The meetinghouse site finally updated the Tartagal Argentina District (617210) and Oran Argentina District (614238), both in the Argentina Salta Mission and Salta Argentina Temple District, to merge into the new Tartagal Argentina Stake (617210).
5 Branches have become Wards in the process.
54 Apr 22, 2026 Tartagal Ward Tartagal, Argentina 55 Apr 22, 2026 Villa Saavedra Ward Tartagal, Argentina 56 Apr 22, 2026 Salvador Mazza Ward Salvador Mazza, Argentina 57 Apr 22, 2026 Orán Ward Oran, Argentina 58 Apr 22, 2026 Pizarro Ward Oran, Argentina
Tartagal Argentina Stake https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/617210
Thanks Matt! Great podcast. One item to note with low birth rates is that low birth rates in the 2020's will effect the number of proselyting missionaries in the 2040's.
Infertility is increasing nationwide (nearly double in the US since the beginning of the century) and also appears within the church. I've been affected but still able to have two boys, but it took a lot of effort and medical assistance to get them. Some of this is people waiting later in life to start. With missionaries, especially sisters, able to serve and be released earlier, this might have some positive effect.
With 4X as many converts and children of record, I think the children of record while remaining relevant for a number of growth factors, will become less with time. It could become a big factor if the convert baptisms continued to accelerate in Africa with number of children to child-bearing mothers ration 4X that of child-bearing women in the developed countries in North America, Europe, Australia, NZ, Japan, and South Korea.
Matt, thanks for sharing this interview. Insightful as always. I wanted to share a Church News report indicating that, after more than a year, 4 missionaries have been assigned to the African nation of Burundi. Hopefully that will allow the Gospel to expand in that nation. My thanks once again to you all.
For all interested on updates in the Republic of Cuba, the recently organized Holguin Cuba District (2324555), recently this week organized a 6th branch and 7th branch, the Dobales Branch (2332043) and the Tasajera Branch (2332914).
Every country is different. As for Cuba, it's probably a combination of both. There are no full-time missionaries although it did fall under a mission in the Dominican Republic last I checked. Unlike China, Cuban citizens can be baptized. Elder Soares attended one of them.
Probably also important to realize that the minimum for a branch is not much. It could just be a focus of reorganizing strategically. Helps people who are having a hard time with transportation if more branches are created of very few members.
The Whitehorse Branch of the Juneau Alaska Stake encompasses all of Yukon Territory. This is the only unit left in Canada that is part of an USA stake. There are no longer any US congregations that are part of a Canadian stake. The Juneau Alaska Stake is part of the United States West Area. The new area leadership map shows Yukon in the Canada Area. This makes me question is Whitehorse Branch part of the US West Area or Canada Area?
The Church News today announced the 24 area presidencies effective August 1, 2026.
One big change is that nine big areas now have presidencies with four members instead of three: Africa West Brazil Mexico Pacific United States Central United States Northeast United States Southeast United States Southwest Utah This will allow a third more stakes to have a general authority seventy at their stake conference each year.
The area presidencies that continue with three members: Africa Central Africa South Asia Asia North Eurasian Europe Central Europe North Middle East / Africa North Philippines
Canada Caribbean Central America South America Northwest South America South United States Southeast
All eight of the new general authority seventies are in area presidencies as the third or fourth member: Elder Fantone in the United States Central Area Elder Hathaway in the United States Northeast Area Elder Chigbundu in the United States Southwest Area Elder Lebethoa in the Utah Area Elder Fale in the United States West Area Elder Eyring in the Pacific Area Elder Sinclair in the Europe North Area Elder Shumway in the Philippines Area
Is my information in error? I thought Elder Shumway was called in 2024, not this year, and that Jeremiah M. Morgan was called as a new GA Seventy this year but is not assigned to an area presidency this go-round. If my information is in error, please let me know so I can correct it.
James, you are of course correct. Thanks for the correction. Bottom line, seven of the eight new general authority seventies are in area presidencies as the third or fourth member.
Still an interesting development that nine areas now have four members in their area presidencies.
I noticed a couple of weeks ago, the San Cristóbal Branch was created. This is the 2nd Branch on the Galapagos Islands - an island chain in Ecuador where population and tourism is limited.
The meetinghouse site finally updated the Tartagal Argentina District (617210) and Oran Argentina District (614238), both in the Argentina Salta Mission and Salta Argentina Temple District, to merge into the new Tartagal Argentina Stake (617210).
ReplyDelete5 Branches have become Wards in the process.
54 Apr 22, 2026 Tartagal Ward Tartagal, Argentina
55 Apr 22, 2026 Villa Saavedra Ward Tartagal, Argentina
56 Apr 22, 2026 Salvador Mazza Ward Salvador Mazza, Argentina
57 Apr 22, 2026 Orán Ward Oran, Argentina
58 Apr 22, 2026 Pizarro Ward Oran, Argentina
Tartagal Argentina Stake
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/617210
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salta-argentina-temple/district/
Nkayi Republic of the Congo District (2329670)
ReplyDelete- Bouansa Branch
- Dolisie Branch
- Madingou Branch
- Mindouli Branch
- Nkayi Branch
Parent: Republic of the Congo Brazzaville Mission
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt! Great podcast. One item to note with low birth rates is that low birth rates in the 2020's will effect the number of proselyting missionaries in the 2040's.
ReplyDeleteInfertility is increasing nationwide (nearly double in the US since the beginning of the century) and also appears within the church. I've been affected but still able to have two boys, but it took a lot of effort and medical assistance to get them. Some of this is people waiting later in life to start. With missionaries, especially sisters, able to serve and be released earlier, this might have some positive effect.
With 4X as many converts and children of record, I think the children of record while remaining relevant for a number of growth factors, will become less with time. It could become a big factor if the convert baptisms continued to accelerate in Africa with number of children to child-bearing mothers ration 4X that of child-bearing women in the developed countries in North America, Europe, Australia, NZ, Japan, and South Korea.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMatt, thanks for sharing this interview. Insightful as always. I wanted to share a Church News report indicating that, after more than a year, 4 missionaries have been assigned to the African nation of Burundi. Hopefully that will allow the Gospel to expand in that nation. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteFor all interested on updates in the Republic of Cuba, the recently organized Holguin Cuba District (2324555), recently this week organized a 6th branch and 7th branch, the Dobales Branch (2332043) and the Tasajera Branch (2332914).
ReplyDelete139 Apr 22, 2026 Dobales Branch
140 Apr 22, 2026 Tasajera Branch
https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/stakes/2324555
Is this church planting activity, or is it pre-existing bodies of members baptized elsewhere? Does anyone know what this growth is attributed to?
DeleteEvery country is different. As for Cuba, it's probably a combination of both. There are no full-time missionaries although it did fall under a mission in the Dominican Republic last I checked. Unlike China, Cuban citizens can be baptized. Elder Soares attended one of them.
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-welcomes-lianys-torres-rivera-cuba
Probably also important to realize that the minimum for a branch is not much. It could just be a focus of reorganizing strategically. Helps people who are having a hard time with transportation if more branches are created of very few members.
DeleteThe Whitehorse Branch of the Juneau Alaska Stake encompasses all of Yukon Territory. This is the only unit left in Canada that is part of an USA stake. There are no longer any US congregations that are part of a Canadian stake. The Juneau Alaska Stake is part of the United States West Area. The new area leadership map shows Yukon in the Canada Area. This makes me question is Whitehorse Branch part of the US West Area or Canada Area?
ReplyDeleteI've updated membership statistics in Wikipidea. This allows sorting to make it easier to compare.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membership_statistics_(LDS_Church)
4/24/26
ReplyDeleteCraig Shuler says,
The Church News today announced the 24 area presidencies effective August 1, 2026.
One big change is that nine big areas now have presidencies with four members instead of three:
Africa West
Brazil
Mexico
Pacific
United States Central
United States Northeast
United States Southeast
United States Southwest
Utah
This will allow a third more stakes to have a general authority seventy at their stake conference each year.
The area presidencies that continue with three members:
Africa Central
Africa South
Asia
Asia North
Eurasian
Europe Central
Europe North
Middle East / Africa North
Philippines
Canada
Caribbean
Central America
South America Northwest
South America South
United States Southeast
All eight of the new general authority seventies are in area presidencies as the third or fourth member:
Elder Fantone in the United States Central Area
Elder Hathaway in the United States Northeast Area
Elder Chigbundu in the United States Southwest Area
Elder Lebethoa in the Utah Area
Elder Fale in the United States West Area
Elder Eyring in the Pacific Area
Elder Sinclair in the Europe North Area
Elder Shumway in the Philippines Area
Is my information in error? I thought Elder Shumway was called in 2024, not this year, and that Jeremiah M. Morgan was called as a new GA Seventy this year but is not assigned to an area presidency this go-round. If my information is in error, please let me know so I can correct it.
DeleteJames, you are of course correct. Thanks for the correction. Bottom line, seven of the eight new general authority seventies are in area presidencies as the third or fourth member.
DeleteStill an interesting development that nine areas now have four members in their area presidencies.
Agreed. Four area presidency members, three of which have no formal title designated, is an interesting development indeed.
DeleteI noticed a couple of weeks ago, the San Cristóbal Branch was created. This is the 2nd Branch on the Galapagos Islands - an island chain in Ecuador where population and tourism is limited.
ReplyDelete