Within the past 2-3 years, the Church has begun to experience unprecedented growth in East Africa where countries have historically ranked among the least reached in the world by Latter-day Saints (and among the slowest growth for the Church in Africa). In this post, I will briefly summarize historical growth trends in East Africa, describe current growth trends and significant developments, and offer predictions for the foreseeable future.
INTRODUCTION
East Africa is traditionally defined as containing countries that stretch from Eritrea, South Sudan, and Ethiopia in the north, to Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the south, to Zambia, Madagascar and Indian Ocean nations in the east, and Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda to the west. With a population of approximately half a billion people, East Africa is the most populous region of Africa and has presented many opportunities for growth which have not been taken advantage of by mission and area presidencies for decades. Consequently, extremely few mission and area resources have been allocated to East Africa notwithstanding political stability, religious freedom, and enormous populations that have often been receptive to the Latter-day Saint gospel message in the past 25 years. For example, in 2000 there were only three missions in all of East Africa that were headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya (organized in 1991); Harare, Zimbabwe (organized in 1987); and Antananarivo, Madagascar (organized in 1998). In fact, several of these nations did not have a Church presence established until relatively recently, such as Malawi (2000), Rwanda (2008), and Burundi (presence reestablished in 2010 after a brief period of an official presence in the early 1990s). Several nations today do not have any official branches, such as South Sudan (used to have one branch for a couple years in the late 2000s/early 2010s), Eritrea, Djibouti (used to have a military branch), Somalia (used to have a branch in Mogadishu primarily comprised of foreigners), Comoros, and Mayotte (officially part of France; very small branch used to operate until approximately 10-15 years ago). With only a few exceptions, most of the countries in East Africa have generally reported slow to moderate membership and congregational growth rates. Also, the Church has generally reported a presence in only a handful of cities in most East African countries. Rural communities in East Africa are almost entirely unreached by the Church. The only examples of branches functioning in rural communities in East Africa are in a few isolated locations in Kenya, Madagascar, and Uganda.
The creation of the Africa Central Area with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya in 2020 has been a major catalyst that has appeared primarily responsible for the recent surge in growth that has occurred in most of the countries in East Africa. Prior to the creation of the new area, there were only two administrative areas in Africa: the Africa West Area and the Africa Southeast Area (later renamed the Africa South Area). Although the Africa Central Area also includes Central Africa, the area's headquarters in East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya has appeared to favor greater focus and expansion into East Africa more than Central Africa due to closer geographic proximity. Furthermore, the number of missions in East Africa has increased significantly from 3 in 2000 to 5 in 2010 and 9 in 2020. By mid-2024, the Church will have 11 missions in the area. Another major catalyst for recent growth in some countries has been greater use of local languages rather than English, such as Swahili and Kinyarwanda.
SUMMARY OF RECENT GROWTH DEVELOPMENTS
See below for a summary of many of the recent developments in regard to rapid growth in East Africa. Click on the country name that is in bold to access the updated statistical profile on cumorah.com (most profiles have been updated with 2023 figures, and the ones that have not been updated yet will soon be updated).
- Burundi - The number of branches has doubled from four to eight since January 2024. The Church organized its first branches in four additional cities since January, including Cibitoke (location where a mission president visited hundreds who wanted to join the Church approximately 13-14 years ago but were told to wait until the Church is better established), Gitega, Muzinda, and Ngozi. Never in the Church's history in modern times has the Church in a country gone from official branches in only one city to five cities within so short a period of time. Church membership grew from 823 in 2021 to 1,541 in 2023. The Bujumbura Burundi District was created in 2021, and today there are four branches in the district. The population of Burundi is 13.2 million.
- Ethiopia - Three new branches were organized in Addis Ababa in 2022 and 2023. A new group was just organized on the outskirts of Addis Ababa in Burayu. The population of Ethiopia is 127 million.
- Kenya - Annual membership growth rates have been sustained at 9-10% for 2022 and
2023. Membership grew in 2023 at the fastest rate reported since 2009. The number of wards and branches increased from 54 at year-end 2021 to 69 at present. The Church organized its first branches in six cities/towns/villages in 2023. A third stake was organized in Nairobi in 2023. The population of Kenya is 55.1 million.
- Madagascar - Church membership increased by 7.1% in 2023 - the highest annual percentage growth rate for membership since 2012. Two new stakes have been organized since 2022, and there are now four stakes and two districts. The population of Madagascar is 30.3 million.
- Malawi - Church membership increased by 23.4% in 2023 - the highest annual percentage growth rate for membership since 2011. There are now 4,776 Latter-day Saints in Malawi. The number of branches in Malawi increased from 8 to 13 between 2020 and 2023. The population of Malawi is 20.9 million.
- Mozambique - Church membership increased by more than 6,000 in 2023 to 24,733 by the end of the year - a 34.1% annual increase and one of the largest annual net increases in membership for the entire worldwide Church. Mozambique ranked as the country with the highest membership growth rate in 2023 among countries with publicly released membership totals. Mozambique is also the East African country with the second most Latter-day Saints. However, Church-reported membership comprises a mere 0.073% of the population (one Latter-day Saint per 1,371 people). The number of wards and branches in Mozambique increased by 23.2% in 2023, as there were 13 new wards/branches organized. There are 18 cities with an official ward or branches - 6 of which had their first ward or branch organized since 2022 (and all six of these cities are located in southern Mozambique). Two new stakes and one new district were organized in Mozambique in 2023. The population of Mozambique is 33.9 million.
- Rwanda - The number of branches has increased from four to nine since 2021, and the first branch outside of Kigali was created in Nyamata in 2022. The Rwanda Kigali Mission was organized in 2022 to service Rwanda, Burundi, and some eastern portions of the DR Congo. Church membership in Rwanda increased from 843 in 2021 to 1,537 in 2023. The population of Rwanda is 14.1 million.
- Tanzania - Church membership increased by nearly 1,000 in 2023 which was a 32.3% annual increase - the highest reported by the Church in Tanzania since 1998-1999 when there were less than 500 members. The Church reported 3,969 members as of year-end 2023. The number of branches has proliferated from 10 in 2020 to 27 today. Most of these new branches have been organized in Dar Es Salaam where there are now 18 branches. Three new districts have been organized since 2022 in Dar Es Salaam (Chang'ombe), Arusha, and Mwanza. The number of cities with an official branch has increased in the past three years from 3 to 5 with the creation of branches in Moshi (2021) and Dodoma (2023). The population of Tanzania is 67.4 million.
- Uganda - The Church organized its first branches in three previously unreached cities in 2023 and 2024 (Bukomero, Kalisizo, and Mbarara), thereby increasing the number of cities/towns/villages with at least one ward or branch to 18. The population of Uganda is 48.6 million.
- Zambia - Church membership increased by 11.2% in 2023 to 5,906 - the most rapid membership growth reported by the Church in Zambia since 2014. A third branch was created in Kitwe. The population of Zambia is 20.6 million.
- Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe became the first country in East Africa to reach 100 official congregations during 2023, as the number of wards/branches increased from 91 to 100 during the year. Church membership increased by 7.8% in 2023 - the highest annual membership growth rate seen in Zimbabwe since 2013. The Church organized its first branches in five cities between 2000 and 2023, raising the number of cities/towns/villages with a ward or branch to 26. Zimbabwe is the East African country with the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints in the population, at 0.25%, or one Latter-day Saint per 404 people. The population of Zimbabwe is 16.7 million.
PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE GROWTH
Growth conditions in East Africa remain highly favorable, and prospects appear good for continued rapid growth so long as reasonably high member activity and convert retention rates are sustained (and the amount of resources allocated to the area continue to increase). Here is a list of likely developments within the next 2-5 years that I believe are likely for East Africa given recent growth trends and future opportunities for growth:
- Continued National Outreach Expansion:
- Prospects appear most favorable in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar for the opening of many cities, towns, and villages to missionary work and creating branches.
- Area and mission leadership may begin to expand outreach in countries where there has been little to no expansion in the past decade, such as Malawi and Zambia.
- Ethiopia appears unlikely to have much outreach expansion until a solid center of strength is established in Addis Ababa and the district becomes a stake.
- The Reestablishment of the Church in South Sudan: I have received reports that the Juba Branch may be close to reinstatement. The Church recently obtained registration with the South Sudanese government. Conditions for growth appear highly favorable. South Sudanese have been uniquely receptive to the Latter-day Saint gospel message and often join the Church in other countries, including in East Africa such as Ethiopia and Uganda.
- The Creation of the First Stakes in Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Rwanda: All of these countries appear likely to have stakes organized in the next 2-5 years, as there are emerging center of strengths that are approaching the minimum requirements to become stakes.
- Adoption of Kirundi as an Official Church Language in Burundi and Chichewa as an Official Language in Malawi: Based on the most recent information I have received, Church activities and services remain to be conducted in French and Swahili in Burundi. However, Kirundi is the primary language spoken in Burundi. With the establishment of branches outside of Bujumbura, it appears likely that we will see a transition to Kirundi similar to what was seen in the past few years in Rwanda when the official language of Church operations transitioned from English to Kinyarwanda. The Church in Malawi also seems likely to utilize Chichewa as its official language given this is the predominant language spoke in the country, including in both Church centers in Blantyre and Lilongwe.
- The Creation of More Missions: Locations that appear most likely to have new missions organized in East Africa during the next 2-5 years include:
- Bujumbura, Burundi to service Burundi (currently assigned to the Rwanda Kigali Mission)
- Eldoret, Kenya to service western Kenya (currently assigned to the Kenya Nairobi Mission. The Kenya Nairobi Mission will divide this summer to create a second mission based in Nairobi).
- Lilongwe, Malawi to service Malawi (currently assigned to the Zambia Lusaka Mission).
- A second mission in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (currently one mission for the entire country).
- A second mission in Kampala, Uganda (currently one mission for the entire country).
- Third mission in Zimbabwe (most likely scenario appears to be a second mission in Harare).
- Additional Temple Announcements: The following locations appear most likely to have temples announced within the next five years (although many of these are likely in 4-5 years out and not in the immediate future). I have ordered these from most likely to least likely to be announced.
- Kampala, Uganda - Uganda is the country with the most Latter-day Saints without a temple announced or dedicated. Kampala appears one of the most likely locations in the world to have a temple announced in the immediate future.
- Maputo, Mozambique - There are now three stakes in Maputo, and long distance from Beira suggest that a separate temple in Maputo is highly likely. The Church in Mozambique has experienced some of the most rapid growth in the worldwide Church in the past decade. All seven stakes in Mozambique have been organized since 2015, and more stakes appear likely to be organized in the foreseeable future.
- Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - There have been two stakes in Bulawayo since 2023, and a third stake appears likely in the foreseeable future. Distance from Harare and a mission in Bulawayo both appear to make Bulawayo a good candidate for a future temple.
- Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania - Similar to the situation with the recent announcement of the Luanda Angola Temple, the Church in Tanzania has experienced rapid growth in both membership and the number of congregations. The creation of two stakes in Dar Es Salaam appears likely within the next 2-4 years.
- Kigali, Rwanda - With sustained rapid growth, the creation of a stake appears likely in the next 1-3 years. A second stake may be a possibility by 2028 or 2029. A temple in Kigali appears more likely than in Burundi due to a highly concentrated membership in Kigali that has also been members of the Church longer (and with historically higher activity rates) than in Burundi.
- Lusaka, Zambia - This location may be a candidate for a temple, but this would be much more likely if there were two stakes in Lusaka. Unfortunately, the Church in Lusaka has experienced no increase in the number of wards since the stake was organized in 2015.
- Bujumbura, Burundi - A more remote possibility, Bujumbura may have a temple announced by 2029, especially given rapid growth in neighboring cities in the DR Congo, many of which have had branches just recently organized in the past year (i.e., Bakara, Bukavu, Goma, Kavumu, Kalemie) and where most speak Swahili (commonly spoken in the Bujumbura area).
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The most remote prospect, Addis Ababa may be a site for a temple announcement in 5 years, but this will depend on whether the Church can achieve sufficient growth and member activity to create a stake with prospects of a second stake in the foreseeable future. However, the Church in Ethiopia has struggled for decades with leadership development and low member activity rates which have been exacerbated by a lack of a mission in the country until 2020 and difficulties with full-time missionaries becoming proficient speakers of Amharic.
232 comments:
1 – 200 of 232 Newer› Newest»It may take some doing to reestablish an official church presence in South Sudan. I have a buddy who was serving as a missionary in Uganda when the South Sudan branch (part of their mission) closed. He said the senior missionary couple assigned to the branch received regular death threats and eventually had to be airlifted out. It was a real mess. And South Sudan is still in the middle of a civil war. The Lord can obviously establish His church wherever He wants, but South Sudan is in a very tough spot.
34% of the population in Ethiopia is Oromo, while only 26% is Amhara. I still think long term there needs to be outreach to the Oromo. I strongly suspect that will be when the Church will truly grow.
Burundi is looking quite good. I hope these new language outreaches materialize.
The fact that we now have a general authority from East Africa as a member of the Presidency of the 70 may well help.
Tanzania is looking very good as well.
It would be nice to see Kenya get a stake outside of Nairobi.
The pace of things in East Africa is quite exciting. However there are still huge amounts of unreached places.
Great post and summary, Matt! I look forward to the developments that will happen in East Africa in the coming years.
I also wanted to briefly pass along some info I found out today that a Spanish speaking stake will be organized in the Salt Lake Valley sometime later this year. Don't know any details on when exactly that will be though.
Impressivew growth in Mozambique in the last year. Mabe the numbers where that hight because baptims where forbidden during Covid Times. I think Tanzania will get a stake soon.
I hope growth in Ethiopia can be sustainted and a stronger church presence can be established, in that country with a some ties to Israel and the bible.
I learned that Elder Uchtdorf, Elder Alliaud (Area Presidency) and Elder Hengst (Area seventy) wil be at my stake conference in the fist weekend in June. Some members are speculating about changes that will happen to the stake (A possible new stake). I don't think that will be the case, the numbers just don't add upp. The churches stakes, wards requirement could only work if many wards would get shifted around between the 3 Swiss and around 2-3 German stakes. I do not think they will do that. So it is most likly just an appostolic visit to my stake.
Ask and ye shall receive. I had just recently asked about East Africa. Encouraging news from all these countries and regions, and here is a tremendous report.
I am reminded of my own LDS Church research and reporting of Church of Jesus Christ Church growth in Chile and Brazil which I attempted at UCLA back in the early 2000s. What of other outlier churches, like the Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists, or other Protestants? Fair enough, Professor Bell. My findings and trackings mostly went up to the year 2000, a time when much Church momentum slowed down in Chile. Things went through a lull there but have picked up lately, it seems.
The huge potential and populations of eastern Africa are amazing. Apart from Somalia proper, lead by Mogadishu, we have the lesser known or cared about Puntland and Somaliland, both highly Muslim, under-governed, and not recognized by many foreign or domestic entities. I am hoping terrorism is less of a thing in those parts than down the Indian coast.
French, Swahili, and Portuguese are unifying factors in many of these countries. I imagine English is pretty useful in Zimbabwe and Zambia, as it should be everywhere.
Paul Theroux and other pioneers may have helped a bit with English in Malawi, I am not sure. He preaches his own doctrines, mostly secular. But language and culture are powerful tools.
Sad about the tribal conflicts and ethnic issues in Ethiopia and elsewhere, but this work is moving as a glory, marvelous, and wonderful.
Thanks all for caring and doing your part to spread the Good News of the Lord. Repent and live.
Not Africa-related, but I've heard reports of a stake consolidation in Adelaide, Australia this past weekend, consolidating 3 stakes down to 2 and restructuring many of the ward units in the area.
The Limerick Ireland District was dissolved yesterday, May the 4th. The Dublin Ireland Stake took in the units, so it's now 6 wards and 6 branches in the Dublin Ireland Stake
James, Looks like your report on Adelaide is true. At least according to the temples site.
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/adelaide-australia-temple/district/
"Adelaide Australia Temple
Temple District
The Adelaide Australia Temple serves members from 2 stakes and 1 district headquartered in South Australia and Northern Territory:
South Australia
Adelaide Australia Marion Stake
Adelaide Australia North Stake
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Australia District"
Dedication of the Salvador Brazil Temple announced
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/news-for-temples-in-brazil-bolivia-and-texas
Elder Andersen will dedicate the Salvador Brazil Temple on October 20th. He also dedicated the Brazilia Brazil Temple and the Praia Cape Verde Temple. I wonder when Elder Soares will dedicate another Temple in Brazil.
I also wonder when Elder Kearon will dedicate a temple. It was 14 months from Elder Soares call as an apostle until he dedicated a temple. So as long as Elder Kearron dedicates a temple before Febuary 2025 he will set a new record.
On the other extreme I think no one is ever going to break Joseph Fielding Smith's record of having gone 61 years as an apostle before dedicating a temple.
Whizzbang, I just found this Facebook post confirming the news of the Limerick Ireland District merging with the Dublin Ireland Stake. And in the process both the Limerick Branch and the Cork Branch became Wards. Posted on a public group called "Dublin Ireland Missionaries with President Chapman"
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1426210987698264?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=3701698403482833
It says "Mc Kenzies
Yesterday at 10:35 AM ·
Hey Everyone,
Bit of news from Ireland today.
The Limerick district and the Dublin stake combined to have one larger Dublin Ireland stake. Terenure 1&2 combined. Limerick and Cork became wards.
We now have as wards - 6
Clonsilla
Cork
Limerick
Terenure
Clondalkin
Finglas
Branches - 6
Tralee
Galway
Dundalk
Mullingar
Waterford
Sligo
12 units - 6 wards and 6 branches.
We had a combined Stake conference today.
Must have been 800 + in attendance.
Great meeting and exciting times for the Dublin stake moving forward."
Has anyone found out if the Manhattan temple will occupy the museum area next door?
Fun tidbit for your Geez Whiz Collections:
Elder Michael A. Dunn is assigned to preside at the groundbreaking of the Austin Texas Temple. His middle name is Austin.
I've attended Terenure 1 a few times and it was not that big. Hence I can't say that I'm in shock. Also, cost of living in the Dublin area continues to soar so I am predicting that within the next 5 to 10 years, there might be quite a bit of growth in places like Bray (which used to have a ward) or Drogheda. I also wonder about foreign language outreach and opening cities like Kilkenny or Athlone. Quite a bit of Ireland is underserved by the Church.
I am not surprised that the Limerick district got combined whit the Dublin stake. I have been expecting this change for a while. In most western European countries districts were closed in the past years. They probable hoped for a while that the district would grow into a stake. That way they would have had 3 stakes on the island, what would have made a temple more likly. The changes of ward requirements in the beginning of the year (100 participating adults) made shure that the district becomming a stake would be very unlikly in the near future.
Miro and Pascal you are both right on your thoughts with the Dublin Stake and Limerick District. Both Limerick and Cork have been large enough to be wards for a long time but as they were part of the District they couldn't be. In fact until the new requirements one of the other branches was also large enough to become a ward and another branch was just 2 brethren short under the old requirements so the hope was that Limerick could have become on a stake on its own but the new changes made certain that was very unlikely in the near future as you said.
Sometimes mergers/closures can feel like a step backwards but in this case there is a lot of optimism and a feeling that it is a step forward. Once the branches from the old Limerick District are large enough they will/can become wards whereas in the past this was never the case as they were in a District and relied on others to also be large enough.
I have some demographic/Church of Jesus Christ questions about Ireland, among other places.
1. Is the replacement population growth very high among native Irish? Is it more common for the Catholic Irish to have children, or even marry younger or legally, than non-Catholics?
2. Is the immigrant population high in Ireland? I have read that the job situation is decent and attracts foreigners. I have heard of a sub-Saharan African man being elected as mayor.
3. Like much of Europe, are immigrants from other lands more prone to join the Church there?
4. Are there good Irish cities and towns to send more LDS missionaries if there is an increase of elders and sisters?
5. Are there enough youth being raised in the Church of Jesus Christ there?
If anyone has the answers or indicators, I thank you.
6. How is the Church of Jesus Christ in the Faeroe Islands?
Church Almanac much, anyone?
Salvador's temple district looked like this:
14 Stakes
2 Missions
3 Districts
Here is a news update on the Lone Mountain Nevada site.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/las-vegas-lds-temple-scrutinized/vi-BB1m2zW9?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=397b7ca5d769477e9c81985a4dfbc5d1&ei=20#details
And here is an update on the Cody Wyoming Temple:
https://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_bcd6ee18-0d5d-11ef-85e1-934f91eacb37.html
My thanks once again to you all.
I have 2 questions about Norway in the Europe North Area. Maybe someone with knowledge on the subject can voice an opinion.
While randomly reviewing the Meetinghouse Locator website today, I have found a 2nd meetinghouse on the map within the Trondheim Ward boundaries. Just a little north in Namsos, Norway. Which doesn't show any Branch or Ward unit assigned to that meetinghouse.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/meetinghouses/5022759-01-01
I wonder if the Trondheim Ward is about to be split in 2 parts. With a new branch or Ward located in Namsos. Within the Oslo Norway Stake?
Or more likely, that the meetinghouse unassigned, currently holds meetings for a Member Group?
Thoughts?
2nd Question, since there are currently 4 Branches in north Norway assigned directly to the Mission. The Bodo, Narvik-Harstad, Tromso, and Alta-Hammerfest Branches.
I wonder when the 4 branches could become a District with District leadership?
Similar to the Minsk Ward (Belarus) in the current Moscow Russia Stake boundaries. Within the current Minsk Ward boundaries are 3 meetinghouses. A second located in the north half of the City of Minsk unassigned to any branch or Ward currently. I wonder if a Member Group meets there separately?
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/meetinghouses/5021664-01-01
And to the east in the regional capital of Mogilev is a 3rd meetinghouse not assigned to a branch or ward. Possibly a Member Group meets in the building with prospects in future to become a branch again?
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/meetinghouses/5915274-00-00
And another curiosity, at least for me is, I wonder when the Rabat Branch (Kingdom of Morroco), in the Cairo Egypt District, was renamed the Casablanca Branch?
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/1738771
Also, It may have been commented on previously, I wonder when the Banjul Branch (2208822) in The Gambia, in Africa West Area was organized as the first branch in the country.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/2208822
I know Matt wrote a post here about the first converts, in February 2022.
https://ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Gambia
If there is currently a Conakry 1st Branch, in Guinea, I would think that at some point there was a Conakry 2nd Branch, logically thinking. Otherwise, it would just be called the Conakry Branch.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/wards/2104660
Or it may soon be splitting to organize a new Conakry 2nd Branch in the fairly near future. Possibly located just to the east of Conakry, in Coyah, Guinea? In the unassigned Meetinghouse on the map?
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/meetinghouses/5021718-01-01
Chris,
I can't answer your questions on the empty meetinghouses or when the Casablanca Branch was renamed, but I can answer you other questions.
The Banjul Branch in The Gambia was organized in June 2022.
The Conakry 1st Branch was organized in June 2017, and there is an active Conakry 2nd Branch as well, which was organized in October 2023. The 2nd Branch looks like a pretty small operation, just a president and first counselor listed.
Chris D.
About your question on forming a district in Norway with the 4 branches in the north... I don't know much about this, but just thinking out loud... I notice that the district would be hundreds of miles wide and none of the branches are very close to each other. I see more of a case for a district when at least 2 solid branches are close to each other.
Chris D - There are three branches in Conakry: Conakry 1st, Conakry 2nd, and Coyah (the latter two were organized in 2023).
There are some member groups in Belarus, but they may not operate consistently or at all anymore.
I don't think we will see a district in northern Norway any time soon. Those branches have been struggling for decades and have very low attendance. They require a lot of mission support to stay open. They have had problems with members moving away for decades.
Thank you both for clarifying. I appreciate it. So the empty meetinghouse in Coyah, might just be a Member group meeting there officially.
Yes, Anonymous, I thought the same for the 4 branches in northern Norway. But the Jyvaskyla Finland Stake or Umea Sweden District cover about the same "length" of territory in miles i'm guessing. But it is a valid point for when 1 of the 4 branches split to a smaller land extension.
And I'm guessing the "empty" meetinghouse in Namsos, Norway is probably just a member group meeting far from the Trondheim Ward building.
Chris D - The Coyah Branch is official - it is just not showing up for the meetinghouse for some reason. Click on the map and you will see the branch show up for the Coyah area.
The creation of districts in Guinea and Gabon appears imminent. Gabon now has five branches - four are in Libreville.
I had an experience last fall in British Columbia where two small branches, each with their own meetinghouse, merged to one. Even though there was no unit officially assigned to one of the buildings, the church contained to maintain it and the unit would have people at each building connect via Zoom for Sunday meetings. It made a lot of sense because the distance between the two was very large and would have been a discouraging burden to travel that distance each Sunday for church, especially in winter.
@Eduardo
I try to answer your questions, but i don't have direct insight. I have a cousin that just returned form her mission in Irleand. I myself served in England. A few years ago there was an Irish missionary in my ward.
1. Is the replacement population growth very high among native Irish? Is it more common for the Catholic Irish to have children, or even marry younger or legally, than non-Catholics?
Acording wikipedia Ireland has one of the highest birth rates in Europe. But below replacment level.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Republic_of_Ireland
2. Is the immigrant population high in Ireland? I have read that the job situation is decent and attracts foreigners. I have heard of a sub-Saharan African man being elected as mayor.
Yes In the last 20 years immigration was high in Ireland.
3. Like much of Europe, are immigrants from other lands more prone to join the Church there?
Yes
4. Are there good Irish cities and towns to send more LDS missionaries if there is an increase of elders and sisters?
No Idea
5. Are there enough youth being raised in the Church of Jesus Christ there?
Difficult to say. Between 2014 and 2020 chuch attandance has been shrinking but total membership is was growing.
6. How is the Church of Jesus Christ in the Faeroe Islands?
Very samll. Just a smal member goup
@Chris D
When I checked the meetinghouse locator today The Namsos meetinhouse was not empty but it said Trondheim Ward. The same was true for the meetinghaus in Trondheim. I believe it is a member group thats part of the Trondheim Ward and watches the meeting over zoom. They will propably bless their one sacrament there.
Emty meetinhouse on the meetinghouse locator are often for member goups. Somtimes for new metinhouse not ready for use yet (Example the one in Bad Saeckingen Germany), meetingplaces for institute, or emty chapels with some meetings taking palce (E.g. seminary for youth in that area).
Other Matt here...
Wouldn't it be beneficial for members visiting the area, or even the general public to know that a group meets at the "empty" meetinghouse.
Groups (with a Group Name, showing the associated ward or branch) should be included in the meetinghouse locator with meeting times.
I think groups should be published. several years ago, I attended a traditional "family" ward in Idaho Falls that was connected to a deaf group. They joined us for sacrament meeting with interpreters but had their own second (and third hour at the time) meeting. But I can't find that deaf group anywhere on the meetinghouse locator. How do people new to an area know about groups locations that may pertain to them such as language groups? The meetinghouse locator shows the closest death unit to hbe in Utah.
Since groups can be created, and dissolved, by the stake Presidency or mission Presidency without any consultation higher up putting them on the website is hard because thry are not centrally notified.
Since they can discover easily, this could also lead to false hits. So if thry were listed people might show up where they are not.
Also, while wards and branches meet weekly, with rare weather related cancelations, some groups only meet monthly, bi-weekly, etc.
I see an advantage to listing them, but these draw backs also exist.
I hope there comes a day when Dakar, Conakry and Libreville have temples. It looks to not be a very soon day, but the future is hard to say.
When 2012 dawned there were no stakes on the African mainland west of Ivory Coast. Maybe none West of Abijan. There are now about 12 in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and almost 10 branches between the Gambia, Mali, Guinea and Senegal.
What are the chances that a Guinea and Senegal will each get their own mission soon?
Does the Church have any presence in Burkina Faso?
Hey Matt! Great post. Based on what you shared, I have added a temple for each location you mentioned to my personal list for the next General Conference. Do you think that if the growth in East Africa continues the way it has, the Church could eventually create a separate area for East Africa? Also, with Venezuela being transferred to the Caribbean Area this year, do you think we'll see any other changes to the South American Areas? Thanks.
Hey, James S., May i make a quick observation or inquiry, of your new updated October 2024 potential new sites list that i copied from your blog, Stokes Sound off? I agree with all your selection and have made the corrections to my combined list.
In the South America South area, you continue to leave Valparaiso Chile as a potential location in future. Was that intentionally left or an oversight? Since we recently had the Viña del Mar Chile Temple announced a few conferences back, just a few miles down the road. Still Valparaiso would have enough Stakes / Districts for a future announcement. And we have precedent in other Metropolitan Cities such as the Wasatch Front in Utah, Manila Philippines, Lima Peru, Sao Paulo Brazil, Mexico City Mexico. Where multiple Temples are located relatively close to each other. I think that Valparaiso may be further down the list in urgency now. But that is just my opinion. Matt has completely removed Valparaiso from his map if i'm not mistaken. Including from his less likely.
And if it was intentional I will leave it on my combined list.
Thanks again for sharing with us your updated lists.
I think that Chile is on a good path to recover from years of slow growth and low activity and eventually get another temple in the Greater Santiago area. We'll see. Valparaiso and Vina del Mar are probably indeed too close to each other to each warrant a temple until VDM gets very busy.
Finally, today the Dublin Ireland Stake and Limerick Ireland District are being combined in the Meetinghouse Locator website.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/523305
It was intentional. There is precedent for building temples close together. I still see the case for a Valparaiso temple. I've been wrong before, but I also have been correct before. Hope that answers your question.
As Chris D. observed above, I have posted my October 2024 General Conference predictions on my blog:
https://stokessoundsoff.blogspot.com/2024/05/initial-predictions-for-october-2024.html
I would prefer if any further discussion on those predictions takes place there so we can leave this thread free for other topics related to Church growth in general and East Africa in particular. My thanks once again to you all.
Fairview denies permit application for temple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pxdnK5LQu4
I'm hopeful the church will listen to neighbors' concerns about the temple/spire height, like the church tried to do with the Newport Beach temple, rather than strongarming its position like it has been doing with the Cody/Heber Valley/Lone Mountain temples. These aren't bigoted views. They are open to a temple in the neighborhood. They simply want the church to follow height restrictions for the zone.
The Church always listens to community concerns. That's why multiple community meetings are held during the planning and approvals process. I object to the character assassination of the Church as trying to "strongarm" anything. Again, if any other faith opted for a building with a tall spire, it's not a problem. The hypocrisy of the communities holding our Church to a different standard is obviously apparent in such issues. I think the Church can and should relocate this temple to a place where the residents aren't so two-faced. If I'm in the minority with this opinion, so be it.
It's quite clear that there is bias against the church in each of these examples. The opponents of the temple in Fairview mentioned that it will be the largest temple in Texas, which is incorrect, as the Dallas Texas Temple will remain the largest temple in the State after the McKinney Texas Temple is built. The official positions of the temples' opponents always state they are not against the church, but a large amount, even the vast majority of their followers have been very vocal in their beliefs that our church is a cult.
Great analysis. Technically, Zimbabwe, Zambia,Malawi, Mozambique are not classified as East Africa, they are in Southern Africa.
I totally agree. Especially in the case of Texas where massive evangelical churches with tall spires are on virtually every street corner. If Baptists wanted to build a bigger church with the exact same height no one would bat an eye
Agreed. It's a stretch to say that bias against our church on particular doesn't at least play a role.
Many that fight Houses of the Lord say it’s for height, square footage, lighting and traffic and this and that and the other but let’s be honest they will fight it whether it’s a spireless temple, if lights are out at 9:00 or any other issue. Many may have legitimate concerns and try to work things out with us especially public figures but the fight wages on no matter what concessions we make. And I don’t know where the Russia and Chinese temples progress is and I know they will be built eventually but these announcements also are testaments against leaders and others that fight God’s Work. Many say how much good we could be doing with that money we put forth to build temples but we are doing the “MOST GOOD” of anything we could be by building temples. They don’t understand that the most important work is the eternal work for the salvation and exaltation of Gods Children. And there has been a few times that no matter the concessions we make they give us no option but to file suit for violation of our freedom of worship.
James i say no they should just sue it against the law not to approve the spire and they had no problems other churches wanted spire
The Cody Temple is under 10,000 square feet for crying out loud.
The spire issue is ignoring how the top part of some of these spires is an almost imperceptibly narrow item.
I have seem many of these illogical,clearly bigoted attacks on planned religious buildings. In Sterling Heights, Michigan we had a particularly vicious group engage in attacks on a planned Muslim Mosque.
Faith groups have a right to build buildings to accomplish their purposes as thry see fit.
I second the views expressed above that I am tired of the character assassinations, lies and other negative insinuations thrown against those who seek to build temples.
I hope all announced temples can be built swiftly and with haste.
The sub-regional alignment of parts of sny continent is very complex.
Mozambique has close cultural connections, especially on its coast to areas further north.
One mark of East Africa is a presence of Swahili as a used language. This varies between a first language in some coastal areas, to mainly a 2nd language in other areas. It does not reach to the horn of Africa, nor does it reach all the interiors.
On the other hand Swahili has a large presence in the eastern third or so of DR Congo. This is because in the mid-19th century the slave gathering networks exporting from east Africa and enslaving along the coast reached well into the modern limits of DR Congo.
I could actually see at least 5 areas in Africa. An East Africa Area and a Nigeria area seem to be eventual possibilities. I have doubts if any such changes are going to happen soon.
One thing I find interesting is that I don't feel malice towards the people exhibiting bias towards the Church. I feel disappointed and sorry for them. I wish people who misunderstand and/or disagree with our beliefs or objectives would not allow that to become a stumbling block in their living of the two great commandments of love for God and their neighbor.
Also, as far as the word cult goes. The definition of cult is so broad lots of groups could fit within its denotation. The problem, is the connotation of cult and the word's association with fringe zealous crazy fanatics for absurdly harmful beliefs and actions.
Let us be real about the word cult. It is meant to invoke images of Jim Jones and his followers committing mass suicide.
It is a word that has been do misused and over used that it should not be used at all.
The maluciousness of those against the McKinney Texas Temple is clear. I have seen someone call it a 16-story building. That is absurd and malicious language. A tiny extremely narrow piece of metal is not a story. To try to characterize a spire as anything but a spire is just plain false.
The mayor is also clearly preparing for a court battle. He has shown a willingness to disregard the spirit of RLUIPA.
People need to seek to expose the bigotry that runs through the anti-temple movement.
People do not loose their right to practice their religion because they pool their resources in wise ways. People do not loose rights because thry state thry will seek to protect them.
This is not the case of an outside organization seeking to disrupt city activities through a suit. This is the case if a city seeking to use regulatory power to stop people from exercising their religious rights on land thry own, and then the city trying to complain that those people will not just sit back and let the city trample their rights.
Regarding whether the Church should adjust their temple plans or stand firm in the face of opposition. I think both approaches are appropriate responses. I would be more concerned if the approach was always to always adjust or to always push through. Since I only know what I read, am not in the know, and don't have the right to revelation in these matters, I suspend judgement (i.e. don't conclude). I will say However that in Church matters where I am in the know and have had the right to revelation, things have been done in wisdom and in order and the Holy Ghost confirms the Lord's will and/or His guidance is clear. Sometimes the Holy Ghost confirms things to me that I have no personal knowledge of. I am confident enough from my experiences to tentatively believe and trust in the Church's decisions when I have no actual knowledge or confirmation of the Holy Ghost. The only time I would hesitate to place this tentative belief and trust in Church decisions is when the Holy Ghost gives me enlightenment of true principles that helps me understand greater truths, with feelings of understanding. (i.e. the Church functions in this imperfect world. The MTC serves food containing white sugar to missionaries despite the fact that it is toxic and can be addictive).
JPL, I am being real about the word cult. People use this word in different countries and different cultures/sub-cultures that have no idea who Jim Jones is or where the term "drinking the cool-aid" came from. What you say may be true in the current situation, but I was speaking broadly. The word carries nasty connotations in the parts of North America I've lived, true.
People often classify others as falling within a broad definition of a word and then label the offender as the word and then go on acting as if the person/group is as bad as the worst application or most extreme definition of the word.
For example:
Sexual harassment - a person who knows better could grab someone's private parts or a slightly autistic or inexperienced person could obliviously make an unwanted invitation to a person who has signaled their lack of interest - not the same, and there are lots of actions between these extremes.
Racism - could be something completely innocent like a 6 yr old saying a racist word because he heard a grown up say it or could be a person beating the living crap out of someone due to hatred - not the same, and there are lots of actions between these extremes.
The list could go on and on.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
JPL, heresy is an even better example. Check out the definition. I find it hilarious when people run around calling latter day saints heretics with a scowl and negative tone as if they think we should be offended. We literally meet every definition of heresy! I take exception to their tone/distain, etc. but we are heretics. Seriously, check it out: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heresy
Anonymous, you would be correct in terms of how the world defines us. But I think we should be more focused on how the Savior defines His people, because, in the end, that is the only definition that will matter. With that in mind, pointing out that that's how the world defines us or that we fit the definition of a worldly term is not helpful, nor should it be germaine or relevant in a forum where we discuss Church growth from a gospel-centered perspective. Scoring philosophical points from a worldly perspective is, in my opinion, another cheap shot at everything the Church stands for, and this isn't the place for that. No offense intended, and I hope none is taken, but there's a time and place for such arguments, and this isn't it.
With that in mind, your comment comparing the broadly-construed use of the terms sexual harassment and racism to the definition of the word "cult" may not be appropriate for this discussion either. Matt, if either of my replies to Anonymous here are inappropriate or off-base, please delete them promptly.
For the most part, I agree with you, JPL. But rather than getting overly or unduly upset about this, I might suggest that a better approach would be to follow Elder Andersen's counsel from his recent conference talk: to pray that approvals will be expedited and that obstacles and barriers to temple construction will be speedily removed. No offense intended, and I hope none is taken.
Finally updated today, on Meetinghouse Locator map, the merger of the Adelaide Australia Modbury Stake (510556) into the Adelaide Australia Firle Stake (524468), which has now been renamed the Adelaide Australia North Stake (524468).
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/524468
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/510556
I am not sure when the cult discussion started (on this thread, I looked a bit), but coincidentally, my daughter mentioned at her middle school some kids were referring to our Church as a cult. I asked her to ask them two questions:
What is the definition of a cult?
Is the Roman Catholic Church a cult?
There are different definitions of it, I have had a college course and book that had 4-5 criteria for the definition, which includes control by a centralized leader. Many of those textbook answers are readily available.
Was Jesus Himself that type of leader? By certain definitions, maybe. But the freedom that He offers is different than a prototypical cult leader, defined in 21st century secular terms.
Each language and culture has its own meanings and connotations for the word. I know in Germany they have various legal definitions of churches, how they are categorized. Each country has its own parameters. Ironic, that a country like China with such heavy and oppressive government control exhibits more signs of being a cult than most organized faiths in the world. North Korea certainly is such.
When people meet and discuss the freedoms and powers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our missionaries and members, it is quite hard to define them or us as subjected to such draconian methods of social control.
So, we have to figure out how to broach the dialog at times.
We constantly need to review our image and strive to be the right one, as alluded to by others. That of the Savior, and God.
Did anyone answer the Burkina Faso question?
Are there missionaries in Faroe Islands?
Other Matt here.
In the U.S., Federal law explicitly protects churches and other religious institutions and individuals from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use and zoning regulations. After learning that local land use and zoning regulations often placed burdens on religious congregations’ ability to practice their faith in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Congress enacted the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc.
This is why temples can be built at different or higher heights, than current zoning requirements for residential or commercial uses.
RLUIPA does not give churches a blank check to ignore all zoning regulations.
The statute states that "No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden on that person, assembly, or institution—
(A)is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and
(B)is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
The first step in this analysis is whether the government has imposed a substantial burden on the religious exercise. If there is a substantial burden, the second step is whether the government has proved that there is a compelling government interest and that the challenged regulation is the least restrictive means to meet that interest.
Putting this in the temple framework, the arguments look at whether regulations on steeple height, roof height, lighting, traffic flow, and hours of operation, among other factors, are a substantial burden on the Church's religious exercise. If it is not a substantial burden, the government is allowed to impose existing zoning requirements on the temple.
Neither RLUIPA nor the First Amendment entitle the Church or the members of the Church to simply do what we want when we build temples outside of this framework.
These are substantial legal questions that are based on the facts in a given case. There is significant legal analysis on both sides to be done. People of good faith and sound judgment both inside and outside of the Church can come to different conclusions about what constitutes a "substantial burden" in many cases. We need to have charity and respect for people who disagree; name-calling and insinuations that legal opponents are "stopping the Lord's work" or in some other way are aligned with Satan are uncalled for and need to stop in these comments and in the Church in general. Sitting with opponents and actively listening, and at times recognizing that they have a valid point, is a much better solution.
Decisions made out of animus towards religion are illegal under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment; the lead case is Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. Hialeah, 508 U.S. 520 (1993). That would deal with the small minority of cases in which religious animus is blocking religious practice or the construction of a temple, meetinghouse, mosque, synagogue, or other religious building.
Totally agree Andrew and your comment is a breath of fresh air.
Unfortunately this blog is an echo chamber of endless victimhood and persecution that is really getting old.
In order to reduce the climate of animosity that this comment session is taking, I would like to ask for your support and your prayers for the Brazilians of Rio Grande do Sul. The Church is constantly working to help in efforts to serve the most of 600 thousand refugees and homeless people. An Azul Airlines flight with donations departing here from Campinas was unloaded by missionaries in Canoas. There was even content coming from Deseret Industries, as well as several other sources. Church members are among those volunteering in the aftermath work. Campaigns under the Helping Hands program are collecting food and resources across the country. The humanitarian fund is being sent entirely to that location in Brazil.
I cannot help but compare the current catastrophes caused by climate change to the moments of destruction the Saints experienced on this continent when the Savior was about to visit them. I like to think that the land of Bountiful, where He ministered directly to the people after these catastrophes, was in my wonderful country, home to the greatest natural diversity on the entire planet. Drawing a parallel between these two episodes, I am sure that this event is part of a period of preparation for the arrival of a House of the Lord in the interior of the State. It will not be the first time that we see temples being announced immediately after major catastrophes in different parts of the world, bringing a breath of hope to people who suffered so much moments before. That's why I expect the announcement of a new temple for RS in October.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=408145158870227&set=a.103737875977625
creation of Lapu Lapu Philippines Stake, May 19th
Daniel, whereabouts in Rio Grande do Sul do you see a temple being announced? There is one currently in Porto Alegre, so where would a second one go?
Probably an annouce for Santa Maria .
This blog does a really good job at chronicling much of the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Discussing legal zoning and districting of its properties, and/or how members and others define themselves and ourselves, to include whether there are negative externalities and other considerations that affect how we are perceived in the United States and other countries, which comes from many people of all viewpoints, including many valuable insights from those from growth areas, like South America and Europe, is an incredible way to share information.
Ignorance and apathy are the enemies of all of us, those of the faith or not. Discussion and open dialog, open opinions and shared viewpoints are amazing and not to be taken for granted.
I thank all for sharing all of the above that involves cogent thought and critical and/or educated assessments and conjecture.
BA Spanish 1995 BYU-Provo
BS Secondary Education 1999 Indiana U. Bloomington
MA Latin American Studies 2003 UCLA
Where are the next five countries to open up to the Church?
I think that Azerbaijan is one of them.
The people in Fairview Texas have shown actual animus, which is something that is not allowed to motivate decisions. The clear fact that the two main haters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who comment here are the strongest supporters of the stopping of the temple show that the campaign is motivated by animus, not by any reasoned understanding of the plan.
The steeple of a temple is part of the religious use and intention. These things need to be considered in light of there actual function.
It is 100% clear that Fairview has prejudiced against the temple, and is unwilling to accept it at any size. This has all the same markings of anti-Mosque campaigns. I have seen these happen, and cities consistently loose them and are forced by courts to allow the building of the mosque.
The mayor of Fairview has openly declared that he does not want the temple there. This is setting up for a victory in court and having the courts mandate the temple as planned. If instead the city had retried to work out reasonable accommodations, there might have been some. Instead they have gone an unreasonable course of making false and malicious mischaracterizations of the the number of stories in the temple, and have preemptively attacked the Church for being willing to stand up for its religious rights. This is a course that will lead to the city failing in court.
It is what happened with the 15 and Ryan atmrea mosque in Sterling Heights, and many other cases.
The fact that Medellin Colombia got another stake in recent months gives me hope that Medellin will have a temple announced this fall.
The new stake in Puerto Varas gives me hope that there will be a temple announced for southern Chile this fall. I noticed that Sergio Vargas was an area seventy participating in organizing that stake, he is now a general authority.
In my experience Muslim mosques, and Latter-day Saint places of worship, especially temple, fact levels of opposition that few other religious groups face. I think there was a case where people fought a Jewish group trying to use a former Catholic site, but that is about it.
First off, if the opposition can be shown to be motivated by religious animus, that clearly makes ghe attempt to use state power to stop the action a sign that it violates the First Admendment.
If a city passes a no spires rule to prevent a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from ever being built there, it is a clearly unconstitutional action.
Many actions are not as clear, but most RLUIPA cases that go to court lead to losses by the cities.
It is also clear there are people spreading false rhetoric about temples to make them harder to build. I have seen the Cody Wyoming Temple called "gigantic". It is under 10,000 square feet. It is not gigantic. The typical chapel in Utah is 17,000 square feet. In fact that appears to be the standard size for most chapels built as multi-ward units throughout the US.
So Cody Wyoming Temple is smaller than the vast majority of chapels the Church has. My guess is that it is smaller than chapels in Cody. Stake centers are often running more like 24,000 square feet.
Possibly Saint Mary, but I have a glimmer of hope that it could be on the border to bless the Saints also on the opposite side in neighboring countries
What city would you suggest?
How easy is it to cross the border from Uruguay or Argentina to Brazil? Covid bring used to block some borders for years I think has reemphasized that borders are important.
Citizenship agreements between Mercosur nations allow any citizen to cross the border with only a standard identification document. Rivera and Livramento are conurbated, while the other borders only require crossing bridges. It's very peaceful
Matt suggests Passo Fundo or Pelotas, as well as Santa Maria. But I have this feeling about the Rivera/Livramento border. However, I could be very wrong...
Curious if anyone wants to guess what the 200th dedicated temple will be? There are 3 very likely candidates (assuming a date announced doesn't come before the Salvador Brazil Temple) - Tallahassee Florida Temple, San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple, and Deseret Peak Utah Temple. I don't feel a lean specifically towards one or the other, just curious what everyone's guesses are.
Ryan, there likely won't be any other temples dedicated prior to Salvador Brazil. There's currently flooding conditions in Tallahassee, so a dedication may not be set for the temple in that city until the flooding is resolved. Therefore, I believe the 200th dedicated temple will likely be the San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple, and that the earliest that dedication may occur will be November. So it may be a couple more weeks before the next temple dedication is announced.
@Andrew
I appreciate your comment about the intricacies of the laws involved.
My thoughts lean a bit more on the side of compromise and flexibility in these matters, as well. As well as listening respectfully to the other side and not instantly villifying them.
As much as I enjoy the soaring and majestic designs of many of our temples, I've wondered if alternate approaches might be more appropriate in some settings, particularly in rural areas (where we seem to currently be getting a lot of pushback).
Perhaps having some designs that blend in a bit more or are more modest in those areas would work better (or at least reflect local architecture better)?
In the case of Winnipeg, we built what essentially looks more like a chapel (inspired by local architecture, as well), and it was welcomed.
Freiburg Germany's design is very chapel-like and comparatively modest, and it has been accepted by the community (and since been expanded).
There's also the option of building more horizontally in some areas. I consider the Paris temple to be very beautiful and it's a more horizontal design with no spire.
BrasÃlia isn't very tall and essentially has no tower (other than an antenna), and it still serves its purpose.
And the majority of the smaller Hincleyan temples were more horizontal with shorter spires and still work.
After all, the main purpose of the temple isn't as much about what the building looks like (though I'm as big a fan of awe-inspiring buildings as the next person), as it is the sacred ceremonies inside (hence why these ordinances could be performed in an Endowment House at one point, or the ancient Israelites could worship in a tent in the wilderness).
In an interview with Elder Pearson (Utah area president) that was published yesterday, he mentioned that there will soon be 650 stakes in Utah (up from 645). Any guesses as to where these will come from? I do recall reading about the Spanish stake in Salt Lake County (I suspect there could be several created throughout Utah).
Link: https://www.deseret.com/faith/2024/05/12/utah-latter-day-saint-temples/
I would guess 1 in Salt Lake County 2-3 in Utah County, and 1-2 elsewhere.
The whole point of Nelsonian era temples are that they are already being built for the long term. I'd caution us all to be careful about assuming we know more about what the Church should do than the people who are actually making such decisions based on information we don't have or on inspiration we aren't entitled to receive. That is, in my view, a slippery slope that ought to be avoided. I would instead suggest that we follow Elder Andersen's counsel and focus our prayers on the temples being expeditiously approved and built without interruptions or delays. That may include altering the designs or locations, but such calls are not ours to make.
I believe Ogden Valley and Morgan Valley could each get a new stake.
Morgan County is growing like crazy right now, particularly the Mountain Green area. It would not surprise me at all to see them get another stake, but I still think it will take more than that for them to get their own temple. I think it's much more likely that a small temple is built in Evanston to serve any of the Wyoming stakes that go to Ogden right now. I could be wrong, of course, but I don't think a temple in Morgan makes things much easier for the Wyoming members and Morgan itself isn't large enough or far enough from Ogden to really need one right now.
As for the architecture question, I can see both sides here. The Church's overriding goal is to meet the needs of the members, while being a good neighbor and designing harmonious temples is an important secondary goal. But as we've seen in places like Cody, a lot of organized opposition to temples in the US does seem to come from a place of bad faith, with temples being held to standards that literally no other Christian religious structure would be held to (heck, in some of these places, entire city councils would be voted out for allowing an Evangelical church to be treated the way we're sometimes treated). There is ample evidence at this point that in every case, a temple increases property values around it and adds dramatically to the neighborhood's well-being. There is no evidence whatsoever of a temple ever causing problems for a community or reducing property values.
But with that being said, I also think that bad-faith opponents to temple construction are in the small minority in most cases. The Church doesn't face concerted opposition to temple construction all that often, and when it does, the matter can usually be resolved amicably in a short time. Situations like Heber City or Cody, where the opposition is really dug-in and problematic, are relatively rare.
When the site for the Singapore Temple was announced, it was stated that it was planned to be 2 stories, but the rendering clearly shows a single story building. It was either a miscalculation in reporting, or plans were altered after the site was announced.
I think I made a mistake. I talked about Teresina but I was referring to the Maceió temple, whose rendering was released today
I can think of three possibilities re: Teresina.
1. As Noah pointed out, plans may have changed.
2. Rick's temple site might just have the square footage wrong.
3. The scale of the rendering is misleading and it will be a small two-story building in the vein of Kyiv or San Salvador.
James Stokes,
I've noticed you have been cautioning people more than usual lately. Are you doing okay?
Your reply to the other James above left me scratching may head, especially since he said "could" and not "should."
No offence is intended, and of course if you've been asked to moderate, feel free to let us know and delete this message.
How far is the trip in time from the center of Morgan to the Ogden Temple? How long if at all is doing the trip made unlovable during the winter. Are we talking a few hours on the worst snow day, a few hours several days, a few days when it is undoubtedly?
I am trying to gage if there are reasons to build a temple in Morgan besides number of members.
I am very excited that Riberao Preto, which I probably misspelled, has a temple announced.
I was a little sad we did not get a site announced, but with on the Order of 40 or so temples with announced sites but no groundbreaking date, that does not seem to be the most pressing issue.
I am glad to see the renderings for Huehuetenango and Maceio. I think Maceio especially looks very nice.
I would love it if we got at least one groundbreaking, one rendering, one site announced and one dedication announced each week. Although with only 35 temples announced a year, that could not keep up indefinitely.
Grand Rapids got city approval, so I keep hoping we will see that dedicated soon. At Detroit Temple we have several Grand Rapidians who have come on as temple workers since the temple was announced. We will probably need to up our temple worker numbers to better prepare for that temple.
On the other hand I saw an article about the Tampa Cooley Law School that seemed to indicate it was renting back its old facility until the new location it is building was complete. So it might be a bit until we see ground breaking there. Generally they clear sites before groundbreaking, although I do not know enough of the site to know exactly how that works logistically.
Some announced temples, such as "Houston South Area" we still have very little idea where they will be.
I did see that Elder Pearson mentioned 650 stakes for Utah. I am thinking those are ones that are approved and we will probably see very soon.
52% of senior missionaries serving out of Urmtah is staggering. We need to do a lot to globalized that much needed phenomenon. The suburban Detroit ward I grew up in has one senior couple serving from it right now. They might be the only senior couple serving from our stake. There was another couple from that ward that just got back from a senior mission a few months ago. We did not have a senior couple serve from that ward until I was about 28.
30% of young missionaries coming out of Utah is about twice its percentage of total members. What would be interesting is to see that broken out for service and prospering missionaries. I suspect in both it would be above average, but more so for service.
The Russia and Cagayan de Oro Temples have now displaces Concepcion Chile for 6th place as the longest time from announcement to groundbreaking. They still are at 2 years less than the time Urdaneta waited.
Abijan looks like it is 10th longest from groundbreaking to dedication right now, at the level of Mesa. However I seems unlikely to be deciated before ot hits 6 years from groundbreaking in November. They would put it at 7th, after Salt Lake, Manti, Carlsson, Rome, Fortaleza and Logan. Washington DC was 5 years 11 months and Logan 6 years 11 months. Abijan looks likely to have a groundbreaking to dedication time frame fall in that range.
Abijan just pulled into 11th place for time from announcement to dedication, since this month it beat out Rio de Janairo's 9 years 1 month and 2 days. If it is dedicated before about Nov. 4 it will finish in 11th place. That session unlikely because dedication dates of late tend to be announced after the construction is fully complete, and construction is not complete on Abijan and the dates for Salvador included a dedication on Oct. 20th. Abijan is probably going to take less than Cardston's 10 years, 1 month and 29 days to graduation. That number will be hit on June 3, 2025. I am hoping that the temple will be dedicated before that date, but I do not know for sure.
San Pedro Sula, Tallahassee and Deseret Peak all are at major construction completed status but do not have a dedication date announced.
You wrote correctly. The useful accent is perhaps overrated
Where can I read more about the mayor of Fairview's comments? I think it's telling that unlike most areas, where the local city planning commission approves it and draws the ire of opponents, in the case of fair just said "yeah there's no way I'm going to approve that." I feel like a Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian church wouldn't have any trouble building a spire of the same height.
I also worry that opposition Cody, WY is more animus driven than anything. One recent article kept describing the temple with adjectives like "humongous" and "gigantic." It's planned to be <10k feet, making it one of the smallest in the church and at the lower limit of what for what could practically function as a temple.
In Las Vegas, I can definitely see what people would mourn what they see as the loss of the semi-rural feel that made them move to the area in the first place, and I could see the church redesigning it to address their specific height concerns. But I do think if they local opponents give the temple a chance, they'll be surprised what a positive effect it will have on their community.
An article in the Iowa papers ran about the Des Moines Temple emphasizing it will make worship easier for Latter-day Saints in Iowa. This may show in the main the plus of a strong communications strategy.
It might also help that the temple has less than 1,000 square feet per acre of site. When a temple site is 19 acres it is not close to anyone. Well,not super close. Most people who engage in NIMBY opposition to thinks are ranging slightly more wife than their actual back yard.
JPL, to answer your Morgan question, it's about 35 minutes from Morgan proper to the Ogden temple, and shorter from Mountain Green. And unless there's a crash on I-84, the drive is fine even in the winter. In all the time I lived in Morgan, trip distance was never a barrier to attending the temple pretty much whenever we wanted (in fact, if Ogden was busy, we were perfectly happy to just hit Brigham City instead).
Part of that, it's worth noting, is because Morgan is very much an upper-middle-class community. Almost everyone has readily available and reliable transportation, so the drive isn't a barrier to temple attendance. In fact, Morgan supplies a decent number of ordinance workers for the Ogden temple.
Other Matt here...
At 19 acres, I wonder if the church for easier approval bought the larger than normal lot, and then once the temple built, sells the excess land for residential or commercial development.
James, I appreciate the concern, but I do have insight from a general authority and can say that the current temples are NOT built with this idea (renovation-expansion) in mind. He would be the first to admit that the upper leadership is not infallible, nor should we pretend they are.
Zach - the Planning and Zoning commission recommended not approving the temple plans, in part, because an area authority (Art Rascon) got up and told the commission that having it be a certain height wasn't an important element of the religion (and another member came up afterwards and concurred). You can hear the entire meeting here: https://fairviewtexas.org/government/agendas-and-minutes.html?agendasminutes=Planning%20and%20Zoning
If approved, the McKinney temple would be the tallest building in the entire town. I wouldn't say that's specifically an anti-LDS bias. Among finished temples, the McKinney temple would also be in top 20 for height I believe.
Cody, Wyoming, the proposed spire is 101 feet. Also pretty tall (top 65 among finished temples), but not nearly the height of Heber Valley (210 feet), Lone Mountain (216 feet), or McKinney (174 feet) temples. The appeal by Cody neighbors was to relocate or shorten the temple - not to cancel it from being built altogether.
When put in this context, it should be fairly clear that mixing a very small rural area with an extremely tall building is going to bother neighbors.
JPL - I think that's a fantastic point. Creating a buffer zone between the temple and surrounding residences would likely go a long ways towards being a good neighbor, especially if the buffer zone is well landscaped with tall trees! It could also provide a beautiful setting for members to drive up to the temple. Win/win.
I agree. Landscaping makes a big difference. The Frankfurt temple is definitely the largest and most notable structure in Friedrichsdorf, for instance, but it is flanked by fitting patron housing and wonderful landscaping with trees on all sides. It's a wonderful, inviting place to spend time for the whole community.
What started as a discussion on growth in East Africa was hijacked after 5 posts and turned into opinions about temples. Aren't we interested in knowing about Africa?
What started as a discussion on growth in East Africa was hijacked after 5 posts and turned into opinions about temples. Aren't we interested in knowing about Africa? Five out of 106 is concerning.
Other Matt here...
New stake created in Nevada
Logandale Nevada Stake spilt into 2 stakes. Logandale Nevada East Stake
Logandale Nevada West Stake
Thanks, Other Matt.
Also verified on the Map. But unknown date of organization of new Logandale Nevada West Stake?
The original Logandale Nevada Stake (500658) was renamed Logandale Nevada East Stake (500658) and was originally organized in 1912.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/500658
And the newly organized Logandale Nevada West Stake (2254921)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2254921
Thanks again.
@James (the other one, not Stokes)
I like your ideas about planned out, step-by-step Temple Expansions and Renovations.
The idea is similar to the Phase 1, Phase 2, etc. smaller chapels that the Church builds in certain areas (my ward currently meets in a Phase 2 chapel).
It's interesting to see how in different situations and different areas, the Church has adjusted its plans to accommodate specific needs.
This, I believe, was the impetus for the smaller Hinckleyan Temples in the first place.
And why Kinshasa was built to be smaller and more modest.
And why the original location for the Harrison/White Plains Temple was eventually moved to being a multi-use building in Manhattan, which has worked out better in the long run (and is even now being updated).
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/maps/units shows the Cuiaba, Brazil stakes and two adjacent districts as pertaining to the Campinas, Brazil temple rather than the Brasilia, Brazil temple. This surprises me from a distance perspective. Can someone with CDOL access verify that this is correct and if it is, does anyone know why this may be?
There has actually been quite a bit of discussion on matters related to East Africa here.
The fact the Rwanda Kigali Mission includes some of DR Congo, and the centuries old migration of Hutus and Tutsis from Rwanda to DR Congo makes thinking about East Africa separately from Central Africa hard. The fact the Africa Central Area is headquartered in Nairobi but has its only operating temple in Kinshasa makes thinking about East Africa as a distinct unit in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints even harder.
The Kenya Nairobi Temple was the last announced by President Monson to have a groundbreaking. About 2 months before the last groundbreaking of a temple announced by President Kimball. In fact the time from when President Kimball announced the temple for American Samoa until a temple was dedicated in American Samoa I think now exceeds the time from when Brigham Young announced the Salt Lake Temple until it was dedicated.
Back to East Africa The Not By Bread Alone foundation, with Junior Bonza a Congolese Latter-day Saint who now lives in the US, is making a series of short films on the history of the Church in DR Congo, although it has expanded to also cover other parts of Africa.
This is a short and exciting history. A goal is to have a large part of the work released by the time the Lubumbashi DR Congo Temple is done.
That brings up a point. Although Lubumbashi is not generally considered in East Africa, it will probably serve some of East Admfrica
Lake Tanganyika covering the whole Tanzania/DR Congo border does mean you cannot easily travel straight from Tanzania to DR Congo. Lubumbashi is far south, almost into Zambia. Kitwe, in Zambia is almost twice as far from Lusaka as it is from Lubumbashi.
I noticed all the districts in Tanzania are in the North. I am wondering if any branches exist in the south.
Swahili is spoken in much of Tanzania, so much so that or is the language of missionary work there. It is also dpoken in Lubumbashi. So linguistically the alignment could help.
On further review all cities with branches in Tanzania are relatively in the north. Arshad looks to be closer to Nairobi than to Dar es Salaam, Mwanza where the third district is is actually closer to Kampala than the Nairobi, and Narobi is much closer than Dar es Salaam.
Moshi which as the crow flies is as far from Narobi or maybe a little closer than Arusha, with Mount Kilimanjo right on that route you go through Arusha to get to Narobi. Dodoma is the only place with a branch closer to Dar es Salaam than Narobi, but even then the distances are fairly close. The one thing I do not know is how easy border crossings are. Arusha is well under 200 air miles from the Nairobi Temple. That is not always a good approximation of land travel distance but it is something. Bulawayo is over that air distance from the Harare Temple. Kampala is well above that distance from the Nairobi Temple, and even Busia district on which goes across the Ugana/Kenya border is over 200 air miles from Nairobi.
My grandfather's brother raised his family and taught school in Logandale Nevada.
200 air miles is a very big distance. No stake in DR Congo is that far from a planned Temple. Only Kisangi district is, as well as the branches close to the Rwanda border.
Kolwezi stake is the only in DR Congo more than 100 air miles from an at least planned temple. It is getting its own mission. Luputa and 2 other stakes nearby are over 50 miles from Mbuji-Maye.
In Nigeria the only stakes over 200 air miles from a planned temple are the 3 Abuja ones.
In South Africa The 200 mile gap suggests temples for East London and Bloemfontaine. However at present Bloemfontsine would only have 1 stake and 1 district and East London might take in 3 stakes, but that would leave Cape Town Temple with 2 stakes and a district. Even the district, George is more than 200 air miles from the temple site.
I think I know understand why Cape Town is under 10,000 square feet. If Gqeberha or Bloemfontain were closer to East London and Mdansane, a temple in Mdansane would seem likely. I could see Pretoria getting a temple, that would leave 7 close stakes with Johanesburg, plus Gborne stake in Botswana and Bloemfontaine stake for now. The thing is that Pretoria is under 50 air miles, and the trip is on a major highway with the Johanesburg Temple close to that highway. The temple does not help an outlying district like Polokwane very much. Here again the problem is logistical. There are no stakes anywhere close to the midpoint. Mabopane is further out, but off the main highway. If you go with Temba over on the highway to help Polokwane and Tazaneen districts be in reasonable distances, you might not even take in the Centurion South Africa stake. The Mbombea district in the east of Sputh Africa and the Mbabane district in Eswatini are closer to Msputo than to Johannesburg, although I do not know how easy border crossing is.
Bo is right at 100 air miles from the Sierra Leone Temple, but the main road twists enough to make driving distance longer.
Despite being relatively closer to BrasÃlia, the saints from Mato Grosso actually come to Campinas. The answer is on the roads: the route via BR 364 to the State of São Paulo is infinitely better than any road between Cuiabá and the capital of Brazil
Looks like the Logandale Nevada West Stake was created on May 5th, 2024 according to the Stake Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/LogandaleNevadaStakeNews
I find it interesting that the stake was divided to create two stakes with only five wards each. That certainly isn't the norm for stake divisions in the United States, as stakes with 5 ward seem more likely to be combined here. Perhaps they are planning for future growth in the region? Or maybe this is an effect of the new requirements of only 2,000 members per stake?
Lone Mountain Nevada Temple passed the first hurdle from the Planning Commission with a 6-1 recommendation to the City Council. July 17 is the anticipated Council meeting date where the Council will hear the temple items.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan is advertising a devotional exclusively for the Latino community that is residing there, for the Kanagawa stake on 26 May with Ulises Soares presiding the devotional.
Does Japan have any Spanish speaking or Portuguese speaking units? I know that there are several areas of Japan especially in Nagoya and in Gunma where there is a sizeable Brazilian community and there is a significant level of bilingualism JP-PT(Br)
Regarding Logandale, I could see potential growth out there. It is a member-heavy area. I also think this could set up the potential for a small temple in Mesquite, NV, which would serve four stakes (two in Mesquite, two in Logandale). And Mesquite seems primed for growth as well. Maybe not the most urgent temple, but if we have to start thinking about more "remote" locations to get to the 600+ numbers, it could happen.
I have relatives in Logandale and Overton. I think it was perfectly justified to create two stakes. You don’t see very much growth in that area, but you also don’t see any shrinking going on, either. It’s pretty stable, with very slow growth. Usually a few houses being built at any given time in the town. And yes, as you said EP, it’s very member-heavy.
Other Matt here...
The huge master planned city of Coyote Springs with a potential 200k population falls within the Logandale NV West Stake boundaries. Despite recent court battles blocking development due to water rights, at some point due to Las Vegas Valley being built out, future growth will eventually get approved in Coyote Springs and/or Logandale/Overton.
It seems to me that dividing Logandale into two stakes of 5 units each actually makes a Mesquite/Logandale temple less likely rather than more, for the same reason that consolidating Ireland (the Republic, not the island) into a single stake actually makes a temple there more likely rather than less -- fewer stakes mean more members available to serve in the temple presidency and as temple workers, while the same number of units divided among more stakes means fewer available members. If memory serves, we saw this with Austria shortly after a temple there was announced, when the two Vienna stakes were consolidated into one
--Felix
As far as I can tell, Austria has only ever had 2 stakes - 1 in Vienna and 1 in Salzburg. In fact, I believe the only temple in the last few years that has had a stake discontinued shortly after a temple was announced was Birmingham, England with the Lichfield England Stake. Both occurred in 2022, with the temple announced in April, and the Lichfield stake discontinued I think in June/July.
@Ryan, hmm, in that case I must be misremembering. I wonder if perhaps some wards or branches in Vienna were consolidated around that time? Maybe that is what I remember.
--Felix
I believe there is at least one Spanish-speakung unit in Japan. I had a friend called to the Nagoya Japan Portuguese speaking mission in 2000.
My branch president served in Japan in about 1990 and was involved in outreach to people who had come from Brazil.
My father who served in Brazil in 1972-1974 taught and baptized people there of Japanese descent.
When I was at BYU I knew 2 ethnic Japanese Brazilians. 1 of them had for a time lived in Jspan. He may have even joined the Chur h in Japan. I also knew a man from Brazil who served his mission in Japan who told me he taught many people there who knew only Pirtuguese.
People can be temple workers and serve in most other callings. 2 of the coordinators on my shift at the Detroit Temple are bishopric members. One of the members of my stake Presidency is a temple worker.
I think in the Logandsle case it is a sign that there is solid growth. Also is it 10 units, or 10 wards? I believe there was at least one branch in Logan dale stake when I was on my mission.
I also seem to recall the Native American reservation being in that stake. There is potential for outreach, growth and strengthening there.
Right now, at 8:36 their time, Logan dale is 1 hour 1 minute from the Las Vegas Temple and 1 hour 8 minutes from St. George Temple. Probably 1 hour 12 minutes from Red Cliff. Overton is a little further from both locations.
Mesquite is 39 minutes from St. George Temple and 34 from Logandale. You cut that down to 30 minutes if the temple is placed out by the Mospa Valley Mortuary. Oddly enough Bunkerville is 31 minutes from that site, but 47 from St. George Temple, it is thus further from everywhere. Beaver Dam right now is 6 minutes closer to St. George Temple than you Moapa Valley Mortuary. We are talking 35 to 41. I do not know if traffic gets bad enough in St. George to matter.
It looks like the Arizona parts of the Mesquite stakes might go to both temples, but the Nevada parts would go to a Logandale Temple. 4 stalke temple districts do exist, although most are a little filurther from surrounding temples. Still if the goal is 90% of Church members yo be an hour or less from a temple, Logandale makes the list. However just barely, while you have Luputa with 2 stakes and a third not too far away, 4 hours from Mbuji-Mayi. That would leave Mbuji-Maye with only 3 stakes, but if a Luputa Temple was announced in October I am sure there would be more stakes before either it or Mbuji-Maye was completed.
I still think Henderson will be Nevada's next temple, but I think Logandale will happen.
Brazil has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. The Brazilian community in Japan (dekasseguis), made up of Japanese descendants and their spouses, is quite significant. Brazil is also home to the largest Italian, Portuguese and Syrian-Lebanese populations outside their countries of origin. As the destination of the majority of black people enslaved during the infamous 16th-19th centuries, Brazil is also the largest country with an African population in the world. With the exception of Middle Eastern nations, I know missionaries who served in all of these countries (in the case of Africa, Brazilians are called to serve in Portuguese-speaking nations)
@Rayan & @Unkown
1 Ward was consolidated in Vienna. It was metntioned that this will help free up members for the temple comity and running temple once dedicated.
News about Lone Mountain's approval process:
https://www.fox5vegas.com/2024/05/15/proposed-lds-temple-project-draws-crowds-fierce-debate-both-sides/?outputType=amp
The article has short quotes and viewpoints from both sides of the issue.
@EP
I just realized you posted the same info about Lone Mountain before I did. At any rate, there's the link for those interested. :)
Over the next 5 weekends 5 temples will be dedicated. However 1 has 2 dedications, and Memorial day weekend has none.
Elder Gong will do the next two dedications. MAY 19th in Puebla. Than on the first Aunday in June he will dedicated Taylorsville, Temple.
Elder Gong is the apostle assigned to Mexico I believe. Sister Gong was born and raised in Taylorsville.
The Church News has an article on this and listen lots of other related facts.
Speaking of unprecedented growth-- does anyone know if it might be possible to track growth of the church through YSA wards? I feel like this could be a huge place for possible growth for the church. Just last week I was set apart as elders quorum president after having been the ward mission leader and as a result of having great missionaries, we were able to see lots of success in the form of about 20 baptisms in a year. For context I am not in Utah, I'm in a fairly large YSA ward in a college town in the midwestern U.S., so there's definitely lots of growth potential here. I feel like this would depend on region, potential growth, etc. Anyone else have any thoughts on what might cause a bunch of young single adults to join the church in mass (besides sheer dumb luck)?
I know that the church is definitely putting new efforts and resources into the YSA and hopefully this will lead to some real growth. One thing I'm excited about are changes to the age for YSA/ mid-singles and a potential intermediate age group. So many active members go inactive when they turn 31 and are forced into the mid singles ward. Having a new ward for people in the late twenties to early thirties (in areas with lots of membership) will hopefully help people to feel more comfortable at church and will lead to higher retention rates.
The bio of I. Raymomd Egbo has been published in the Church News. He is the seminary man. Evidently he has been area director of seminaries and institutes in the Africa West Area. The article says he was born in Port Harcourt but is from a village in A law Ibom, but he first was introduced to the church in Calabar, in Cross River State.
He served his mission in Lagos. Sister Egbo is slso from Calabar. They lived in Lagos for a time where he was in the Presidency of the Lagos West Mission, and then later went to Accra where he was Area Seminary and Institute director.
From 2009-2012 they presided over the Calabar Mission. That is the same mission that Elder Joseph W. Sitati was president of. It is possibly the only mission being created this year that has previously had 2 former presidents become general authorities.
I have been following this thread for several days since posting my last comment, but haven't commented recently, as I didn't feel I had much to contribute in response to the recent comments. But David Todd, I was intrigued by what you said. I hadn't heard of the changes to the YSAs/mid-singles and the potential new intermediate age group. Could someone enlighten me on those details?
Also, as a side note, for some reason, my access to the CDOL has been revoked. I don't know whether I was never supposed to have access to it, or whether a recent decision was made to revoke that access for Sunday School secretaries, but every time I try to log in now, it says that my calling is not authorized to access that resource anymore. So, unfortunately, I won't be able to help in the future with information from the CDOL unless and until either my access changes or my calling changes, neither of which I am anticipating anytime soon.
Thoughts, prayers, hopes, and questions for Porto Alegre and Rio Grande do Sul state.
I heard that 600,000 residents are displaced, many of them have lost all their possessions. I believe there are 27 stakes and five districts in this state; I do not know not know how many are affected by the flooding. Over a hundred people have died, and now illnesses are likely to impact more.
Not sure how the temple is doing, or any of the chapels. I know many people lost all their memorabilia, physical artifacts, and family histories. Hopefully many people, including former missionaries, can share collected articles and items with those who lost so much. In a digital age much can be retrieved, even though I know I have lost a lot of photos and videos from past cell phones that did not transfer its data properly.
There is good and bad in new technology.
In a Filipino case, where a city (cannot remember which, should be documented in websites and church news), a typhoon wiped out a ton of data, related to official records and histories, and our Church was able to re-supply it, I believe free of charge.
I am guessing many missionaries have been removed and re-located.
With more members and temples there is more risk of loss and threats worldwide.
How are our members in Haiti? Does any missionary work go on there now? Perhaps the ones not there can go to other French speaking islands, which are replete across the globe.
Our Church and the Gospel are built for times and places of crisis. God bless the southern Brazilians. And Haitians.
James G. Stokes,
I remember when my CDOL access was revoked after being released from a calling - it was a sad, sad day. My condolences.
(In case it wasn't obvious, just making some light-hearted humor)
The weird thing is that my calling hasn't changed at all, only my ability to access the CDOL. Not much to be done about it. I will look forward to what others share about future updates from that resource.
Information about the works at the Ribeirão Preto Temple site can be obtained at the following address (content in Portuguese):
https://www.instagram.com/temploderibeiraopreto/
Welcome on board James !!! The same thing happens to me !!!
About Rio Grande do Sul tragedy 21 chapels authorized as shelters for the homeless. Temple not directly affected, accepting appointments.
Other Matt here...
I believe the Salt Lake YSA Stake and Logan YSA Stake and perhaps other areas now have "older YSA" Wards 26-35 as an overlap to YSA (18-30) and Midsingles (31-45)
Other Matt,
To clarify, the Church recently upped the age cap for YSAs to 35, but stakes have the option to either keep everyone in 18-35 wards or split them into 18-25 and 26-35 wards.
My CDOL access is also revoked over the past week.
As for YSA ages, I think that's a local thing. I haven't heard anything official confirming this. The handbook still says 18-30. I've noticed the church typically will allow testing a potential change before making it a church wide policy. Some become policy and some don't.
Jonathon is correct. I am in a YSA Stake and the changes are confirmed for the entire church. I would guess an official announcement of sorts or updates to the handbook are still forthcoming, but we first heard about it passed down from our stake presidency a couple weeks ago when it became official at that time. This age cap also extends to things like institute. As for creating split wards with the two different age ranges, that is something that will be up to local areas and stakes. When I first heard of the change a couple weeks ago, I also learned that some of the YSA stakes (not sure where) that were first piloting this change to having split wards between 18-25 and 26-35 saw a noticeable percentage increase in church attendance for both age range wards.
I've been having trouble posting here for some reason, so hopefully this goes through. Thanks to Jonathon and Eric for their responses!
What I have heard is that the church has been piloting some of these changes for a while in a few YSA stakes and sent an announcement to YSA leaders a few weeks ago letting them know that they could implement the changes as they desire. I think the official changes are coming in September and might have some more specific guidelines.
My YSA stake has opened up for all who are 18-35 and is letting those who wish to move their records back from mid-singles wards do so, but we are waiting to see what the response is before splitting into two different age groups. I talked to a different YSA stake president who said their stake is waiting until September to make any changes.
My relatively small ward has already had about 8-10 people move their records in from the mid-singles ward, so it seems that there is definitely some interest. Lots of people are excited about the potential age split in my ward as well as we seem to have a large group of 18-21 year olds and a large group of 27-30 year olds and it has been a bit hard to integrate when these groups are in such drastically different stages of life.
A new stake has been created from the Mandaue Philippines Stake: the Lapulapu Stake (Which covers the Mactan Island), the 130th stake in the Philippines, was established on May 19, 2024. On the same day, the Maribago-Marigondon (Agus) Meetinghouse dedication also took place.
https://www.facebook.com/plpg10/posts/pfbid026FWVZPDyc8kwqRi4kVB2ZNvTootPJuo7gnyDWPmM2p9vvW6o2w8UVsAWoTjgRoYgl
A man who lived in Utah was killed after leading an attempted coup of DRC. His son went to High School in Utah and is a member (the son was arrested - I'm guessing he won't be alive much longer). This NY Times article mentions that the US ambassador is concerned about US-DRC relations because of the connection of the coup to Americans. Given how foreign governments sometimes react to Americans being involved in their affairs (think Russia's perception of missionaries being 'spies'), will this affect missionary efforts in DRC going forward?
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/19/world/africa/congo-coup-americans.html
This is interesting; not something I was aware of happening.
There are essentially no foreign missionaries serving in the DRC but there might be some implications for the Church if it was involved (e.g., through leadership) in the attempted coup.
At this point, not worried about DR Congo.
Also interesting growth-related items:
Ryan Burge's latest analysis uses the most recent Cooperative Election Survey and finds that the "rise of the 'nones'" (those who don't ascribe to any religion) has hit a ceiling. In 2008, only 21% of Americans claimed to be non-religious "Nones." By 2013, it was 30%. In 2019, 35%. But since 2019, it has jumped around between 34% and 36% for 2023. In other words, the proportion of nonreligious in the US seems to have plateaued around 35% for the last 5 years or so. Interesting trend because it could have implications for general attitudes about religion in the US.
Ryan also points out that generationally, Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to be "Nones," with both groups reporting 42% "None" membership, but the differences aren't as stark as you'd expect. He's not sure what to make of that, because Gen Z reported 48% None membership the year before, and 42% now - and it isn't a small sample size thing. He speculates that perhaps some Gen Z is converting back to religiosity. Thus, perhaps generational replacement of religious people may actually happen more than might be expected.
Second, Bakersfield joins the group of temple-neighborhood disputes. Neighbors raised $9,000 in legal funds to fight the temple's height, and want to make it clear that they welcome the temple, but don't see the need for it to 'tower over the neighborhood': https://www.bakersfield.com/news/latter-day-saints-church-pauses-temple-project-to-mollify-neighbors/article_5004a4e8-14b4-11ef-ba98-0f940164a02b.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1oogLXuL71fkdokyUghI8dDrqL5DSqb4RVsvjpjV-9XB7YrZjAI3FLRkg_aem_AWxQtumWtmLueIxwLPh0OWtDJ-Jq5AihHr-_qBqrQI_ElHBZbvwbgg9RqMbuZefZqMF_PMEQ1dbkrPthkRLJ7tqR
I recently saw a video detailing Daniel Ortega's brutally violent crackdown on Catholicism in Nicaragua since around 2020 (which is deeply ironic considering that Ortega is himself a convert to Catholicism), which made me wonder if, considering that in the United States anti-Catholicism and anti-Mormonism have often gone hand-in-hand, there has been any spillover targeting Latter-day Saints there. As far as I can tell, there doesn't appear to be - the Managua temple had its groundbreaking just a year and a half ago, for example - but I welcome insight from people more familiar with the situation there.
There is a process of foreign investment underway across Africa. Taking advantage of the fact that European colonialism (mainly French) left African nations to fend for themselves after the civil and independence wars, Russia and especially China began a massive program of investment in infrastructure, in exchange for political influence over these nations. Although I classify myself as progressive and democrat and do not fear China as a member of an illusory "axis of evil", I cannot ignore that this development tends to increase anti-American sentiment across the continent, especially in DRC. If the Church remains strictly identified with headquarters in Utah rather than being recognized as a worldwide movement, some tension may occur.
I fear that the speculation about this fact is greater than the fact itself. See, in Brazil this situation was exploited by the extreme right in their "holy" crusade against the socialists. But the fact is that Ortega only persecuted priests who tried to revisit the "social doctrine of the church", which is a movement that proposes the use of religious institutions as a nucleus for social change and improvement in the quality of life, based on the organization of members in productive cooperatives, for example. Interestingly, this doctrine is a reinterpretation of Marxist practice within the Church, a way for religion to make a difference in the social aspect and in the fight against poverty, and was even persecuted by John Paul II and other conservative leaders in Rome. But Ortega's government wants to have a "monopoly" on social promotion policies in favor of its populist paternalism, so it hunted down the priests who were organizing the community.
I see! Thank you, Daniel, for your input here.
I suppose that means that the church could have been negatively affected in Nicaragua if economic communitarian theology like the United Order had been maintained more robustly in the modern church... interesting to think about, at least.
Well, unless something changes in the next half-hour or so, it appears we won't be getting another major temple construction announcement today aside from the dedication of the Puebla Mexico Temple, which occurred yesterday:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-news-house-of-the-lord-2024
My thanks once again to you all.
I am not worried about the situation in DR Congo. As acid before, the Church has no American missionaries there. The temple has a Congolese president. The area president will be Cobgolese come August.
I am not sure if there is even a non-Congolese mission president there. There might be a few non-Congolese missionaries, but the bulk of the missionaries are Congolese.
The changes about 20 years ago that significantly reduces the number of areas also onvolved moving more functions of the Church to the area level.
This means that many ways the Church interacts with areas are through locally based stafcmrmbers. These tend to be local members where possible.
The Church Educarional System was the first large scale system to have full time employees worldwide and to staff the positions with local leadership.
Elder Soares as head of finance in Brazil succeeded an American, but that was about 30 years ago, maybe a bit more.
Elder Egbo was head of CES for the Africa West Area.
In Congo Elder Mutombo and Elder Kyungu were both heads of Family History Operations. A Congolese area seventy is also head of translation. There are other examples.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the sheer number of stakes in Kunshasa I think may guarantee some exposure to the Church. The one issue may be if Church outreach has been primarily to marginalized populations than this may cause problems.
Keep in mind that Congo has had perpetual war since 1996 or so, with revolutionary grops constantly forming and seeking a change in government.
Nor is connection with past governments always a permanent negative. Norman Kamosi who was the government outreach cooelrdination for the Kinshsa DR Congo Temple project was key to it not taking as long as Rome. I know it took a while, but without him it would have taken more time.
Norman Kamosi was an official of the airline in Mobutu's government. He fled to the US after that government fell violently and then joined the Church.
I think the same way. It's always a win-lose game when it comes to humanity...
Indeed, we engage in conjecture, but sometimes we forget that the Lord's hand is in everything, even when we submit to the cruelest regimes, or when surrounded by war, as in the days of Nephi and the dispersion of Israel. The Lord is always in control, even in these days.
Anyone has information about the first Spanish-speaking stake in Utah which would have been created yesterday?
The West Jordan Utah Wasatch Meadows Stake (Spanish) was created on May 19th and includes 8 wards:
Bingham Creek Ward
Copper Hills 5th Ward
Cobble Creek 5th Ward
Mountain View 4th Ward
Oquirrh Point 5th Ward
River 9th Ward
Westbrook 10th Ward
Westland 5th Ward
It is the first Spanish-language stake in Utah.
I had heard about the age shift for YSA units. I do see plusses to breaking them up at 25. However I am not sure we have enough YSAs in metro Detroit to justify that. From what I have seen, which is little, it seems to have been a positive development for those involved.
I wonder if other Spanish-speaking stakes will follow soon?
I'm a ward Sunday School president and I no longer have access to CDOL either.
I've had access to CDOL probably as historically from my ward and stake clerk positions as none of my four current callings give me access to any part of LCR. I guess Salt Lake was feeling CDOL was being abused in some way. That's my guess.
I'm a stake SA 31+ rep. Nothing has come to me through any official channels. Those that turn 31 find themselves in a group that most attending are over the age of 50. So I see it a positive change for them (even if their stuck with 18-year-olds). Here, due to not even being an existence of a branch, our stake may still group all YSAs together. This may do away with midsingles programs and lessen the already few number of SA wards since they're capped at 45.
Our stake already has a grey zone as for those close to the cutoff age. So those ~26 to 35 are already welcome to both YSAs and SAs. That being said I have not heard of an age change other than through this blog and web searches.
We got word about the age range adjustment from the area presidency via our stake presidency on April 28 (I literally announced it over the pulpit). But I haven't seen anything online.
Personally, at least my ward will probably benefit from keeping 18-35 together just for numbers. We're a smaller ward and especially our relief society badly needs more members.
I know that this is a post on East Africa, but as a church growth blog I encountered this video discussing to the growth and history of the church in Mongolia in its 30 year history. https://youtu.be/uNJIfY8g1Ic?si=wV2rMYet6yCnTI3c
Chris, this is a Church Growth Blog post comment thread. I think Matt would agree that any topic related to Church growth in any way is fair game for these discussion threads. Thanks for sharing that here as well.
With that in mind, Elder Christofferson is ministering in the Africa South Area and made his first ever stop in Madagascar, where he visited a few locations, including the announced site for the Antananarivo temple. Maybe he was there to gauge how approvals were going for that temple:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/05/21/elder-d-todd-christofferson-madagascar-antananarivo-missionaries-members-disciples-jesus-christ/
Does anyone have any other thoughts on this?
An intriguing update on the Salt Lake Temple and other temples:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast/2024/05/21/church-news-podcast-salt-lake-temple-renovation-update-with-brent-roberts-and-andy-kirby/
The Salt Lake Bonneville YSA stake started a pilot program last year that changed the age ranges in the wards. The wards were divided into 18-25 and 25-35. They didn’t make any boundary changes. They simply invited members to move their records in a nearby ward that fit their age. I am hearing rumors that the Salt Lake Pioneer stake will follow this model in coming months. Although, they may make some changes to the boundaries this time.
And the Church lost a senior missionary couple as the result of a tragic car accident:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/senior-missionaries-die-california-fresno-mission
My thanks once again to you all.
Other Matt here...
Here are the wards associated with the new stake:
Taylorsville 5th Ward
Taylorsville 6th Ward
Kearns 9th Ward
Kearns 13th Ward
Midvale 14th Ward
West Jordan 8th Ward
Oquirrh 11th Ward
Well, what kind of abuses you guess ?
It seems to me that a common denominator in those saying access was revoked is that they are in the Sunday School presidency. I could very EASILY be wrong, but it seems that Sunday School is the odd-man out of auxiliaries. It is functionally rather different from Elders Quorum, Relief Society, and Youth presidencies (not to say AT ALL that it's unimportant), but I wonder if that difference could be the basis that they don't really need that access.
I think CDOL was reduced and limited to specifically those that may need it. I wish they had a CDOL for other callings outside of bishopric and Stake presidencies. For example, I'm a stake SA 31+ rep for one of my callings. It would be nice to be able to communicate to my counterparts in nearby stakes.
I find a typical eastern US stake will have on a good day 6-12 attend a well promoted activity whether it's a Saturday activity or Sunday Devotional. We cannot have larger activities such as dances or other events that would require larger attendance because we simply don't have the numbers. In addition, my stake has the only functioning SA program in my temple district that I'm aware of, and we'd love to have more attend to any of our activities, whether it's a Saturday Activity, a Sunday devotional, or a temple trip.
Seeing particularly the age disparity in SA 31+ comes as a shock to those turning 31, as most that attend activities, devotionals, conferences etc. are 55+ (1+ generation older). I've been to a number of them in Nauvoo, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas...
Reasons why SA 31+ are skewed towards the older ages at activities, devotionals, and especially conferences:
- retirees have more time, ability to travel; many of them will travel the nation attending conferences that are harder for working age to schedule.
- increased number of widows/widowers, etc.
and why it's skewed significantly more female - especially in the older age groups:
- the church has a high marriage rate. males in the US on average mary a female 2.5 years younger and the female has a higher life expectancy causing far more widows than widowers
- males are more likely to have jobs/other conflicts that limit their availability
- males are more likely to go less active
Something I recently learned that is also different about Sunday School presidencies is that only the president needs to have the Melchizedek priesthood. The counselors and secretaries don't even need to hold the Aaronic Priesthood.
If anyone is interested, while reviewing my current list of known 3577 Stakes and 484 Districts, and comparing with the official Meetinghouse Locator website, for possible name changes or mergers.
So far, I have come across 1 name change only. Still reviewing.
The "Sao Paulo Brazil Embu Stake (537675)" has recently been renamed "Embu das Artes Brazil Stake (537675)"
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/537675
FYI
That is interesting. Would they need to be males? I have always wondered what the justification would be for an all-male Sunday School presidency.
In the case of the above-mentioned Embu das Artes Brazil Stake name change. Usually a name change comes with a unit split or merger or other type of boundary change.
In this case, I'm not sure which scenario prompted the name change since all the surrounding Stakes in the greater Sao Paulo area still have the name Sao Paulo Brazil.
Does anyone with knowledge of this case, know what caused the name change? And a possible date of the change?
From my records, the Stake President was just changed last year. And unless they had another Stake Presidency change recently. I don't see what other reason to change the name of the Stake. Unless it split to create a new 2nd unit, or had merged with a neighboring stake, etc.
Yes. The only requirement is that they are a man
Embu das Artes is the name of The City where The Stake is located. It,s not a district or neighborood of São Paulo.
Well, i am a first counseler in a elders quorum presidency. I also had my Access tô CDOL revoked.
dCraig Shuler says,
Changing the name to Embu das Artes Brazil Stake is in line with general Church naming policy where the name of the city should be the name of the first stake in a city. Embu is part of greater Sao Paulo, but it is a separate city, unlike many or most of the Sao Paulo stakes.
I would guess other cities in Brazil will similarly change. Like Embu, Cotia is a separate municipality. Moji das Cruzes is not even close to Sao Paulo.
Even the Sunday school president has not always needed to be a priesthood holder. In 1967 the Sunday school president in the Dearborn Ward in Michigan was an African-American man.
Policies for stake names are not quite as straight forward as some male them to be. Some of the Colubus stakes have stake centers outside the city limits of Columbus Ohio. The Ann Arbor Michigan stake has its stake center in the city of Saline Michigan.
Some stakes in Los Angeles Calidornia use names of places within the city limits of Los Angeles as their names without using Los Angeles.
In the Michigan case Grand Blanc Michigan and Ann Arbor Michigan make no sense as a pair. Either Grand Blanc should be Flint or Ann Arbor should be Saline.
My general sense is in the 1970s they went very gard on using the name of the city of headquarters. Sine then they have gone more towards using general location.
Some stakes used to have Los Angeles in their name until about 1992 when it was dropped. Most other changes have involved new units, or in Ann Arbor stake when they actually got a stake center they did not reflect the move in city of stake offices in the name.
The Michigan Detroit Mission was called the Michigan Dearborn mission from its forming in the mid-1970s until about 1989. That is the only case I know of of a mission veing renamed from a suburb to the main city.
I believe that too. I never understood why all the metropolitan stakes were named after the capital.
The Church News did a podcast interview about the Aalt Lake Temple renovations. The goal of making it so visitors from all over the world can experience the temple in their own language there is on on the minds of those involved on the renovation project.
Elder Christofferson was in Madagascar on Sunday and Monday. He spoke at a combined stake conference for the three stakes in Antanarivo. It was held at the stake center adjacent to the planned temple site. He visited the temple site. He also held a missionary meeting on Monday at that Aamer stake center.
I meant "same stake center" at the end of my comment. I should proof read better.
The Botucatu Brazil District is headquartered in Jaú
Craig Shuler says,
There would also be a good case to change the names of 18 stakes in Salt Lake suburbs.
None of the 4 Salt Lake Holladay stakes, SL Cottonwood, SL Big Cottonwood,SL Little Cottonwood, SL South Cottonwood, SL Butler and Butler West, SL Millcreek, SL East Millcreek and East Millcreek North, SL Mount Olympus, SL Olympus, SL South Cottonwood, SL Winder, and SL Winder West stakes, are in Salt Lake City. They are in the cities of Mill Creek, Holladay, and Cottonwood Heights. They were unincorporated when created decades ago, but are all separate cities now.
I have been financial secretary of Utah Salt Lake City South Mission since December and will be financial secretary of the new Utah Salt Lake City East Mission to be created June 24.
Our new mission will bring 20 Sandy stakes and 10 Draper stakes from the south mission. The Utah Salt Lake City Mission will provide 32 stakes: 3 Midvale stakes, 7 Murray stakes, the 18 stakes I list above, and 2 that are actually in the southeast corner of Salt Lake City: Salt Lake Wilford and SL Canyon Rim stakes.
Thank you!
Pascal Friedmann, I've had the same question for many years. I haven't found any doctrinal or explanation from general Church leaders about why women can't serve in SC presidencies so far. Any of you have an insight on that?
The Church Handbook chapter on Sunday School indicates that presidents, counselors and secretaries should all be males:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/13-sunday-school?lang=eng
As far as the reasoning, we've seen the Church change protocol on interviews between males and females to make sure everything is above board. That also explains why women likely are excluded from roles in the Sunday School presidency: to prevent a scenario where a woman who might be asked to serve as secretary meets alone with a presidency of 3 men. That would be my guess. It's an optics issue, to fulfill the injunction to "avoid the very appearance of evil". Hope that helps.
I suspect that it is mostly tradition, much like Primary only being led by sisters.
I don't think we will ever see mixed presidencies due to the difficulty that could arise if you have a presidency meeting and you end up with one brother and one sister meeting alone
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