New Stakes Created in Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington; New Districts Created in the DR Congo (2) and Colombia; Districts Discontinued in Brazil and Colombia

Cameroon 

The Church created its first stake in the African nation of Cameroon on June 1st. The Yaounde Cameroon Stake was organized from the Yaounde Cameroon District (organized in 2012). Over 900 people attended the meeting to create the new stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and four branches: the Anguissa, the Bastos, the Ekounou, the Eleveur, and the Mimboman Wards and the Biyem-Assi, the Messassi, the Obili (English), and the Soa Branches. Reports over the past couple years have noted that the district was close to becoming a stake but continued to need to maintain the minimum standards for the stake to be created. Cameroon is the second African nation thus far in 2025 to have had its first stake organized (the first stake in Tanzania was organized in Dar es Salaam in January). 

There is now one stake and one district in Cameroon. The Church reported 3,327 members in Cameroon as of year-end 2024. 

Chile 

The Church organized a new stake in Chile on May 11th. The Alto Hospicio Chile Stake was organized from the Alto Hospicio Chile District (organized in 2005) which was created when the Church's second stake in Iquique, the Iquique Chile South Stake, was discontinued (originally organized in 1997). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the La Pampa, the Las Américas, the Los Aromos, the Los Cóndores, and the Tarapacá Wards and the Pica and Pozo Almonte Branches. Local leaders are ambitious that a third stake may be created in Iquique one day, although this goal appears unlikely to be reached for many years considering the Iquique Chile Stake has only six wards. The new stake in Alto Hospicio is the first new stake created in northern Chile since 2014.

There are now 80 stakes and nine districts in Chile. 

Colombia

A new stake was organized in Colombia from the Palmira Colombia District (organized in 1986) and the Tuluá Colombia District (organized in 1992). The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Bizerta, Buga, El Recreo, Santa Bárbara, and Tuluá Wards and the Andalucía, El Cerrito, and Zarzal Branches. Several branches were discontinued as part of the process of converting branches into wards, including two branches in Tuluá and one branch in Buga. 

A new district was organized from three mission branches in the Colombia Bogota North Mission. The Casanare Colombia District was organized with three branches, namely the Aguazul, the El Alcaraván, and the Los Helechos Branches.

There are now 32 stakes and nine districts in Colombia. 

Kansas

A new stake was organized in Kansas on June 1st. The Overland Park Kansas Stake was organized from the Lenexa Kansas Stake (organized in 1994) and the Olathe Kansas Stake (organized in 1986). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Heritage Park, Overland Park 1st, Overland Park 2nd, Overland Park 3rd, Paola, and Stanley Wards and the Mound City Branch. The new stake is the first new stake created in Kansas since the Garden City Kansas Stake was organized in 2003.

There are now eight stakes in Kansas. 

Maine

A new stake was organized in Maine on June 8th. The Portland Maine Stake was organized from the Augusta Maine Stake (organized in 1968). The new stake includes the following seven wards and one branch: the Cornish, Oxford, Portland, Saco, Topsham, Windham, and Yarmouth Wards and the Casco Bay YSA Branch. The other two stakes and the Saint John New Brunswick Stake were also realigned as part of the new stake creation. The last time a new stake was created in Maine was in 1986.

There are now three stakes in Maine.

Missouri

A new stake was organized in Missouri on June 8th. The Shoal Creek Missouri Stake was created from the Liberty Missouri Stake (organized in 1979) and the Platte City Missouri Stake (organized in 1997). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the New Mark, North Kansas City, Oak Grove, Platte Woods, Smithville Lake, and Tiffany Springs Wards and the San Rafael (Spanish) Branch.

Papua New Guinea

A new stake was organized in Papua New Guinea on May 25th. The Lae Papua New Guinea Stake was organized from the Lae Papua New Guinea District (organized in 2017). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Lae, Malahang, Ngasuwampu, Taraka, Wara Kalap, and Yalu Bridge Wards and the Kavieng and Yalu Branches. The creation of the new stake is a major success that would have been unlikely without the creation of the Papua New Guinea Lae Mission in 2013. More information about the creation of the new stake can be found here. The new stake is the Church's second stake to be created in northern Papua New Guinea within the past 12 months.

There are now four stakes and 10 districts in Papua New Guinea. 

Also, the Church's fifth stake in Papua New Guinea, the Oro Papua New Guinea Stake, is scheduled to be organized on June 15th. 

Peru

A new stake was organized in Peru on May 18th. The Lima Perú La Victoria Stake was organized from the Lima Perú Limatambo Stake (organized in 1970), the Lima Perú Magdalena Stake (organized in 1974), and the Lima Perú San Luis Stake (organized in 1983). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Balconcillo, the El Porvenir, the Jesús María, the La Victoria, and the Santa Beatriz Wards. 

There are now 50 stakes in the Lima metropolitan area - more than any other metropolitan area in the world outside of the United States.

There are now 116 stakes and 18 districts in Peru. The Cañete Perú Stake will be organized from the Cañete Perú District on June 22nd.

Tennessee

A new stake was created in Tennessee on June 8th from the Chattanooga Tennessee Stake. The new Cleveland Tennessee Stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Athens, Cleveland, Dalton, Dayton, and Ooltewah Wards and the Collegedale Branch. This new stake is the Church's second new stake to be created in Tennessee this year.

There are now 13 stakes in Tennessee.

Utah

A new stake was organized in Utah on June 8th. The Lehi Utah Hardman Farms Stake was organized from a division of the Lehi Utah Holbrook Farms Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Hardman Farms 1st, Hardman Farms 2nd, Hardman Farms 3rd, Hardman Farms 4th, Hardman Farms 5th, and the Hardman Farms 6th Wards.

There are now 25 stakes in Lehi. 

There are now 644 stakes and six districts in Utah. 

Virginia

A new stake was organized in Virginia on June 1st. The Mechanicsville Virginia Stake was organized from the Richmond Virginia Stake, the Richmond Virginia Chesterfield Stake, the Richmond Virginia Midlothian Stake, and the Newport News Virginia Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Chickahominy, Meadowbrook, Mechanicsville, Scotchtown, and Tappahannock Wards and the New Kent and Richmond Branches. 

There are now four stakes in the Richmond metropolitan area.

There are now 25 stakes in Virginia. 

Washington

A new stake was organized in Washington State on June 1st. The Moses Lake Washington Stake was organized from the Moses Lake Washington Stake and one branch from the Spokane Washington West Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Garden Heights, Larson Heights, O'Sullivan, Pioneer, and Ridgeview Wards and the Ritzville Branch. 

There are now two stakes in Moses Lake. 

There are now 62 stakes in Washington State.

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo)

Two new districts were recently organized in the DR Congo. 

The Bandundu DR Congo District was organized from three branches that formerly were under the direct supervision of the DR Congo Kinshasa South Mission, namely the Bandundu, Disasi, and Mayoyo Branches. All three branches are located in the city of Bandundu where the first branch was created in 2020.

The Tshitenge Democratic Republic of the Congo District was organized from four branches in the Dibindi DR Congo Stake (organized in 2022) and one recently organized mission branch (Lukalaba). The new district includes the following five branches: the Kabwe, Kambanja, Lukalaba, Sangu, and the Tshitenge Branches. The first branch in this area was created in Tshitenge in 2011 back when Mbuji-Mayi was a district.

Prospects appear favorable for the organization of many additional districts in the DR Congo due to the rapid and unprecedented expansion of the Church into previously unreached areas. Locations that appear likely to have districts organized within the near future include Boma (2 branches), Bukavu (2 branches), Kamanda (2 branches), Kikwit (3 branches), Kimpese (3 branches), Kipushi (2 branches), Luiza (2 branches), Muanda (2 branches), Tshikapa (2 branches), and Uvira (2 branches).

There are now 34 stakes and five districts in the DR Congo. On June 15th, three new stakes will be created in Kananga and one new stake will be created in Kinshasa, thereby bringing the total number of stakes in the country to 38.

Brazil

A district was recently discontinued in Brazil. The Três Rios Brazil District (organized in 2016) was discontinued. The district previously had five branches. Two branches in Três Rios were consolidated to create a ward in the Petrópolis Brazil Stake and one branch was also assigned to this stake. Another branch was reassigned to the Volta Redonda Brazil Stake (Vassouras) and another branch was discontinued (Valença).

There are now 288 stakes and 35 districts in Brazil. 

New Temples Announced in October 2024 - Part I: Outside of the United States

Juchitán de Zaragoza Mexico Temple

The Juchitán de Zaragoza Mexico Temple will be the Church's 26th temple in Mexico and second temple in Oaxaca State. Previously dedicated or announced temples include the Mexico City Mexico Temple (dedicated in 1983), the Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple (dedicated in 1999), the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Oaxaca Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Tampico Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Villahermosa Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Mérida Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Veracruz Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Guadalajara Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2001), the Monterrey Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2002), the Tijuana Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2015), the Puebla Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2024), the Querétaro Mexico Temple (announced in April 2021), the Torreón Mexico Temple (announced in April 2021), the Culiacán Mexico Temple (announced in October 2021), the San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple (announced in April 2022), the Mexico City Benemérito Mexico Temple (announced in April 2022), the Cuernavaca Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Pachuca Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Toluca Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Tula Mexico Temple (announced October 2022), the Cancún México Temple (announced October 2023), and the Chihuahua Mexico Temple (announced April 2024). The new temple in Juchitán de Zaragoza will likely have a small district consisting of three stakes and four districts in southeastern Oaxaca State. Thus, the temple will likely be a small temple given few stakes and districts in the area which are nonetheless far distant from the nearest temples in Oaxaca and Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The Church discontinued many congregations in the Juchitán area in 2017 to create wards that had larger numbers of active members. There are currently 230 stakes, 44 districts, and 34 missions in Mexico. There were 1,876 official congregations in Mexico as of year-end 2023. Church membership in Mexico is at 1.52 million, although membership growth rates have been very slow in recent years. Moreover, member activity rates in Mexico are low overall at approximately 20%. 

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Santa Ana El Salvador Temple

The Santa Ana El Salvador Temple will be the Church's second temple in El Salvador following the dedication of the San Salvador El Salvador Temple in 2011. The new temple will likely service nine stakes in extreme western El Salvador - all of which are assigned to the San Salvador El Salvador Temple. There are four stakes in Santa Ana which were organized in 1979, 1980, 2009, and 2017. The Church has experienced essentially stagnant growth in El Salvador as a whole for many years in regard to membership growth, albeit there were two new stakes created in western El Salvador in 2017 and some branches have matured into wards within the past 5-10 years. The new temple is likely to be a small- to medium-sized temple. 

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Medellín Colombia Temple

The Medellín Colombia Temple will be the Church's fourth temple in Colombia following the Bogotá Colombia Temple (dedicated in 1999), the Barranquilla Colombia Temple (dedicated in 2018), and the Cali Colombia Temple (announced in April 2021). The new temple will likely be a small temple that services four stakes and one district - all of which are assigned to the Bogotá Colombia Temple. There are three stakes in Medellín which were organized in 1988, 1996, and 2023. The Colombia Medellín Mission was organized in 2012. The Church in Colombia has experienced slow growth for many years. As of year-end 2023, there were 215,331 Latter-day Saints, 256 official congregations, 31 stakes, 10 districts, and five missions.

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Santiago Dominican Republic Temple

The Santiago Dominican Republic Temple will be the Church's second temple in the Dominican Republic following the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple (dedicated in 2000). The new temple will likely be a small- to medium-sized temple and service seven stakes and three districts in northern Dominican Republic - all of which are assigned to the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple. Steady growth has occurred in the past couple decades in the area, and two new stakes have been organized since 2010. With approximately 150,000 Latter-day Saints, the Dominican Republic was the country with the most members with only one temple prior to today's announcement.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Puerto Montt Chile Temple

The Puerto Montt Chile Temple will be the Church's sixth temple in Chile following the Santiago Chile Temple (dedicated in 1983), the Concepción Chile Temple (dedicated in 2018), the Antofagasta Chile Temple (announced in 2019), the Santiago Chile West Temple (announced in October 2021), and the Viña del Mar Chile (announced in October 2023). The new temple will likely be a small temple and service seven stakes and three districts in extreme southern Chile. The area is currently serviced by the Concepción Chile Temple. The Church recently organized a new stake in the Puerto Montt area (Puerto Varas) in March of 2024, and a few branches have become wards recently in the area. However, this region of Chile has historically had little to no growth in the number of congregations for decades. There are currently 79 stakes, 10 districts, and 11 missions in Chile. 

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Dublin Ireland Temple

The Dublin Ireland Temple will be the Church's first temple in Ireland. The Church reported 4,076 members as of year-end 2023. There is one stake in Dublin (organized in 1995) and one stake in Belfast, Northern Ireland (organized in 1974) which appear likely to comprise the new temple district. Currently, the two stakes are assigned to the Preston England Temple (dedicated in 1998). Thus, the new temple will likely be a small temple. The Church used to operate a mission in Dublin, Ireland which closed and was consolidated with the mission in Scotland in 2010. Stagnant membership growth has occurred for most years in Ireland in the past couple decades, although there have been a couple years that have had significant growth during this time. The Church recently discontinued the Limerick Ireland District and consolidated it with the Dublin Ireland Stake. There are now six wards and six branches in Ireland. There are seven wards and three branches in Northern Ireland.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Milan Italy Temple

The Milan Italy Temple will be the Church's second temple in Italy following the Rome Italy Temple in 2019. Milan has historically been what appeared to be a more likely location to have a temple announced in Italy before the Rome Italy Temple given there are more stakes in northern Italy than southern Italy and that some of the stakes in northern Italy have operated for more than a decade longer than in southern Italy. Currently, northern Italy is assigned to the Rome Italy Temple. The new temple will likely service 5-6 stakes in northern Italy. The new temple will likely be a small- to medium-sized temple. Milan is the only city in northern Italy that has two stakes (which were organized in 1981 and 2012). Membership growth rates in Italy have been low for many years. There were 28,409 members, 10 stakes, 94 official congregations, and two missions in Italy as of year-end 2023. Italy has undergone a significant transformation in the past 15-20 years from mostly comprising branches and districts to being mostly made up of wards and stakes.

This location was classified as a less likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Abuja Nigeria Temple

The Abuja Nigeria Temple will be the Church's sixth temple in Nigeria following the Aba Nigeria Temple (dedicated in 2005), the Lagos Nigeria Temple (announced in 2018), the Benin City Nigeria Temple (announced in 2020), the Eket Nigeria Temple (announced in October 2022), and the Calabar Nigeria Temple (announced in October 2023). As I noted when the Calabar Nigeria Temple was announced, the Church has never announced so many new temples in a country with only one dedicated temple since Mexico had at one point nine temples announced in February 1999 before a second temple was dedicated in March 1999 (which was the Colonia Juarez Mexico Temple). The new temple in Abuja will likely be a small temple and service four stakes (three of which are in Abuja) and three districts in central Nigeria - all of which are assigned to the Aba Nigeria Temple. The first stake in Abuja was organized in 2012 followed by additional stakes in 2016 and 2019. The Church has grown rapidly in central Nigeria within the past decade after decades of slow or stagnant growth. Just a few weeks ago, the Church created its first stake in Jos where a district had operated for more than 30 years. Prospects appear favorable for more stakes to be created in central Nigeria in the foreseeable future, particularly in Makurdi and Gboko, although 1-2 additional stakes appear likely to be created in Abuja within the next few years. The creation of the Nigeria Abuja Mission in 2023 also is likely to significantly accelerate growth in vast areas of Nigeria inhabited by approximately 100 million people where most do not live near an official Latter-day Saint congregation (although it is unlikely that much expansion will occur in the far northern states that are staunchly Muslim and follow Sharia law). Even with today's announcement, prospects appear favorable for more temple announcements in Nigeria in the coming years. Some likely candidates include:

• Enugu (5 stakes, 4 districts)
• Ibadan (8 stakes, 1 district)
  
• Port Harcourt (9 stakes, 2 districts)
  
• Umuahia (6 stakes, 1 district)
  
• Uyo (6 stakes)
• Warri (2 stakes)

The Church reported 232,654 members 810 congregations in Nigeria as of year-end 2023. There are currently 76 stakes, 13 districts, and 11 missions in Nigeria.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Kampala Uganda Temple

The Kampala Uganda Temple will be the first temple to be built in Uganda. Prior to today's announcement, Uganda was the country with the most Latter-day Saints without a temple per 2023 figures (22,138 members). Stakes and districts in Uganda are assigned to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, although Uganda will likely be reassigned to the Nairobi Kenya Temple once it is completed. There are three stakes and three districts in Uganda. There are two stakes in Kampala which were organized in 2010 and 2017. The new temple will likely service members in Uganda, Ethiopia, and perhaps Burundi and Rwanda - the latter two have recently experienced unprecedented growth. The temple will likely be a small temple. Prospects appear favorable for accelerated growth in Uganda given the Uganda Kampala Mission now only services the countries of Uganda and South Sudan. In the past year, the Church has organized many new branches in cities and towns in Uganda that have never had a branch, including in Bukomero, Buwenge, Bweyale, Kalisizo, Kibale, Mbarara, and Soroti.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

Maputo Mozambique Temple

The Maputo Mozambique Temple will be the Church's second temple in Mozambique following the announcement of the Beira Mozambique Temple in April of 2021. The new temple will likely be a small temple and service the three stakes in Maputo as well as two districts (one in Mozambique and one in Eswatini). As I noted in the post regarding today's announcement, this marks the first time the Church has announced two temples in a country that previously has not had any temples (although there was a time in the United States after the destruction of the Nauvoo Temple and before the dedication of the first temples in Utah when temples were announced in Utah that were not completed yet). The temple in Beira remains in the planning stages. Church growth rates in Mozambique have been among the most rapid in the world and have been concentrated in Beira (which now has four stakes) and Maputo. The Church created its first two stakes in Mozambique in 2015. Additional stakes were created in Maputo in 2019 and 2023. There are now eight stakes and two districts in the country - all of which are assigned to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. Church membership increased by 34.1% during 2023 to 24,733. There are now 75 official congregations in Mozambique.

This location was classified as a more likely location to have a temple announced on my most recent temple prediction map.

17 New Temples Announced

Today, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, announced plans to construct temples in the following 17 locations:

• Juchitán de Zaragoza, Mexico
• Santa Ana, El Salvador
• Medellín, Colombia
• Santiago, Dominican Republic
• Puerto Montt, Chile
• Dublin, Ireland
• Milan, Italy
• Abuja, Nigeria   
• Kampala, Uganda
• Maputo, Mozambique
• Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• Queen Creek, Arizona
• El Paso, Texas
• Huntsville, Alabama
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Summit, New Jersey
  Price, Utah
  

With today's announcement, there will now be 367 temples that are planned or dedicated. I will provide an analysis of each temple announcement in the coming days. Today's announcement marks the first time the Church has announced a temple in a country where a temple has previously been announced but not completed yet (Mozambique). Also, temples in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Summit, New Jersey, will be the Church's first temples to be built in these states. Finally, temples in Dublin, Ireland, and Kampala, Uganda, will be the Church's first temples in these nations.

New Stakes Created in Mexico (2), the Philippines (2), Angola, Argentina, California, Chile, Colombia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Utah; Stakes Discontinued in California and Utah; New Districts Created in the Dominican Republic and Mozambique; District Discontinued in Argentina, Serbia, and Slovenia

This is a massive blog post on many new stakes organized. Please let me know if you notice any errors or if I missed any stake/district creations/closures in 2023.

Mexico

Two new stakes were organized in Mexico.

The Los Tuxtla Mexico Stake was organized from the Los Tuxtla Mexico District on November 12th. The district was originally created in 1982. The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Isla, Lerdo de Tejada, San Andrés Jardín, San Andrés Mirador, and the Sihuapans, and the Baxcaxbaltepec, Catemaco, and Juan Rodriguez Clara Branches. The new stake was the Church's second new stake organized in Mexico in 2023. 

The Monterrey Mexico Lincoln Stake was organized on December 3rd from the Monterrey México Valle Verde Stake and the Monterrey México Mitras Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Fraile, Los Parques, Modelo, San Bernabé 1st, San Bernabé 2nd, and Villas del Poniente Wards. The Church discontinued the Monterrey México Morelos Stake in 2018 which is nearby the newly organized Monterrey Mexico Lincoln Stake.

There are now 230 stakes and 44 districts in Mexico.

The Philippines

Two new stakes were created in the Philippines - both of which were organized from districts on December 3rd.

The Aguilar Philippines Stake was organized from the Aguilar Philippines District (organized in 2001). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Aguilar 1st, Aguilar 2nd, Bugallon, Mangatarem, and Urbiztondo Wards and the Bantocaling Branch. There are now eight stakes in the surrounding areas of the soon-to-be-dedicated Urdaneta Philippines Temple.

After decades of preparation and work, the Toledo Philippines District was finally organized as a district. Organized in 1990 as a district, the Toledo Philippines Stake is the Church's first stake on the western side of Cebu Island. The new stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Aloguinsan, Balamban 1st, Balamban 2nd, Toledo 1st, and Toledo 2nd Wards, and the Lamac, Lutopan, and Tutay-Pinamungahan Branches. There are now seven stakes and one district on Cebu Island.

There are now 128 stakes and 53 districts in the Philippines.

Argentina

The Church organized a new stake in Argentina. The Corrientes Argentina Stake was organized from the Corrientes Argentina District (organized in 1991) and the Goya Argentina District (organized in 1993). The Goya Argentina District was discontinued when the new stake in Corrientes was organized. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Armenia, Costanera, Goya, Laguna Seca, and Mendoza Al Sur Wards and the Bella Vista Branch. Of the five wards in the new stake, four are located in the city of Corrientes. Also, the two branches in the city of Goya were consolidated into one congregation which was reorganized as the Goya Ward.

There are now 79 stakes and 25 districts in Argentina.

Angola

The Viana Angola Stake was organized from the Luanda Angola Stake (organized in 2018). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Cacuaco, Kilamba, Terra Nova, Viana, Vila Pacifica, and Zango Wards and the Cazenga and Luanda Sul Branches. The Viana Angola Stake previously operated as a district from 2016 until 2018 when it merged with the Luanda Angola District to create the first stake in Angola. The Church announced the Luanda Angola Temple in October 2023.

There are now two stakes and one district in Angola. Within the past 2 years, many additional cities have had the first branches organized, including Benguela, Caála, Kuito, Malanje, and Menongue. Also, two new wards and two new branches were organized in the Luanda metropolitan area when the Viana Angola Stake as organized.

California

A new stake was organized in California. The Temecula California North Stake was organized on December 3rd from a division of the Temecula California Stake (organized in 2003). The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Chaparral, French Valley, La Paz Ward (Spanish), Lake Skinner, Meadowview, Rancho California, and Temecula YSA Wards. The new stake was the Church's second new stake created in California in 2023. 

The Church discontinued one stake in California in 2023. The El Centro California Imperial Valley Stake (organized in 1980) was discontinued. The stake had only three wards and one branch when it was discontinued, although for many years the stake had four wards and one branch. Thus, the closure of the stake has been long overdue due to few congregations in the stake. There were only two wards and two branches from the El Centro area that remained when the stake was closed, and these units were reassigned to the El Cajon California Stake. 

There are now 147 stakes in California.

Chile

A new stake was created in Chile. The Colina Chile Stake was organized on from the Colina Chile District (organized in 1994). The new stake includes the following five wards and two branches: the Batuco, Colina, Lampa, San Martin, and Valle Grande Wards and the Isla Juan Fernández and Til-Til Branches. It does not appear that the Colina Chile District ever previously operated as a stake, as none of the previously discontinued stakes in Chile appeared to include cities and towns within the boundaries of the current Colina Chile Stake. 

There are now 78 stakes and 11 districts in Chile. The new Colina Chile Stake was the fourth new stake organized in Chile in 2023 - the most new stakes created in Chile since 1998.

Colombia

A new stake was organized in Colombia on December 10th. The Medellin Colombia Centro Stake was organized from a division of the Medellin Colombia Stake (organized in 1988) and the Medellin Colombia Belen Stake (organized in 1996). The new stake includes the following five wards: the Belén, Buenos Aires, El Prado, Floresta, and Villa Hermosa Wards. The new stake is the first new stake organized in Colombia since 2019.

There are now 31 stakes and 10 districts in Colombia.

Mozambique 

A new stake was organized in Mozambique on November 19th. The Zimpeto Mozambique Stake was organized from a division of the Maputo Mozambique Stake (organized in 2015) and the Matola Mozambique Stake (organized in 2019). The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the CMC, Circular, Magoanine, Matendene, T-3, and Zimpeto Wards and the Boquisso and Marracuene Branches. There are now three stakes in the Maputo metropolitan area. Five new wards and four new branches were organized in the Maputo area when the new stake was organized, including two wards that were organized from member groups (Boane and Catembe). Also, two branches were reorganized into wards (Beluluane and Circular). 

The Church also organized a new district in Mozambique on November 12th. The Maxixe Mozambique District was organized from three mission branches, and one new branch was also organized when the district was created for a total of four branches in the new district. These branches include the Expansão, Homoine, Inhambane, and Maxixe Branches. The Church organized a branch in Maxixe in 2013, and the first branches were organized in Homoine and Inhambane in 2022. It appears likely that additional districts will be organized in Mozambique in the foreseeable future in Tete and Xai-Xai.

There are now seven stakes and two districts in Mozambique.

Nigeria

The Church organized a new stake in Nigeria. The Ondo Nigeria Stake was organized from the Ondo Nigeria District (organized in 2015). The new stake includes the following six wards: the Adeyemi College Road 1st, Adeyemi College Road 2nd, Ondo 1st, Ondo 2nd, Yaba 1st, and Yaba 2nd Wards. The creation of the new stake stands as a major accomplishment given the few congregations in the area, the relatively recent growth of the Church in Ondo, and the Church having previously operated a district in Akure (discontinued in 2009 and reinstated in 2018) that once included two branches in Ondo.

There are now 71 stakes and 14 districts in Nigeria.

Sierra Leone

A new stake was organized in Sierra Leone on December 10th. The Freetown Sierra Leone Hill Station Stake was organized from a division of the Sierra Leone Freetown Stake (organized in 2012) and the Freetown Sierra Leone East Stake (organized in 2017). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Hill Station 1st, Hill Station 2nd, Mount Aureol, Tengbeh Town, and Wilberforce Wards and the Regent Branch. There are now six stakes in the Freetown metropolitan area - all of which have been organized since 2012. 

There are now 10 stakes and two districts in Sierra Leone.

Utah

A new stake was organized in Utah on December 10th. The South Weber Utah Pioneer Stake was organized from a division of the South Weber Utah Stake (organized in 1988). The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: the Pioneer, South Weber 1st, South Weber 7th, South Weber 8th, South Weber 9th, and South Weber 10th Wards and the Canyon Meadows Branch. 

A stake was discontinued in Utah. The Midvale Utah East Stake (organized in 1968) was discontinued and had five wards in the stake before its closure. It appears that three of the five wards were discontinued. Retained wards were reassigned to the Midvale Utah Union Fort Stake (which now has six wards).

There were 633 stakes and two districts in Utah as of year-end 2023. 2023 was the year with the most stakes ever discontinued in Utah (seven). Nevertheless, there was a net increase of four stakes for Utah in 2023, as there were 11 new stakes organized during the year. Moreover, two new stakes have been organized in Utah in January 2024 which I will report on in another post.

Dominican Republic

The Church reinstated a previously discontinued district in the Dominican Republic on November 5th. The Monte Plata Dominican Republic District was reinstated (originally discontinued in 2010) and includes the following four branches: the Bayaguana, Gonzalo, Monte Plata, and Sabana Grande de Boyá Branches. These branches have been reassigned to one of the stakes in Santo Domingo or directly to the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission.

There are now 22 stakes and nine districts in the Dominican Republic.

Serbia and Slovenia

The Church discontinued the Beograd Serbia District (organized in 1992) and the Ljubljana Slovenia District (organized in 1992) in late 2023. None of the branches in either Serbia or Slovenia were discontinued when these districts were discontinued. All branches were reassigned to the Adriatic North District (which used to be the Zagreb Croatia District). There are now 13 branches in the realigned district which covers the entire Adriatic North Mission, including Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Extremely slow membership growth has occurred in the former Yugoslavia for many years. The decision to have all branches in a single district was likely made to help consolidate extremely limited leadership manpower in the area. Altogether, the combined membership of these countries as of year-end 2022 was 1,548, with most members living in Croatia and Slovenia. Thus, the region is unlikely to become a stake for many years or decades given current growth trends.

The Announcement of 20 New Temples: Analysis

As noted last Sunday, Church President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct 20 new temples in the following locations:

• Oslo, Norway
• Brussels, Belgium
• Vienna, Austria
• Kumasi, Ghana
• Beira, Mozambique
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Singapore, Republic of Singapore
• Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• Cali, Colombia
• Querétaro, México
• Torreón, México
• Helena, Montana
• Casper, Wyoming
• Grand Junction, Colorado
• Farmington, New Mexico
• Burley, Idaho
• Eugene, Oregon
• Elko, Nevada
• Yorba Linda, California
• Smithfield, Utah

This marks the most temples announced in a single day in which the Church has identified the specific location of the temples announced. The record for the most temples announced in a single day was set in April 1998 when President Hinckley announced plans to construct 32 temples. The announcement of these 20 new temples on April 4th, 2021 increased the total number of temples announced or dedicated to 251 - an 8.0% increase from prior to the announcement. President Nelson has announced 69 new temples since he became President of the Church in early 2018. Fifty (50) of the 69 new temples announced have been in locations that have been typical for most temple announcements in the Church in terms of factors such as geographic distance to the nearest temple, number of stakes likely to be served by the new temple, and the duration of a Church presence in the location. These temples include the following: 

• Salta Argentina Temple
• Auckland New Zealand Temple
• Davao Philippines Temple
• Lagos Nigeria Temple
• Mendoza Argentina Temple
• Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple
• Praia Cabo Verde Temple
• Puebla Mexico Temple
• Red Cliffs Utah Temple
• Salvador Brazil Temple
• San Juan Puerto Rico Temple
• Antofagasta Chile Temple
• Deseret Peak Utah Temple
• Neiafu Tonga Temple
• Pago Pago American Samoa Temple
• San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple
• Bacolod Philippines Temple
• Bentonville Arkansas Temple
• Freetown Sierra Leone Temple
• McAllen Texas Temple
• Orem Utah Temple
• Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple
• Taylorsville Utah Temple
• Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple
• Benin City Nigeria Temple
• Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
• Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
• Syracuse Utah Temple
• Tallahassee Florida Temple
• Lindon Utah Temple
• Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple
• Tarawa Kiribati Temple
• Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple
• Casper Wyoming Temple
• Elko Nevada Temple
• Eugene Oregon Temple
• Farmington New Mexico Temple
• Grand Junction Colorado Temple
• Helena Montana Temple
• Kumasi Ghana Temple
• Oslo Norway Temple
• Querétaro Mexico Temple
• Smithfield Utah Temple
• Torreón Mexico Temple

I believe that 19 of the 69 temples announced by President Nelson have not fit the typical criteria seen for new temple announcements given the small size of the Church in these locations, relatively close proximity to the nearest temple, and/or the short duration of the Church's presence.

• Feather River California Temple
• Yigo Guam Temple
• Budapest Hungary Temple
• Moses Lake Washington Temple
• Okinawa Japan Temple
• Cobán Guatemala Temple
• Dubai United Arab Emirates Temple
• Shanghai China Temple
• Greater Guatemala City Guatemala Temple
• Port Vila Vanuatu Temple
• São Paulo Brazil East Temple
• Beira Mozambique Temple
• Brussels Belgium Temple
• Burley Idaho Temple
• Cali Colombia Temple
• Cape Town South Africa Temple
• Singapore Republic of Singapore Temple
• Vienna Austria Temple
• Yorba Linda California Temple

Regardless whether you agree with my organization of President Nelson's temple announcements into typical or atypical categorized based upon previous temple announcements, I think that there has been a surprising number of temple announcements in locations that few have considered as likely candidates. Also, the news release that provides information about the new temples announced on April 4th, 2021 included the following statement about how the Church chooses sites for new temples:

Temple sites are chosen by the First Presidency based on several factors, including the number of members in an area, travel time to the nearest temple and the need for additional temple capacity in a region.

See below for an analysis of each of the 20 new temples announced on April 4th, 2021:

Oslo Norway Temple

Norway was the only continental Northern European country not to have its own temple prior to the announcement of the Oslo Norway Temple. Church membership in Norway has vacillated between 4,400 and 4,700 since approximately 2010. The number of members reported on Church records in Norway is comparable to neighboring Denmark (4,466 in 2019) and Finland (4,885 in 2019), yet each of these two nations had temples announced in 1999 and 2000, respectively. However, Norway had only one stake (the Oslo Norway Stake organized in 1977) until 2012 when a second stake was organized in Drammen. Approximately 30% of members in Norway appeared to regularly attend Church as of the late 2010s. Nevertheless, there is a strong core of active members to staff and support a small temple in Oslo. The new temple will likely include just the country of Norway with its two stakes and four isolated mission branches in northern Norway. Norway currently pertains to the Stockholm Sweden Temple. The Church has had a long-term presence in Norway with some congregations operating continuously since the 1850s. Approximately 8,500 converts joined the Church in Norway prior to 1930 of whom 3,500 immigrated to Utah. Prospects for future growth in Norway appear bleak given secularism in society, low birth rates in the Church, and few youth converts who are Norwegian. For more information about the Church's history in Norway, click here. Norway currently pertains to the Stockholm Sweden Temple.

Brussels Belgium Temple

This temple announcement was a total shock to me given Belgium's close geographic proximity to The Hague Netherlands Temple (announced in 1999, dedicated in 2002), the small size of the Church in Belgium, and very slow growth in recent decades. The number of congregations in Belgium decreased from an all-time high of 29 in 1999 to 11 in 2017. This decline was due to the steady discontinuation of all of the 18 branches in the country with the exception of one branch. The Church undertook a massive consolidation of wards and branches in Belgium in 2017 that resulted in the only ward or branch being closed in several cities. Today, there are 12 congregations in Belgium and two congregations in neighboring Luxembourg. Local members have noted that travel to The Hague Netherlands Temple is difficult for many Belgian members due to reliance on public transportation. Moreover, Belgium was the sovereign European country with the most members without a temple announced or dedicated prior to the announcement of the Brussels Belgium Temple (there were 6,605 members in Belgium as of year-end 2019). The new temple will likely service the two Belgian stakes (Antwerp [organized in 1994] and Brussels [organized in 1977]) and the Lille France Stake. Finally, members report that a site for the new temple has appeared to have already been secured. It is anticipated that the new temple may provide greater awareness of the Church in Europe given Brussels' prominence in European politics and cosmopolitan demography. The Church has had a continual presence in Belgium since the late 1880s. Belgium currently pertains to The Hague Netherlands Temple.

Vienna Austria Temple

This temple announcement was also a surprise to me given the recent announcement of the nearby Budapest Hungary Temple in 2019. The Church's growth in Austria in the past decade has been characterized by slow membership growth and stagnant congregational growth. The Church reported 4,693 members and 17 congregations as of year-end 2019. The Church has operated two stakes in Austria in Vienna (since 1980) and Salzburg (since 1997). The first official branch in Austria was organized in 1901. The new temple will likely include the two stakes in Austria, possibly one district each in Croatia, Slovakia, and Slovenia, and possibly the Prague Czech Republic Stake. Austria currently pertains to the Freiberg Germany Temple.

Kumasi Ghana Temple

Kumasi has experienced some of the most rapid growth in the Church in West Africa during the past decade. The number of stakes in Kumasi has increased from one in 2010 to four at present. The first stake in Kumasi was created in 1998. The rapid growth of the Church in Kumasi began after the Ghana Cape Coast Mission initiated an aggressive church-planting strategy in which approximately one dozen member groups were organized in lesser-reached areas of the city. These member groups quickly matured into branches, and many of these branches have since become wards. The new temple will be the Church's second temple in Ghana where the first temple was announced in 1998 and dedicated in 2004. There are currently four stakes and five districts which appear likely to be assigned to the new temple, albeit the number of stakes and districts may be much higher by the time the temple is complete given recent growth trends. The Ghana Kumasi Mission was organized in 2012. 

The Church organized its first branch in Ghana in 1978. All of Ghana is currently serviced by the Accra Ghana Temple. Ghana appears a good candidate for the announcement of a third temple in the foreseeable future in the Cape Coast/Takoradi area where there are six stakes and three districts. There were 89,135 members and 328 congregations in Ghana as of year-end 2019.

Beira Mozambique Temple

The new temple in Beira, Mozambique will be the Church's first temple in the country. The Church organized its first branch in Beira in 1999, and the first branch in Mozambique was created in Maputo in 1996. Beira was likely chosen as the site of the Church's first temple in Mozambique due to its central location and recent rapid growth. Mozambique currently pertains to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. There are five stakes (two in Beira, two in Maputo, one in Nampula) and one district (Chimoio) in Mozambique - all of which will likely be assigned to the new temple once it is completed. The Church organized its first stakes in Mozambique in 2015 with one stake each in Beira and Maputo. This summer the Church will organize the Mozambique Beira Mission from a division of the Mozambique Maputo Mission (organized in 2005).

Cape Town South Africa Temple

The long-awaited temple in Cape Town, South Africa was announced after many years of hopes and prayers by the members of the Church to have a temple announced for their city. There has been speculation for many years that the Church may one day announce a small temple for Cape Town due to long distance to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple. There are only two stakes in Cape Town which were organized in 1984 and 2014. However, the new temple may also service additional 1-3 stakes and one district in southern South Africa which currently pertain to the Durban South Africa Temple. The Church has had a long-term presence in Cape Town with the first branch being organized in the 1850s, albeit an official presence was not consistently sustained for many decades. The new temple will be the Church's third temple in South Africa after the Johannesburg South Africa Temple (announced in 1981 and dedicated in 1985) and the Durban South Africa Temple (announced in 2011 and dedicated in 2020). The South Africa Cape Town Mission was organized in 1984. There were 68,772 members and 193 congregations in South Africa as of year-end 2019.

Singapore Republic of Singapore Temple

The Singapore Republic of Singapore Temple will be the Church's first temple in Singapore where the Church operates one stake (organized in 1995). President Hinckley publicly proposed a temple for Singapore in a member meeting in 2000. Singapore currently pertains to the Manila Philippines Temple. The Church reported slow, steady membership growth in Singapore until the early 2010s, and the Church has since experienced stagnant growth or a slight decline in membership from year to year. As of year-end 2019, there were 3,439 members and seven congregations (all wards) in Singapore. Approximately 28% of Church membership attends church on a regular basis. Prospects appeared favorable for the Church to organize a second stake in Singapore until 2019 when three wards were discontinued in order to establish wards with larger numbers of active members. Singapore ranks among countries with the fewest members with a temple announced or dedicated. However, the new temple will also service membership in neighboring Malaysia where there were 10,845 members (only 15% are active) and 31 branches as of year-end 2019 (Malaysia is the country with the most members without a stake when excluding mainland China). Moreover, Singapore will also likely service Latter-day Saints in Indonesia and Timor-Leste where there were a combined 7,600 members, two stakes, and one district as of year-end 2019. The Church organized its first branch in Singapore in 1968, and the Singapore Mission was organized in 1980.

Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple

The Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple will be the Church's 13th temple in Brazil. The new temple will likely include the six stakes in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area, at least four stakes in neighboring cities, and perhaps two or more districts. The first stake organized in Belo Horizonte was created in 1981, and the Brazil Belo Horizonte Mission was organized in 1988. The first branch in Belo Horizonte appeared to be organized as early as 1974. Previously built or announced temples in Brazil include the São Paulo Brazil Temple (dedicated in 1978), the Recife Brazil Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Porto Alegre Brazil Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Campinas Brazil Temple (dedicated in 2002), the Curitiba Brazil Temple (dedicated in 2008), the Manaus Brazil Temple (dedicated in 2012), the Fortaleza Brazil Temple (dedicated in 2019), Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple (announced in 2013 and currently waiting to be dedicated), Belém Brazil Temple (announced in 2016 and under construction), the Brasília Brazil Temple (announced in 2017 and under construction), the Salvador Brazil Temple (announced in 2018), and the São Paulo Brazil East Temple (announced in 2020). The Church in Brazil reported 1.43 million members, 2,142 congregations, 277 stakes, 39 districts, and 35 missions as of year-end 2019.

Cali Colombia Temple

The new temple announced for Cali, Colombia will be the Church's third temple in Colombia following the Bogota Colombia Temple (announced in 1984 and dedicated in 1999) and the Barranquilla Colombia Temple (announced 2011 and dedicated in 2018). The new temple will likely include six stakes and six districts in southern Colombia. The Church has reported slow growth in southern Colombia as no new stakes have been organized in this region of the country since 1997. The Colombia Cali Mission was organized in 1975, and the first stake in the city was created in 1978. The Church in Colombia reported 209,985 members, 249 congregations, 30 stakes, and 10 districts as of year-end 2019.

Querétaro Mexico Temple

The Querétaro Mexico Temple will be the Church's first temple in central Mexico between Mexico City and Guadalajara - a region of Mexico with some of the lowest percentages of Latter-day Saints in the general population. Local members have reported Querétaro is an important evolving center for the Church in the region, and it is the only city between Mexico City and Guadalajara with more than two stakes. The first stake in Querétaro was organized in 1995, and the most recently organized stake in Querétaro was created in 2012. The Mexico Querétaro Mission was organized in 2013. The new temple will likely include the three stakes in Querétaro, three stakes and one district in neighboring Guanajuato State, possibly 2-4 stakes in Michoacan State, and possibly two stakes in San Luis Potosí. These stakes are currently assigned to the Mexico City Mexico Temple or the Guadalajara Mexico Temple. 

The Church in Mexico has previously dedicated or announced 14 temples in Mexico including the Mexico City Mexico Temple (dedicated in 1983), the Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple (dedicated in 1999), the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Oaxaca Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Tampico Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Villahermosa Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Mérida Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Veracruz Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2000), the Guadalajara Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2001), the Monterrey Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2002), the Tijuana Mexico Temple (dedicated in 2015), and the Puebla Mexico Temple (announced in 2018). The Church in Mexico reported 1.48 million members, 1,843 congregations, 222 stakes, 47 districts, and 32 missions as of year-end 2019.

Torreón Mexico Temple

The Torreón Mexico Temple will be the Church's 16th temple in Mexico. The new temple will likely service the five stakes in the Torreón/Gomez Palacio metropolitan area, the two stakes in Durango, and two districts north of Torreón. The Church has experienced slow growth in this area of Mexico in recent years, and the most recently organized stake that will likely be assigned to the new temple district was created in 1995. The Mexico Torreón Mission was originally organized in 1968.

UNITED STATES TEMPLES

Helena Montana Temple 

The Helena Montana Temple will be the Church's second temple in Montana after the Billings Montana Temple (announced in 1996, dedicated in 1999). The new temple will likely serve approximately eight stakes in western Montana. Slow Church growth has occurred in Montana for much of the past 30 years, albeit two new stakes were created in 2017. The Church in Montana reported 50,552 members, 126 congregations, 13 stakes, and one mission as of year-end 2019.

Casper Wyoming Temple

The Casper Wyoming Temple will be the Church's second temple in Wyoming after the Star Valley Wyoming Temple (announced in 2011, dedicated in 2016) which is located in Afton. The new temple was announced shortly after the creation of a second stake in Casper in 2020. The Church has consistently organized new wards in Casper in recent years. The Church's first stake in Casper was organized in 1962. The new temple will likely service the two Casper stakes, 2-3 additional stakes in Wyoming, and possibly the Rapid City South Dakota Stake. These stakes pertain to three different temple districts: the Fort Collins Colorado Temple district, the Billings Montana Temple district, and the Bismark North Dakota Temple district. The Church in Wyoming reported 67,729 members, 171 congregations, and 17 stakes as of year-end 2019.

Grand Junction Colorado Temple

The Grand Junction Colorado Temple will be the Church's third temple in Colorado after the Denver Colorado Temple (announced in 1982, dedicated in 1986) and the Fort Collins Colorado Temple (announced 2011, dedicated in 2016). The new temple will likely service the two Grand Junction stakes, the Montrose Colorado Stake, and the Rifle Colorado Stake. The Church's first stake in Grand Junction was organized in 1955. Stakes in the likely temple district currently pertain to the Monticello Utah Temple district and the Vernal Utah Temple district. The Church has reported slow growth on the Western Slope of Colorado. Statewide, the Church in Colorado has experienced stagnant membership growth since 2015. The Church in Colorado reported 150,958 members, 305 congregations, 35 stakes, and four missions as of year-end 2019.

Farmington New Mexico Temple

The Farmington New Mexico Temple will be the Church's second temple in New Mexico after the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple (announced in 1997, dedicated in 2000). The new temple will likely primarily service the historic Mormon colonies in northwestern New Mexico, Native American members in the Four Corners area, and southwestern Colorado. The new temple will likely include 5-6 stakes in the Four Corners area. The Farmington New Mexico Stake was organized in 1912. The Four Corners currently pertain to the Monticello Utah Temple and the Snowflake Arizona Temple. The New Mexico Farmington Mission was organized in 2010. The Church in New Mexico has reported stagnant membership growth since 2015. The Church in New Mexico reported 69,488 members, 138 congregations, 14 stakes, and two missions as of year-end 2019.

Burley Idaho Temple

The Burley Idaho Temple will be the Church's seventh temple in Idaho after the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple (announced in 1937, dedicated in 1945), Boise Idaho Temple (announced in 1982, dedicated in 1984), the Rexburg Idaho Temple (announced in 2003, dedicated in 2008), the Twin Falls Idaho Temple (announced in 2004, dedicated in 2008), the Meridian Idaho Temple (announced in 2011, dedicated in 2017), the Pocatello Idaho Temple (announced in 2017). The new temple will likely include seven stakes in the Burley area. The oldest stake in the area is the Oakley Idaho Stake which was organized in 1887. Several of the stakes have operated for nearly 100 years. The number of stakes in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple District will likely be cut in half as a result of the new temple announcement. The Church has experienced slow growth in the Twin Falls area (where a couple stakes are close to dividing), whereas essentially stagnant growth has occurred in the Burley area for many years. The Church in Idaho reported 462,069 members, 1,181 congregations, 132 stakes, and three missions as of year-end 2019. Unlike many states, the Church in Idaho has reported consistent membership growth rates for many years (typically 1-2% per year).

Eugene Oregon Temple

The Eugene Oregon Temple will be the Church's third temple in Oregon after the Portland Oregon Temple (announced in 1984, dedicated in 1989) and the Medford Oregon Temple (announced in 1999, dedicated in 2000). The new temple will likely include approximately nine stakes in west central Oregon which currently pertain to the Portland Oregon Temple. This region of Oregon has experienced essentially stagnant growth for several decades. The Church organized its first stake in the Eugene metropolitan area in 1951 (today the Springfield Oregon Stake). The Church in Oregon reported 153,540 members, 306 congregations, 35 stakes, and 3 missions as of year-end 2019.

Elko Nevada Temple

The Elko Nevada Temple will be the Church's third temple in Nevada after the Las Vegas Nevada Temple (announced in 1984, dedicated in 1989) and the Reno Nevada Temple (announced in 1999, dedicated in 2000). The Church organized its first stake in Elko in 1942. The new temple will likely include the two stakes in Elko, the Ely Nevada Stake, the Winnemucca Nevada Stake, and the Wendover Utah District. The likely temple district is currently divided between four temples: the Twin Falls Idaho Temple, the Reno Nevada Temple, the Cedar City Utah Temple, and the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple (located in South Jordan). The most recently organized stake in the likely temple district was organized in Elko in 1995. The Church in Nevada has reported extremely slow membership growth in recent years. There were 184,703 members, 350 congregations, 42 stakes, and 3 missions in Nevada as of year-end 2019.

Yorba Linda California Temple

The Yorba Linda California Temple will be the ninth temple in California after the Los Angeles California Temple (announced in 1937, dedicated in 1956), the Oakland California Temple (announced in 1961, dedicated in 1964), the San Diego California Temple (announced in 1984, dedicated in 1993), the Fresno California Temple (announced in 1999, dedicated in 2000), the Redlands California Temple (announced in 2001, dedicated in 2003), the Newport Beach California Temple (announced in 2001, dedicated in 2005), the Sacramento California Temple (announced in 2001, dedicated in 2006), and the Feather River California Temple (located in Yuba City) (announced in 2018). This temple announcement came as a complete surprise to me given the Church's decades-long trend of active members moving away from northern Orange County (and much of Southern California in general) as well as several temples with the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. For example, the Church discontinued the Placentia California Stake in 2020 due to steady declines in the number of congregations in the area. The new temple will likely include 8-10 stakes which currently pertain to neighboring temple districts. The Church has reported consistent net decreases in membership in California since 2013 (all-time high for Church membership was reached in 2013 at 780,200). As of year-end 2019, there were 756,507 members, 1,229 congregations, 153 stakes, and 15 missions in California. The Church in California has had at least three distinct periods of membership decline in the past 30 years (early 1990s, mid-2000s, and mid-2010s to present).

Smithfield Utah Temple

The Smithfield Utah Temple will be the Church's 26th temple in Utah. The Church organized its first stake in Smithfield in 1938. The new temple will likely include eight stakes in northern Cache County and four stakes in southern Idaho. It is important to note that many of the stakes in Cache County are rather large at present, and it appears many new stakes will be organized in the area within the immediate future. Previously dedicated or announced temples in Utah include: the St. George Utah Temple (announced in 1871, dedicated in 1877), the Logan Utah Temple (announced in 1876, dedicated in 1884), the Manti Utah Temple (announced in 1875, dedicated in 1888), the Salt Lake Temple (announced in 1847, dedicated in 1893), the Ogden Utah Temple (announced in 1967, dedicated in 1972), the Provo Utah Temple (announced in 1967, dedicated in 1972), the Jordan River Utah Temple (announced in 1978, dedicated in 1981), the Bountiful Utah Temple (announced in 1990, dedicated in 1995), the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple (announced in 1992, dedicated in 1996), the Vernal Utah Temple (announced in 1994, dedicated in 1997), the Monticello Utah Temple (announced in 1997, dedicated in 1998), the Draper Utah Temple (announced in 2004, dedicated in 2009), the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple (announced in 2005, dedicated in 2009), the Brigham City Utah Temple (announced in 2009, dedicated in 2012), the Payson Utah Temple (announced in 2010, dedicated in 2015), the Provo City Center Temple (announced in 2011, dedicated in 2016), Cedar City Utah Temple (announced in 2013, dedicated in 2017), the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple (announced in 2017), the Layton Utah Temple (announced in 2018), the Red Cliffs Utah Temple (located in St. George) (announced in 2018), the Deseret Peak Utah Temple (located in Tooele) (announced in 2019), the Orem Utah Temple (announced in 2019), the Taylorsville Utah Temple (announced in 2019), the Syracuse Utah Temple (announced in 2020), and the Lindon Utah Temple (announced in 2020).

New Stakes Created in Colombia, Ghana, Mexico, and Peru

Colombia
The Church created a new stake in Colombia on August 4th. The Ibague Colombia Stake was organized from the Ibague Colombia District (originally created in 1978). The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Campiña, Chicoral, Girardot, Montealegre, and Piedra Pintada Wards, and the Melgar Branch. Several branches in the former district were closed in 2012 when the Girardot Colombia District (organized in 1993) was consolidated with the Ibague Colombia District (click here for more information). However, the area appears to have finally met the minimal qualifications to become a stake, albeit this required two districts to be merged seven years ago.

There are now 30 stakes and 10 districts in Colombia.

Ghana
The Church organized a new stake in Ghana on August 11th. The Winneba Ghana Stake was reinstated from the Winneba Ghana District. Additionally, part of the Accra Ghana Kasoa Stake was included in the new stake. The Winneba Ghana District was originally organized in 1989 and became a stake in 2014. However, the stake was discontinued when the stake was divided to organize the new stake in Swedru in 2018. The reinstated Winneba Ghana Stake includes the following five wards and three branches: the Ansaful, Buduburam 1st, Buduburam 2nd, Kojo Bedu, and Winneba 2nd Wards, and the Apam, Awutu Breku, and Winneba 1st Branches.

There are now 25 stakes and 11 districts in Ghana.

Mexico
The Church created a new stake in Veracruz, Mexico on August 4th. The Veracruz Mexico Puerto Stake was organized from a division of the Veracruz Mexico Villa Rica Stake and the Veracruz Mexico Reforma Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Altamirano, Buenavista, Constituyentes, Libertad, Reserva, and Tecnológico Wards. The new stake is the Church's fifth stake in Veracruz. Prior to the creation of the new stake this month, the most recently organized stake in Veracruz was created in 1995.

There are now 222 stakes and 47 districts in Mexico.

Peru
The Church organized another new stake in Lima, Peru - the fifth new stake to be created in Lima thus far in 2019. The Lima Peru Santa Clara Stake was created on August 11th from a division of the Lima Peru Campoy Stake, Lima Peru Vitarte Stake, and the Lima Peru Chaclacayo Stake. The new stake includes the following four wards and two branches: the Cajamarquilla, Jicamarca, Santa Clara, and Praderas Wards, and the Carapongo and Nicolas de Pierola Branches. Following the pattern of other recently organized stakes in Lima, the Church has created new stakes from two or more stakes, and has often created additional wards or branches following the creation of new stakes. It is likely that the two branches in the new stake have become wards or will soon become wards. The Church in Lima has not created stakes with fewer numbers of wards than historical averages. Furthermore, the number of active members per ward or branch in Lima has significantly increased within the past decade to generally 100-200 active members (compared to 50-150 active members per unit previously).

There are now 49 stakes in the Lima metropolitan area - more than any other metropolitan area outside of the United States. There are only five metropolitan areas within the United States that have more stakes than Lima, including the greater Salt Lake City, Utah metropolitan area (approximately 180 stakes within Salt Lake County); the greater Orem, Utah metropolitan area (approximately 165 stakes within Utah County); the greater Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area (approximately 80 stakes); the greater Ogden/Roy/Layton/Farmington metropolitan area in Utah (approximately 80 stakes); and the greater Los Angeles, California metropolitan area (approximately 65 stakes).

There are now 110 stakes and 18 districts in Peru.

New Stakes Created in Brazil, Guatemala, and Texas; New District Created in Kiribati; District Discontinued in Colombia

Brazil
The Church organized a new stake in Goias State, Brazil on January 31st. The Rio Verde Brazil Stake was organized from the Rio Verde Brazil District and the Brazil Goiana Mission. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Bandeirantes, Itumbiara, Jataí, Morada do Sol, and Rio Verde Wards and the Popular Branch. The original Rio Verde Brazil District was organized in 1997. There are now six stakes in Goias State.

There are now 258 stakes and 38 districts in Brazil.

Guatemala
The Church organized a new stake in the Guatemala City metropolitan area on January 21st. The Linda Vista Guatemala Stake was organized from a division of the Amatitlán Guatemala Stake and the Villa Nueva Guatemala Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Alamedas, Eterna Primavera, Linda Vista, Naciones, and Sonora Ward. There are now 21 stakes in the Guatemala City metropolitan area.

There are now 45 stakes and 16 districts in Guatemala.

Texas
The Church organized a new stake in the Dallas area on February 7th. The Irving Texas Stake was organized from a division of the Dallas Texas Stake and the Carrollton Texas Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Dallas 6th, Grand Prairie 1st, Grand Prairie 2nd, Irving, Pioneer (Spanish), and Shady Grove (Spanish) Wards. There are now 19 stakes in the Dallas metropolitan area.

There are now 68 stakes and three districts in Texas.

Kiribati
The Church organized a second district in the Micronesian nation of Kiribati. The Tarawa Kiribati North District was organized from a division of the Tarawa Kiribati East Stake. There are six branches in the new district: the Abaokoro, Abatoa, Buota, Tearinibai, Temaiku 1st, and Temaiku 2nd Branches - two of which were organized since the beginning of the year. Senior missionaries serving on Tarawa have reported over the past year or two plans to organize the district in an effort to ultimately establish a third stake on Tarawa Atoll. Significant progress has been noted on North Tarawa Atoll and this progress has played a vital role in the establishment of the new district.

The Church in Kiribati has good promise for a temple one day to service the Micronesian subregion of Oceania. Church-reported membership accounts for approximately 16% of the national population - a remarkable feat since no LDS presence operated on the islands prior to 1975. The most rapid growth in Kiribati within the past decade has occurred on remote Kiritmati (Christmas) Island where a district was established in 2014. The Marshall Islands Majuro Mission, organized in 2006, has aggressively opened several previously unreached islands in Kiribati during the past five years. Some islands have had as many as three member groups established such as Nonouti Island. However, the Church in Kiribati experiences one of the lowest member activity rates in Oceania. The average ward or branch has 646 members on its rolls - significantly more than the approximately 50-150 active members in most congregations.

Colombia
The Church recently discontinued the Barrancabermeja Colombia District. All three branches in the former district have been reassigned to the Colombia Bogota North Mission. The district was likely discontinued due to no realistic prospects for the district to organize additional branches and become a stake within the foreseeable future. A shortage of local leadership manpower may have also influenced this decision.

District Discontinued in Colombia

A district was recently discontinued in Colombia. The Girardot Colombia District was discontinued and consolidated with the neighboring Ibague Colombia District. As part of the merger of the two districts, the Church closed two of the five branches in the city of Ibague and one of the two branches in Girardot. There are now seven branches in the Ibague Colombia District.

The recent growth trends for the Church in Colombia have been mixed. Some areas have had new branches and wards organized or branches mature into stakes, such as in southern Bogota where a new stake was organized at the end of 2011. In other areas such as Ibague and Girardot, steady congregational decline has occurred. However, there has not appeared to be any cities that have closed to missionary work within the past couple years and a couple cities were recently opened to missionary work for the first time in northern Colombia. The creation of a fifth mission in July may be prompted by renewed efforts to expand national outreach into the scores of cities with over 20,000 inhabitants. The new mission may also provide more resources to address convert retention and member reactivation struggles.

There are now 29 stakes and 11 districts in Colombia.

New Mission in Colombia

Missionaries serving in Colombia report the the Church will create its fifth mission in the country this summer.  The Colombia Medellin Mission will be created from the Colombia Cali Mission and possibly additional nearby missions.

At present, missionaries report that the Church will create the following new missions this summer:

• Angola Luanda
• Colombia Medellin
• Ghana Kumasi
• Mexico Xalapa
• Vanuatu Port Vila

At present, missionaries report of only one mission consolidation: The Russia Moscow West Mission.

Church Growth Developments in Colombia and Spain

First LDS congregation organized in Maicao, Colombia

The Church organized its first branch in the city of Maicao in northern Colombia.  With nearly 100,000 inhabitants, Maicao was the city with the fourth largest population unreached by the LDS Church prior to the organization of the new branch.  Within the past couple years, the Church established its first branch in neighboring Riohacha; possibly indicating coordinated mission efforts to expand outreach in Colombia's most populous cities that are unreached by the Church.  Both branches pertain to the Santa Marta Colombia District.

Missionaries assigned for the first time to Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain

Mission leadership in the Spain Barcelona Mission report that the first group was organized on the island of Ibiza and that full-time missionaries were permanently assigned.  The core of active membership in the small group consists of Paraguayan Latter-day Saints who relocated to the island but the Church has found a handful of local Spaniards who are members.  With approximately 150,000 inhabitants, Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands and pertains to the Baleares Spain District.  The Church in Spain has renewed outreach expansion efforts within the past year as new branches were recently organized in Vic, Huercal-Overa, and Villagarcia de Arousa.

New Stakes in Colombia and Utah

Colombia

A new stake was organized in the Bogotá area.  The Bogotá Colombia La Libertad was created from the Soacha Colombia and Bogotá Colombia Kennedy Stakes and includes the following six wards and one branch: The Bosa, Casablanca, La Libertad, Patiobonito, Piamonte, and Roma Wards and the Tintal Branch.  The Soacha Colombia Stake now has five wards whereas the Bogotá Colombia Kennedy Stake has six wards.  Notwithstanding rapid congregation growth in the Bogotá area during the 1990s when the number of stakes doubled from four to eight, congregational growth in the 2000s was very slow and limited primarily to the Soacha area.  The new stake becomes the first new stake organized in the Bogotá area since the Soacha Colombia Stake in 2003.  There are now 29 stakes and 12 districts in Colombia.

Utah

A new stake was created in Utah.  The Farmington Utah West Stake was created from the Farmington Utah and Farmington Utah Oakridge Stakes and includes the following seven wards: The Farmington Pointe, Farmington Ranches 1st, Farmington Ranches 2nd, Farmington Ranches 3rd, Farmington Ranches 4th, Hunters Creek, and Quail Crossing Wards.  There are now five stakes in Farmington and 556 in Utah.

Five New Temples Announced

Barranquilla, Colombia

The Barranquilla Colombia Temple will become the LDS Church's second temple in Colombia following the dedication of the Bogotá Colombia Temple in 1999.  Distance from the Bogotá Colombia Temple and the organization of several new stakes within the past decade in northern Colombia appear contributing factors influencing the decision to announce a second temple for Colombia notwithstanding the Bogotá Colombia Temple operating below capacity.  Currently there are 28 stakes and 12 districts in Colombia.

Durban, South Africa

The Durban South Africa Temple will become the LDS Church's second temple in South Africa, making South Africa the only African nation with more than one LDS temple.  Past mission presidents have shared the vision of a temple in Durban for several years notwithstanding only two stakes functioning in the city.  The future temple will likely service Lesotho and Swaziland in addition to western South Africa, bringing the total of stakes and districts in the prospective temple district to as many as five and three, respectively.  The new temple appears likely to be a small temple due to few stakes and districts in the surrounding region.

Kinshasa, DR Congo

The first temple in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo was announced.  Prior to the temple announcement, the DR Congo was the country with the second most Latter-day Saints without a temple.  LDS Church growth in the DR Congo has outpaced most nations in Africa and currently there are five stakes in Kinshasa and one across the Congo River in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.  Due to rapid congregational and membership growth combined with good retention and member activity, it is likely that as many as ten stakes may function in Kinshasa alone by 2015.  Other stakes in the DR Congo are distant from Kinshasa, but the new temple will significantly reduce travel times and logistical issues.  With the new temple announcement, prospects appear higher for the opening of a missionary training center in Kinshasa to train new missionaries in Central French-speaking Africa.  The new temple will also likely service some additional Central African nations.

Provo, Utah

A second temple built from the shell of the fire-damaged Provo Tabernacle was announced this morning.  The new temple will alleviate the busy Provo Utah Temple which services BYU and the MTC in addition to stakes from Provo to Payson.  The new temple becomes Utah's 16th temple.


Star Valley, Wyoming

The first LDS temple in Wyoming was announced.  Due to most of Wyoming's LDS membership residing within close proximity of the state border, no temple had been announced for many years notwithstanding 16 stakes functioning since 1984.  The future temple will likely serve members in only in two stakes (Thayne and Afton) but may also serve stakes in central and southwestern Wyoming.

Countries With The Most Members With Only One Temple

Shortly after I began this blog I made a post about the five countries with the largest memberships with only one temple. I wanted to update this list since temples were recently announced in three nations which used to only have one temple: Argentina, Chile and Peru. Below is an updated list with membership totals provided by the Church as of the end of 2008. Stake and district totals are current.

1. Ecuador - 185,663 (34 stakes, 9 districts)
   
2. Colombia - 163,764 (28 stakes, 12 districts)
   
3. Bolivia - 163,119 (24 stakes, 10 districts)
   
4. Venezuela - 144,089 (26 stakes, 9 districts)
   
5. Honduras - 131,098 (20 stakes, 9 districts)

Each of these countries have at least one other city which may have a temple announced. It should be noted that most other Latin American nations did not receive an announcement of a second temple until their memberships were more than double Ecuador's current membership (the nation which currently has the largest membership with one temple). Furthermore the temples in each of these countries are centrally located for members, as have the first temples for many Latin American countries. The temple in Honduras is not even built yet and just began construction. Unless the Church initiates a more aggressive temple building program similar to the late 1990s, these nations will likely not receive a second temple until membership increases dramatically in number and activity.

New Stake In Colombia

A new stake was created in Colombia at the end of June. The Duitama Colombia Stake was created from the Duitama Colombia District and includes five wards and one branch. There are now 28 stakes and 12 districts in Colombia. With the creation of the Duitama Colombia Stake there have been 18 new stakes created just in the month of June.

Out of the seven stakes organized in Colombia in the past 10 years, six where created from districts. The Church continues to have districts in some large cities, several of which are close to become stakes. The Church has been established in nearly all the major cities in the country but continues to struggle to have growth in the largest cities. Three stakes have been discontinued in 1998 (Barranquilla Colombia Cevillar), 2000 (Ibague Colombia) and 2008 (Cali Colombia Jardin). North American missionaries are now called to the country much more regularly and in greater number than in the past decade or two. This will hopefully result in greater growth of the Church in Colombia, which is the country in Latin America with the lowest percentage of those who are LDS at one member per 275 people. The population of Colombia is about 45 million and there are over 160,000 members of the Church.

Districts Close to Stakehood

In the past month or so, there have been a number of districts (which are administered to by the Mission President of the area) that are close to stakehood or who are trying their hardest to become a stake by the end of the year or in the next couple years. According to several missionary blogs, in order for a district to qualify to become a stake there needs to be at least 99 active elders who are also full tithe-payers. There also needs to be a least 1,900 members. I do not know if this is the standard for everywhere in the world or of this is completely correct, but it made sense to me when I heard it considering there has not been a stake created with less than 1,900 members in it to my knowledge. It also made sense to me because with 99 elders, there would be an entire elders quorum (which can be up to 96 elders...see Doctrine and Covenants 107) plus three additional elders for the Presidency.


As for these districts which are trying their best to fit the criteria for a stake, here is a list of a few of them.

• -The Tirana Albania District has a goal of becoming the first stake in southeastern Europe in the next three years. There are currently almost enough members for a stake, but activity levels are too low right now. One of the major goals of this district is to increase member activity as well as active, full tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders.
• -As mentioned in an earlier post, the Santa Marta Colombia District is applying for stakehood. Pray that the members in the area will qualify for a stake of Zion. This is a plead from a missionary currently serving in the city.
• -The Ulaanbaatar Mongolia District is currently working with trying to re-activate less active or inactive returned missionaries. An article in the Ensign from several months ago stated that one of the big obstacles in Mongolia is that the majority of the members are single (70%) and young. There are 10 branches in the district.
• -I have repeatedly mentioned how the Port-of-Spain Trinidad and Georgetown Guyana Districts are really focusing on becoming stakes. Things are looking good for them right now and hopefully the members can fulfill the final necessary requirements.
• -The Planaltina Brazil District was recently created and is also trying its hardest toward becoming a stake in the near future. Missionaries and Church leaders are particularly focusing on increasing active Melchizedek Priesthood holders. There has also been a lot of talk about a potential temple in Brasilia, to which Planaltina is a suburb of.
• -The Colima Mexico District is also trying its hardest to becoming a stake by the end of the year. It seems more likely that it will be made into a stake next year and missionaries and primarily working to increase active, full tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders.
• -The Phnom Penh Cambodia North and the Phnom Penh Cambodia South Districts are preparing their branches toward becoming wards. Cambodia is the country with the second most members without a stake.

If you wish to provide information about other districts close to becoming stakes or have any corrections to what I have said, feel free to leave a comment.

Districts Dissolved in Colombia and Panama

The Pitalito Colombia and Puerto Armuelles Panama Districts were recently dissolved. The district in Pitalito, Colombia had four branches in it back in 2001 and the district in Puerto Armuelles, Panama had three branches back in 2002. It is likely that both districts were absorbed into other districts in the surrounding area. The growth of the Church has slowed substantially in both locations. A stake was dissolved in Cali, Colombia earlier this year. In Panama, we have seen many branches being combined, especially in the western half of the country. Baptisms in Panama did increase during 2007 compared to the last several years. Colombia is experiencing growth in the north part of the country, and the district in Santa Marta put in paperwork to Church Headquarters for becoming a stake, hopefully before the end of the year. As for potential stakes in Panama, the Alcade Diaz Panama District would seem as the most likely since it comprises many branches outside Panama City.

Stake Dissolved in Colombia

One of the four stakes in Cali, Colombia was dissolved recently. The Cali Colombia Jardin Stake was combined with surrounding stakes in the city. Growth in the city has been somewhat stagnant and the original four stakes only had five wards each for a number of years. Cali is one of the most violent cities in the world, much of which violence is connected with drug trafficking. Other areas in Colombia are seeing growth in the Church, especially in the north.

Countries With High Inactivity

A good indicator for how many members of the Church participate in worship services in a particular country is by taking the ratio of members to congregations. Wards and branches need to have leadership in order to function and if that leadership is absent or small, new congregations do not get formed as often or congregations combine. This indicator works well for countries that have more stakes and districts. In places like Russia or Thailand, it does not provide as accurate of a picture because of the large number of branches in those countries.

Here is a list of the 15 countries with the highest members to congregation ratio. Countries with less than 1,000 have been omitted from the list.

1. Chile - 888
2. Hong Kong - 684
3. Bolivia - 632
4. El Salvador - 619
5. Nicaragua - 615
6. Ecuador - 598
7. Peru - 588
8. Colombia - 560
9. Mexico - 559
10. Brazil - 553
11. Honduras - 552
12. Uruguay - 551
13. South Korea - 546
14. Dominican Republic - 543
15. Philippines - 533

Countries With the Most Members and Stakes With Only One Temple

Below is a list of the top five countries which have only one temple in them.

1. Chile - 543,628 members, 74 stakes, 26 districts
2. Peru - 432,547 members, 86 stakes, 24 districts
3. Argentina - 355,987 members, 70 stakes, 36 districts
4. Ecuador - 176,359 members, 33 stakes, 10 districts
5. Colombia - 154,549 members, 26 stakes, 14 districts

I imagine a new temple will be announced for Peru among the next three temples to be announced.