President Nelson's April 2018 Worldwide Tour: Analysis

The Church announced on March 23rd that President Nelson, Elder Holland, and their spouses will undertake an 11-day international tour that circumscribes the globe from April 10th-23rd. The itinerary for the trip is as follows:

• London, England (April 12th)
• Jerusalem, Israel (April 14th)
• Nairobi, Kenya (April 16th)
• Harare, Zimbabwe (April 17th)
• Bengaluru, India (April 19th)
• Bangkok, Thailand (April 20th)
• Hong Kong, China (April 21st)
• Laie/Honolulu, Hawaii (April 22nd)

I provided some observations about President Nelson's first trip as President of the Church in a recent article published by The Salt Lake Tribune. However, I also want to provide some additional analysis:

First, all but two of the eight cities on the list have temples in operation or that are announced. Three of these cities - Bangkok, Harare, and Nairobi - are located in countries where no temple currently operates but where a temple is announced. An artistic rendering for the Bangkok Thailand Temple was recently released to reveal a stunning 44,000 square foot edifice that has even surprised local Thai members given its size for a country that has only four stakes, two districts, and 21,000 members. The temple appears very large even considering it will likely serve an additional 28,000 members in other Southeast Asian countries. Reports I have received from members in Kenya and Zimbabwe suggest that these temples in these locations may begin construction in the near future. It is possible that the Church may hold temple groundbreaking ceremonies in one or more of these locations as part of the international tour. President Nelson's visit to Jerusalem appears more symbolic than functional since there are less than 300 members in Israel and the Palestinian Territories and essentially stagnant growth has occurred for many years. However, it is interesting to note that a temple once functioned in Jerusalem during Old Testament and New Testament times. President Nelson's visit to Jerusalem will be the first in 22 years for a President of the Church since President Hinckley visited Israel in 1996.

Second, an announcement of a temple for India may be likely during this weekend's General Conference or during President Nelson and Elder Holland's visit to India. The Church in India has steadily grown during the past 15 years as membership has increased from 3,428 to 13,141 and the number of congregations has increased from 21 to 44. The Church organized its first stake in India in Hyderabad in 2012 and today has four stakes and three districts. There are also more than 4,000 members and three districts in Pakistan. Currently members in South Asia travel to the Hong Kong China Temple to participate in temple ordinances. However, a future temple in India appears more likely once there is a city with at least three stakes in order to adequate meet temple ordinance worker needs. Currently there are no cities in India with more than one stake.

Third, President Nelson and Elder Holland's trip to Hong Kong may provide opportunities for leadership training and meetings with People's Republic of China (PRC) members albeit such meetings would only be permitted if they were to occur in Hong Kong given prohibitions regarding association with PRC members and foreigners in mainland China. The Church in China has grown significantly since the first branches were organized in Beijing and Shanghai for PRC members in 2004. Most have joined the Church abroad or through family connections within the confides of the law. Today there are branches and member groups in many, if not most, of the 127 cities in mainland China inhabited by one million or more inhabitants. President Nelson also possesses special ties to China and previously studied Mandarin Chinese after feeling prompted to do so at President Spencer W. Kimball's request that members of the Church learn more about the Chinese people in 1979 (click here for more information).

Fourth, President Nelson and Elder Holland's worldwide tour does not include countries with the most Latter-day Saints in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania, nor does it include countries where the Church has reported the most rapid growth during the past 5-10 years. However, the tour does include the two most populous countries - China and India. Thus, emphasis on reaching the world's two most populous nations, in addition to temple building, may be an important theme that emerges from the tour.

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.

Potential New Temples - March 2018 Edition

I have updated my temple prediction map in preparation for General Conference at the end of the month. Two new temple sites were added to the map of most likely locations for new temples to be announced within the foreseeable future: Missoula, Montana and Monrovia, Liberia. I think it is unlikely that new temples will be announced this conference as this conference will likely focus on the sustaining of Russell M. Nelson as president of the Church and the calling of two new apostles. If any announcements are made, my top 10 picks for the most likely temple announcements are as follows:

• Bengaluru, India OR Hyderabad, India, OR New Delhi, India 
• Benin City, Nigeria 
• Davao, Philippines OR Cagayan del Oro, Philippines 
• Freetown, Sierra Leone
• Lagos, Nigeria 
• Managua, Nicaragua 
• Praia, Cape Verde 
• Rogers, Arkansas 
• Salvador, Brazil 
• Tarawa, Kiribati

 As part of the semi-annual tradition, your lists of top picks are always appreciated :)

LDS Developments in the Central African Republic

Mission leadership in the Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission report several recent missionary developments in the Central African Republic. First, increased stability in the capital city, Bangui, has permitted more frequent visits by mission leadership to meet with members in the Bangui Branch. Second, the branch currently has seven branch missionaries who teach investigators and prepare them for baptism. Third, there are now five members from the Bangui Branch serving full-time missions outside of the country - the most that has ever appeared to serve from the branch at a single time. Although approval has not yet been granted to assign the first proselytizing missionaries to Bangui, mission leadership appears optimistic that this may occur in the foreseeable future.

For more information on the Church in the Central African Republic, click on the label for "Central African Republic" below.

Claremont University - Global Mormonism Research Methodology Panel

I will be participating in a panel discussion called Challenges and Opportunities in Studying Global Mormonism at Claremont University in southern California on March 10th. Other panel participants will include Fred Axelgard, Henri Gooren, Caroline Kline, and Colleen McDannell. This event is free and open to the public, but you must register if you wish to attend. For more information, visit the Toward Global Mormon Studies Conference page on the Claremont University Mormon Studies website.

February 2018 Monthly Newsletter

Click here to access our February 2018 monthly newsletter for cumorah.com. These newsletters provide updates regarding LDS growth developments around the world.

LDS Missionary Activity Expands into Northern Nigeria - Bauchi, Kaduna, and Plateau States

Reports from local members and recently returned full-time missionaries who served in the Nigeria Enugu Mission report an unprecedented expansion of official LDS proselytism efforts into the central and northern Nigerian states of Bauchi, Kaduna, and Plateau. These three states are inhabited by 19 million people according to 2016 estimates. Returned full-time missionaries report that several cities have had full-time missionaries assigned for the first time in decades, if not ever. These cities include:

• Bauchi (population: 415,000)
• Jos (population: 925,000)
• Kaduna (population: 1.78 million)

These three cities have not appeared to have had full-time missionaries assigned, if missionaries were ever assigned since the first branches were created, since the early 1990s when the Church organized the Nigeria Jos Mission in 1992. The mission was later relocated to Enugu and renamed the Nigeria Enugu Mission in 1993 due to concerns with religious violence in the Middle Belt of Nigeria where significant clashes occur between Christians and Muslims. Missionary activity and church growth in Bauchi, Kaduna, and Plateau States stood at a virtual standstill after the first official LDS congregations were organized in Jos (1992), Bauchi (1993), and Kaduna (1993) until about 1-2 years ago. Since this time, the Church has organized several new congregations during the past 14 months including a third branch in Jos, a second congregation in Kaduna (Goningora Branch), a member group in Bauchi, and the first branches in two cities in Plateau State - Bassa and Bukuru. Also, the Church recently completed construction on a church-build meetinghouse for the Kaduna Ward. Local members report that many, if not most, members in these cities speak the Hausa language although few ethnic Hausa have appeared to join the Church due to strong ethnoreligious ties with Islam. Only a couple LDS materials have been translated into Hausa. No translations of LDS scriptures are available in Hausa.

Despite this progress, the Church continues to report an extremely limited presence in northern Nigeria where Muslims constitute a strong majority and the legal system is founded on sharia law in regards to legal matters for Muslims (click here for more information). Most converts appear to be non-Muslims and the Church has generally avoided overt proselytism efforts among Muslim populations in areas where sharia law is implemented. Moreover, political instability, religious and ethnic violence, Boko Haram insurgency, and poverty pose safety challenges. However, there remain good prospects for growth, and unique opportunities for missionaries to teach those with a Muslim background, in these recently opened cities.

For more information about prospective missionary activity in northern Nigerian states without an LDS presence, read my case study, Prospective LDS Outreach in Northern Nigeria, posted in December 2015 on cumorah.com.

Young LDS Missionaries Assigned to Senegal for the First Time - Non-African Missionaries Return to Cote d'Ivoire

Within the past couple weeks, the Church assigned young, full-time missionaries to serve in the West African country of Senegal for the first time. Six Black African full-time missionaries from the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission were assigned to Senegal. All six missionaries appear to serve in the city of Dakar where the only LDS branch operates in the country. A senior missionary couple has served in Dakar for at least a couple years to provide member and leadership support. This couple has also appeared to conduct humanitarian and development work in Senegal. The Church operated a member group in Dakar for at least 1-2 years before the organization of the Dakar Branch in May 2016 with 24 members. The Church assigned Senegal to a mission, the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission, for the first time in late 2016/early 2017. LDS Apostle Elder David A. Bednar dedicated Senegal for missionary work in May 2017 when he met with the approximately two dozen local members in the Dakar Branch. Most members in the Dakar Branch were originally Black Africans from other West African countries. However, native Senegalese have appeared to begin to join the Church in the past 1-2 years. Dakar Branch members primarily speak French and Wolof. It is unclear which mission Senegal will be assigned to when the Cote d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro Mission is organized this July. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the population in Senegal is Muslim, whereas 4% is Christian.

Senegal presents many good opportunities for future LDS growth due to widespread religious freedom, tolerance for Christian proselytism, sizable Christian minority in Dakar and southern areas of the country, and easy accessibility from other West African countries. There are 3.5 million people who live in the Dakar metropolitan area. One other city has at least one million people: Touba (1.0 million). The creation of member groups that assemble in areas distant from the current church meetinghouse appears likely in the next year due to the large geographical size of Dakar and opportunities for future growth.

For more information, refer to this case study (written in February 2014) that provides an analysis of opportunities for growth in Senegal.

Lastly, non-African missionaries from North America have begun to serve in Ivorian missions after approximately 5-6 years. North American missionaries have historically served in Cote d'Ivoire although they were evacuated during the First and Second Ivorian Civil Wars. The first North Americans to serve in Cote d'Ivoire after the Second Ivorian Civil War appeared to begin their service sometime within the past year.

NOTE: This initial post was inaccurate regarding the assignment of full-time missionaries to Senegal in February. The first two young, proselytizing missionaries arrived in early April 2017.

Vijayawada Branch Created in India

Missionaries serving in the India Bengaluru Mission report that last Sunday the member group in Vijayawada was organized into an official branch. This marks the first time in over 10 years that the Church has created a new branch in India in a city where no branch previously operated. Missionaries serving in the two India missions report many members who live in cities where no official ward or branch operates. They appear to be many opportunities for the creation of additional member groups and branches in the near future especially given that several districts have recently advanced into stakes and resources can be channeled into expansion rather than strengthening districts to become stakes.

First Convert Baptisms in Mali

The first convert baptisms in the country of Mali took place this past weekend. Local members report that four converts were baptized in a swimming pool, including two converts from the Bamako Branch and two converts from the Farako Group. Missionaries serving in the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission have been teaching investigators by Skype for the past couple months and there are as many as two dozen more individuals preparing to be baptized in the near future. The Church is currently in the process of obtaining the legal registration requirements for full-time missionaries to begin serving in Mali. Local members report that as many as 65 people attend church services in the two congregations.

See below for a photo of the first baptismal service.