG 2021-2024 HOK ON CHAN
60 CHINA HONG KONG 2024-2027
64 BRAZIL PORTO ALEGRE SOUTH 2021-2024 SANDRO ALEX SILVA
64 BRAZIL PORTO ALEGRE SOUTH 2024-2027
66 PERÚ LIMA SOUTH 2021-2024 RAY HOLT
66 PERÚ LIMA SOUTH 2024-2027
70 WASHINGTON DC SOUTH 2021-2024 BRUCE M. CRANKSHAW
70 WASHINGTON DC SOUTH 2024-2027
77 SCOTLAND/IRELAND 2021-2024 JAMES McCRUDDEN
77 SCOTLAND/IRELAND 2024-2027
87 KOREA SEOUL 2021-2024 DONG CHOL BEH
87 KOREA SEOUL 2024-2027
92 BELGIUM/NETHERLANDS 2021-2024 DARYL A. WATSON
92 BELGIUM/NETHERLANDS 2024-2027
93 NEW YORK SYRACUSE 2021-2024 EVAN J. GENTRY
93 NEW YORK SYRACUSE 2024-2027
94 NORTH DAKOTA BISMARCK 2021-2024 W. BRADLEY CAMP
94 NORTH DAKOTA BISMARCK 2024-2027
103 COLOMBIA BOGOTA NORTH 2021-2024 CARLOS M. LEZANO
103 COLOMBIA BOGOTA NORTH 2024-2027
106 AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE 2021-2024 ADOLF J. JOHANSSON
106 AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE 2024-2027
112 ARKANSAS BENTONVILLE 2021-2024 RICHARD E. COLLINS
112 ARKANSAS BENTONVILLE 2024-2027
115 JAPAN FUKUOKA 2021-2024 SHINJIRO HARA
115 JAPAN FUKUOKA 2024-2027
117 SPAIN MADRID SOUTH 2021-2024 MICHAEL HAMILTON
117 SPAIN MADRID SOUTH 2024-2027
119 TAIWAN TAIPEI 2021-2024 STEVE SHIH NING YANG
119 TAIWAN TAIPEI 2024-2027
121 FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE 2019-2024 CONSOLIDATED
121 FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE 2024-2027
124 CANADA MONTRÉAL 2021-2024 DAVID S. HARKNESS
124 CANADA MONTRÉAL 2024-2027
128 NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE 2021-2024 THADDEUS M. BROWN
128 NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE 2024-2027
131 JAPAN NAGOYA 2021-2024 RICHARD M. CHIDESTER
131 JAPAN NAGOYA 2024-2027
132 THAILAND BANGKOK 2021-2024 KELLY T. BURGENER
132 THAILAND BANGKOK 2024-2027
133 JAPAN SENDAI 2019-2024 CONSOLIDATED
133 JAPAN SENDAI 2024-2027
134 PHILIPPINES BACOLOD 2021-2024 JOEL B. MACARIOLA
134 PHILIPPINES BACOLOD 2024-2027
141 AUSTRALIA PERTH 2021-2024 MICHAEL J. STONE
141 AUSTRALIA PERTH 2024-2027
146 INDONESIA JAKARTA 2021-2024 EDWIN TANDIMAN
146 INDONESIA JAKARTA 2024-2027
149 MÉXICO GUADALAJARA 2021-2024 GERARDO ÁLVAREZ
149 MÉXICO GUADALAJARA 2024-2027
156 UTAH OGDEN 2021-2024 RICHARD HOLLEY
156 UTAH OGDEN 2024-2027
157 CANADA WINNIPEG 2021-2024 BRENT D. CARR
157 CANADA WINNIPEG 2024-2027
168 TAIWAN TAICHUNG 2021-2024 KARL J. FIELDS
168 TAIWAN TAICHUNG 2024-2027
172 BOLIVIA COCHABAMBA 2021-2024 MARCO A. QUEZADA
172 BOLIVIA COCHABAMBA 2024-2027
177 PARAGUAY ASUNCIÓN 2021-2024 ANTONIO F. FAÚNDEZ
177 PARAGUAY ASUNCIÓN 2024-2027
178 PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA 2021-2024 JUSTIN HARDING
178 PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA 2024-2027
184 JAPAN TOKYO SOUTH 2021-2024 AKIHIRO NODE
184 JAPAN TOKYO SOUTH 2024-2027
188 WASHINGTON SPOKANE 2021-2024 CHRISTOPHER J. LEBARON
188 WASHINGTON SPOKANE 2024-2027
192 CHILE VIÑA DEL MAR 2021-2024 JUAN C. BARROS
192 CHILE VIÑA DEL MAR 2024-2027
203 ARGENTINA BAHÍA BLANCA 2021-2024 CRAIG MARSDEN
203 ARGENTINA BAHÍA BLANCA 2024-2027
209 UTAH LAYTON 2021-2024 RICK W. JOHNSON
209 UTAH LAYTON 2024-2027
214 BARBADOS BRIDGETOWN 2021-2024 DANFORD C. BICKMORE
214 BARBADOS BRIDGETOWN 2024-2027
217 HAITI PORT-AU-PRINCE 2021-2024 GÉTHRO NÉROSIL
217 HAITI PORT-AU-PRINCE 2024-2027
222 JAMAICA KINGSTON 2021-2024 ARNOLD O. ODONKOR
222 JAMAICA KINGSTON 2024-2027
232 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SANTIAGO 2021-2024 MARCOS BRETÓN
232 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SANTIAGO 2024-2027
234 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO KINSHASA WEST 2021-2024 PATRICK O. MAWONGO
234 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO KINSHASA WEST 2024-2027
239 PORTUGAL PORTO 2018-2024 CONSOLIDATED
239 PORTUGAL PORTO 2024-2027
240 ZIMBABWE HARARE 2021-2024 GARY T. JUDD
240 ZIMBABWE HARARE 2024-2027
249 BRAZIL BELO HORIZONTE 2021-2024 ELDON R. PFILE
249 BRAZIL BELO HORIZONTE 2024-2027
254 MÉXICO TAMPICO 2021-2024 RENE ROMAY
254 MÉXICO TAMPICO 2024-2027
258 UTAH PROVO 2021-2024 TODD L. HENDRICKSON
258 UTAH PROVO 2024-2027
267 ARGENTINA NEUQUÉN 2021-2024 STEVEN E. PENNINGTON
267 ARGENTINA NEUQUÉN 2024-2027
287 PORTUGAL LISBON 2021-2024 RONALD BARCELLOS
287 PORTUGAL LISBON 2024-2027
291 BRAZIL PORTO ALEGRE NORTH 2021-2024 MAURICIO A. ARAÚJO
291 BRAZIL PORTO ALEGRE NORTH 2024-2027
292 BRAZIL SAO PAULO EAST 2021-2024 BRADLEY CREE KOFFORD
292 BRAZIL SAO PAULO EAST 2024-2027
297 FRANCE LYON 2021-2024 ROLAND E. LÉPORÉ
297 FRANCE LYON 2024-2027
298 GERMANY BERLIN 2021-2024 CHRISTOPH MENZEL
298 GERMANY BERLIN 2024-2027
299 IDAHO POCATELLO 2021-2024 SCOTT HERROD
299 IDAHO POCATELLO 2024-2027
304 COLOMBIA BOGOTÁ SOUTH 2021-2024 ANGEL A. AGUIAR
304 COLOMBIA BOGOTÁ SOUTH 2024-2027
307 PAPUA NEW GUINEA PORT MORESBY 2021-2024 T. ELINI KINIKINI
307 PAPUA NEW GUINEA PORT MORESBY 2024-2027
308 NIGERIA IBADAN 2021-2024 FREDERICK O. AKINBO
308 NIGERIA IBADAN 2024-2027
323 NEBRASKA OMAHA 2021-2024 TOM F. BAILEY
323 NEBRASKA OMAHA 2024-2027
324 NEW YORK NEW YORK CITY 2021-2024 PATRICK H. HOLMES
324 NEW YORK NEW YORK CITY 2024-2027
325 PERÚ PIURA 2021-2024 CARLOS SALINAS
325 PERÚ PIURA 2024-2027
336 PERÚ LIMA CENTRAL 2021-2024 ROBERT W. FERRELL
336 PERÚ LIMA CENTRAL 2024-2027
339 VENEZUELA BARCELONA 2021-2024 ALEXYS URIEPERO
339 VENEZUELA BARCELONA 2024-2027
349 CHILE SANTIAGO EAST 2021-2024 MATTHEW L. BOHN
349 CHILE SANTIAGO EAST 2024-2027
350 HONDURAS COMAYAGUELA 2021-2024 MARCO A. BAQUEDANO
350 HONDURAS COMAYAGUELA 2024-2027
354 TEXAS HOUSTON SOUTH 2021-2024 MATTHEW K. RICHARDS
354 TEXAS HOUSTON SOUTH 2024-2027
356 CAMBODIA PHNOM PENH 2021-2024 VEASNA KUONNO NEANG
356 CAMBODIA PHNOM PENH 2024-2027
366 OHIO CINCINNATI 2021-2024 DOUGLAS P. MCGUIRE
366 OHIO CINCINNATI 2024-2027
369 UTAH SALT LAKE CITY SOUTH 2021-2024 KENDAL A. KOTTER
369 UTAH SALT LAKE CITY SOUTH 2024-2027
380 NIGERIA UYO 2021-2024 DANIEL ABEO
380 NIGERIA UYO 2024-2027
384 PHILIPPINES LAOAG 2021-2024 RICHARD C. BAQUIRAN
384 PHILIPPINES LAOAG 2024-2027
388 BRAZIL CUIABA 2021-2024 GIBRAN ZOCCOLI
388 BRAZIL CUIABA 2024-2027
390 MÉXICO CUERNAVACA 2021-2024 MARIO A. REYES
390 MÉXICO CUERNAVACA 2024-2027
391 PHILIPPINES BUTUAN 2021-2024 DANILO BALIGOD
391 PHILIPPINES BUTUAN 2024-2027
392 UKRAINE DNIPRO 2021-2024 ALEKSANDR CHEBAN
392 UKRAINE DNIPRO 2024-2027
394 INDIA NEW DELHI 2021-2024 ROBERT K. WILLIAM
394 INDIA NEW DELHI 2024-2027
396 BRAZIL TERESINA 2021-2024 GREGG A. LINDSEY
396 BRAZIL TERESINA 2024-2027
398 NEW MEXICO FARMINGTON 2021-2024 WILLIAM MCNABB
398 NEW MEXICO FARMINGTON 2024-2027
403 PHILIPPINES ILOILO 2021-2024 RONALD C. NAGTÁLON
403 PHILIPPINES ILOILO 2024-2027
413 COLOMBIA MEDELLIN 2021-2024 JAIRO E. FLÓREZ
413 COLOMBIA MEDELLIN 2024-2027
414 GHANA KUMASI 2021-2024 THOMAS L. KUNZ
414 GHANA KUMASI 2024-2027
415 MÉXICO PUEBLA NORTH 2021-2024 HELAMÁN MONTEJO
415 MÉXICO PUEBLA NORTH 2024-2027
419 UTAH SALT LAKE CITY WEST 2021-2024 JUSTIN R. SPENCER
419 UTAH SALT LAKE CITY WEST 2024-2027
420 VANUATU PORT VILA 2021-2024 MARK J. MESSICK
420 VANUATU PORT VILA 2024-2027
430 BRAZIL JUIZ DE FORA 2021-2024 MARCO BECEGATO
430 BRAZIL JUIZ DE FORA 2024-2027
467 PHILIPPINES URDANETA 2021-2024 RICARD G. MANÁHAN
467 PHILIPPINES URDANETA 2024-2027
476 ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES EAST 2021-2024 LUIS A. FERRIZO
476 ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES EAST 2024-2027
477 ARGENTINA SANTA FE 2021-2024 TERRY M. SLEZAK
477 ARGENTINA SANTA FE 2024-2027
478 BOLIVIA LA PAZ EL ALTO 2021-2024 FAUSTINO ZIGA
478 BOLIVIA LA PAZ EL ALTO 2024-2027
480 CALIFORNIA MODESTO 2018-2024 CONSOLIDATED
480 CALIFORNIA MODESTO 2024-2027
481 COSTA RICA SAN JOSÉ WEST 2021-2024 SHAWN R. CATES
481 COSTA RICA SAN JOSÉ WEST 2024-2027
482 PERÚ TRUJILLO SOUTH 2021-2024 THEODORE WILLIAM PARSONS III
482 PERÚ TRUJILLO SOUTH 2024-2027
483 TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN 2021-2024 RICHARD E. LAMPRECHT
483 TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN 2024-2027
485 UTAH OREM 2021-2024 JAMES E. EVANSON
485 UTAH OREM 2024-2027
486 WASHINGTON YAKIMA 2021-2024 PHILLIP WELCH
486 WASHINGTON YAKIMA 2024-2027
487 VIETNAM HANOI 2021-2024 LARRY K. HUGHES
487 VIETNAM HANOI 2024-2027
490 BRAZIL RIO DE JANEIRO SOUTH 2021-2024 AROLDO B. CAVALCANTE
490 BRAZIL RIO DE JANEIRO SOUTH 2024-2027
491 COTE D'IVOIRE YAMOUSSOUKRO 2021-2024 STEVEN L. BODHAINE
491 COTE D'IVOIRE YAMOUSSOUKRO 2024-2027
492 PHILIPPINES CABANATUAN 2021-2024 GREGORY D. BURTON
492 PHILIPPINES CABANATUAN 2024-2027
493 ZIMBABWE BULAWAYO 2021-2024 WILLIAM COLEMAN
493 ZIMBABWE BULAWAYO 2024-2027
505 MOZAMBIQUE BEIRA 2021-2024 NILSON J. MORAES
505 MOZAMBIQUE BEIRA 2024-2027
507 PAKISTAN SERVICE 2021-2024 ???
507 PAKISTAN SERVICE 2024-2027
516 ARGENTINA TUCUMAN 2024-2027
517 BOLIVIA COCHABAMBA SOUTH 2024-2027
518 BRAZIL MANAUS SOUTH 2024-2027
519 CAMBODIA PHNOM PENH EAST 2024-2027
520 CHILE LA SERENA 2024-2027
521 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO KINSHASA SOUTH 2024-2027
522 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO KOLWEZI 2024-2027
523 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SANTO DOMINGO NORTH 2024-2027
524 ECUADOR QUITO WEST 2024-2027
525 GHANA ACCRA NORTH 2024-2027
526 GHANA TAKORADI 2024-2027
527 KENYA NAIROBI EAST 2024-2027
528 MADAGASCAR ANTANANARIVO NORTH 2024-2027
529 MÉXICO MEXICALI 2024-2027
530 MÉXICO PUEBLA EAST 2024-2027
531 MONTANA MISSOULA 2024-2027
532 NEVADA HENDERSON 2024-2027
533 NIGERIA CALABAR 2024-2027
534 NIGERIA PORT HARCOURT NORTH 2024-2027
535 PERÚ LIMA NORTHEAST 2024-2027
536 PHILIPPINES DUMAGUETE 2024-2027
537 PHILIPPINES GENERAL SANTOS 2024-2027
538 PHILIPPINES TUGUEGARAO 2024-2027
540 SIERRA LEONE BO 2024-2027
541 SOUTH CAROLINA CHARLESTON 2024-2027
542 TEXAS DALLAS SOUTH 2024-2027
543 TEXAS EL PASO 2024-2027
544 THAILAND BANGKOK EAST 2024-2027
545 UTAH SALT LAKE CITY EAST 2024-2027
546 UTAH SARATOGA SPRINGS 2024-2027
547 UTAH SPANISH FORK 2024-2027
"531 MONTANA MISSOULA 2024-2027" fyi - the new mission president for the Missoula mission performed surgery on my wife's hand today.
https://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_30c5b474-aa73-11ee-ac53-6b90f6848ca3.html
I assume this means a groundbreaking announcement in the coming days and weeks!
Activity rates very dependent on area. In an Orlando ward we had rolls close to 600 with around 120 at sacrament. Had 13 households on my home teaching route, lol. Much easier in NW Arkansas.
On the church investment purchases, back in 2015 I was in a real estate class at BYU and they had one of the head guys at Property Reserve Inc there. He was talking about how the church bought a lot property after the downturn in '08 but that in 2015 there was very little that the church thought was a good value, and (if I remember correctly) there wasn't anything they really purchased in '14. Usually when you do financial proformas to calculate your return on investments you do it out anywhere between 5-10 years. He said with the church that they simply model it to forever, as everything is considered a long term play. Interesting to see how much has thus funneled into stocks in recent years, and that last year they were buying Nebraska farmland (and subsequently just leasing the land to farmers/ag corps after topping off on cattle) and now are buying industrial. Industrial is often considered safer but is more costly, similar to farmland, cap rates are very low.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2024/1/5/24026490/new-mission-presidents-and-companions-complete-list-2024
There are two familiar names on the list:
Lloyd Newell (and his wife) will preside over the Los Angeles mission, and Sister Craven and her husband over SLC Headquarters mission.
No current General Authority Seventies were called. Several current area seventies have been called to serve as mission presidents, including: Guillermo A. Alvarez, Glenn Burgess, Fernando P. Del Carpio, Kevin J. Hathaway, Tito Ibáñez, Itzcoatl Lozano, Kevin Lythgoe, and Anthony Quaisie; along with a few former area seventies: David B. J. Hoare, Adonay S. Obadno, and Paul H. Sinclair. My thanks once again to you all.
I have several comments about the list that was posted today. And I would like to address each separately if that is ok.
First, as the article mentions, the current President of the Nevada Las Vegas Mission for the period 2023-2026, will be reassigned to the new Nevada Henderson Mission. And will end his Presidency there in 2026 finishing his 3 year Mission President calling.
At the same time, the list shows that the previous Nevada Las Vegas Mission (2013800) will/or has been renamed the Nevada Las Vegas East Mission (2013800)
I would appreciate if anyone can confirm in the CDOL if this name change has already taken place. or will be renamed effective 07/01/2024?
Next question going down the list by Areas. In the Asia Area, I had according to my research and past history the Taiwan Taichung Mission (2011190) was scheduled to replace President Karl J. Fields (called for the 2021-2024 period.
In the list it states instead a Taiwan Kaohsiung Mission with a new President Bruce E. Cummings.
Which according to my research and knowledge was the original name of the Taichung Mission, from 1976 - 1983 when it was renamed Taichung. Has the Taichung Mission reverted back to its original name and Mission offices moved from Taichung to Kaohsiung (where the Temple is being built).
There was another Taiwan Kaohsiung Mission, organized in 1998, that was consolidated sometime around 2005-2006. I don't have the unit number, nor the official date of consolidation. It's last known Mission President called was William S. Hsu from 2006.
368 TAIWAN KAOHSIUNG 1998 TAIWAN KAOHSIUNG MISSION
368 TAIWAN KAOHSIUNG 1998-2001 ROBERT DEAN MURDOCK
368 TAIWAN KAOHSIUNG 2001-2004 GEORGE ALLEN YOUNG
368 TAIWAN KAOHSIUNG 2004-2006 WEN-TSUNG CHOU
368 TAIWAN KAOHSIUNG 2006-???? WILLIAM S. HSU
368 TAIWAN KAOHSIUNG ???? CONSOLIDATED
Can someone confirm this name change also?
Next on the list, in the Caribbean Area, currently there is a mission called Trinidad Port of Spain Mission (2011883), which includes the country of Guyana, with capital in Georgetown.
https://missioncall.app/worldmap.html?destination=details&missionId=trinidad-port-of-spain
As can be seen on todays post, It lists a Guyana Georgetown Mission, with President Carl Van Gils to take responsiblity on or around 07/01/2024.
Currently on my list there is no known mission called Guyana Georgetown.
Can someone explain has the Trinidad Port of Spain Mission been renamed and moved offices from Port of Spain to Georgetown Guyana, to replace Pres. Lamprecht?
TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN 2015 TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN MISSION
TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN 2015-2018 GREGORY WILLIAM EGBERT
TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN 2018-2021 KYLE KENNETH BAIRD
TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN 2021-2024 RICHARD E. LAMPRECHT
TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN 2024-2027 ???
Or has the mentioned Trinidad Mission been split to organize the new Guyana Georgetown Mission? And was not numbered amongst the 36 New Missions earlier last month.
Is Itzcoatl Lozano the son of Agricol Lozano Herrara? I use the full name to distinguish him from Agricol Lozano Bravo. The Lozano's come from San Marcos, close to Tula which is getting a temple. It is the place where Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales were martyred in 1915. Agricol Lozano Bravo was the branch president there in the 1830s. Agricol Lozano Herrara was the first ethnically Mexican stake president. He was mission president in Argentina around 1990 or so, and served 4 years as president of the Mexico City Temple in the mid-1990s. He was first stake president in the mid-1960s.
The new mission president of Spain South, Elder Obando, is from Mexico City. I noticed he was called as an area seventy at the same time as Elder Dube, Elder Ojideran, I did not realized they were called as the same time, Elder Carlos Godoy, now a general authority seventy as well and Elder Alvin Meredith, who is a general authority seventy and president of BYU-Idaho. Elder Joaquin Costa was also called at the same time.
Next, on the list in the Europe North Area, I had President Kevin E. Gallacher, who was called to the England Bristol Mission (2022-2025). It appears he will be replaced a year early in 2024.
84 ENGLAND BRISTOL 2002-2022 CONSOLIDATED
84 ENGLAND BRISTOL 2022-2024 KEVIN E. GALLACHER
84 ENGLAND BRISTOL 2024-2027 Leland E. Mayall
Next, in the North America Southeast Area, I have President Ciro Schmeil called for 2022-2025 to the Florida Orlando Mission. It appears also will be replaced a year early in 2024 same as example above.
364 FLORIDA ORLANDO 2022-2024 CIRO SCHMEIL
364 FLORIDA ORLANDO 2024-2027 Frantz Belot
Also, to mention in the Asia Area, the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission (2013452) has been or will be renamed Cambodia Phnom Penh West Mission (2013452).
In the South America Northwest Area, the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission (2011441) has been or will be renamed the Bolivia Cochabamba North Mission (2011441).
After comparing todays New Presidents post with my anticipated changes, I am currently only missing one that for possible proximity to an active conflict zone and security of the President called or retained, may not have disclosed any expected change to the Ukraine Dnipro Mission, which is partially controlled by a foreign military currently. To replace President Aleksandr Cheban (2021-2024)
Ciro Schmiel is a GA Seventy, and GA Seventy mission presidents only have a two-year call.
He could be called as a GA Seventy, area seventy, or to the new Sunday School General Presidency.
@Chris,
1. Still Nevada Las Vegas Mission (2013800) no name change yet.
2. Taiwan Taichung Mission (2011190) no name change yet. (No KAOHSIUNG Mission in CDOL)
3. TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN renamed Guyana Georgetown Mission
4. Kevin E. Gallacher was Mission Preisidnet in the Birmingham Mission for 1 year before going to Bristol.
5. Still called Phnom Penh Mission (2013452)
6. Bolivia Cochabamba Mission (2011441) not renamed yet in cdol.
he other possible name changes at a later date that are not changing the Mission leadership this July 2024. Based from the mission being split.
Kenya Nairobi Mission (2012995) that could become Kenya Nairobi West Mission.
Madagascar Antananarivo Mission (2010704) that could become Madagascar Antananarivo South Mission.
Ghana Accra Mission (2011956) that could become Ghana Accra South Mission.
Nigeria Port Harcourt Mission (2012480) that could become Nigeria Port Harcourt South Mission.
Thailand Bangkok Mission (2019361) that could become Thailand Bangkok West Mission.
Brazil Manaus Mission (2012715) that could become Brazil Manaus North Mission.
Ecuador Quito Mission (2015706) that could become Ecuador Quito East Mission.
And last I highly doubt the Utah Salt Lake City Mission (1983784) would be renamed Utah Salt Lake City North Mission. But anything is possible.
I will keep an eye on all of these as it gets closer to July 1st, 2024.
Thanks, Matt and Pascal. The arguments for branches vs. wards in terms of convert growth, and the need to grow leadership to substantiate unit growth, both make sense to me.
I accidentally stated 2023 unit growth but meant 2022, to compare properly with convert growth in the same time period. In either case, we see very clear attrition.
I suppose my point is that a focus on nominal growth (i.e., the current method the church employs, counting each child of record and convert baptism without regard to activity) imposes an extremely upward bias on membership compared to reality. One way to "true up" the accounts that I would propose would be to, at the end of each year, have unit leaders identify people on the ward list that they did not see, at any meeting, Sunday or through ministering or otherwise, for the entire year. THOSE would be very meaningful numbers to use at the local and general levels of the church.
I'm not saying these numbers should replace the nominal reporting offered. I'm saying they should supplement.
Chris, my "adopted" uncle and aunt David and Staice Sturt are the president and "mission mother" for the Kenya Nairobi Mission. And she indicated in her last letter that their mission would indeed become the Kenya Nairobi West Mission effective July 1. In a previous letter, sent before the October 2023 General Conference, my "aunt" noted that Elder Ardern would speak during the Saturday Morning Session, which he did. So if she was correct about that, I see no reason to doubt that she's also in a position to be right about the planned change in mission name. So I think I can positivley confirm right now that the Kenya Nairobi Mission will be renamed the Kenya Nairobi West Mission effective July 1. But you don't have to take my word for it.
In the past they have not pre-announced those replacing new general authority seventies. They are announced after General conference, and tend to start before the end of April.
I suspect early releases are possible for lots of reasons. Some are released for health reasons early for example.
I guess I was wrong, President Gallacher is serving 3 years, just not all in Bristol. Bristol is where Elder Kearon was stake president. I hope a Bristol Temple is announced this year. With Birmingham Temple being on the small side I think a Bristol Temple is doable. I also hope Glasgow, Central London and Leeds have temples announced thus year.
There are actually ways of counting membership that would result in higher numbers than the current methods. In one case these were used in the past.
The current method drops urbanized children of record on their ninth birthday. In the past these people were generally kept until they turned 18.
Because there are various and sundry requirements for baptism, there are some people who would self affiliate as Latter-day Saints but have not been baptized.
I have to say calling the sum total of all who are currently officially affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ "nominal" I do not think is right. Some sources talk about "nominal Christians". This includes people who see themselves as Christians without having ever formally connected with a religious body.
Those baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints needs yo go through a process to reach that point. It might be that thd process is not rigorous enough, but I have known people who basically had to wait 6 months to get baptized, because of doecific criminal issues from their past. For other issues they will have to wait out their active sentence.
While it is true that many have been baptized and remain on Church rolls without actively interacting with the Church at all,but to get onto the rolls requires at least some interaction with the Church.
I didn't say he would be "pre-announced" as a GA Seventy, only that he could be announced as such in April. That's especially true if he's starting his third year as a mission president. New GA Seventies are announced during the April General Conference, not after it. You're thinking of area presidencies, which are announced a week or two after General Conference.
There are also those who have been excommunicated that would still self affiliate. I know of a few people that socially and culturally associate themselves with the church but have never been baptized as well.
Good Grief... how did this thread get hijacked with Mission President gobbly gook
IMHO, self identification is really all that matters. Because, really, what's the point of including someone in the statistics that hasn't darkened the door of a Church building in 50 years and has zero interest in returning? I strongly suspect there are far more of these types of individuals versus the opposite of non-members who regularly attend Church.
I, for one, appreciate Chris D.'s work on mission changes. It is directly related to the purpose of the blog. Keep it up Chris!
If there's someone who hasn't come, and hasn't been contacted in over a year, the ward clerk or membership clerk (or somebody at least) should be seeing if that member is still at that address. But if he or she is there, he or she should still count because baptism and confirmation are eternal ordinances.
Anyone hear that the church just bought an industrial park in Hialeah, Florida recently
John, I appreciate the need to check in on people who haven't come, but in my ward that would literally mean checking in on over 200 households every year. That's more than 4 per week for the entire year, only to start again.
And precisely because of the way things are measured, this problem will only get worse over time. People going inactive (or even dying) without the church knowing it leads to dead weight on the ward rosters that is extremely difficult to get OFF the ward rosters. The process of getting them off the ward roster is extremely arduous and requires a lot of intrusive verification on the part of the ward clerks and other leadership, so it isn't easy to clean up the records. And then if you've been in ward leadership, you'll know that occasionally new records will just show up out of the blue for your ward, you'll go to their address, and they won't be interested (or won't answer the door). What then? Just leave them on the records, I guess?
I'm not saying their baptism shouldn't "count" or that we shouldn't "count" them in that way, but as OhHappyDane said, the most useful metric for everyone involved is active, participating membership. At the very least, we could get some incremental improvement by identifying ALIVE membership, no? There's a material number of people on our current lists that literally aren't even alive. That's just a level of disorganization that doesn't help anyone.
I was a membership clerk in three different wards, and an assistant stake clerk for almost twenty years, most of that involving membership. Yes, it is very easy for rolls to get inflated by not following up, but it isn't that difficult to follow up. One ward I was in mailed (yes, mailed, not distributed) a quarterly newsletter to all the members on record. Several always came back with a new address, or an occasional "not there but USPS doesn't have an address". There are all kinds of internet searches as well, including on FamilySearch, and that includes finding death dates. To simply shrug your shoulders and say things like "We can't do anything about the 'inactives' on the records", or worse, "We have the information to request records, but we're not going to until they show up on Sunday", is a gross dereliction of stewardship. Bishops and especially clerks are undershepherds to their part of the flock.
Even if you did decide that those who "aren't coming" don't "count", where do you draw the line between "coming" and "not coming"? It's impossible. Nor can you write off those who say they don't want to be contacted. (In fact, you can't put anything like "Do not contact" on the records.) It's the ward's responsibility to see that the right records are there, and contain the most current information available.
3 Temple renderings posted by Newsroom today.
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renderings-released-for-three-temples
Given that the temples of Ribeirão and Londrina are of similar design, could this indicate the beginning of the era of pre-molded temples in Brazil?
Daniel, the modular (prefabricated) temples are all 10,00 square feet thus far. Both Brazilian temples are almost 3 times larger than that size. That being said, larger temples in the US have used precast concrete panels before, so those precast panels could potentially be used in Brazil for the first time.
John, I think you and I are in agreement more than disagreement on this. I think the local leaders feel a deep responsibility to be stewards over these people on their rolls that don't attend. I never said that baptized people not attending shouldn't "count." Only that there should be more nuance and layers in the reporting system.
What I am advocating for is a reporting system that helps local leaders. Several components of the current system are not helping at all.
For example, you correctly noted that leaders aren't allowed to put "DNC" on the records of anyone in their units. This really hurts relationships. If I go to the door of a less active member, and they say in no uncertain terms "I will contact you. Please leave me alone," that information doesn't get recorded in any durable way.
A system could easily be used to take attendance of everyone in Sacrament each week. That would allow flexibility in filtering records based on last attendance. Or, like I said, it could be "trued up" on a yearly basis - those who have not been seen in any church function for the past calendar year could be noted so that unit leaders could have better information about who has been to church, who has not been in a long time, etc.
And the mail system you mention, we've used. But it only amounts to shifting the problem to someone else. Several times we moved records through this method to some other ward, where some Bishopric member was likely to visit them and they, frustrated, would say, "how did you find out where we live? PLEASE leave me alone. If I wanted my church records moved, I would have sought out the nearest chapel when I moved."
Lastly, this is all in the US. In Mexico, for example, the entire records system is several degrees of magnitude poorer. You can't mail out newsletters because many don't even have addresses (or findable addresses) on their records. On my mission in the 2000s, we had to create new records for people who we reactivated because we had no idea where their records were. We literally could not find them anywhere. Our mission president had us rebaptize them and everything. The ward lists were just a bunch of garbage/nonsense beyond the people who attended. That made the information very unhelpful.
In the end, the church doesn't just want people baptized. Tracking activity more allows the church to identify whether its goals of helping people stay on the "path" is working.
In fact, James, I hadn't thought of that. It is not because these temples have a similar design to Helena Montana that they use the same construction method as Helena Montana
Actually, upon further research, the Helena Montana Temple is the only modular temple so far. They decided to test the usual methods of construction for Casper Wyoming and Elko Nevada. So the precast concrete panels are more likely to be used. None of the renderings released today appear to be modular.
If there is one thing I have otbserved in my years as a clerk, it is that Salt Lake puts far more scrutiny on where money goes, than the integrity of membership records at the ward and stake level. There are many things they could do to help the wards, or at least the stakes, maintain the membership databases.
For instance, they could nitor the records for address integrity. They could put more teeth into the audits. They could provide better training for clerks, recognizing that circumstances vary at least by country.
Ultimately the responsibility belongs to all the members, coordinated by the clerks. The Ensign published articles about this decades ago. Maybe it's time for the Liahona to do this now. But we can't just throw our hands in the air and say nothing can or should be done.
I had an assistant ward mission leader on my mission declare that the only reason to knock on a less active member's door was to ask for a resignation letter. Myself, I found many times as a clerk that simply calling a member regardless of the activity level, or knocking on their door, I could get the information I needed just by asking. Many less active members still take their membership seriously.
Really good points, John. It's really interesting how differently the church counts membership relative to other unique faiths of similar size such as the Seventh Day Adventists or the Jehovas Witnesses. They are far more careful with their numbers.
Part of the appeal for the church to do it this way is PR, I suppose. The church looks to be growing every year when nominal (non-participating) membership is counted. Perhaps the incentives here are misaligned because the church doesn't seem to care that many dead people and duplicates are listed. Maybe things will change as the decades progress and people start to notice that there are a lot of people on their rosters listed as 90+ years of age...
I like the idea of better training and membership audits.
Funny story about your assistant ward mission leader. In our stake, at least, we aren't even allowed to suggest to less actives we meet that they can remove their records. It's very tempting to curb that guidance when the person at the door is extremely unhappy to run into you and doesn't want anything to do with the church.
It was his excuse not to reach out to less actives. We were looking for his help with that because it was part of our job. It didn't seem that funny to my companion and me.
Along those lines, though: I had one ward membership clerk who did a great job of making sure he could account for everyone on the rolls, and moving records out that didn't belong there. One glitch though, is that he wanted to send a letter to the more hostile members (who he classed as the "ugly" of the "good", the "bad" and the "ugly") showing them ho to resign their memberships. I told him (and I followed up with his ward's high council adviser on this) that that was between the member and the bishop.
Not that his classification system was bad, though. There's nothing wrong with maintaining a list like that (maybe with the last time contact was attempted), you just can't put DNC on the record. You could, I suppose, try to advise the member on how to make their information private.
The Church does care about record accuracy, and the local leaders are responsible to keep things as accurate as they can. If they know that someone on the ward singles list, for instance, has married or moved, they should be taking action on that. Simply marking the list and handing it back to the stake high council advisor is not enough.
Actually, the Casper Wyoming Temple is a modular temple, just like the Helena Montana Temple. You can see this clearly from the construction photographs dated October 2022 on ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org. To my knowledge, these are the only two constructed temples using the modular design, although unofficial reports are that the Cody Wyoming Temple will be modular as well.
Gnesileah, thanks for that correction. I was thinking of Elko, which is being built by normal methods to compare whether modular is faster than normal. I think the Church has determined that modular is faster, which is why they are using modular on the Cody Wyoming Temple.
Unfortunately, the legal issues continue to hinder further progress on the Heber Valley Utah Temple and getting a groundbreaking announced for the Cody Wyoming Temple. Hopefully all that will be settled soon.
Here is the post of the first batch of new Mission Learders biographies on Church News website.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2024/1/12/24030853/16-new-mission-presidents-and-companions-cambodia-colombia-england-saratoga-springs
The new mission leaders for the Utah Saratoga Springs mission are coming from Houston Texas area. The husband was born in El Salvador the wife in Falls Church, Virginia. Elder Gong was bishop in Falls Church in the late 1990s. I suspect this couple met in the DC area, there are huge numbers of people from El Sakvador there.
I love that the new mission president for Tampico Mexico is named Elder Vazquez. He is from Huehuetenango, Guatemala.
I think the youngest in thus batch is Serge Zadi. He is a native of Abijan, Ivory Coast currently resident in Accra, Ghana. His wife was born in Ghana and he served his mission there.
Found that some branch closures may actually be because of the sixe of the location. Just saw a Youtube video from a Brazilian trucker who started recording at Jequie, Bahia state, on BR-116. The town is small enough that you are through it in roughly five minutes.
I remembered the town because it once had two branches, but the rport here was that one closed, it is likely because of that why they thought at first it needed two branches, but it was found they only neded one. There was a satellite town a few miles away but that was very small, consisting of a gas station and a few store.
Articles on the church leasing and sharing space from another denomination due to the Manhattan Temple renovation. https://www.westsiderag.com/2024/01/11/mormon-congregation-signs-lease-at-132-year-old-uws-church
https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/01/11/lds-church-signs-40k-sf-lease-at-west-end-collegiate-church/
Found this on Wikipedia when researching about that historic building we will be leasing from: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_Collegiate_Church
But Jequié has 150 thousand inhabitants, it could easily house three or four units. There are still many medium and large cities in Brazil whose missionary work is incipient due to a lack of teams. Furthermore, almost all cities with less than 50 thousand inhabitants have not yet been reached across the country
Jequie é um ramo de missao bem forte, na segunda-feira eles terão caravana para o templo do Recife que fica distante 1.044km de distância.
Eles sempre estão fazendo caravana ao templo, (56 pessoas), irão nessa caravana.
A Missão Brasil Feira de Santana batizou em 2023 um total de 1.200 pessoas, para 2024 a meta é batizar 2.400 conversos
https://commercialobserver.com/2024/01/church-latter-day-saints-lease-245-west-77th-street/#:~:text=The%20LDS%20Church%20signed%20a,reported%20in%20The%20Real%20Deal.
https://www.amny.com/real-estate/upper-west-side-west-end-collegiate-church-lds-church/
The second temple in Lima, Peru is set to be dedicated todayǃ The first of many cities to receive their 2nd temple announced by President Nelson.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/1/13/24036940/lima-1st-city-outside-of-utah-to-have-2-dedicated-temples
(Anchorage, AK)
It was announced today that in February, a few wards (including ours) are going to be moving to different buildings to accommodate one of our chapels closing for demolition. The chapel in question is on the same lot as our temple, which our new temple will be constructed where the chapel was. I have not heard anything yet about any dates for construction of the new temple, just that the chapel will be closed at the end of this month.
Also, today marks the 6th anniversary of President Nelson's prophetic tenure. He and his counselors are now the 14th longest-serving First Presidency in Church history, and they'll move up on that list a couple of spots this year
Here's an article about that milestone:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/1/14/24030716/6th-anniversary-as-prophet-leadership-qualities-of-president-russell-m-nelson
My thanks once again to you all.
Ryan, thanks for that update. Construction on the new temple is anticipated to get underway in early 2024, so what you shared fits with that timeline. If the chapel is closing at the end of the month, that likely means a demolition in early-to-mid February within its' first two weeks or so), which would allow the Church to begin construction on the new temple in late February or early March. That's my projection on the timing, based on what I know about teme construction.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/1/14/24038071/elder-d-todd-christofferson-dedicates-lima-peru-los-olivos-temple-prophecy-fulfillied
Is there a second Jequie, or did I see the trucker start his video north of the large place. And lets hope that the city will get a stake at some point as it is large enough
Jim, This is the article that is posted in Wikipedia. I couldn't find another Jequie in Brazil.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jequie
A City in Bahia State with a estimated 2020 Population of about 156 thousand. And a land area of about 1,145 square miles.
Looks like the Jequie Mission Branch covers several nearby Communities.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/331090
A cidade de Ipiau, fica 55 km de Jequié, la tem um grupo e uma dupla de Missionários. Em breve se tornará um ramo.
Sergio, that is great news that the nearby City of Ipiau, with a member group and missionary companions, will become a Branch of it's own soon. Located about 55 km from Jequie. Thanks for that update.
The Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple was announced by President Monson. Manilla also had its 2nd temple announced by President Monson. President Nelson has announced 2nd temples for Mexico City, Guatemala City, Sao Paulo; Santiago, Chile; and Buenos Aires. In the US President Hinckley announced a 2nd temple for South Jordan, President Monson a 2nd for Provo and Predident Nelson a 2md for St. George. No other US city has 2 temples, but some metro areas do, but which to count is tricky. For example San Jose, California and Oakland California are often considered separate metro areas.
Could Portland Oregon and Vancouver Washington be considered metro area?
Other than Portland OR and Vancouver WA. How many other multiple temples are built or Planned across US state borders. Or across international borders. We have the Congos, and San Diego CA and Tijuana Mexico. Others?
Absolutely. Many people live in Vancouver and commute to work in Portland
L. Chris Jones,
Yes Portland OR and Vancouver WA are generally considered the same metro.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_metropolitan_area,_Oregon
Steve, Yes. Oregon has no sales tax and Washington has no income tax so it would make sense that one may desire to live in Washington and drive to Oregon.
"First Presidency announces dedication and open house dates for 3 temples — in Utah, Guatemala and Argentina
June dedications are planned for the Taylorsville Utah, Cobán Guatemala and Salta Argentina temples
By Scott Taylor 16 Jan 2024, 2:12 PM MST"
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/1/16/24039597/dedication-open-house-dates-3-temples-taylorsville-utah-oban-guatemala-salta-argentina
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/1/16/24031924/cuernavaca-mexico-temple-site-announced-greater-mexico-city-metro-area
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/open-house-dedication-dates-temples-guatemala-argentina-utah
President Nelson is announcing at a rate of 35 temples per year - a much higher rate than we are constructing. Last year only eight groundbreakings took place. The Knoxville Tennessee Temple is scheduled for groundbreaking later this month being the only groundbreaking scheduled so far in 2024. I'm assuming more will come.
Thus, in 2023 the rate of groundbreakings was 1/3 the rate of announcements. There needs to be 3 temples going to groundbreaking EACH MONTH to keep up the current rate of announcements. This month is only one scheduled; last month none.
However, even without official announcements there's signs groundbreakings may pick up this spring. If I counted right about 47 temples have had their site location announced but groundbreaking has not been announced as of yet. Spring stats construction season north of the tropics. We'll see how many of these gets groundbreakings in coming months.
It took less than 9.5 months for the Monticello Temple to go from groundbreaking to dedication.
40 temples took less than 2 years from announcement to dedication - all Hinkley era temples. In fact the fastest 44 announcement to dedication temples were announced and dedicated while President Hinckley was president of the church.
The Helena Montana temple took 2 years, 2.5 months - fastest announcement-to-dedication time for Nelson era temples, and 48th fastest overall.
The second fastest Nelson-era temple was the Yigo Guam temple at 3 years, 7.5 months from announcement to dedication (71st fastest).
Is it just me or did it seem that actual temple building was more hastened under President Hinkley. Until construction can catch up, President Nelson's announcements seem to be more of a wish list.
I am profoundly ignorant about architecture and engineering, but from what I understand many of the Hinckley era temples were built rather " poorly" (for lack of a better word), and many have had to have serious renovations because of lack of consideration for the environment for which they were built (among other things). It may be that the Church is hoping to avoid history repeating itself and take a little more time.
But I could also be completely wrong and am happy to be corrected by someone with better insight.
10 temples took more than 10 years to go from announcement to dedication.
-Cardston Alberta Temple, Dedicated 26 August 1923, 10 years 1 month 29 days
-Rome Italy Temple, Dedicated 10 March 2019, 10 years 5 months 6 days
-Winnipeg Manitoba Temple, Dedicated 31 October 2021, 10 years 6 months 29 days
-Kyiv Ukraine Temple, Dedicated 29 August 2010, 12 years 1 month 9 days
-Manti Utah Temple, Dedicated 17 May 1888, 12 years 10 months 22 days
-Urdaneta Philippines Temple, Dedicated scheduled 28 April 2024, 13 years 6 months 26 days
-Bogotá Colombia Temple, Dedicated 24 April 1999, 15 years 17 days
-Guayaquil Ecuador Temple, Dedicated 1 August 1999, 17 years 4 months 1 day
-Los Angeles California Temple, Dedicated 11 March 1956, 19 years 5 days
-Salt Lake Temple, Dedicated 6 April 1893, 45 years 8 months 9 days
Besides the Urdaneta Philippines Temple, the earliest announced temple (announced in the 21st century) that has not been dedicated is the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple (announced April 2015). It's expected to be completed later this year. So it appears that there will not be any more added to this list - at least over the next couple of years.
It's been nearly 5 years since Russia and Cagayan de Oro Philippines, been announced. The temple site location has been announced for Cagayan de Oro Philippines which may mean it may go into construction soon. Political restrictions may further delay groundbreakings for Russia and Shanghai Temples. I would have thought the groundbreaking for the Dubai UAE Temple would have been announced prior to the end or soon after Expo 2020. This hasn't happened.
JTB, Thank you for your feedback! yes, many of the Hinckley-era temples in the south had to essentially be rebuilt due to moisture getting under it. The Helena Montana Temple was the first modular temple, but also built in a cold environment which can limit working months. Supply chain issues in the US and elsewhere still existed in 2023. We'll see what 2024 will bring. As for modular temples, it will be interesting to see how quickly the process can be improved and streamlined for future temples.
Also, it appear temples are being announced sooner in the process, with planning and approvals still needing to be addressed before groundbreaking could occur.
The Hinkley era small temples also seemed to get faster approval for construction. They also appeared to be designed to be built quickly. In the closing talk of The April 1998 General Conference he said: "I take this opportunity to announce to the entire Church a program to construct some 30 smaller temples immediately." I personally feel there was emphasis on the word "immediately." The entire talk seemed to push the importance of the need for the "tremendous undertaking" of that urgent need to build quickly. I think even the construction methods used were designed to get the temples to remote areas and to as many members as possible as soon as possible at the time.
David McFadden, et al.
Hopefully groundbreakings and dedications catch up with temple announcements soon! I do think we'll begin to see shorter announcement-to-dedication times soon.
35 temples announced per year with and average announcement-to-dedication of 4yrs calculates to an average pipeline of 140 temples. A 5yr pipeline would be 175. Right now, the pipeline of announced but not yet dedicated temples is 148 temples.
I'm guessing ramping up temple building has been more involved than initially expected, and while COVID-19 didn't help, the restrictions, material delays, construction delays, and furniture delays are working themselves out.
I think the modular temple experiment has taken longer than expected. I'd bet some announced temples are intentionally on the back burner while it's determined which temples will be built modularly vs regularly vs hybrid.
I think we'll see fewer large temples announced going forward -- and primarily in areas with very dense Church membership like parts of UT, ID, & AZ. Smaller temples (like most projects) can get through the pipeline much faster.
I wouldn't be surprised if General Authorities start being authorized to dedicate temples, especially temples within their geographical and/or other stewardships. There will have to be lots of dedications per year and it may be difficult for some of the Apostles to do a lot of long-distance travel.
It helps that temple dedications have been scaled back -- No more cultural events or cornerstone ceremonies and recently there have been fewer dedicatory sessions per temple.
In short, I believe announcements-to-dedication timeframes will speed up and dedications per year will catch up to announcements, causing the backlog to peak.
Anonymous, unless I am mistaken, it takes the keys of the apostleship (under the direction of the President of the Church) to be authorized to dedicate a temple. So to have GA Seventies authorized to dedicate temples would take a major doctrinal overhaul. And yes, I am aware that GA Seventies are authorized to dedicate Church buildings and site locations at temple groundbreakings, but those things aren't directly related to the apostolic authority and keys of the President of the Church to bind and loose on earth and in heaven. I don't think GA Seventies dedicating temples will ever happen. That being said, depending on how dedications are planned out, there could easily be a scenario where one or more apostles or apostolic groups are sent out to dedicate temples in geographic clusters at the same time. But we may not get to that point until groundbreakings and temple construction ramp up significantly.
A cidade de Jaguarari (Missão Feira de Santana Brasil) tem um grupo que se tornará um Ramo. Esse ramo ira pertencer a Estaca Petrolina Brasil.
No Ramo Itaberaba, (Ramo de Missão), no último domingo eles tiveram 11 batismos de conversos.
In Brazil, I believe that smaller temples will really jump the queue. The São Paulo Leste temple appears to be awaiting the construction of the nearby subway station, in order to avoid the possibility that this work could threaten the construction of the temple. This way, Londrina, Ribeirão, Santos and Vitória can take the lead
Thank you for that information, Sergio. It was good to see. Here's the English translation for our readers who don't understand Portuguese:
The city of Jaguarari (Feira de Santana Mission, Brazil) has a group that will become a Branch. This branch will belong to the Petrolina Brazil Stake. In the Itaberaba Branch (Mission Branch), last Sunday they had 11 baptisms of converts.
Herriman Utah Mirabella Stake created 01/14/2024
Elder Carl B. Cook has been designated the Senior President of the Seventy, and Elder Marcus B. Nash, who was serving as Executive Director of the Missionary Department, will fill the vacancy resulting from Elder Patrick Kearon's call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles last month:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/presidency-of-the-seventy-leadership-2024
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/1/17/24041735/first-presidency-announces-changes-presidency-of-the-seventy-elder-carl-cook-marcus-nash
As I previously noted, Elders Brent H. Nielson and Paul V. Johnson will turn 70 this year, so their releases, effective August 1, will be presented during the April 2024 General Conference, with two new members of the Presidency of the Seventy being called. Based on what my research shows, it's most likely that the new additions to the Presidency on August 1 will be current GA Seventies who were originally called between April 2006 and April 2019. My thanks once again to you all.
In a six month timespan, there will be five temple dedications and rededications, meaning the possibility of announcing more is possible as early as April.
One of those could be the announcement to renovate Logan, but which site that we have talked about will go first and the other sites in what order? I think either Lehi (northeast) or Herriman (48th West property) will be first up, but what other locations in the metro could be in line for a temple?
The plan seems to be a five mile radius except some outlying areas in the newer areas of the metro.
Jim Anderson, from January to June, there will be a total of 9 or 10 dedications (Los Olivos already done last week, Orem this week, Red Cliffs in March, Urdaneta in April, Puebla in May, 4 others in June, and possibly Casper in May or June as well).
With the exception of Casper, the others awaited opening arrangements for an extended period of time, so I'm not shocked dedications and site announcements have been top priorities up to this point.
Aside from the dedication for Casper, I assume the other major temple construction announcements made between now and the April General Conference will be focused on site announcements, exterior renderings, and several more groundbreakings.
Right now, I'm tracking a minimum of 10 temples that could have groundbreakings before the end of June, if not sooner And there could be more. But I also believe the Church may be working to get the Heber Valley Utah and Kaohsiung Taiwan Temples under construction before some groundbreakings are set. I look forward to seeing what happens there.
As was reported earlier here, the new Herriman Utah Mirabella Stake has been updated on the Meetinghouse Locator mapsite.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2241056
I think Jim A. is referring to the number of dedications in Utah alone, am I right?
Elder Gong is dedicating the Taylorsville Temple. His wife is from Taylorsville so that is expected. Elder Renlund is dedicating Guatemala is not particularly expected, but not unexpected. Elder Christopher's served his mission in Argentina so his dedicating the Salta Temple is no surprise.
Cuernavaca had a site announced. So I think that puts us to 48 sites with no groundbreaking dates.
I was hoping Elder Kearon would do a dedication next year. It still might happen. I am wondering if he will be a 2nd apostle at any upcoming dedication.
The other big question is will President Nelson live to remediate the Salt Lake Temple
Yes I am referring to the number of dedications for Utah from December of last year to June of this
Thanks for clarifying. Sorry I misunderstood.
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2024/1/18/24042373/new-york-lds-congregations-will-share-building-with-another-church
And this weeks 2nd batch of 16 New Mission leadership bios. Posted earlier.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/2024/1/19/24040238/16-new-mission-presidents-and-companions-serving-from-barbados-to-bangkok
And for any of you interested. This just posted also.
Young Men advisory board expanded another 9 members.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2024/1/19/24001990/young-men-general-advisory-council-expands-9-new-members
I find it interesting and a little strange that the Young Women's advisory board has women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s (as well as some older than that) while the Young Men's advisory board is almost exclusively in their 60s. Seems a little unfortunate for the young men -- if, as I understand, the point of the boards is to provide ideas and insight to the presidencies, it seems like it would be good to have some men in their 20s and 30s on the young men board as the YW have on theirs.
--Felix
The point of the advisory boards is to assist the Presidency in leading the organization. The functions of the Young Men and Young Women general boards and not really equivalent. You also have to keep in mind the fact that thry are unpaid positions with high travel demands.
Young women on one hand has its own leadership. So thry need support all the way up. Young men is lead by bishops at the local level, and is supported as part of the Aaron's priesthood. Much of the leadership development there is done by area seventies and general authorities.
Most of these new Young men general board members have been mission presidents. Most have also been bishops.
I do not think we should obsess about the age of leaders. Judging leaders as ineffective based on age is unwise.
The Young women's general board role has somewhat shifted with the creation of area organizational advisors in areas outside the US and Canda.
The new president of the Orlando Flirida mission. Frantz Belot, is a native of Haiti. However he was raised in Montreal, Canada. This seems a new trend to tell us where people were raised and not just where they were born.
President Belot may be the first African descended mission president with a white wife to serve in the American south. Although in some ways Orlando is South of the South. He may also be the first ethnic Haitian mission president serving outside Haiti. He may even be the first black mission president in Florida. John Amos served in Louisiana, and Elder Mutombo served in Baltimore, although whether Baltimore is the South is also debatable.
The fact that Atlanta Georgia stake has had 2 black presidents and Birmingham Alabama Stake had as its president Peter M. Johnson, a black man with a white wife, are probably more seminal.
Sister Belot was raised in Mulino, Oregon. Mulino is close to Oregon City, and thus only a little south-east of Lake Oswego where the Portland Temple is. Sister Belot was probably around 18 or so when that temple was dedicated.
The new president of the Hamburg Germany mission is a current resident of the Hamburg Germany stake. He might be the first person called to be a first president of a newly formed mission who was a permanent resident of the mission at the time of his call, but probably not.
I know of other cases of mission presidents called to lead the mission where they live, however it is rare, and probably 75% or more of the cases where that happens are in countries where there is just 1 mission.
President Belot, the ethnic Haitian man who will lead the Orlando Mission, served in the Alabama Birmingham Miasion. That is also where Elder Peter M. Johnson, the longest serving African-Ameeican general authority, served his mission. They may have both been there at the same time, since President Belot is 2-3 years younger than Elder Johnson. Elder Johnson was not baptized until he was about 20. Of course for all I know President Belot may have been in his mid-20s when he served his mission.
The new mission president in Hamburg not only is in the Hamburg stake but served his mission in Hamburg. He was born in Saarland, by the French border though. His wife comes from. Woffelden, I may have butchered the spelling, which is in Lower Saxony, which borders Hamburg, but much further south than Hamburg.
The Franzs, the new mission leaders of the Hamburg Mission, live in the Delingdorf Ward. Delingdorf is just outside of Hamburg in Schleswig Holstein State, so the opposite direction from Hamburg as lower Saxony.
President Belot appears to be about four years older than me. That would have made him about 23 when he taught at the Provo MTC when I went through in 1992. So if he didn't go at 19, he wasn't much older when he did go on a mission.
There have been a few of these cases in Germany. The last one I can think of though was Lehi Schwartz in the early 2010s, who was President of the Frankfurt Mission while being from the Feucht Ward in Nuremberg Stake. Michael Cziesla was also briefly Mission President in Frankfurt while living in the area (I don't actually remember which ward), but this was during Covid.
To be honest, I am very surprised it doesn't happen all the time. German-speaking Europe certainly has the leadership available to staff all its mission presidencies with local members. The same probably applies to many other countries in western Europe.
The president of the new Thailand Bangkok East mission, Sarawut Kanyaphan, also lives in Bangkok. It's not completely clear if where he lives will be part of the new mission, but his ward, the Bangkapi ward, has the same name as a neighborhood that is in the eastern part of the city.
My stake just called a person to be keader of the Arabic-speaking group. He is a native of Iraq who joined the Church as a child in Spain and came to the US probably by age 12. The family left Oraq because of the Iran-Iraq War. Thos is the first time I have ever sustained a group leader.
We also have a Spanish-speaking group. Thry both meet in the Troy building on the Teoy-Sterling Heights border.
Sterling Heighrs is the main center of the Chaldean population in Metro Detroit, with Troy also have many Chaldeans. Metro Detroit's Assyrian population is more centered in Warren to the south, although in west Warren. Although Warren is in a ward that meets elsewhere, those in west Warren are closest to the Troy building.
Chileans are people from Iraq whose families have been traditionally part of the Catholic Church, at least since about 1565. The Chaldeams were a separate church before that year. Assyrians are Eastern Orthodox people from the same area. Some insist thry are the same ethnic group, but thry insist thry are different.
There are Northern suburbs of Detroit. The Chaldean Cathloic Church that was the early cultural center of the Detroit Chaldean community when it was first forming in the 1840s, maybe earlier, was livated at 7 Mile and Woodward. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now has a branch meeting about 5 blocks from there. That Chaldean Church has since moved to 13 Mile and Dequindre. Mile roads ocur each mile, each bigger one further north. Detroit ends at 8 Mile.
When the 1967 Race riots happened about 30 percent of businesses in that area were owned by Chaldeans, 30 percent by Jews and 30 percent by African-Americans. The area was over 90% African-American. Most African-American businesses were barber shops or hair salons, and the local funeral homes. So almost all stores in the area were operated by non-African Americans. The social tension this caused was an ingredient to the furl that burst in the riot.
Besides the traditional Chaldean Catholic Church at 13 and Dequindre, there is one on 16 Mile about half a mile west of Dequindre and one just north of 20 mile on Dequindre. There is an Arabic language Protestant Church at 13 and Dwquindre as well, affiliated with the Christian and Missionary alliance. The Arabic language group of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meets on 19 Mile just west of Dequindre. Many Caldeans do not attend Chaldean Catholic churches but instead go to Western rite Catholic Churches. Sterling Heights High School when I graduated from it in 1999 probably had a student body that was 25% Chaldean or Lebanese. Some of our Lebanese had been in the US since roughly 1910, but others had fled the Civil Wars of the 1980s.
Our Arabic population was virtually all Christian. Most of our Muslims were from Pakistan.
There are 2 major centers of Arab Muslim population in Metro Deteoit. One is Dearborn, which has had many Muslims since at least 1929, although the population really began to grow in the 1970s. Some of then live just over the city line in Southern and western sections of Detroit. This population was originally Lebanese, then Yemenese and Iraq. I have been told the Church has begun Arabic outreach there, with missionaries learning Arabic, but I do not know if they have formed a group. That us in the Westland Stake. The stiff mentioned before was in Bloomfield Hills Stake.
I meant to say stake in the last sentence above.
In theory my stake could form a 2nd Arabic group in Hamtramck. However that population may be much harder to reach. While Dearborn and Hamtamck both are mainly Muslim Arabs, the population in Dearborn is more westernized in many key respects.
There is also the fact that there is only a branch not a ward in the general vicinity if Hamtramck so the underlying support structure for the Church is not as well developed.
Craig Shuler says,
Last July Riverview 7th (Mongolian) Branch was formed in Draper Riverview Stake, at the far south end of Salt Lake Valley. It is associated with the scores of stakes throughout Salt Lake County.
It seems odd to me that it is not located in the middle part of the valley with better access to buses and light rail. I haven't heard the reason, but we are glad to have Mongolian-speaking missionaries in our Utah Salt Lake City Mission.
One week after Elder Christofferson dedicated the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple, he dedicated the Orem Utah Temple yesterday. His fellow apostle Elder Patrick Kearon was also there:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-christofferson-dedicates-orem-utah-temple
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/1/21/24045326/orem-utah-temple-dedication-elder-d-todd-christofferson-milestone-in-progress-of-kingdom-of-god
President Holland made his first apostolic ministry trip outside of Utah since his recent illness, as he ministered in Arizona. Elder Stevenson accompanied him:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/1/21/24045613/president-jeffrey-r-holland-arizona-god-keeps-his-promises-question-is-will-we
And the entire First Presidency and Elder Quentin L. Cook met with Iceland's ambassador at Church headquarters:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ambassador-of-iceland-visits-church-headquarters-pioneer-memorial
We are just over an hour away from the next anticipated major temple construction announcement. Unless the Brethren are ready to announce a dedication for the Casper Wyoming Temple, I assume today's announcement may be groundbreakings, exterior renderings, and/or site announcements.
I think we'll soon see an announcement on the Dubai UAE temple, since I'm not anticipating anything about the Russia or Shanghai temples yet. But other temples might have something announced today as well. My thanks once again to you all.
I don't know if anyone else caught this but on the LDS Church News site, maybe a few hours ago, had the design of the La Paz Bolivia Temple. For some reason though they took it down and so I hope it gets put back on, not sure what is going on with that!
Also of note of current Church events.
"22 January 2024 - SALT LAKE CITY News Release
Ambassador of Iceland Visits Church Headquarters, Pioneer Memorial"
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ambassador-of-iceland-visits-church-headquarters-pioneer-memorial
Exterior rendering released for the La Paz Bolivia Temple today:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/la-paz-bolivia-temple-rendering-released
Although the La Paz Bolivia Temple was announced and had its' site announced after its' counterpart in Santa Cruz, La Paz is the first to receive a rendering, suggesting that approvals in La Paz are more easily obtained than approvals in Santa Cruz. La Paz may be the first to get construction underway as well. My thanks once again to you all.
Whizzbang, the major temple construction announcements have generally been made each Monday at 2:00 PM MST. Sometimes a news release or Church News report has been published prematurely and has to be taken down for any adjustments/issues to be resolved to ensure it can be published during the 2:00 PM hour without glitches or issues. I assume that's what happened today, since the announcement was back up on the Newsroom website at 2:00 and the Church News article was published around half an hour later.
That is cool. My wife is from Mongolia and we live in East Idaho. We first heard about the Mongolian Branch in Utah several weeks ago from our son who is serving a mission in North Carolina.
Reported today on Rick's Temples site. New Stake organized January 21st, 2024.
Hyrum Utah Central Stake (2247569)
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/logan-utah-temple/district/
In the process of creating the new Stake in Hyrum Utah.
The original "Hyrum Utah Stake (500445)", organized in 1901, has been renamed Paradise Utah, on Ricks Logan Utah Temple list above mentioned.
Neither has been updated on the Maps site yet. Maybe later this week.
@James-Thanks!
No problem.
Elder Patrick Kearon met with the press today. Elder Christofferson is his apostolic mentor, and Elder Kearon has been given oversight of the Church in Europe, Asia, and the Philippines. Through process of elimination, I am projecting that he may specifically oversee the Eurasian and Asia North Areas, in addition to the Philippines. Between now and the end of June, he will have two months apiece on each of the Church's three major Executive Councils. If any of you want additional details, I'm happy to provide that here, or on my blog (where I detailed all of this). My thanks once again to you all.
I'm not sure why the Church News found this report relevant now three months after the event on November 8th, 2023. Elder Ulises Soares became the first Apostle to visit the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
"Twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda receives first visit from Latter-day Saint Apostle
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders visited Antigua and Barbuda in November
By Trent Toone 24 Jan 2024, 8:32 AM MST"
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/1/24/24047873/twin-island-nation-antigua-and-barbuda-receives-first-visit-latter-day-saint-apostle-elder-soares
I think we are starting to see a bit of a trend in stake organizations. It may be random, it may be due to the new requirements, but I believe we will see quite a few new stakes in Utah and Idaho this year vs. everywhere else.
https://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2024/01/breaking-temple-news-exterior-rendering.html?showComment=1706060571930&m=1#c6065078569664374438
It's in the comment in the link above and in one or two other comments on the same subthread.
In Utah, the denser parts of cities will have quite the problem finding suitable sites for meetinghouses, so I do not see smaller wards and stakes here yet, save for in the newer places where there are still gaps between developments. Provo has almost no gaps between developed properties, so finding a large enough property to build even smaller meetinghouses is not really possible.
Chris, there is often a 6-8 week lag between when an apostle makes a ministry trip and when the Church News reports on it. Not sure why, since the Newsroom carries such reports as those trips occur.
Chris, there is often a 6-8 week delay between an apostle taking a ministry trip and the Church News reporting on it, likely because other reports take precedence.
Could there be larger, or multi story meetinghouses! Plus the 2 hour block could potentially fit more congregations than the 3 hour block we had a few years ago. Or like the did in downtown Salt Lake last year and include meetinghouses as part of a highrise office building. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-opens-new-meetinghouse-office-tower-salt-lake-city#:~:text=The%2039%2C000%2Dsquare%2Dfoot%2C,to%20gather%20for%20social%20events.
Several meetinghouses in Provo have ballfields behind them. Could some of those add a second meetinghouse on the property. Maybe make them larger to accommodate more wards. Maybe add underground or multistory parking to fit more cars.
I would suggest using any of these new sources on Elder Kerron to improve the Wikipedia article on him. It is fairly weak, and well sourced additions would help a lot.
With his assignment to the Phillipines, he may attend the Urdaneta dedication with President Oaks. He was at the Orem Utah Temple dedication. How close is the Alabang Philippines Temple to completion? That could be Elder Kerron's first dedication assignment.
The new two hour meeting schedule makes it much easier to have 4 wards in a building. There are other adaptations as well. In downtown Salt Lake, just west if the Salt Lake Temple, there is a meeting house that is on the ground floor of an office building.
In Provo when I was there most BYU wards met on campus, but some used chaples around campus.
Underground parking, expanding existing buildings and related actions are doable. If an area has the numbers to justify creating a new ward, I think it is best to do so. I do understand overcrowded buildings can be an issue, but I think short term it is better than too big wards in most cases, and it is an issue that can be solved with well thought long term planning.
The Wasatch Front is quite underdeveloped in terms of density. There’s still plenty of development potential and site for more church facilities if needed
The UN Ambassador from Uzbekistan met this week with the First Presidency.
"24 January 2024 - SALT LAKE CITY News Release
The First Presidency Welcomes Uzbek Leader to Temple Square"
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/uzbekistan-ambassador-first-presidency
Also the Newsroom reported that Elder Renlund recently met with the Prime Minister of Cambodia while on a ministry visit to the country.
"24 January 2024 - PHNOM PENH, Cambodia News Release
In Cambodia, Elder Renlund Visits Prime Minister and Ministers to Saints
Apostle also announces US$2 million donation for a heart hospital in Siem Reap"
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/in-cambodia-elder-renlund-visits-prime-minister-and-ministers-to-saints
JPL,
As per the one source I have, the ETA for completion is Mid to Late 2024.
The good news is the fact that there is no real backlog for completed Temples awaiting there are Dedication dates.
While certainly not bad news overall, the fact that there are roughly a dozen other Temples that are expected to be completed in 2024 means that there is a good possibility of a queue depending on how things go.
Craig Halverson
Here is this week's group of 16 New Mission Leaderships biographies posted to the Church News site.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2024/1/26/24047318/16-new-mission-presidents-and-companions-serving-from-california-to-cambodia
I don't think building chapels, or finding space to build chapels, will be a concern for the church in Utah. The church could easily create larger meetinghouses on existing sites if needed, and if the church thought this were a concern going forward, it wouldn't have sold some of the older chapels it has sold in the past few years in SL County.
It's important to note that mid-to-late 2024 is the completion estimate. Based on my analysis, the dedication of the Alabang Philippines Temple may only occur in January or February of next year at earliest, as the open house and dedication take place several months after completion.
We got a new batch of missionaries leaders. Most are from the US, but we have a few from other countries. 1 each from Brazil, Uruguay, Guatemala, Ghana and South Africa. The South African couluple the wife was born in Soweto. They will preside over the Zimbabwe Bulawayo mission. The only non-US in this set presiding in their home country will be the Argentines from I think Rosario heading the Neuquen Mission. The Brazilinans are gosling to Portilugal, the Guatemalans to Bolivia, I think the Urugayans to Argentina and the Ghanaians to Nigeria.
Look at Bishop Waddell's presentationand PDF in the General Conference Leadership area in Gospel Library it is better read on the Church website as it is mainly a PDF, he talks about some things, although in general terms, regarding some things regarding meetinghouses.
Can anyone tell me why the Smithfield temple appears to use two different construction systems? The front and rear faces were built in reinforced concrete, but the sides are made of light steel... Is there any explanation for this?
Great News! The Church News website just posted the 60th New Stake leadership (that we all missed from December 2023). And I also located on the Meetinghouse Locator Map.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2024/1/28/24050897/new-reoganized-stakes-in-the-us-mexico-and-the-philippines
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2231573
"New stakes
A new stake has been created from Monterrey México Valle Verde and Monterrey México Mitras stakes. The Monterrey México Lincoln Stake, which consists of the Fraile, Modelo, San Bernabé 1st and San Bernabé 2nd wards, was created by Elder Adrián Ochoa, General Authority Seventy, and Elder Fernando Valdes, an Area Seventy.
MONTERREY MÉXICO LINCOLN STAKE: (Dec. 3, 2023) President — Juan Francisco Arizpe Soto, 43, Mexico Inspection Organization substitute technical manager; wife, Luisa Ganiry de Arizpe Perez. Counselors — Daniel Avalos Hernandez, 36, Ho1a Metrocarrier account manager; wife, Julia Patricia Guerra Fierro. Miguel Angel Menchaca Gonzalez, 46, self-employed medical equipment salesman; wife, Pily Orquidea de Menchaca Hinojosa."
Can anyone who has access to the CDOL tell me which of the Monterrey Missions it has been assigned to?
Thank you.
The reinforced concrete is probably to provide additional lateral strength for earthquakes. The light steel would be for mostly vertical loads. For a building like the temple that is heavier that increases the earthquake loads which could be difficult for the light steel to handle all the load.
Hey, Chris! Sorry to get back to you on this so late. The Monterrey Mexico Lincoln Stake pertains to the Mexico Monterrey West Mission.
No worries, James S., I completely understand that today Sundays are meant for individual worship and rest and spending the day with family and loved ones. So I wasn't expecting a "quick" response. But I do appreciate your answer on the subject. In the meantime, I also see that Matt has also made a update on all the known Stakes/Districts that were organized or discontinued the last couple months of 2023. Including this that I found reported today by the Church News. And he has said in that most recent post, he will do a later separate post about the first 2 Stakes organized in the Utah area on the 14th and 21st.
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