DR Congo
Today, a new stake was created in the DR Congo. The Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo UPN Stake was created from the Kinshasa DR Congo Mont Ngafula Stake (organized in 2006) which had 11 wards and one branch prior to the creation of the new stake. No information is available yet on which congregations were assigned to the new stake or whether congregations from additional stakes were taken to create the new stake. The new stake is the Church's 12th stake in Kinshasa and the first new stake to be organized in the city since 2019. Several additional stakes appear likely to be organized in Kinshasa in the near future, as most stakes in the city have enough congregations to divide.
There are now 29 stakes and three districts in the DR Congo.
Nigeria
A new stake was created in Nigeria on August 18th. The Calabar Nigeria Etta Agbor Stake was created from the Calabar Nigeria Stake (created in 2002 and renamed the Calabar Nigeria Tinapa Stake) and the Calabar Nigeria South Stake (created in 2015). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Atimbo, Etta Agbor, Mayne Avenue, Nyanghasang, Uwanse, and Yellow Duke Wards and the Akpabuyo Branch. The new stake is the Church's fourth stake in the city of Calabar where a temple was announced in October of 2023.
There are now 73 stakes and 13 districts in Nigeria.
Utah
A new stake was created in Utah on August 11th. The Provo Utah East Bay (Spanish) Stake was created from area stakes and includes the following nine wards: the Bonneville 7th (Spanish), East Bay 2nd (Spanish), Franklin Park (Spanish), Freedom 3rd (Spanish), Lakeside 5th (Spanish), Parkway 6th (Spanish), Slate Canyon 1st (Spanish), Slate Canyon 14th (Spanish), and the Sunset 2nd (Spanish) Wards. The new stake is the Church's second Spanish-speaking stake in Utah following the West Jordan Utah Wasatch Meadows (Spanish) Stake which was created in May of 2024.
There are now 641 stakes and four districts in Utah.
Gabon
The Church organized its first district in the Central African nation of Gabon on August 4th. The Libreville Gabon District was created with four branches that previously were administered directly by the Cameroon Yaounde Mission, namely the Libreville 1st, the Libreville 2nd, the PK12, and the Université Branches. The Church organized its first branch in Gabon in Libreville in 2012 followed by additional branches in 2016 (Libreville 2nd), 2022 ( Université), and 2024 (PK12). The Port-Gentil Branch is the only branch in Gabon outside of Libreville, and the branch remains under the direct supervision of the Cameroon Yaounde Mission.
French Polynesia
The Church's last two districts in French Polynesia were recently discontinued, and the branches that were assigned to the districts have been reassigned to stakes based on Tahiti. The two branches in the Taiohae Marquesas Islands District (organized in 2012) were reassigned to the Papeete Tahiti Stake. In the former Makemo Tuamotu District, the Makemo and Taenga Branches were reassigned to the Punaauia Tahiti Stake, the Fakarava Branch was reassigned to the Faaa Tahiti Tuamotu Stake, the Hikueru and Marokau Branches were reassigned to the Taravao Tahiti Stake, and the Hao Branch was reassigned to the Paea Tahiti Stake. The Makemo Tuamotu District Branch was the only branch that was discontinued. These changes were similar to the discontinuation of the Tubuai Australes District in 2016 and permits some of the larger branches in former districts to become wards and also reduce the administrative burden on the mission president to serve members living in districts. Moreover, this decision was also likely made because there were no feasible prospects for the districts to become stakes within the foreseeable future due to remote distance and small populations spread over large geographical areas.
There are now 11 stakes and zero districts in French Polynesia.
62 comments:
The Salt Lake Pioneer YSA stake reorganized all their English speaking wards today. The seven wards were reorganized into 5 wards. Three of the Wards are now designated as 26-35 old and two are designated as 18-25 year-old. This seems to be the first YSA stake to make this change. The Salt Lake Bonneville YSA stake did a pilot program last year with these age separations. However, they didn't make any boundary changes, they simply invited members to move their records to the appropriate ward.
It seems like the Pioneer stake is trying to have wards with at least 150 people attending. The number of households in the directory in each ward range from 250 to 600.
https://www.facebook.com/PioneerYSA/posts/pfbid02MWPhzy7og1QMig9trs1ineJNHFfKf4iUvkdmgJKx6A7CJBPrQpKkatrtKruV5fV3l
The Church News just posted an article comparing the statistics of the years 1924 and 2024. Basically showing how the church has grown in last 100 years.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/history-archive/2024/09/09/1924-2024-church-statistics-number-members-stakes-wards-temple-missions-book-of-momon-languages/
Other Matt here...
It would be helpful if the Church
designated these wards differently on LDS Tools or Maps.
Maybe..
YSA1 = 18-25
YSA2 = 26-35
YSA = 18-35
I noticed that the language option is back on the meetinghouse locator website.
I wonder if there will be any news about Temple updates today, considering the 100 Year Birthday Celebrations. Here in Utah, Governor Cox has declared the day as "President Russell M. Nelson Day"
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-russell-m-nelson-day-utah
This appears to be the link to a summary of temple announcements. Take a look every Monday after 2pm Mountain time to get the latest: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-news-house-of-the-lord-2024
"First Presidency announces Tarawa Kiribati Temple groundbreaking
Elder Jaggi of Pacific Area presidency will preside at Nov. 2 groundbreaking of the house of the Lord on remote atoll
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/09/09/tarawa-kiribati-temple-groundbreaking-november-2/
I am very glad we got a groundbreaking date for Tarawa. I hope to see more movement on other temples as well.
We also had the Wichita Kansas Temple have a groundbreaking on Saturday. With its size I am still hoping Topeka can also get a temple soon.
San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple had its media day today with Elder Duncan and the Atmrra Presidency, lead by Peruvian Elder Taylor Godoy. The temple will be dedicated on October 13, 1 week after General conference.
I am hoping we get several more temple announcements through the end of the month.
On a slightly different t note I recently came across information that Logan Utah will have a giving machine this year. Giving machines started with 1 on temple Square in 2017. Last year thry were in 61 cities. I hope the project grows to be even bigger this year
Here in Michigan we do an annual winter clothing distribution. It first began at 1 location in 2012. It has expanded over the years. In 2022 we had 5 locations, in 2023 we had 8 and this year we have 11. That includes Bowling Green Ohio in the Toledo stake which is in the Greater Detroit coordinating council. It includes also Lansing in a different coordinating council. Through about 2017 we only used buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However the buildings we have in Detroit are not big enough, and especially lack even remotely close yo full sized cultural halls/gyms. We used the 3 closest to the city suburban Charles, but were not reaching the point of greatest need. So we partnered with other groups to find adequate sized buildings in the city. The sane was done in Pontiac since the challenge in Clarkston was an inconvenient location for people to go to, especially to bring huge bags of coasts, boots and various other clothes from.
My count is a little off since technically Flibt is not one location but a cooperative location where we use a wide baroety of denominations churches to reach multiple points in the city. In some ways long term that might be a vetter method for Detroit. Some of the libraries I distributed flyers at last year I got push back from people saying out location, which was pretty close to the geographic center of Detroit was too far. The crazy thing is I got that message from the staff at 7 Mile close to Van Dyke, but at the library on Outer Drive by Warren Avenue, which is 4 to 5 miles further away from the Durfee Innovation Society building I did not hear that complaint. To some extent though people in Detroit imagine any crossing of Woodward making a destination mymuch fimurther away than it actually is.
I noticed that too, and I'm very happy about it!
Sorry if this is a strange (or stupid) question, but on Saturday, my dad and I visited a good chunk of temples in northern Utah (between Logan and Provo, minus Deseret Peak, Payson, Saratoga Springs, and Draper because of time constraints). When we went to the Provo City Center Temple, I saw that there was a gazebo (pavilion?) with a Christus statue inside and a staircase that went downstairs. I went downstairs to see what was there, but it started to look like part of the temple. Considering I didn't have a temple recommend and we had time constraints, I didn't look further, concerned I shouldn't be down there. However, there were no signs indicating what was down there and no recommend desk, just a hallway, so I now have this burning curiosity - what is down there? What COULD I have seen if I had more time?
I know what you're talking about. I had the exact same thoughts. Eventually I just happened upon a waiting room with a bathroom. I don't remember if there was anything else.
What you saw basically is all that there is there -- a waiting area with restrooms, coat closets, etc. If memory serves, it is possible to get to the temple from there, but you will encounter a recommend desk at that point. You also can get to the parking garage from there. It is basically a waiting area for people gathering after a wedding that joins together the pavilion, the temple, and the underground parking.
The Bountiful YSA stake realignment was also announced on Sunday, with one ward dissolved, several wards renamed, and 3 wards designated for the 26-35 age group, with the remaining 5 wards designated for the 18-25 age group (the changes go into effect after this coming Sunday, which will be the final Sunday for the old alignments and names).
The Tabernacle Choir performed with the glee clubs if Spellman College and Morehouse College yesterday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Chaple at Moorehoyluse College, which has a photo of President Nelson in it. One of the key figures at Morehouse College made remarks as part of President Nelson's birthday celebration and Madd reference to the concert that would be held later.
30 singers from the those glee clubs performed with the Tabernacle Choir back in October at music and the spoken word. They have I believe over 100 singers.
The glee clubs will also perform in the concert with the Tabernacle Choir on Wednesday at a large sports arena in Atlanta. Thurs Baily, an African-Amerivan former NBA player who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of the announcers.
The Church News article mentioned one member of the choir who is a graduate of a historically black college, although thry did not say which one.
This is a major development, although since it was over 5 years ago that President Nelson spoke at the national convention of the NAACP it is not as unprecedented. I still would argue media coverage and Wikipedia content have not internalized these developments.
In the case of Wikipedia, it has the arguably anachronistically named Black Mormons, uses talk of 2013 as the present, ptlresenting that as the present place to speak of the number of black general authorities. It has edits mentioning black general authorities called through 2021, but does not mention those called in 2022, 2023 or 2024 at all. Nor is Tracey Y. Browning mentioned at all.
@Cory
I used to be a member of the Salt Lake Pioneer YSA Stake. Does the Cannon YSA Ward still exist?
@Johnathan Reese Whiting, It appears the old Cannon YSA Ward has been renamed or the one ward dissolved as mentioned above.
Here is the list of new wards in the Meetinghouse Locator Site. You can signin with your LDS login to see the new Ward Boundaries of each.
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/522066
Or you can go to the Google Maps links posted in the Facebook article by @Cory
(Pioneer YSA 18-25 Wards)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/viewer?fbclid=IwY2xjawFOeqxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbhbPY0WzGD_ha7zmbS2gMu1jhMuKTsXOvdqB8sBIK5kJFk4tsQVV3kjXA_aem_ipHoH3s3Tk9n07WneJh79w&mid=1PNDrKeRgIdtMMAMYNqd1BFVxNRX3SVM&ll=40.76087617955209%2C-111.99245565&z=12
(Pioneer YSA 26-35)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/viewer?fbclid=IwY2xjawFOejVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUxh5MNBRsQiCDpT4JUMo5W5ZADe9tM55mLnG-XCKIy43lE_MXaAz5EGdw_aem_TlnCGr066JJa_HvIbpxfnA&mid=1OxWbn_s2G0tN-UDNOvemw2oa-EfXP24&ll=40.76061532265539%2C-111.9925387&z=12
And compare the approximate boundaries to the old Cannon YSA ward to the new Wards.
Using both sources, It appears that the old Capitol Hill YSA Ward has been renamed the new Marmalade YSA Ward (from YSA 26-35 group) with Bishop Evans presiding according to both sources.
The old Grant YSA Ward has been renamed the new Highland Park YSA Ward (from YSA 26-35 Group) with Bishop Harris presiding.
The old Poplar Grove YSA Ward has been renamed the Three Creeks YSA Ward (from the YSA 26-35 group) with Bishop Hammond presiding.
Also appears the old Liberty Park YSA Ward has been renamed the new Ensign Peak YSA Ward (from the YSA 18-25 Group) with Bishop Johnson presiding.
And the old Westminster YSA Ward has retained the same name as the new Westminster YSA Ward (from the YSA 18-25 Group) with Bishop Hiller presiding.
Of the total current 9 Wards listed on meetinghouse site, would leave the remaining 2 English speaking Wards dissolved? And the other 2 Spanish / Tongan speaking Wards remaining?
City Creek YSA Ward (1881213) with Bishop Paulsen.
Madison YSA Ward (3271) with Bishop Gray.
Salt Lake Pioneer YSA Ward (Spanish) (2132117) with Bishop Dominguez Pernalete.
Salt Lake YSA 2nd Ward (Tongan) (486973) with Bishop Hansen.
Matt, Two new Districts have been organized in Utah recently and verified on the Meetinghouse Maps.
Great Basin Utah District (Correctional Facility)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2275597
Green River Basin Utah District (Correctional Facility)
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2275503
Please, I ask for your prayers for us here in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The fires and drought are the biggest ever. The great rivers of the Amazon are drying up. The fire is spreading across the continent and children in every region are running out of water. Temperatures break records. Please join us in praying for central South America.
I reported earlier this week that the language feature is back on the meetinghouse locator site. In addition to wards and branches, I wish we could find groups on that site. For example there is an ASL group in Idaho Falls, idaho. Even though, though it's tied to an existing traditional family wars, there is no info on the group. How do people who are deaf know about the group when they move to or travel to the area? (Or if a family has a deaf child.)
The only reason I know about the group was because I lived in the family ward that was associated with it almost ten years ago.
Other Matt here...
Here's their Facebook Group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330979267489739
My brother was in the Poplar Grove YSA ward now the Three Creeks YSA Ward.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2024/09/11/tabernacle-choir-orchestra-world-tour-2024-florida-georgia-morehouse-spelman-glee-clubs/
Is an article on the press conference connected with the Tabernacle Choir being in Atlanta and performing with the Morehouse and Spellman College Glee Clubs. I was very excited but not at all surprised to learn Ahmad S. Corbitt was there. Elder Corbitt is the only person I have ever cheered when I knew he would be called as a general authority.
I found the facebook page. It looks like it says it is a branch now and in another stake. But I still can't find anything on meetinghouse locator.
Situacao muito perigroso isso dos incendios agora. Oracoes feitas pra vcs
Looking at the facebook page, it looks like the ASL branch in Idaho Falls was organized on September 1st this year, thus perhaps why it doesn't show in the meetinghouse locator just yet.
Muito obrigado Bryan. Que o Senhor os abençoe também
Praying for you and everyone in that area, Daniel. What an awful situation. If only there was something besides praying we could do.
That said, I'm sure Heavenly Father will not stand idly by and let even one of His children needlessly die from this. And He'll for sure protect His temples.
More hymns in the new hymnbook. Amazing Grace and This is the Christ are the ones most will likely recognize.
That 100 years of growth is interesting. If the last 100 years are an indication of the next 100, then in 100 years the church will have 483 million members, at an average of nearly 5 million net members added per year.
Matt, do you happen to know if the way church membership was counted was different back then? I presume that they didn't have policies like members of record from baby blessings? Did they have a policy on keeping people on records until 110 years old, unless verifiably passed on, like they do today?
Sorry, I think my math was a little off. In 100 years, the church would have 500 million members - I forgot to add back the already existing 17 million today.
New Stake - Bakersfield California West Stake 2263319
Thanks for the updates Matt. Just checked the new Calabar Etta Agbor Stake on Meetinghouse Locator. The Calabar Stake still exists on there and it seems that it was the Calabar North Stake that was renamed to the Calabar Tinapa Stake.
Dear James, there is no greater power than that of prayer. Today it's Brazil's turn, soon it will be another country. The fires in California, as well as in Greece or Australia and other places are also frightening, and it becomes increasingly clear that we are moving very quickly towards the return of our Master. What scared me the most is the fact that the most powerful rivers in the world are drying up or reducing their flow, while the fog has a more immediate and more dramatic effect, turning the sky red like on Mars. May we all be protected by the hands of the Lord as we witness the fulfillment of the most alarming prophecies.
The "Lesser Antilles North District" recently transferred from the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple District to the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple District.
Very strange for the Meadows and Highland Manor Wards to now be in separate stakes, since I served in both wards at the end of my mission. 1 transfer Meadows, then 4 transfers Highland Manor. Same part of town , same street names (at least north-south), same chapel.
Which also means the Bakersfield California Stake Center is no longer within its stake boundaries, with the stake center being within the Meadows Ward boundaries. Even though most of the active membership was on that side of Highway 99, they met in Oildale. Very curious.
Wow
Here https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/09/14/pittsburgh-temple-changing-spiritual-landscape-western-pennsylvania/ is an article on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple and its impact. It will be dedicated tomorrow. They mention the Pittsburgh North Stake had 17 convert baptisms in 2022. 46 last year, and 37 through June of this year.
Spanish Fork Utah Sunny Ridge Stake (2271729) - created 15 Sep 2024
- East Bench Ward (278459)
- Spanish Fork 20th Ward (Spanish) (370371)
- Spanish Highlands 1st Ward (1077066)
- Spanish Highlands 2nd Ward (2041162)
- Sunny Ridge 1st Ward (555630)
- Sunny Ridge 2nd Ward (1218174)
- Sunny Ridge 3rd Ward (1955853)
Weslaco Texas Stake (2269228) - created 15 Sep 2024
- Hidalgo Ward (Spanish) (236357)
- Pharr 1st Ward (Spanish) (200131)
- Weslaco 1st Ward (153532)
- Weslaco 2nd Ward (Spanish) (40029)
- Pharr 2nd Branch (2189348)
McAllen Texas Stake (507652)
- Edinburg 1st Ward (154806)
- Edinburg 2nd Ward (Spanish) (542083)
- Edinburg 3rd Ward (Spanish) (2163020)
- McAllen 1st Ward (38172)
- McAllen 2nd Ward (Spanish) (38237)
- McAllen YSA Branch (1318977)
Mission Texas Stake (542008) - reorganized from the McAllen Texas West Stake
- La Joya 1st Ward (Spanish) (230154)
- Mission 1st Ward (154814)
- Mission 3rd Ward (Spanish) (1381970)
- Mission 4th Ward (Spanish) (2097788)
- Monte Cristo Ward (2111616)
- Sharyland Ward (544302)
- La Joya 2nd Branch (203416)
- Rio Grande Valley Branch (Sign Language) (2132109)
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Binza UPN Stake (2268833) - created 15 Sep 2024
- Badiadingi Ward (380717)
- Binza UPN Ward (380709)
- Buadi Ward (2031957)
- Lukunga Ward (2260115)
- Nsanga Maba Ward (320080)
Looks like the Mercedes Ward (Spanish) (40029), previously in the McAllen Texas Stake. Has been renamed the Weslaco 2nd Ward (Spanish) (40029)
Chris, do you know if any new units were organized in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, with the new stake being created? A saw a post indicating that there likely were, but wonder how long that takes to show up in the tool that you are using to report this. It feels weird that a new stake would be organized with only 4 wards and 1 branch, so I'm hoping at least 1 new ward was created in that stake. Additionally, I find it weird that there are several branches to the northwest of McAllen that appear to just be mission branches, unassigned to stakes or districts. Why wouldn't they just assign them to the nearest stake? I get why it doesn't always happen in some countries due to extreme travel distances, but this doesn't seem to be the case for southern Texas. Thanks for the updates. Exciting to see new stakes being created.
Other Matt here
According to Facebook, looks like Pharr 2nd Branch is now a ward.
The Matamoros México Stake was transferred to the Mcallen Texas Temple District.
The Reynosa México East Stake was transferred to the Mcallen Texas Temple District.
The Tamaulipas México Río Bravo District was transferred to the Mcallen Texas Temple District.
The Valle Hermoso México Stake was transferred to the Mcallen Texas Temple District.
I love that there is a Spanish ward in Spanish Fork. I hope there is a Spanish stake there soon. Spanish Fork went up in likelihood of getting a temple there, Mapleton or Springville. Although we are at a point where I could see both Springville and Spanish Fork getting temples.
I really am hoping we see a Reynosa Mexico Temple announced soon.
Although I remain convinced Kampala Uganda and Abuja Nigeria are very needed temples.
Here https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/09/15/elder-uchtdorf-dedicates-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-temple-bridge-earth-heaven/ is a very interesting article on the dedication of the Pittsburgh Temple. They tell of the parents of the open house organizer, and her as a young child traveling from P8trsburgh area the nearest temple, the Salt Lake Temple,in 1962. Thry mention a camper trailer and a sewn canvas. Thry detail another couple that went to Manti in 1958. Thry cover also the meetings in rented spaces, cleaning the remains of parties before church meeting and the like. They also cover well what UT means to go from having to travel 4 hours to the DC temple to "under an hour" to the new Pittsburgh Temple. It is a well written article Although part of me wishes there was more.
Tacoma Washington Temple now has a site. It will be in Federal Way, Washington. It is an 11 acre site. The temple will be 2 stories and 45,000 square feet.
I was hoping for more, but we shall see. We are at 19 days until general conference starts.
On the note of General Conference, Relief Society President Camille Johnson on saturday, September 14th, was on a ministry tour of Milan, Italy in the Europe Central Area. (Between words, is a potential future announcement). And will soon minister to Prague, Czech Republic and Zagreb Croatia (possible future sites). and Budapest, Hungary.
https://news-europe.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-johnson-shares-hope-central-europe
I hope for a Reynosa Temple. Even with it's proximity to McAllen Texas. Due to the border issues I see it happening. I also hope for El Paso TX even if it is near Ciudad Juarez Mex. We have other temples near each other over our borders. For example, Vancouver and Victoria BC, near Seattle WA, or Tijuana Mexico, near San Diego CA. Brazzelville Rep of Congo near Kinshasa DR Congo. I think Toronto Ontario is not to far from Palmyra NY. When I look at potential temples, I like to look at the relationship and visa policies a country has with neighboring countries. Such as Benin and Togo or southern Peru and northern Chile. To see the ease or difficulty of international travel or border controls if the need to travel to the nearest temple. Some have open borders and some have closed, difficult or dangerous borders to cross. (Like the U.S. Mexican border) At least for Mexicans coming north or due to cartels in control in the south. Or in the example I first mentioned of Benin and Togo. They seem to have an open non-visa required policy with their neighboring countries. Which can make either country almost equal chance of having a temple soon.
@Cfunk, Here is what my source said about the Rio Grande Valley area.
"No new wards or branches were created."
Here's some news out of Logan:
Logan Utah YSA 8th Stake (2274213) - created 15 Sep 2024
- Logan YSA 4th Ward (18-25) (1129570)
- Logan YSA 6th Ward (18-25) (234850)
- Logan YSA 7th Ward (18-25) (236802)
- Logan YSA 10th Ward (18-25) (2210096)
- Logan YSA 24th Ward (18-25) (253014)
- Logan YSA 46th Ward (18-25) (232750)
I remember during the open house, that we entered from the underground parking, and finished the tour by emerging from the gazebo place. My understanding is married couples can use it as an exit location, ideal for photos.
From the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple District :
The Yacuiba Bolivia District was transferred to the Salta Argentina Temple District.
The Tupiza Bolivia District was transferred to the Salta Argentina Temple District.
The Bermejo Bolivia District was transferred to the Salta Argentina Temple District.
Any thoughts on what this might mean for a Temple in Tarija, one way or the other?
Craig H.
The district transfers to me means that Tarija Bolivia Temple becomes much more likely. It is a 2 stake potential temple district. Potosi is a vague possibility, but really Potosi and Sucre need a temple in 1 of those cities, and really need it announced today as well. Tupiza is helped the least by this. Travel time drops from 11 to 7 hours. Which means the time delay and or cost increase factor to cross the Bolivia to Argentina boundary is thought to be equivalent to less than 4 hours one way. Although if there is a branch in the district in Villazon, Where the travel time has been savings to Salta has gone up to 5 hours, and where bring so closely connected to La Quiaca travel across the border may be very common, the analysis may be a bit different.
Yucuiba the change is 16 and a half hours to 6 hours. Bermijo it is 18 hours to 4 hours. Both Bermijo and Yucuiba are surrounded on three sifmdes by Argentina. These changes mean your temple attendance is almost certain to go up for these places. Bermijo is so far from Cochabamba you may have huge numbers of members who just have not made it to the temple ever. It may even be key to moving some of these places to stake status.It also means that temple trips and or temple workers being called from these districts are likely enough events that church leaders actually care what temple district thry are assigned to. Since a member choosing to go to the temple or his or her own with family members can do so at will, and the temple patrons fund send people to wherever costs the least to get them to, you only pay attention to temple district assignments if you think wards and branches will organize trips, or you think there might be temple workers called.
This also puts Oran District and Tartagal Districts in Argentina as going to Tarija if it gets a temple. Which means Tarija is a potentially 2 stake and 5 district temple,which is likely, and becomes more likely if any new stake is formed. If Tarija got a 3rd stake it would be almost inevitable.
This also puts Bermijo in play as a potential temple. Especially the moment it gets a stake but maybe even today. It would be a dark horse smack, but we get one of those each conference. It is a dark hotlrse smack that works well with President Nelson's stated view that stake centers preceeding temples is not how things ought to be. True the line was stake centers bot stakes, but especially if Bermijo is even remotely close to stake status a temple might be announced before the stake is organized.
What I find interesting is there is only 1 district and 1 stake in all Jujuy. The stake is in San Salvador Jujuy, the district a little west. I wonder if there are any branches directly over the mission in northern and western Jujuy, and also if any Salta stake goes into part of Jujuy. The north and west of Jujuy seems isolated and mountainous, but there are communities there. Salta province forms a U around Jujuy province, so if you go directly north from San Salvador de Jujuy you end up in Salta Province, although Salta province is also south of Jujuy province all its length. Further west though Jujuy goes all the way north to the Bolivian border. It also borders Chile. So Jujuy province only borders Sakta province of provinces in Argentina. This is a little like New Hampshire being Maine's only US neighbor, Jujuy is landlocked, and it would be more similar if halfway between the cost and the Canada border New Hampshire's border went significantly further east.
This is a super interesting empirical research question: do temples in an area increase converts in that area? Is it a short-term or long-term effect?
Unfortunately, even the case here is difficult to ascertain. The mission dedicated a lot more financial and missionary resources in 2023 and 2024 to the area, so it isn't unexpected to see a shift in conversions. It isn't clear how much of the bump is due to the temple vs other factors.
The district transfers make everything about the temple more accessible, including the temple presidency (in stake conferences, leadership meetings, etc.), temple worker callings, and probably patron lodging, if applicable. Patrons can obviously attend whatever temple they'd like, but being assigned to a closer temple strengthens the people and helps them better prepare for a temple of their own.
I have started thinking about potential temple announcements not only by how "likely" they are but more so by how "soon" they will be. For example, a temple in Spanish Fork in my opinion is certain, with an announcement very likely within the next 2 years.
I have heard from a trustworthy source within the temple department that the Church is stepping up its hiring game for architects significantly and in a more decentralized way. Architects for temples will now also be hired more regularly within area offices as the Church seems to be struggling to fill the positions in Salt Lake. Either that, or a significant further uptick in announcements can be expected and the Church is seeking more local expertise in designing temples. I also know of one new European temple location that surprised me quite a bit. I will share more once it has been announced officially; whether it will be this conference or at one in the near future, I don't know.
Elder Quentin L. Cook recently traveled to Korea and Japan for a Ministry Tour. And during the tour, he visited the future site of the Osaka Japan Temple, which was announced 1 year ago in October 2023, and the site location announced a few months later in March of this year.
"On Sept. 15 in Osaka, Elder Cook met with local Saints at the site of the future Osaka Japan Temple.
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2024/09/18/elder-quentin-l-cook-ministry-trip-south-korea-japan/
Pascal, My best guess is that you are referring to any of these future sites :
Eurasian Area:
YEREVAN ARMENIA
Europe Central Area:
BERLIN GERMANY
BORDEAUX FRANCE
DUSSELDORF GERMANY ( 4 + 0 )
ELCHE / CADIZ SPAIN
GRENADA SPAIN
LAS PALMAS SPAIN ( 1 + 2 )
LYON FRANCE
MALAGA SPAIN
MILAN ITALY ( 5 + 0 )
MUNICH GERMANY ( 3 + 0 )
MURCIA SPAIN ( 6 + 0 )
PALERMO ITALY
PRAGUE CZECH REPUBLIC
SEVILLE SPAIN
TIRANA ALBANIA ( 1 + 1 )
TOULOUSE FRANCE ( 3 + 0 )
VENICE ITALY
WARSAW POLAND
ZAGREB CROATIA
ZURICH SWITZERLAND
Europe North Area:
ACORES PORTUGAL
BELFAST NORTHERN IRELAND
BRISTOL ENGLAND
CARDIFF WALES ( 3 + 0 )
DUBLIN IRELAND ( 2 + 0 )
GOTEBORG SWEDEN
LEEDS ENGLAND
LONDON ENGLAND NORTH ( 8 + 0 )
PORTO PORTUGAL ( 3 + 0 )
RIGA LATVIA
SUNDERLAND ENGLAND ( 2 + 0 )
VILNIUS LITHUANIA
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