New Stakes Created in the DR Congo (3), Brazil (2), Nigeria, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Texas, and Zimbabwe; New Districts Created in Nigeria (2), the Philippines (2), Uganda (2), Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Zimbabwe; Stakes Discontinued in California, Guatemala, and New Zealand; Districts Discontinued in Brazil (3), Japan, Mexico, and South Africa

Please note that I have not included updates for Utah in this Update. I will make a separate post about the recent stake creations and consolidations in this state so I can provide more of an analysis of these developments

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Three new stakes were created in the DR Congo.

The Kasapa DR Congo Stake was created on December 1st from a division of the Lubumbashi DR Congo Stake (organized in 1997) and the Ruashi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2017). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Hewa Bora, the Joli Site, the Kasapa 1st, the Kasapa 2nd, the Kasapa 3rd, and the Luano Wards and the Aeroport Branch. There are now five stakes in Lubumbashi, the first four of which were organized in 1997, 2009, 2013, and 2017.

The Kinshasa DR Congo Mikonga Stake was created on December 1st from a division of the Kinshasa DR Congo Mpasa Stake (organized in 2018). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Bibwa, the Makanza 1st, the Makanza 2nd, the Mikonga 1st, and the Mikonga 2nd Wards.

The Kinshasas DR Congo Kintambo Stake was created on December 8th from the Kinshasa DR Congo Binza Stake (organized in 2012). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Camp Luka, the Laloux 2nd, the Lonzo, the Lubudi, and the Nganda Wards.

There are now 14 stakes in Kinshasa that were organized in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012 (2), 2016, 2018 (2), 2019, 2024 (3). With rapid growth and a large number of stakes and congregations, Kinshasa appears most likely to be Africa's first city to have a second temple announced.

There are now 32 stakes and 3 districts in the DR Congo.

Brazil

Two new stakes were created in Brazil on December 15th. 

The Bento Gonçalves Brazil Stake was organized from a division of the Caxias do Sul Brazil Stake (organized in 1993). The new stake includes the following four wards: the Bento Gonçalves, the Cinquentenário, the Farroupilha, and the Progresso Wards. With only four wards, it is highly likely that additional congregations will be organized, as new stakes usually have a minimum of five wards.

The Colombo Brazil Stake was organized from a division of the Curitiba Brazil Boa Vista Stake (organized in 1998). The new stake has the following five wards: the Ana Terra, the Guaraituba, the Jardim Osasco, the Parque dos Lagos, and the Rio Verde Wards. There are now 15 stakes in the Curitiba metropolitan area.

Three districts were discontinued in Brazil.

The Cabo Frio Brazil District (organized in 2017) was discontinued and consolidated with the neighboring Macaé Brazil Stake (organized in 2010) and the Arsenal Brazil Stake (organized in 2009). Two of the five branches in the original district were upgraded to wards (Cabo Frio and Araruama), whereas two branches were discontinued (likely done to have enough active members to create wards in Cabo Frio and Araruama). Most of these branches in the former district were organized at the approximate time when the district was created in 2017.

The Itapetininga Brazil District (organized in 1998) was discontinued, which previously had four branches. The two branches in Itapetininga were consolidated to create the Itapetininga Ward. The Itapetininga Ward and the Tatuí Branch were assigned to the Sorocaba Brazil Stake (organized in 1978), whereas the Cerquilho Branch was reassigned to the Sorocaba Brazil Trujilo Stake (organized in 1995).

The Tupã Brazil District (organized in 1995) The district was consolidated with the Presidente Prudente Brazil District (organized in 1988). The four branches in the district were consolidated into two branches. It is probable that this decision was made to create a future stake from the two districts from ward-sized congregations.

There are now 287 stakes and 38 districts in Brazil. 

Nigeria 

A new stake and two new districts were created in Nigeria. The Makurdi Nigeria Stake was created on December 15th from the Makurdi Nigeria District. It is likely that all five branches became wards in the new stake. The special conference to create the new stake was attended by more than 1,500 people. The Church has experienced rapid growth in the city of Makurdi with regular group baptisms that number upwards of 100 people. The Church created its first branch in Makurdi in 2015, and the Makurdi Nigeria District was organized in 2017.

The Azikoro Nigeria District was created on November 3rd from a division of the Yenagoa Nigeria Stake (organized in 2017). The new district includes the following five branches, two of which were organized when the new district was created: the Agbura, the Amarata, the Azikoro, the Fangbe, and the Ogbia Town Branches.

The Iyahe Nigeria District was created on November 10th from mission branches in the Nigeria Enugu Mission. The new district includes the following there branches: the Iyahe 1st, the Iyahe 2nd, and the Ogoja Branch. The first branch in Iyahe was organized in 2023, whereas the Ogoja Branch was created in 2016.

There are now 77 stakes and 15 districts in Nigeria.

The Philippines

A new stake and two new districts were created in the Philippines. 

The Tumauini Philippines Stake was organized on November 17th from a division of the Ilagan Philippines Stake (organized in 2000) and the Tuguegarao Philippines South Stake (organized in 2011). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Alinguigan, the Cabagan
Tumauini 1st, the Tumauini 2nd, and the Tumauini 3rd Wards and the San Bernardo Branch.

The Sablayan Philippines District was created on December 15th from a division of the San Jose Mindoro Philippines Occidental District (organized in 1998). The new district includes the following four branches: the Mamburao, the Sablayan, the San Francisco, and the Santa Cruz Branches. All four branches in the new district have been organized since 2011, as the Church did not have official congregations on the northwestern side of Mindoro Island. The decision to create the new district was likely due to distance from San Jose and opportunities for further expansion and growth in western Mindoro. The realigned San Jose Mindoro Philippines Occidental District now has five branches. There are now three districts on Mindoro Island.

The Ubay Philippines District was created on December 8th from a division of the Calape Philippines District (organized in 1995) and the Tagbilaran Philippines Stake (organized in 2015). The new district includes the following four branches: the Guindulman, the Pilar, the Talibon, and the Ubay Branches. The district includes the eastern portion of Bohol Island where a Church presence has been more recently established. There is now one stake and two districts on Bohol.

There are now 131 stakes and 56 districts in the Philippines.

Sierra Leone

A new stake was created in Sierra Leone. The Bo Sierra Leone Durba Stake was organized on October 20th from a division of the Bo Sierra Leone North Stake (created in 2017) and the Bo Sierra Leone East Stake (created in 2019). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Batiama, the Bo, the Bumpewo, the New Site, the Ngegbayama, the Torkpoi Town, and the Yemo Town Wards. The new stake is the Church's fourth stake in Bo following the creation of stakes in 2017 (2), and 2019. Moreover, this marks the first time that a new stake was created in Bo solely from the division of stakes and not from districts being organized into stakes (each of the first three stakes in Bo were each created from their own district). Bo has one of the highest percentages of Latter-day Saints of any city in Africa with at least 100,000 inhabitants, and the city appears highly like to have a temple announced in the near future.

There are now 11 stake and 2 district in Sierra Leone.

Texas

A new stake was created in Texas on December 8th. The Forney Texas Stake was created from a division of the Dallas Texas East Stake (organized in 1977) and the Heath Texas Stake (organized in 2012). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Forney 1st, the Forney 2nd, the Kaufman, the Mesquite, the Rio Trinidad (Spanish), and the Skyline Wards and the Forney 3rd Branch. There are now 23 stakes in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

There are now 81 stakes and 2 districts in Texas.

Zimbabwe 

A new stake and a new district were created in Zimbabwe. The Harare Zimbabwe Chitungwiza Stake was created from a division of the Harare Zimbabwe East Stake and the Harare Zimbabwe South Stake. The new stake includes the following four wards and two branches: the Chitungwiza, the Marondera, the Seke, and the Zengeza Wards and the Dombotombo and Southlea Park Branches. The new stake is the Church's fifth stake in Harare following stakes previously organized in 1999, 2008, 2014, and 2016.

The Masvingo Zimbabwe District was created on September 29th four mission branches in the Zimbabwe Bulawayo Mission, including the Masvingo 1st, the Masvingo 2nd, the Zvishavane 1st, and the Zvishavane 2nd Branches. After decades of stagnant growth, this area of southern Zimbabwe has had three of its four branches organized since 2021 (including the first two branches in Zvishavane).

There are now 11 stakes and 2 districts in Zimbabwe.

Uganda

Two new districts were created in Uganda. The Mbale Uganda District and the Busia Uganda District were created on November 17th. The Mbale Uganda District was created from two branches that previously were under the direct supervision of the Uganda Kampala Mission (Mbale and Mugit) and two branches that previously pertained to the Busia Kenya/Uganda District (organized in 2019). The Busia Uganda District was created from a division of the Busia Kenya/Uganda District (now renamed the Busia Kenya District), and the new district includes the following three branches located in the Ugandan side of the city of Busia (Buchicha, Kisenyi, and Sofia). The realigned Busia Kenya District now includes just two branches (Busia and Mundika).

There are now 3 stakes and 4 districts in Uganda.

Botswana

A new district was created in Botswana. The Kanye Botswana District was created on December 8th from a division of the Gaborone Botswana Stake (organized in 2012). The new district includes the following three branches: the Kanye 1st, the Kanye 2nd, and the Lobatse Branches. Two of these branches, Kanye 2nd and Lobatse, were perviously wards in the Gaborone Botswan Stake. It is unclear why these units became their own district, as these cities are with relatively close proximity to Gaborone. Moreover, the Gaborone is only a couple units away from the creation of a second stake, albeit there are now no realistic prospects for a second stake in Botswana unless these branches in the new district are strong enough to become wards and are utilized to create a second stake. It is unclear why the three branches in Francistown are still not organized into its own district despite these congregations operating for over a decade. A lack of sufficient leadership to staff district leadership callings is a likely culprit with a lack of a district in Francistown.

There is now 1 stake and 1 district in Botswana.

Cote d'Ivoire

A new district was created in Cote d'Ivoire. The Dabou Cote d'Ivoire District was created on October 20th from three branches in the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission (Dabou 1st, Dabou 2nd, and Grand Lahou) and the Songon Branch (a former ward in the Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Niangon North Stake). The first branch in Dabou was organized in 2018.

There are now 21 stakes and 11 districts in Cote d'Ivoire.

Ghana

A new district was created in Ghana. The Oda Ghana District was created on December 1st. The new district includes the following three branches: the Asene, the Oda 1st, and the Oda 2nd Branches. The Oda 1st and Oda 2nd Branches were previously wards in the Asamankese Ghana Stake (organized in 2017 and which now has five ward and two branches). Distance from Asamankese and good prospects to organize more small congregations in surrounding areas likely influenced the decision to create a separate district in Oda (a member group operated in Kokobeng years ago, although it is unclear if it still operates).

There are now 31 stakes and 12 districts in Ghana.

California

A stake was discontinued in California. The Los Angeles California Santa Monica Stake (organized in 1951) was discontinued. Retained wards were reassigned to the Los Angeles California Stake (organized in 1927), which now has nine wards. The Church has experienced a steady consolidation of stakes in the Los Angeles metropolitan area within the past two decades primarily due to active membership migration.

In California, there are now 147 stakes.

In the United States, there are now 1,709 stakes and 10 districts.

Guatemala

A stake was discontinued in Guatemala. The Guatemala City Utatlán Stake (organized in 1975) was discontinued. The stake had five ward before it was discontinued. Retained wards were reassigned to the neighboring Guatemala City Central Stake. Stagnant growth has occurred in this area of Guatemala for many years.

There are now 51 stakes and 11 districts in Guatemala.

New Zealand

For the first time in Church history, the Church has discontinued a stake in New Zealand. The Hastings New Zealand Stake (organized in 1960) was discontinued and consolidated with the neighboring Hastings New Zealand Flaxmere Stake (organized in 1995 and renamed the Te Matau a Maui New Zealand Stake). The two stakes previously had a combined nine wards and four branches which were reduced to five wards and two branches. Hastings has experienced stagnant growth and decline for decades, and the consolidation was long overdue given the few number of wards in the area. In 2001, the two stakes had a combined 10 wards and one branch, as each stake had only five wards. Most of the Church's growth in New Zealand within the past decade has been in Auckland and Hamilton. It is probable that another stake consolidation will occur in the Wellington area within the foreseeable future, as this area has also experienced stagnant growth for decades, and each of the three stakes in the area have the minimal number of congregations to operate as stakes.

There are now 29 stakes and 2 districts in New Zealand.

Japan

A district was discontinued in Japan.The Matsuyama Japan District (organized 1991) in was discontinued and combined with the Takamatsu Japan District (organized in 1979 and was renamed the Shikoku Japan District). No branches were closed as part of the consolidation of the two districts. The consolidation was likely done to conserve district leadership manpower. Some branches on the island have been close to meeting the qualifications to become wards, but with the increased standards to organize wards announced 1 year ago, prospects appear unlikely for the district to become a stake for some time.

There are now 22 stakes and 10 districts in Japan.

Mexico

A district was discontinued in Mexico. The Madera México District (organized in 1977) was discontinued. The Matachic Branch was discontinued. The remaining three branches are now directly supervised by the Mexico Chihuahua Mission. The branches in the district are small and spread over a large geographical area, which is likely why the district was discontinued.

There are now 230 stakes and 43 districts in Mexico.

South Africa

A district was discontinued in South Africa. The Phuthaditjhaba South Africa District (organized in 2017) was discontinued. The two branches were reassigned to the Ladysmith South Africa District (organized in 2017) which now has six branches. The decision to consolidate the districts was likely due to only two branches in the Phuthaditjhaba South Africa District, and the failure for member groups to become branches in the district. It is unclear whether the new district has any realistic prospects to become a stake in the foreseeable future.

There are now 18 stakes and 9 districts in South Africa.

New Branches Created in Botswana and Namibia

Last month, the Church organized two new branches in the Botswana/Namibia Mission in cities where no branches have previously operated. 

The Ongwediva Branch was created in northern Namibia and becomes the first branch to ever operate in this region of the country. The Church has operated a member group for a number of years in the small city of approximately 20,000 people. Remote location has posed a major difficulty for the Church to become established in Ongwediva as the nearest city in Namibia with a branch is Windhoek - more than 350 miles away. Other missionary-focused Christian groups have reported rapid growth in this area of the Church, and the creation of the new branch may present additional opportunities to channel resources into this area of Namibia. There are only three cities in Namibia with a branch: Windhoek (3), Ongwediva, and Swakopmund. Swakopmund was previously the most recently reached city in Namibia by the Church as the branch in the city was organized in 2015. Ongwediva was the ninth most populous city in Namibia without a branch prior to the branch creation.

The Serowe Branch was created in Botswana last Sunday. Serowe is the first city in Botswana to have had its first Latter-day Saint branch organized since 2014 when the Mogoditshane Ward was created. There are now nine cities in Botswana with a ward or branch. Serowe was previously the second most populous city in Botswana without a ward or branch.

First LDS Stake in Botswana to be Created November 4th, 2012

Members in Botswana report that the Church will create its first stake in Botswana on November 4th.  The Church has worked for many years to create the first stake in Botswana.  The Church created its first official branch in 1991 and the following year organized a district headquartered in Gaborone.  In 1995, the district was closed and branches were reassigned to the newly created Roodepoort South Africa Stake.  The Church currently has three wards and four branches in Botswana that remain assigned to the Roodepoort South Africa Stake and one other branch (Francistown) and several groups (Gerald, Kasane, and Monarch) that report directly to the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.  With few exceptions, stakes must have at least five wards to operate and we will likely see a couple new wards formed in Gaborone or a couple branches mature into wards as part of the creation of the new stake.  Members report that the new stake will also include one congregation in neighboring South Africa (Mafeking).

In the late 2000s, mission leaders opened several new cities to proselytism and have reported excellent success as branches have been organized in Kanye, Molepolole, and Mochudi.  Prospects appear favorable for the creation of a separate mission for Botswana due to visa complications with missionaries transferring between Botswana and South Africa and expanding opportunities to open additional cities to proselytism.

Church Growth News and Developments

Island opens for missionary work in Fiji

Around the beginning of 2010 the island of Kadavu received its first permanent missionaries. Located south of Suva, Kadavu appears to be the first island in Fiji's Eastern Division to have a Church presence and missionaries. Only one missionary companionship serves on Kadavu and Church services are held in two locations: Kavala and Vunisea. The population of Kadavu is 10,000. No branches have been created and only two groups have Sunday meetings. Most of those attending meetings are youth and attendance is steadily growing.

Additional branches to be created in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Impressive membership growth and high convert retention continues in the DR Congo. Missionaries report that district conferences in the interior have had more in attendance than members on the records. In Kananga, there were 500 investigators who attended a conference held several months ago. Missionaries report that several new branches will be created in Luputa and Mbuji-Mayi this year and the latter may become its own district. A third branch was also recently created in Mbuji-Mayi. The district in Luputa is working towards become a stake within the next year. The number of missionaries serving in Lubumbashi has continued to increase and a new zone was created. The city of Kolwezi may open for missionary work soon. There are now eight wards in each of the Lubumbashi stakes.

Growth in Kenya

Missionaries report that the four branches in the Kilunga Hills southeast of Nairobi continue to grow rapidly in membership. The newest branch, the Mitini Branch, was created less than a year ago and now has around 300 attending meetings. More branches will be created soon to accommodate the strong growth. This area seems highly likely to be made into a district, in addition to several other areas with multiple mission branches. Difficultly access these areas and limited leadership have likely delayed the creation of more districts.

Much of northern Norway closes to missionary work; missionaries relocated to southern Norway

In a bold move, the Norway Oslo Mission has closed most of the proselyting areas in northern Norway and placed missionaries in Oslo and surrounding cities. Northern Norway has seen little growth; two districts used to function, based in Trondheim and Tromso, but both were discontinued in the early or mid-2000s. Missionaries report the mission is working hard to turn several branches into wards around Oslo in order for a stake stake to be created. These areas also appear the most receptive to the Church.

Botswana recap: New branches and zone

A lot of developments have occurred over the past year. Branches have been established in Molepolole (spring 2009), Mochudi and Kanye (both in late 2009). The first YSA ward was created in Africa in Gaborone. Francistown also opened for missionary work. A second zone was also just created due to the large increase in missionaries serving Botswana. For more information about the Church in Botswana, check out the country profile at Cumorah.com.

Atolls in the Marshall Islands open for missionary work

Missionaries report that Ailinglaplap and Ebon have recently opened for missionary work. Both these atolls have only a couple thousand inhabitants and missionaries have been assigned due to members requesting them. On Ailinglaplap, the chief of the island joined the Church on Majuro and has been instrumental in the Church's recent establishment on the atoll. Missionaries also serve on Jaluit and together with Ailinglaplap and Ebon none of these areas have branches established. Church meetings occur in groups. Also, on Christmas Island in neighboring Kiribati at least two groups are also meeting, one of which may become a branch soon in a small community named Banana.

The opening of a nation to the Church: Significant Angola developments

Members in Angola report that the first group has been organized outside of Luanda in Lubango. There are over 100,000 inhabitants in the city and the newly created group has around 15 investigators attending Sunday meetings. A missionary companionship have also recently been assigned to Lubango. Members report that several more groups will be created in Huambo and Moxico Provinces. The two branches in Luanda will also divide to create two additional branches in the near future. Currently six missionaries serve in the country with another six or seven awaiting visas. For more information about the Church in Angola, click on this link to Cumorah.com.

New area opens in Lesotho

Missionaries have recently been assigned to work in the small town of Leribe. Leribe is the hometown of Lesotho's queen and is located on the border with South Africa 75 miles northeast of Maseru.

Church Growth Updates

New mission in Nicaragua

Missionaries serving in the Nicaragua Managua Mission report that the mission will be split this summer to create a second mission. The mission has seen tremendous success over the years and continues to show impressive results. Missionaries report that 60% of converts have been retained over the past year, much higher from previous years. Hundreds of baptisms occur monthly and the amount of growth has overwhelmed currently mission leadership for a nation with over 64,000 members, 100 congregations, and high inactivity. Nine stakes and six districts currently function.

Mission to be discontinued in Ohio

Missionaries report that the Ohio Cincinnati Mission will be discontinued and combined with neighboring missions this July. I will provide further analysis and background once more information becomes available including official announcement from the Church.

Additional countries added to the Uganda Kampala Mission

Recently arrived missionaries reported that two additional countries have been added to the jurisdiction of the Uganda Kampala Mission. The mission originally included Uganda and Ethiopia when it was created in 2005 and added Rwanda and Southern Sudan in the past couple years. Djibouti and Eritrea have also join the mission, bringing the total of countries served by the mission to six.

Mission realignment in South Africa

The South Africa Durban and South Africa Johannesburg Missions will be realigned in the next week. The Johannesburg mission will lose the southern portion of Free State Province and Lesotho which will fall under the mission in Durban. This decision was likely done due to the rapid increase in baptisms and missionaries serving in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission, which baptized over 1,700 converts in 2009. The realignment will allow for greater balance of responsibility for the two missions. Lesotho has also seen increasing success in the past year and a third branch may be created in the near future.

Full translation of the Book of Mormon in Laotian nearing completion

A senior missionary couple serving in Laos report that the first full translation of the Book of Mormon in Laotian is nearly complete. Most Laotian speaking members live in the United States in four congregations. A branch does meet in the capital of Vientiane with around 70 active members.

New branches in Botswana

Branches have been created in two cities in Botswana. Mochudi received its first missionaries at the end of last year and had its first branch organized. Kanye has also received its first missionaries and branch. Increased mission activity in Botswana likely contributed to the mission realignment with the South Africa Johannesburg and South Africa Durban Missions.

New stake to be created in Cote d'Ivoire

Missionaries report that in the coming weeks a fourth stake will be organized in the Abidjan area from a division of the Yopougon Cote d'Ivoire Stake which currently has 11 wards. I will provide more information once it becomes available.

Stakes close to splitting in Mexico

The mission president of the Mexico Leon Mission reported that the Leon Mexico Stake may divide to create a second stake in the city this spring. The Celaya Mexico Stake is also very close to dividing as well but is still struggling to meet certain requirements in order for a second stake to be created in the city.

Church Growth News from Botswana and Estonia

Botswana

Missionaries serving in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission report that two cities are opening for missionary work in Botswana. Francistown, located on the border with Zimbabwe in the north, had its sole branch created in the early 2000s and has opened for missionary work. Sacrament attendance for the branch has climbed from the 40s into the 70s in just the past few months. Missionaries began more regularly visiting the branch and baptizing converts this year. A pair of senior couple missionaries are also serving in the city.

Mochudi has also opened for missionary work and a pair of elders are assigned to the city. No branch has been formed in Mochudi and members and investigators likely meet as a group or dependent branch.

The first young single adult (YSA) ward was also created in Africa in Gaborone, Botswana. The recently created Molepolole Branch now has over 70 attending Sunday meetings. There are now three wards and three branches in the country.

Estonia

On the outskirts of Tallinn, the city of Keila has opened for missionary work. There are five branches in Estonia and six cities opened for missionary work.

Update of Church Growth

New Branch in Uganda

A new branch was recently created in the Jinja District of Uganda. The Mpumudde Branch is the fifth branch in the Jinja District and the 16th in Uganda.

City Opens for Missionary Work in Malawi

The capital city of Malawi received a branch of the Church last fall and has just opened to missionary work. Lilongwe and Blantyre are the only cities opened for missionary work at this time in the country. There are three or four branches in Malawi today.

City Opens for Missionary Work in Botswana

Last spring missionaries were sent to open the city of Molepolole to the preaching of the Gospel. A branch has been established and there are now three branches and two wards in the country. The city of Molepolole has around 54,600 inhabitants and was the largest city that did not have the Church established in it yet in Botswana.

Rapid Growth in Qatar

Although Muslims are not allowed to attend Church services and the Qatari government does not recognize the Church, the city of Doha has two wards in it for foreigners living in the country. The second ward was organized last year for Filipinos as a branch originally, but has rapidly grown since its creation. Members in both congregations are living there on business.

New Ward created in Taiwan

The 10th ward in the Kaohsiung Taiwan Stake was recently created in Taliao. The stake now has 10 wards and a branch. It is likely the stake will be divided soon since it is the largest stake it Taiwan at this time.