Monthly Newsletter

Click here to access our October 2015 edition of our monthly newsletter for cumorah.com.

Potential New Mission Districts

I have provided an updated list of mission districts which I think are likely to be organized in the next couple years. Mission districts are analogous to stakes as they administer multiple branches (usually three to ten), but they have less independence in church administration and leadership than stakes. The creation of mission districts signals progress in church growth as it is an important step for the Church to establish a "center of strength" in a new location from a handful of mission branches into a more organized entity which has potential to become a stake. The creation of a district from mission branches suggests maturation in local leadership to provide sufficient manpower and quality leaders in staffing both branch and district callings.

Potential new districts listed below were identified based on recent congregational growth trends, missionary reports on the number of convert baptisms and activity rates, and distance and location from other nearby stakes and districts. Previous lists are available for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Locations where there are fewer than three branches are included if there is a high likelihood that additional branches will be organized within the near future in order for a district to be organized.

Like other administrative and congregational units, the creation of districts is approved by the First Presidency.  Information used to compile this list does not contain any unauthorized information and I take full responsibility for this work.

AFRICA (27)

• Abengourou Cote d'Ivoire (3) [Abengourou 1st, Abengourou 2nd, Abengourou 3rd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Aboisso Cote d'Ivoire (2) [Aboisso and Rive Gauche Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Adzope Cote d'Ivoire (3) [Adzope 1st, Adzope 2nd, Adzope 3rd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Akoupé Cote d'Ivoire (2) [Affery and Akoupé Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission]
• Akure Nigeria (2) [Akure 1st and Akure 2nd Branches - all assigned to the Nigeria Benin City Mission]
• Atta Nigeria (6) [Atta, Amaimo, Amakohia, Ogwa, Orlu, and Umundugba Branches - all currently administered by the Owerri Nigeria Stake]
• Axim Ghana (3) [Agona Nkwanta, Axim, and Nkroful Branches - all currently administered by the Ghana Cape Coast Mission]
• Bouake Cote d'Ivoire (3) [Bouake 1st, Bouake 2nd, and Bouake 3rd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission]
• Bujumbura Burundi (5) [Bujumbura 1st, Bujumbura 2nd, Bujumbura 3rd, Kalundu, and Uvira Branches - all currently administered by the DR Congo Lubumbashi Mission]
• Divo Cote d'Ivoire (4) [Divo, Konankro, Lakota, and Plateau Branches - all currently assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission]
• Douala Cameron (4) [Bonaberri, Douala, New Bell, and Village Branches - all currently assigned to the Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission]
• Fort Dauphin Madagascar (2) [Fort Dauphin and Tanambao Branches - both currently administered by the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission]
• Francistown Botswana (3) [Francistown, Gerald, and Monarch Branches- all currently administered by the Botswana/Namibia Mission]
• Gulu Uganda (2) [Bar Dege and Gulu Branches and the Kitgum Group - all currently administered by the Uganda Kampala Mission] 
• Kadoma Zimbabwe (3) [Chegutu, Kadoma 1st, and Kadoma 2nd Branches - all currently assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission]
• Kitale Kenya (5) [Kitale, Mautuma, Misikhu, Naitiri, and Sikhendu Branches - all currently administered by the Eldoret Kenya District] 
• Klerksdorp South Africa (3) [Jouberton, Klerksdorp, and Potchefstroom Branches - all currently assigned to the South Africa Johannesburg Mission]
• Lira Uganda (2) [Adyel and Lira Branches - both administered by the Uganda Kampala Mission]
• Marondera Zimbabawe (2) [Dombotombo and Marondera Branches - both administered by the Zimbabwe Harare Mission]
• Makeni Sierra Leone (3) [Makama Rogbaneh, and Teko Road Branches - all administered by the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission] 
• Maseru Lesotho (3) [Leribe, Maseru, and Masianokeng Branches - all assigned to the Bloemfontein South Africa Stake]
• Meagui Cote d'Ivoire (4) [Meagui 1st, Meagui 2nd, Soubre 1st, and Soubre 2nd Branches - all assigned to the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission]
• Nelspruit South Africa (2) [KaNyamazane and Nelspruit Branches - both currently assigned to the South Africa Johannesburg Misson]
• Ngandajika DR Congo (2) [Ngandajika and Tshioji Branches - both currently administered by the Luputa DR Congo Stake]
• Nsukka Nigeria (2) [Nsukka and Obollo-Afor Branches - both administered by the Nigeria Enugu Mission]
• Rwanda Kigali (3) [Kigali 1st, Kigali 2nd, and Kigali 3rd Branches - all currently administered by the Uganda Kampala Mission]
• Techiman Ghana (4) [Dwumoh, Kenten, Krobo, and Vatican Branches - all currently assigned to the Ghana Kumasi Mission]

ASIA (2)

• Tagudin Philippines (4) [Balaoan, Bangar, Luna, and Tagudin Branches - branches currently assigned to either the Candon Phillipines or San Fernando Philippines Stakes] 
• Vladivostok Russia (4) [Artyom, Nakhodka, Ussuriysk, and Vladivostok Branches - all assigned to the Russia Vladivostok Mission]

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (3)

• Cruzeiro do Sul Brazil (3) [Cruzeiro do Sul, Formoso, and Remanso Branches - all branches currently assigned to the Brazil Manaus Mission]
• Marabá Brazil (3) [Canaã dos Carajás, Marabá, and Parauapebas Branches - all currently assigned to the Brazil Belem Mission]
• Tefé Brazil (3) [Coari, Jutaí, and Tefé Branches - all currently assigned to the Brazil Manaus Mission]

OCEANIA

• Aoba Vanuatu (6) [Apopo, Lobori, Lolotinge, Lovutialao, Navuti, and Redcliff Branches - all currently assigned to the Luganville Vanuatu District]

New Stakes Created in Arizona, Missouri, and Utah

Arizona
A new stake was created yesterday in the Tuscon area. The Marana Arizona Stake was organized from a division of the Tuscon Arizona West and Tuscon Arizona North Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards and one branch: Avra Valley, Continental Ranch, Cortaro, Picture Rocks, Red Rock, and Tucson YSA 1st Wards and the El Rio Branch (Spanish). The organization of the new stake came as a surprise to local members and church leaders. One local member reported that the vising general authority and area seventy were not apprised of the plans to create the new stake until October 23rd. Local members indicate that the creation of the new stake was primarily motivated by a desire for the Church to focus on reactivation efforts in the area.

There are now 98 stakes in Arizona

Missouri
The Church organized a new stake in Missouri on October 18th. The Far West Missouri Stake was organized from a division of the Liberty Missouri and Platte City Missouri Stakes. The new stake includes the following six wards and four branches: the Cameron 1st, Far West, Gallatin, Kearney 1st, Kearney 3rd, and Maryville Wards, and the Albany, Chillicothe, Trenton, and Wood Heights Branches. The Church once briefly operated a stake in Far West during the early days of the Church.

There are now 17 stakes in Missouri

Utah
Two new stakes were recently organized in Utah.

The Lehi Utah Thanksgiving Stake was organized on October 11th from a division of the Lehi Utah Gateway Stake. The new stake includes the following nine wards: the Cranberry Farms 1st, Pilgrims Landing 1st, Pilgrims Landing 2nd, Pilgrims Landing 3rd, Pilgrims Landing 4th, Sunset Hollow, Thanksgiving Meadows 1st, Thanksgiving Meadows 2nd, and Thanksgiving Village Wards.

The Eagle Mountain Utah Silver Lake Stake was organized on October 25th from a division of the Eagle Mountain Utah East Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards: the Cedar Crest, Foxwood, Silver Creek, Silver Lake, and Woodhaven Wards

There are now 578 stakes and one district in Utah.

New Stakes Created in Brazil, Nigeria, and Utah; New Districts Created in Argentina, Brazil, and Ukraine; Districts Discontinued in Malaysia and New Jersey

Brazil
A new stake was created on September 20th. The Sete Lagoas Brazil East was organized from the Sete Lagoas Brazil Stake and includes the following five wards: the Belo Vale, Curvelo, Interlagos, Nova Cidade, and Sete Lagoas 2nd Wards. The new stake is the second to be organized in the city of Sete Lagoas and is the 13th stake to be organized in Minas Gerais State.

A new district was organized from three mission branches in the Brazil Salvador Mission. The Barreiras Brazil District was organized on September 27th and includes the Barreiras 1st, Barreiras 2nd, and the Luis Eduardo Magalhaes Branches. The new district becomes the first new district in Brazil organized from mission branches since xxx.

There are now 256 stakes and 38 districts in Brazil.

Nigeria
The Church organized its sixth stake in Benin City on September 20th. The Benin City Nigeria Oregbeni Stake was organized from a division of the Benin City Nigeria New Benin Stake and the Benin City Nigeria Ikpokpan Stake. The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Esigie, Igun 1st, Igun 2nd, Ogbeson, Oregbeni, Sokponba, and Ugbekun Wards.

There are now 30 stakes and 19 districts in Nigeria.

Utah
A new stake was organized last Sunday in South Jordan, Utah. The South Jordan Utah Midas Creek Stake was organized from a division of the South Jordan Utah Country Crossing Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards: the Country Crossing 1st, Country Crossing 3rd, Country Crossing 5th, Country Crossing 6th, Country Crossing 9th, and Country Crossing 10th Wards.

There are now 577 stakes and one district in Utah

Argentina
A new district was organized on September 27th. The Punilla Argentina District was organized from mission branches in the Argentina Cordoba Mission and a division of the Córdoba Argentina Sierras Stake. The following four branches are included in the new district: the Cosquin, Cruz del Eje, Dean Funes, and La Falda Branches.

There are now 74 stakes and 30 districts in Argentina.

Ukraine
The Church organized a new district in the Crimean Peninsula on September 20th. The Simferopol Russia District was organized from the four mission branches in the Crimean Peninsula, namely the Bahate, Sevastopol, Simferopol's'ka, and Yevpatoriis'ka Branches. The Church previously operated a district that included these four branches from 2004 until 2007 that was called the Sevastopol Ukraine District. The Church reassigned these four branches to the Russia Rostov-na-Donu Mission several months ago due to the Russian occupation of the Crimean Peninsula. It is interesting to note that the Church has named the district the Simferopol Russia District instead of the Simferopol Ukraine District due to this recent political change.

There are now three districts and one stake in Ukraine (including the Simferopol Russia District) and two stakes and seven districts in Ukraine (including the Simferopol Russia District).

Malaysia
The Church recently discontinued the Johor Bahru Malaysia District. Organized in 2011, the district was previously organized from a division of the Singapore Stake. Only two branches have operated in the district since its organization. The two branches (Johor Bahru and Masai [Malay]) now directly report to the Singapore Mission.

There are now six districts in Malaysia.

New Jersey
I have confirmed that the Paterson New Jersey District was discontinued as part of the organization of the new Liberty Park New Jersey Stake. All three branches that previously pertained to the district are now part of the Soldier Hill New Jersey Stake.

There are now six stakes in New Jersey.

Potential New Missions in 2016

Below is a list of potential new missions that may be created in 2016. Criteria for identifying potential new missions include recent LDS membership, congregational, and organizational (stakes and districts) growth trends, trends in new mission creations within the past decade, population size, and the boundaries of current missions. It is unclear whether any new missions will be organized next year as the number of members serving full-time missions has appeared to hold steady around 80,000-83,000 within the past nine months. However, the average number of missionaries per missions continues to be higher than historically averages. This suggests that dozens of new missions could theoretically be created in the immediate future.

• Australia Brisbane (2nd mission)
• Brazil Aracatuba
• Brazil Jaboatao
• Brazil Manaus (2nd mission)
• Brazil Porto Velho
• Brazil Sao Luis
• Brazil Sorocaba
• Burundi/Rwanda
• Cambodia Phnom Penh (2nd mission - Vietnamese speaking to also include Vietnam) OR Vietnam Hanoi
• Cameroon Yaounde
• Colorado Grand Junction
• Cote d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro
• Democratic Republic of Congo Kananga
• Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa (2nd mission)
• Ethiopia Addis Ababa
• Ghana Kumasi (2nd mission)
• Idaho Falls Idaho
• Malawi Lilongwe
• Mexico Chilpancingo
• Mexico Juchitan
• Mexico Toluca
• Nigeria Aba
• Nigeria Ibadan
• Nigeria Uyo
• Philippines Bacolod (2nd mission)
• Philippines Cabanatuan
• Philippines Davao (2nd mission)
• Philippines Dumaguete
• Philippines Lucena
• Philippines Ormoc
• Philippines Santiago
• Samoa Apia (2nd mission)
• Slovakia Bratislava
• Solomon Islands Honiara
• Spain Alicante
• Taiwan Kaohsiung
• Tanzania Dar Es Salaam
• Texas Austin
• Texas El Paso
• Texas Plano
• Thailand Bangkok (2nd mission)
• Tonga Nuku'alofa (2nd mission)
• Zimbabwe Bulawayo

Additions to Temple Prediction Map

After further contemplation, I have added the following cities as likely locations for temple announcements in the near future:

• Querétaro, Mexico
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

I added Querétaro because of distance to the nearest temples in Mexico City and Guadalajara and recent growth. The Church has been experiencing steady congregational growth (unlike most major cities in Mexico over the past five years) and there are three stakes in the metropolitan area. Additionally, the Church organized a separate mission headquartered in Querétaro in 2013.

I added Ulaanbaatar because the Asia Area has appeared to make some good progress towards preparing for the organization of additional stakes in Mongolia. The Asia Area has made some great progress in other nations such as Taiwan and Thailand in recent years. Mongolian members have also been faithful at attending the Hong Kong China Temple for many years.

Monthly Newsletter - September 2015

Click here to access the September 2015 edition of our newsletter for cumorah.com.

New Stakes Created in Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Florida, New Jersey, Nigeria, and the Philippines; Districts Discontinued in Costa Rica and Peru

Cote d'Ivoire
The Church organized its eighth stake in the Abidjan metropolitan area on September 6th. The Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Yopougon Attie Stake was organized from a division of the Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire Toit Rouge Stake. The new stake includes the following seven wards: the Andokoi, Foncier, Koute, Nankoko, Selmer, Toit Rouge 2nd, and Toit Rouge 3rd Wards. Explosive LDS growth has occurred within the Yopougon sector of Abidjan as the number of stakes has mushroomed from one in 2009 to four at present.

There are now nine stakes and three districts in Cote d'Ivoire.

El Salvador
The Church organized a new stake in El Salvador on August 30th. The Usulután El Salvador Stake was organized from the Usulután El Salvador District and a portion of the San Miguel El Salvador Stake. The new stake includes the following six wards and three branches: the Jucuapa, Occidental, Oriental, Roosevelt, Usulután 1st, and Usulután 2nd Wards and the Berlín, Jiquilisco, and Santiago de María Branches.

There are now 19 stakes and one district in El Salvador.

Florida
The Church organized a new stake in Miami, Florida last Sunday. The Miami Florida Stake appears to have been organized from the Miami Lakes Florida Stake. No information is currently available on which congregations have been assigned to the new stake. The Church in South Florida has undergone a surprising reversal to stagnant/declining growth over the past decade. The Church discontinued the Miami Florida (Spanish) Stake in 2008 due to problems with member activity, leadership development, and stagnant "real growth" in the area. The realignment of LDS units in the Miami metropolitan area, combined with accelerated growth in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission, has culminated in the organization of two new stakes since 2014. The Church also dedicated its Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple in 2014. The Church has continued to regularly organize new units in the area to service several demographics including specialized units for Spanish and Portuguese speakers and additional young single adult (YSA) congregations. English-speaking wards have also been organized within the past couple years.

There are now 29 stakes in Florida

New Jersey
The Church organized a new stake in New Jersey last Sunday called the Liberty Park New Jersey Stake. Details on congregations assigned to the new stake are not currently available. The new stake appeared to be primarily organized from the Caldwell New Jersey Stake. The Paterson New Jersey District may have also been consolidated as part of the new stake creation.

There are now six stakes and one district in New Jersey.

Nigeria
The Church organized a new stake in Nigeria on September 13th. The Okpuala Ngwa Nigeria Stake was organized from the Okpuala Ngwa Nigeria District and includes the following six wards and two branches: the Amapu, Nbawsi, Okpuala Ngwa, Ovungwu, Umuapu, and Umuchima Wards and the Ndiolumbe and Ntigha Branches.

There are now 29 stakes and 19 districts in Nigeria

Philippines
The Church organized a new stake in the Philippines on August 30th. The Mabalacat Philippines Stake was organized from a division of the Angeles Philippines Stake. The new stake includes the following five wards and one branch: the Balibago, Dau, Mabalacat 1st, Mabalacat 2nd, and Pandan Wards and the Santa Lucia Branch.

There are now 95 stakes and 78 districts in the Philippines

Costa Rica
The Church discontinued the Limón Costa Rica District in July. Two of the three branches in the former district were discontinued and the sole remaining branch became a ward in the newly organized Guapiles Costa Rica Stake.

There are now nine stakes and two districts in Costa Rica.

Peru
The Church recently discontinued the Ayaviri Perú District. Only two branches pertained to the former district - both of which have been reassigned to the Perú Cusco Mission.

There are now 100 stakes and 20 districts in Peru.

First LDS Stake by Country - Updated List

Last year I provided a list of countries around the world with LDS stakes and the year the first LDS stake was organized in each nation. Several additional countries have had the first LDS stake organized since this list was last updated. The year the second LDS stake was organized in each country is provided for countries with two or more LDS stakes and the number of stakes and districts is provided in parentheses (the first number is the number of stakes and the second number is the number of districts at present).  With countries with only one LDS stake, N/A is listed after the year the first stake was organized.

1847-1959 (4)

United States: 1834, 1834 (1,541 - 8)
Mexico: 1895, 1961 (231 - 38)
Canada: 1895, 1903 (47 - 3)
New Zealand: 1958, 1960 (29 - 3)

1960-1969 (12)

United Kingdom: 1960, 1961 (45 - 0)
Australia: 1960, 1960 (38- 8)
Germany: 1961, 1961 (15 - 2)
Netherlands: 1961, 1978 (3 - 0)
Switzerland: 1961, 1981 (5 - 0)
Samoa: 1962, 1970 (20 - 0)
Brazil: 1966, 1968 (255 - 37)
Argentina: 1966, 1972 (74 - 29)
Guatemala: 1967, 1975 (43 - 17)
Uruguay: 1967, 1974 (18 - 3)
Tonga: 1968, 1970 (19 - 2)
American Samoa: 1969, 1980 (5 - 0)

1970-1979 (24)

Peru: 1970, 1974 (100 - 21)
Japan: 1970, 1972 (28 - 13)
South Africa: 1970, 1978 (15 - 3)
Chile: 1972, 1974 (77 - 19)
French Polynesia: 1972, 1983 (8 - 4)
Philippines: 1973, 1977 (95 - 78)
El Salvador: 1973, 1976 (19 - 1)
South Korea: 1973, 1977 (15 - 6)
Denmark: 1974, 1978 (2 - 0)
France: 1975, 1980 (10 - 0)
Sweden: 1975, 1977 (4 - 1)
Taiwan: 1976, 1981 (14 - 1)
China-Hong Kong: 1976, 1984 (4 - 1)
Colombia: 1977, 1978 (29 - 11)
Venezuela: 1977, 1979 (34 - 6)
Honduras: 1977, 1978 (23 - 7)
Costa Rica: 1977, 1978 (9 - 2)
Belgium: 1977, 1994 (2 - 0)
Finland: 1977, 1983 (2 - 2)
Norway: 1977, 2012 (2 - 0)
Ecuador: 1978, 1979 (36 - 9)
Bolivia: 1979, 1979 (27 - 10)
Paraguay: 1979, 1980 (10 - 10)
Panama: 1979, 1986 (7 - 4)

1980-1989 (10)

Puerto Rico: 1980, 1982 (5 - 0)
Austria: 1980, 1997 (2 - 0)

Nicaragua: 1981, 2000 (9 - 6) 
Portugal: 1981, 1986 (6 - 4)
Italy: 1981, 1985 (10 - 1)
Spain: 1982, 1982 (14- 4)
Fiji: 1983, 1995 (4 - 1)
United Arab Emirates: 1983, N/A (1 - 0)
Dominican Republic: 1986, 1988 (20 - 9)
Nigeria: 1988, 1990 (28 - 20)

1990-1999 (10)

Ghana: 1991, 1991 (13 - 11)
Papua New Guinea: 1995, 2011 (2 - 11)
Thailand: 1995, 2014 (3 - 3)
Singapore: 1995, N/A (1 - 0)
Ireland: 1995, N/A (1 - 1)
Democratic Republic of Congo: 1996, 1997 (12 - 4)
Kiribati: 1996, 2007 (2 - 0)
Haiti: 1997, 2003 (4 - 3)
Cote d'Ivoire: 1997, 2000 (8 - 3)
Zimbabwe: 1999, 2003 (6 - 2)

2000-2009 (8)

Madagascar: 2000, 2011 (2 - 2)
Kenya: 2001, N/A (1 - 3)
Republic of Congo: 2003, 2014 (2 - 1)
Ukraine: 2004, N/A (1 - 2)
Hungary: 2006, N/A (1 - 2)
Mongolia: 2009, N/A (1 - 2)
Trinidad and Tobago: 2009, N/A (1 - 0)
Marshall Islands: 2009, N/A (1 - 1)

2010-present (19)

Uganda: 2010, N/A (1 - 1)

Guam: 2010, N/A (1 - 0)

Indonesia: 2011, 2012 (2 - 1)

Russia: 2011, 2012 (2 - 6)
Cape Verde: 2012, 2013 (3 - 2)
India: 2012, N/A (1 - 6)
New Caledonia: 2012, N/A (1 - 0)
Botswana: 2012, N/A (1 - 0)
Sierra Leone: 2012, N/A (1 - 5)
Armenia: 2013, N/A (1 - 0)
Togo: 2013, N/A (1 - 0)
Albania: 2014, N/A (1 - 0)
Federated States of Micronesia: 2014, N/A (1 - 3) 

Cambodia: 2014, 2014 (2 - 5)

Jamaica: 2014, N/A (1 - 1)

Bahrain: 2014, N/A (1 - 0)

Mozambique: 2015, 2015 (2 - 0)

Zambia: 2015, N/A (1 - 2)

Vanuatu: 2015, N/A (1 - 3)

New Temple Prediction Map - September 2015 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference in early October. One potential new temple location was added to the map: Tooele, Utah. I believe we will likely see three to five new temples announced during the upcoming conference for the following reasons:

• President Monson's announcement during the April 2015 conference that temple announcements will resume during future General Conferences. A hiatus on temple announcements occurred from April 2013 to April 2015.
• Four temples have been dedicated since April, namely the Córdoba Argentina Temple, Payson Utah Temple, Trujillo Peru Temple, and the Indianapolis Indiana Temple.
• Groundbreakings for two temples have occurred since last April (Star Valley Wyoming Temple and Cedar City Utah Temple)
• Two additional groundbreakings have been scheduled (Concepción Chile Temple and Tuscon Arizona Temple)

My top 10 picks for the most likely temple announcements during the October General Conference are as follows:

• Belém, Brazil
• Belo Horizonte, Brazil 
• Brasília, Brazil
• Davao, Philippines
• Guam OR Tarawa, Kiribati
• Harare, Zimbabwe
• Layton, Utah
• Managua, Nicaragua
• Puebla, Mexico
• Rogers, Arkansas