New Stakes Created in Argentina, Ecuador, Ghana, Haiti, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Utah; Stakes Discontinued in Ghana (Downgraded to Distrct) and Mexico (Downgraded to District)

Argentina
The Church organized a new stake in Cordoba, Cordoba Province on September 2nd. The Córdoba Argentina Chacabuco Stake was organized from a division of the Córdoba Argentina North Stake (renamed Córdoba Argentina Patricio Stake), Córdoba Argentina Sierras Stake, and Córdoba Argentina West Stake. The new stake includes the following four wards and two branches: the Alta Córdoba, Córdoba Chacabuco, Jesús María, and Nueve de Julio Wards, and the Los Boulevares and Parque Liceo Branches. Given the small number of wards in the new stake, it appears that one or both branches may advance into wards, or a new ward will be organized in the stake from a division of one of the four wards. The Church in Córdoba Province has organized six new branches in the past three years and some branches in the province have also advanced into wards during this time. The Church completed its second temple in Argentina, the Córdoba Argentina Temple, in 2015. There are now six stakes in the city of Córdoba, and eight stakes and one district in Córdoba Province.

There are now 77 stakes and 29 districts in Argentina.

Ecuador
The Church organized a new stake in the Guayaquil metropolitan area on August 19th. The Samborondón Ecuador Stake was organized from a division of the Duran Ecuador North Stake, Guayaquil Ecuador Las Orquideas, and the Guayaquil Ecuador Pascuales Stakes. The new stake includes the following five wards: La Aurora, La Joya, Metrópolis, Pascuales, and Samborondón Wards. There are now 17 stakes in the Guayaquil metropolitan area.

There are now 40 stakes and 9 districts in Ecuador.

Ghana
The Church organized a new stake in Central Region. The Assin Foso Ghana South Stake was organized on September 9th from a division of the Assin Foso Ghana Stake and the Yamoransa Ghana Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and six branches: the Abakrampa, Assin Achiasi, Assin Foso 1st, Assin Foso 2nd, and Paramu Wards, and the Abura Dunkwa, Asebu, Assin Akrofuom, Assin Anynabrem, Assin Darmang, and Assin Edubiase Branches. The new stake is the Church's third new stake organized in Central Region since 2015. There are now six stakes and two districts in Central Region.

Additionally, the Winneba Ghana Stake was discontinued following its division to create the Swedru Ghana Stake last month. This marks the first time in Church history that a stake has been discontinued in Ghana, albeit it is more accurate to state that the Church created a new district and no stake was discontinued given the administrative changes to stakes/districts in the Swedru/Winneba area. The Winneba Ghana District has five branches.

There are now 24 stakes and 11 districts in Ghana.

Haiti
The Church organized a new stake in Haiti on September 9th. The Les Palmes Haiti Stake was created from a division of the Carrefour Haiti Stake and three branches previously assigned directly to the Haiti Port-au-Prince Mission in the Jacmel area. The new stake includes the following three wards and three branches: the Leogane 2nd, Petit-Goave 1st, and Petit-Goave 2nd Wards, and the Jacmel, Meyer, and Tenier Branches. It appears information on which congregations assigned to the new stake, and which branches became wards, remains unavailable based upon information provided on the LDS meetinghouse locator site given there are currently only three wards reported in the new stake.

There are now five stakes and four districts in Haiti.

Nigeria
The Church organized a new stake in Ogun State, Nigeria on September 2nd. The Abeokuta Nigeria Ibara Stake was organized from a division of the Abeokuta Nigeria Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards and three branches: the Ibara, Ilewo-Orile, Lafenwa, Oke-Ata, Ope-Oluwa, and Rounda Wards, and the Ilaro, Obada-Oko, and Olomore Branches. The Church organized its first stake in Abeokuta in 2014. There are now two stakes in Ogun State - both of which are located in Abeokuta. There is also a district in Ogun State located in Ijebu-Ode which appears close to becoming a stake.

There are now 53 stakes and 16 districts in Nigeria.

The Philippines
Today the Church organized a new stake in the Philippines Cavite Mission. The Naic Philippines Stake was organized from the Naic Philippines District. Information on which of the eight branches have become wards in the new stake remains unavailable. With the organization of the new stake, the Philippines Cavite Mission becomes the first mission in the Philippines to be entirely covered by stakes.

There are now 105 stakes and 70 districts in the Philippines

Utah
The Church organized a new stake in the Vineyard area of Orem, Utah. The Vineyard Utah Grove Park Stake was organized from the Orem Utah Suncrest Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Suncrest 11th, Suncrest 12th, Suncrest 13th, Suncrest 14th, Suncrest 15th, and Suncrest 16th Wards.

There are now 594 stakes and one district in Utah.

Mexico
The Church discontinued the Los Mochis Mexico Stake and reorganized the former stake as a district (Guasave Mexico District). There are six branches in the district. This is the eighth stake to be discontinued in Mexico in 2018 due to a significant restructuring of administrative organizations and congregations in Mexico designed to better utilize meetinghouse space, strengthen local leadership, and establish congregations with larger numbers of active members.

There are now 221 stakes and 45 districts in Mexico.

New Stakes Created in Nigeria (2), Australia, Brazil, Peru, South Africa, and Utah; New Districts Created in Haiti and Nigeria; District Discontinued in Venezuela

Nigeria
The Church organized two new stakes in Benin City on February 18th. The Benin City Nigeria Sokponba Stake was organized from a division of the Benin City Nigeria Ikpokpan Stake and the Benin City Nigeria Oregbeni Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards and two branches: the Ekae, Evbuoriaria, Igun 2nd, Sokponba, Ugbekun, and Upper Sokponba Wards, and the Erediauwa and Idogbo Branches. The Benin City Nigeria Uzebu Stake was organized from a division of the Benin City Nigeria Ihogbe Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards and three branches: the Egbon Estate, Evbuotubu, Ogbe, Oliha, Ugboikhoko, and Uzebu 1st Wards, and the Agho, Oguola, and Upper Owina Branches. There are now eight stakes in Benin City - more than any other city in Nigeria.

The Church organized a new district in Ondo State on March 18th. The Akure Nigeria Stake includes the following five branches: Ado-Ekiti, Akure 1st, Akure 2nd, Akure 3rd, and Akure 4th Branches. The Church originally created its first branch in Akure in 1998 and its first district in Akure in 2003, but discontinued the district in 2009. There were originally two branches in Akure and two branches in Ondo, but the district closed in 2009 after one branch each closed in Akure and Ondo. Rapid congregational growth has occurred in these two cities during the past several years. In Akure, three new branches were organized in 2015 (1) and 2017 (2), whereas in Ondo the number of branches increased from one in 2013 to three in 2014 and six in 2017. The Ado-Ekiti Branch was created in 2016.

There are now 48 stakes and 16 districts in Nigeria.

Australia
The Church organized a new stake in Queensland on March 4th. The Brisbane Australia Beenleigh Stake was organized from a division of the Brisbane Australia Logan Stake, Coomera Australia Stake, and the Eight Mile Plains Australia Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Beenleigh, Loganholme, Park Ridge 1st, Regents Park, and Windaroo Wards, and the Waterford West Branch (Samoan). There are now 12 stakes in the greater Brisbane metropolitan area.

There are now 41 stakes and 8 districts in Australia.

Brazil
The Church organized a new stake in Parana State on February 25th. The São José dos Pinhais Brazil Jardim Ipê Stake was organized from a division of the São José dos Pinhais Brazil Stake and the Pinhais Brazil Stake. The new stake includes the following four wards and two branches: the Afonso Pena, Jardim Ipê, Parque da Fonte, and Piraquara Wards, and the Borda do Campo and Guarituba Branches. There are now 13 stakes in the Curitiba metropolitan area, and 22 stakes and 2 districts in Parana State.

There are now 269 stakes and 40 districts in Brazil.

Perú
The Church organized a new stake in Junin, Perú on January 28th. The Huancayo Perú El Valle Stake was organized from a division of the Huancayo Perú Stake and the Mantaro Perú Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Chilca, El Tambo, La Libertad, Peñaloza, and San Carlos Wards. There are now three stakes in the Huancayo metropolitan area.

There are now 102 stakes and 19 districts in Perú.

South Africa
The Church organized a new stake in the Johannesburg area on February 11th. The Springs South Africa Stake was organized from a division of the Benoni South Africa Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Boksburg, Kwa Thema, Selcourt, Springs, and Tsakane Wards, and the Secunda Branch. There are now nine stakes and one district in the Johannesburg metropolitan area.

There are now 17 stakes and 9 districts in South Africa.

Utah
The Church organized a new stake in Bluffdale, Utah on February 25th. The Bluffdale Utah Independence Stake was organized from a division of the Bluffdale Utah South Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Independence 1st, Independence 2nd, Independence 3rd, Independence 4th, and Independence 5th Wards.

There are now 593 stakes and 1 district in Utah.

Haiti
The Church organized a new district in northern Haiti on March 11th. The Cap-Haïtien Haiti District was organized from a division of the Gonaïves Haiti District. The new district includes the following four branches: the Cap-Haïtien, Fort Liberte, Limbe, and Vertieres Branches. Of the four branches in the new district, three of the branches have been organized since 2011, whereas the original Cap-Haïtien Branch was created in 1982.

There are now four stakes and four districts in Haiti.

Venezuela
The Church recently discontinued the Los Llanos Venezuela District. Headquartered in Acarigua/Araure, the district was originally organized in 1991 and had three branches when it was discontinued: Acarigua, Araure, and San Carlos. Two of the branches, Acarigua and Araure, were reassigned to the Barquisimeto Venezuela Stake, whereas the San Carlos Branch directly reports to the Venezuela Valencia Mission.

There are now 34 stakes and 5 districts in Venezuela.

April 2015 Temple Announcements - Analysis

The Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple
As soon as President Monson indicated that he was going to announce three temples yesterday morning, I immediately told my wife that one of them would be in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. The Church in Cote d'Ivoire has experienced some of the most rapid LDS growth worldwide within the past two decades. The number of congregations (wards and branches) mushroomed from 40 at year-end 2010 to 103 in March 2015, the number of stakes has more than tripled from two in 2005 to seven in 2014, the number of cities with an official LDS congregation more than doubled from seven in early 2012 to 18 in early 2015, and annual membership growth rates have steadily increased to as high as 21.4% in 2013. The Church organized a second mission in Cote d'Ivoire in 2014 to accommodate recent trends in accelerating rapid growth. Some stakes within the Abidjan area have had the number of wards double within less than one year. The Church has also implemented effective church-planting tactics when opening cities to missionary work. The Church simultaneously organized six branches in the city of Daloa in early 2014 - a city where no branches previously operated. Lastly, some of the Ivorian stakes have historically numbered among the Church's stakes with the highest percentage of adult members who have submitted family names for temple ordinances within the past year. A case study that examines effective strategies implemented by mission and stake leaders to achieve rapid growth in Cote d'Ivoire can be found here.

Prior to yesterday's announcement, Cote d'Ivoire was the country with the third most members without a temple according to year-end 2013 membership data with 22,576 members.

The Bangkok Thailand Temple
Thai members and returned missionaries have reported efforts for many years to increase the number and activity rate of Thai membership to the point that a temple announcement would become more likely. Former President of the Church Gordon B. Hinckley predicted that a temple would be announced one day in Bangkok during a visit to Thailand in 2000. Thailand and Southeast Asia have pertained to the China Hong Kong Temple district since the temple was completed in 1996. The Church in Thailand has recently achieved several noteworthy church growth developments including significant increases in the number of full-time missionaries serving in the country, sizable increases in the number of Thai members serving full-time missions, improvements in church attendance, accelerating numbers of convert baptisms, the organization of a second stake in Bangkok in 2014, the creation of a new district in Bangkok in 2014, and preliminary plans to organize a stake in the northeastern highlands in mid-2015. A case study that examines recent LDS growth developments in Thailand can be found here. There have also been many significant growth developments within Southeast Asia during the past five years such as the creation of the first two LDS stakes in Cambodia and Indonesia and the organization of new districts in Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Prior to yesterday's announcement, Thailand was the country with the eighth most members without a temple according to year-end 2013 membership data with 18,071 members

The Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple
This temple announcement was a major surprise to me. The Church in Haiti has experienced steady growth within the past two decades and today numbers among the most self-sufficient nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Only Haitian natives have served full-time missions in Haiti within the past decade due to safety concerns for foreign missionaries and low living standards. The number of stakes in Haiti doubled in 2012 from two to four - all of which are located in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. A case study that reviews recent LDS growth developments in Haiti can be found here. The reasons why this announcement came as such a surprise to me were the low levels of economic development in Haiti, severe problems with corruption in government, the relatively small size of the Church in the country, and the relatively close proximity of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple. The Church has usually delayed the construction of temples in nations with similar characteristics until there are five or more stakes within a metropolitan area such as in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The construction of the new temple in Haiti will likely face significant challenges with finding skilled labor, acquiring construction materials, and maintaining adequate security and building maintenance following its dedication.

Prior to yesterday's announcement, Haiti was the country with the seventh most members without a temple according to year-end 2013 membership data with 19,216 members.

In conclusion, yesterday's temple announcements were historically significant. None of these three countries previously had temples announced, under construction, or in operation. The Bangkok Thailand Temple will be the Church's first temple to be built in mainland Southeast Asia where hundreds of millions of people reside. The announcement of the first temple in Haiti suggests that the Church may announce additional temples in countries with an emerging LDS presence where there are low standards of living such as Kenya and Papua New Guinea.

Three New Temples

President Monson announced three new temples this morning in the following locations:

• Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Port-au-Prince, Haiti

With this mornings announcement, this brings the total number of temples announced, under construction, or in operation to 173. I will provide analysis of this announcement tomorrow.

Fourth LDS Stake Created in Haiti

A week after the creation of the Church's third stake in Haiti, the Churh created its fourth stake yesterday from the Port-au-Prince Haiti North Stake.  The Croix-des-Missions Haiti Stake includes five wards in the northern portion of the city and becomes the 40th stake to be created in 2012.  With four stakes clustered in the capital, Haiti appears more likely to have a temple announced in the future although poverty and low living standards may deter a temple announcement for many more years.  The simultaneous creation of two new stakes and only five or six wards assigned to each of the four stakes suggests that the Church experiences self-sufficient local leadership and has sufficient numbers of active Melchizedek Priesthood holders to staff both stake and ward callings.  The Haiti Port-au-Prince Mission is entirely staffed by local members who numbered approximately 80 a year ago.

Third LDS Stake Created in Haiti

A new stake was created in Haiti last Sunday.  The Church created the Carrefour Haiti Stake from the Port-au-Prince Haiti Stake and includes five or six wards from Carrefour on the east to Petit Goave on the west.  The organization of several new wards over the past year within the Port-au-Prince area merited the organization of the country's third stake.  The other stake in the Port-au-Prince area - the Port-au-Prince Haiti North Stake - also appears close to splitting as there are 10 wards in the stake at present.  The Church created its first stake in Haiti in 1997 and its second stake in 2003. 

New District in Haiti

Three Sundays ago a new district was created in Haiti for the first time since 1999.  The Saint Marc Haiti District was organized from the Gonaïves Haiti District and includes four branches: The Deschapelles, Haut St Marc, Pivert, and St Marc Branches.  There are now two stakes and three districts in Haiti.

Several new wards have also been recently organized in Port-au-Prince and the two stakes have a combined total of 19 wards at present.  It is likely that a third stake may be created within the next couple years due recent congregational growth.

Church Growth News - Recently Created New Branches

New branch in Cambodia

For the first time since 2004 a new Khmer-speaking LDS branch was organized in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  The Teuk Thla Branch was created in the Phnom Penh Cambodia North District, becoming the sixth branch in the district.  The Phnom Penh Cambodia South District has seven branches whereas the Vietnamese district has only three branches.  LDS missionaries report that the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission may baptize as many as 1,000 converts this year.  Church attendance numbers appear to have increased in many LDS congregations in Cambodia but low convert retention remains a serious challenge which appears to be the primary obstacle in preventing the creation of the nation's first stake.  Currently Cambodia is the nation with the most Latter-day Saints without a stake.  There are now 25 branches and five districts in the LDS Church in Cambodia.

New branches in Malaysia

Two new LDS branches were recently organized in Malaysia bringing the total of LDS branches in the country to 30. The Masai Branch was organized from the Johor Bahru Branch and both branches pertain to the nearby Singapore Stake.  The Masai Branch becomes the first Malay-speaking branch to be organized in West Malaysia since the Butterworth Branch a couple years ago.  In East Malaysia, the Kota Kinabalu Branch was divided and the Kota Kinabalu 2nd Branch was created.  Kota Kinabalu is now the first city in Sabah State with more than one LDS congregation.

Congregational growth in northern Haiti

Three new LDS branches were recently organized in the Fort Liberte, Pivert, and Vertieres Branches, bringing the total of branches in the district to nine. The creation of the three new branches marks a significant development in the growth of the LDS Church in Haiti as there have been no recent instances of as many new branches organized at the same time in Haiti.   Currently there are two stakes, two districts and 36 congregations in the country.

New branches in Spain

For the first time in several years, two new LDS branches were recently organized in Spain.  The Vic Branch was organized in northeastern Spain near Barcelona and the Huércal-Overa Branch was organized in southern Spain.  Unlike many Western European nations, the LDS Church in Spain has experienced only a slight decline in the total number of LDS congregations over the past decade.  Additional congregation organizations may indicate sustained improvement in convert retention and greater efforts by mission leaders to expand national outreach.

Countries with the most Latter-day Saints without an LDS temple

Below is a list of the countries and territories with the most Latter-day Saints without an LDS temple.  The number of members reported by the LDS Church in 2010 and the current number of stakes, districts, and congregations are provided for each nation/territory.  The names of temples which administer these countries/territories currently are also provided.  The list from October 2008 can be found here.

1. Nicaragua

• 71,888 members
• 9 stakes, 6 districts
• 102 congregations
• Guatemala City Guatemala Temple 

2.  Democratic Republic of the Congo

• 27,058 members
• 9 stakes, 3 districts
• 103 congregations
• Johannesburg South Africa Temple

3. Russia

• 21,023 members
• 1 stake, 12 districts
• 115 congregations
• Kyiv Ukraine Temple (1 stake, 11 districts); Helsinki Finland Temple (1 district); Seoul Korea Temple (mission branches in the Russia Vladivostok Mission)

4. Puerto Rico

• 20,785 members
• 5 stakes
• 41 congregations
• Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple

5. Zimbabwe

• 18,549 members
• 4 stakes, 1 district
• 49 congregations
• Johannesburg South Africa Temple

6. Papua New Guinea

• 18,336 members
• 2 stakes, 9 districts
• 72 congregations
• Sydney Australia Temple

7. Haiti

• 16,902 members
• 2 stakes, 2 districts
• 33 congregations
• Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple

8. Thailand

• 16,331 members
• 1 stake, 5 districts
• 36 congregations
• Hong Kong China Temple

9. Cote d'Ivoire

• 15,638 members
• 4 stakes, 1 district
• 39 congregations
• Accra Ghana Temple

10. American Samoa

• 15,159 members
• 4 stakes
• 37 congregations
• Apia Samoa Temple