51 New Stakes Created in 2025 Thus Far; New Stakes Created in the DR Congo (4), Colorado, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and the Philippines; New Districts Created in Angola and the DR Congo

The Church has created at least 51 new stakes thus far in 2025 - the highest number of new stakes created during the first half of the calendar year since 2016 when there were a total of 100 new stakes created for the year. See below for a pie chart showing the distribution of new stakes created thus far in 2025 versus the first 50 new stakes created in 2016. As indicated by these pie charts, the distribution of new stakes created in 2025 is remarkably similar to 2016 except with more new stakes created in North America and fewer new stakes created in Latin America in 2025.

Prospects appear likely for many new stakes to be created for the remainder of 2025. For example, one recent report from a senior missionary serving in the Africa Central Area noted that there will be 17 new stakes organized just within this area alone by the end of the year (so far this year, eight new stakes have been organized in the Africa Central Area). To put this into perspective, the Africa Central Area has generally had fewer than five new stakes per year but will reportedly have 25 new stakes in 2025 - approximately half the number of new stakes organized in an average year during the past two decades. 

Now, for an update new stakes recently created:

DR Congo 

Four new stakes and one new district were recently created in the DR Congo. 

Three new stakes were created in the city of Kananga on June 15th where the total number of stakes increased from three to six, as each of the previous three stakes was divided to create a new stake. The new Kananga DR Congo Ndesha Stake is reported to include the following six wards: the Kapanda, Katoka 1st, Kele-Kele, Lulua, Ndesha 3rd, and Tshibandabanda Wards. The new Kananga DR Congo Lukonga Stake includes the following five wards: the Kamilabi, Lukonga 1st, Lukonga 2nd, Ndesha 1st, and the Ndesha 2nd Wards. Information on which wards are assigned to the new Kananga DR Congo Nganza Stake remains unavailable. 

The Church organized its 16th stake in Kinshasa on June 22nd. The Kinshasa DR Congo Kimbwala Stake was organized from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo Lukunga Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Kimbwala 1st, Kimbwala 2nd, Lutendele 1st, Lutendele 2nd, Mbudi, and Tshikapa Wards and the Mafuta Branch. Kinshasa now ties with Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, as the metropolitan area on the Afro-Eurasian landmass with the most stakes (16). Several more new stakes appear likely to be created in Kinshasa in the immediate future from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo N'Djili Stake (11 wards, 2 branches), the Kinshasa DR Congo Ngaliema Stake (11 wards), and the Kinshasa DR Congo Kimbanseke Stake (10 wards). 

Finally, a new district was recently created from three mission branches in the city of Kikwit where the first branch was organized in 2021. The Kikwit DR Congo District includes the following three branches: the Kazamba, the Kikwit, and the Lukolela Branches. The new district is the Church's fourth new district to be organized in the DR Congo in 2025. 

There are now 38 stakes and five districts in the DR Congo. The DR Congo now has the 14th most stakes of any country in the world, having recently surpassed Bolivia (33), Venezuela (33), and Colombia (32). In addition to the three large stakes in Kinshasa that appear likely to divide in the immediate future, six more stakes appear likely to divide in the near future, including:

• Katuba DR Congo Stake (11 wards) 
• Kolwezi DR Congo Stake (12 wards, 2 branches)
• Luputa DR Stake (10 wards, 1 branch)
• Mbuji-Mayi DR Congo Stake (9 wards) 
• Mwene-Ditu DR Congo Stake (9 wards, 2 branches - NOTE: this stake divided in June 2024)
• Ngandajika DR Congo Stake (11 wards - NOTE: this stake was just created in March 2023)

Consequently, there may be as many as 47 stakes in the DR Congo by year-end 2026, which would place the DR Congo as the country with the 11th most stakes in the world. 

Colorado

A new stake was created in Colorado on June 8th. The Fruita Colorado Stake was created from a division of the Grand Junction Colorado West Stake (organized in 1983). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Adobe Creek, Aspen, Highline, Monument, Rimrock, and Salt Wash Wards. There are now three stakes in Grand Junction (the first stake in the city was created in 1955). The new stake is the Church's first new stake in Colorado since 2017.

There are now 36 stakes in Colorado. 

Papua New Guinea

The Church organized a new stake in Papua New Guinea. The Oro Papua New Guinea Stake was created from the Oro Papua New Guinea District (organized in 2002) on June 22nd. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Ititi, Korisata, Popondetta 1st, Popondetta 2nd, and Utukiari Wards. Rapid growth has recently occurred in this area of Papua New Guinea which has had a Church presence for several decades. At the beginning of the conference to create the new stake, 107 new converts were baptized in the Bangoho River. There also appear to be several member groups that operate within the stake, such as in Afore, Kiorata, Sangara, and Warigena (per previously shown meetinghouses on the meetinghouse locator website which are now no longer visible). 

The Church in Papua New Guinea has had an unprecedented year in regard to new stake creations, as stakes were recently organized nine months earlier in Madang (September 2024) and one month earlier in Lae (May 2025). Moreover, local members report that a new stake will be created from the Minj Papua New Guinea District on August 3rd. There are currently five stakes and nine districts in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea has one of the most rural populations in the world (86.3%) which has complicated efforts to create stakes in areas with low population density and limited accessibility due to remoteness. Several additional districts appear likely to become stakes in the foreseeable future, including Gerehu (seven branches), Moveave (eight branches), Rigo (10 branches), and Sogere (11 branches). With each new stake created, the prospects increase for the expansion into unreached areas, as mission resources can be rebalanced from strengthening districts to become stakes to establishing groups and branches in additional communities. Papua New Guinea has enormous potential to become a major powerhouse for the Church in the Pacific considering it is one of the most populous nations in the region with over 10 million people yet remains only 0.38% Latter-day Saint.

Peru

A new stake was created in Peru on June 22nd. The Cañete Perú Stake was organized from the Cañete Perú District (organized in 1997). All five branches in the former district were organized into wards, namely the Cañete, the Imperial, the Mala, the Nuevo Imperial, and the Quilmaná Wards.

There are now 117 stakes and 17 districts in Peru. 

Philippines

A new stake was created in the Philippines on June 22nd. The Siniloan Philippines Stake was created from the Siniloan Philippines District (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Pakil 1st, Pakil 2nd, Santa Maria, Siniloan 1st, and Siniloan 2nd Ward and the Infanta Branch. The new stake is the Church's second new stake to be created in the Philippines this year.

There are now 133 stakes and 54 districts in the Philippines. 

Angola 

The Church recently organized a new district in Angola. The Menongue Angola District includes three branches (including one newly organized branch created at the time of the district's formation). The two original branches in Menongue previously were under the direct supervision of the Angola Luanda Mission. The three branches in the new district are the Menongue 1st, Menongue 2nd, and the Menongue 3rd Branches. The Church created its first branch in Menongue in 2022.

There are now two stakes and three districts in Angola.