LDS Church Growth

Church Growth Developments in Colombia and Spain

2012-01-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

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 Missions in 2012 - Predictions

2012-01-16T23:58:00.000-07:00

The Church will officially announce any changes to its 340 missions worldwide within the next month. It appears that there will likely be two new missions organized in 2012 in the following locations based on missionary reports:

Angola Luanda
Ghana Kumasi

There has been no official announcement of either mission, but the number of missionaries assigned to these two areas has steadily increased within the past six months and it appears that preparations are underway for the creation of new missions in these locations.

Recent Church Growth News - Potential New Stakes in Russia, Cambodia, and Cape Verde in 2012

2012-01-16T23:53:00.000-07:00

Russia

Missionaries serving in the Russia St Petersburg, Russia Saratov, Russia Yekaterinburg, and Russia Novosibirsk Missions report that districts and branches have recently been consolidated to create branches with more active members and districts with more congregations to prepare for the creation of additional stakes in Russia within the next couple years. Each district that may become a stake in the near future is displayed below from the LDS International Atlas on cumorah.com.

In St Petersburg, a couple branches were discontinued within and nearby the city but the St Petersburg Russia District was expanded to incorporate additional branches that did not previously pertain to a district such as Gatchina, Kolpino, Petergof, Sestroretsk, and Vyborg. At present the St Petersburg Russia District has ten branches.

View Wards and Branches in Western Russia in a larger map

In Saratov, a couple branches were closed in the city of Saratov but the district was expanded to include branches in Balakovo, Marks, and Penza. a district branch was also created to meet the needs of members in isolated areas within the district meeting in groups. The Saratov Russia District now has nine branches and missionaries report that the district is close to becoming a stake.

View Wards and Branches in Western Russia in a larger map

In Yekaterinburg, the sole district in the city absorbed a former district in Chelyabinsk and a couple mission branches. The district now has six branches and may become a stake in the near future.

View Branches in Central and Eastern Russia in a larger map

In Novosibirsk, the sole district in the city has included a couple former mission branches and currently contains six branches. A stake may be organized from the district in the coming years.

View Branches in Central and Eastern Russia in a larger map

The Church has undergone several cycles of consolidating and splitting districts as area and mission presidencies has opted for creating stakes or splitting districts to expand outreach. Many active and semi-active members have been lost to inactivity through this process over the past two decades, but the success of the Moscow Russia District attaining stakehood last year and not appearing to exhibit any noticeable setbacks after the consolidation of the two districts in the city may indicate potential success in the establishment of additional stakes in Russia. The formation of additional stakes may permit the channeling of more mission resources into opening currently unreached cities. At present, there are over 100 cities in Russia with over 100,000 inhabitants without an LDS congregation operating.

Cambodia

Missionaries serving in the Cambodia Phnom Penh report that mission leadership is striving for both Cambodian (Khmer) districts in Phnom Penh to become stakes this year. The LDS Church in Cambodia currently has the most members of any country in without a stake notwithstanding church membership concentrated in Phnom Penh where 18 branches meet. Members and missionaries have reported that mission leadership has prepared for the two districts in Phnom Penh to become stakes for the past five years and the recent creation of a couple new branches in the Phnom Penh area may indicate improved convert retention and local leadership development.

Below is a map of the districts and branches in the LDS Church in Cambodia

View Branches in Cambodia in a larger map

Cape Verde

Missionaries serving in Cape Verde report that the Praia Cape Verde District is close to becoming a stake and that the first stake in Cape Verde will likely also include the Fogo Cape Verde District. Cape Verde ranks among the top ten countries in the world with the most members without a stake. Low member activity rates have delayed the organization of a stake for years.

District Discontinued in Brazil

2012-01-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

Located in Bahia State, the Jequié Brazil District was discontinued. The district contained only two branches that operated in the city of Jequié, one of which was closed at the same time as the district (Joaquim Romã). The district was originally organized in 2004 likely in anticipation of stronger growth in the area which has not occurred. There are now 242 stakes and 48 districts in Brazil.

Several New Case Study Essays Posted

2011-12-29T16:24:00.001-07:00

In coordination with David Stewart at cumorah.com, we have posted nine church growth case studies which examine specific topics in relation to LDS Church growth. Case studies currently posted examine the following topics and are provided with links to the articles:

We are in the process of editing and writing case studies on the following topics:

Outreach efforts among the Tzotzil Amerindians
Unofficial groups of investigators meeting under the LDS Church's name
Failed efforts to expand outreach in Greece
The impact of changing area policies on LDS growth
Meetinghouse construction and LDS growth
Projecting LDS membership growth
LDS growth among the Miskito of Nicaragua
Unreached islands in the Philippines
Comparing LDS growth trends in Hong Kong and Singapore
Methods of LDS Outreach in Muslim nations

Corrections, comments, and questions are welcomed. We are also welcoming suggestions for future topics.

Baghdad Iraq Military District Discontinued

2011-12-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

In conjunction with the withdrawal of United States military personnel from Iraq, the Church has discontinued the Baghdad Iraq Military District. Formed in late 2009, the district met the needs of military members in Iraq meeting in six branches and up to several dozen groups at one time. Five of the six branches have been discontinued with the closure of the district; only one branch continues to operate (I Z Military Branch).

Members in the Middle East report that there have been a handful of Iraqi Christians who have joined the LDS Church in other nations such as Jordan. It is unclear whether any active Iraqi Latter-day Saints live in Iraq at present. The Church does not proselyte in Iraq and no missionaries are assigned.

Two New International Districts in China

2011-12-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

Two new districts were created last Sunday in China for foreigners residing in the country. The Central China International (English) District was organized from the Beijing China International (English) District and includes two branches in Xian and Qinghao and a third district branch that was renamed the Central China International (English) Branch. The Shenzhen China International (English) District was also organized from the Beijing China International (English) District and includes two branches in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Long distances between branches and district headquarters appears the primary reason for the organization of these two small districts. Each of these two districts appear to also accommodate several groups of members residing in additional cities which remain too small in numbers to merit the organization of their own branches. There are now four international districts in mainland China.

Recent Church Growth News

2011-12-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

Missionaries serving on Gaua Island, Vanuatu

Missionaries have recently begun serving on the island of Gaua in northern Vanuatu. With only a few thousand inhabitants, Gaua becomes one of the least populated islands in the country to have had an LDS presence established. The number of missionaries assigned to Vanuatu has increased dramatically within the past couple months to as many as 30 at present. A single group meets in Gaua which missionaries report has recently been approved to become an independent branch.

Growth in Sierra Leone

Several new branches and groups have been recently organized in Sierra Leone. Missionaries report that in Kenema three congregations have begun meeting whereas a year ago there was only one branch. Currently assigned to the Bo Sierra Leone District, Kenema is likely to become its own district in the near future. A new branch was created less than a month ago in Freetown (Belliar Park Branch) and a couple new groups also begun meeting in the Freetown area.

Accelerated congregational growth in Venezuela

Over the past year congregational growth has accelerated in Venezuela with new wards and branches often being organized on a monthly basis. Convert retention and member activity rates appear higher than most Latin American nations as membership growth rates remain moderately low notwithstanding increases in new wards and branches.

Senior Missionary Couples Temporarily Leave the DR Congo Kinshasa Mission

2011-12-10T09:55:00.002-07:00

Due to political instability caused by the recent presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the LDS Church has withdrawn its non-African senior missionary couples serving in the DR Congo in the DR Congo Kinshasa Mission and is currently housing them in Johannesburg, South Africa. Senior missionary couples serving in nearby Cameroon and the Republic of Congo - two nations also part of the DR Congo Kinshasa Mission - appear unaffected. It is unclear whether the mission president has also withdrawn from the country or whether senior missionary couples were withdrawn from the DR Congo Lubumbashi Mission. Almost the entire full-time missionary force is staffed by native Congolese members and it is unclear whether these missionaries are under lock down or continue to proselyte in the Kinshasa area.

The current situation does not appear likely to significantly disrupt the growth of the Church in the DR Congo. However if political instability and violence interfere with the activities of local and native full-time missionaries for extended periods of time and mission leadership become unable to communicate with local church leaders, reduced church growth may result within the next year.

District Discontinued in Argentina

2011-12-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

A district was recently discontinued in Argentina. Formerly comprising four branches in the Chaco area of Argentina, the General Jose de San Martin Argentina District was combined with stakes in Resistencia and Formosa. The El Colorado and San Martin Branches now pertain to the Resistencia Argentina Stake whereas the Pirane Branch pertains to the Formosa Argentina Stake. The Campo Medina Branch is no longer assigned to a district or stake and reports directly to the Argentina Resistencia Mission.

Northern Argentina near the Paraguay border has experienced the most drastic congregation consolidation in the country over the past few years as many small branches have closed. There are now 71 stakes and 36 districts in Argentina.

New District in Malaysia

2011-12-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

A new district was created in West Malaysia last Sunday. The Johor Bahru Malaysia District was organized from the Singapore Stake and includes two branches in the Johor Bahru area. The organization of a new district with only two branches has been very unusual over the past five years for the Church as a whole as such districts often have extremely limited priesthood leadership manpower and tend to draw large amounts of resources from individual branches within the district. The organization of a district for the two branches in Johor Bahru may indicate prospects for the organization of additional branches within the near future. Currently in Malaysia the Miri East Malaysia District also has only two branches at present but this district also includes three groups in Miri and Brunei.

Stakes Likely to Split Outside the United States and Canada

2011-11-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

Below is an updated list of LDS stakes with large numbers of congregations that may split to create new stakes in the near future. The previous list from January 2011 can be found here.

AFRICA

Accra Ghana Adenta (9 wards, 4 branches)
Benin City Nigeria Ihogbe (11 wards)
Benin City Nigeria Ikpokpan (10 wards)
Benin City Nigeria New Benin (15 wards)
Brazzaville Republic of Congo (9 wards, 4 branches)
Bulawayo Zimbabwe (8 wards, 5 branches, 1 group)
Katuba Democratic Republic of Congo (10 wards, 2 branches)
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo (10 wards)
Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of Congo (11 wards)
Roodepoort South Africa (12 wards, 6 branches)
Takoradi Ghana (10 wards)
Tema Ghana (13 wards)

ASIA

Butuan Philippines (10 wards, 1 branch)
Cavite Philippines (10 wards, 1 branch)
Singapore (10 wards, 2 branches)

CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Alajuela Costa Rica (10 wards, 2 branches)
Chimaltenango Guatemala (10 wards, 3 branches)
Fesitranh Honduras (9 wards, 4 branches)
La Ceiba Honduras (10 wards)
Managua Nicaragua (10 wards)
San Jose Costa Rica La Paz (11 wards, 1 branch)
Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Ozama (10 wards)

EUROPE

Milan Italy (10 wards, 2 branches)

MEXICO

Amecameca Mexico (10 wards, 1 branch)
Celaya Mexico (11 wards)
Chalco Mexico (10 wards)
Chilpancingo Mexico (10 wards, 5 branches)
Ciudad Victoria Mexico (10 wards, 1 branch)
Coatzacoalcos Mexico Puerto (13 wards)
Colonia Juarez Mexico East (11 wards)
Culiacan Mexico (10 wards, 1 branch)
Jalapa Mexico (10 wards)
Juchitan Mexico (10 wards, 3 branches)
Mexico City Anahuac (11 wards)
Mexico City Chapultepec (10 wards)
Mexico City Cuautitlan (11 wards)
Mexico City Culturas (11 wards)
Mexico City Iztapalapa (10 wards)
Mexico City Tecamac (11 wards)
Mexico City Tepalcapa (11 wards)
Mexico City Valle Dorado (11 wards, 1 branch)
Oaxaca Mexico Monte Alban (10 wards, 3 branches)
Puebla Mexico Nealtican (12 wards, 1 branch)
Salta Mexico Republica (11 wards)
Veracruz Mexico Villa Rica (10 wards, 1 branch)
Villahermosa Mexico Gaviotas (10 wards, 1 branch)

OCEANIA

Ha'apai Tonga (9 wards, 5 branches)
Liverpool Australia (11 wards)
Newcastle Australia (10 wards, 2 branches)
Nuku'alofa Tonga (10 wards)
Apia Samoa West (10 wards)
Pesega Samoa (10 wards)
Savaii Samoa (12 wards)

SOUTH AMERICA

Brasilia Brazil Alvorada (10 wards, 2 branches)
Buenos Aires Argentina Castelar (10 wards)
Cochabamba Bolivia (11 wards, 1 branch)
Cochabamba Bolivia Jaihuayco (10 wards)
Fortaleza Brazil Litoral (9 wards)
Godoy Cruz Argentina (10 wards, 2 branches)
Guayaquil Ecuador Pascuales (10 wards, 1 branch)
Joao Pessoa Brazil Rangel (9 wards, 1 branch)
Juiz de Fora Brazil (11 wards)
Jujuy Argentina (10 wards, 3 branches)
La Paz Bolivia Miraflores (12 wards, 1 branch)
La Plata Argentina Villa Elvira (10 wards, 2 branches)
Lima Peru Canto Grande (10 wards)
Lima Peru Villa Salvador (10 wards)
Luque Paraguay (10 wards, 3 branches)
Montevideo Uruguay East (12 wards)
Quito Ecuador Chillogallo (11 wards)
Santa Cruz Bolivia Canoto (11 wards)
Santa Maria Brazil (10 wards, 1 branch)

New Stake in Nigeria

2011-11-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

A new stake was created in Nigeria. The Port Harcourt Nigeria East Stake was created and becomes the third stake in Port Harcourt and the 18th in Nigeria. The first stake in Port Harcourt was organized in 1990 followed by a second stake in 2003. Congregational information will be posted under "comments" once it becomes available.

First District Created in the Solomon Islands

2011-11-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

Missionaries report that the first LDS district in the Solomon Islands was organized yesterday. The Honiara Solomon Islands District includes the three branches on Guadalcanal (Burns Creek, Honiara, White River) and a group meeting on Malaita in Fauabu. The Church dedicated the islands to missionary work in 1987 and the first LDS presence was established in 1995 when missionaries were assigned and began holding sacrament meetings. A single branch met in Honiara, Guadalcanal until 2010 when two new branches were created in the Honiara area. Full-time missionaries were recently assigned off of Guadalcanal for the first time in Fauabu, Malaita where a small group of approximately 40 members and investigators meet.

The creation of the new district is a major achievement for the Church that indicates maturing local leadership and good convert retention considering two of the three branches in the islands were organized just last year and the number of priesthood leaders is sufficient to staff branches and a district. With nearly 600,000 inhabitants, the Solomon Islands is the third most populated nation in Melanesia after Papua New Guinea and Fiji yet has the lowest percentage of Latter-day Saints in Oceania among nations and territories with an LDS presence (approximately one member per 2,000 inhabitants). Prospects appear favorable for continued outreach expansion but will hinge on increasing the number of full-time missionaries assigned due to few members in the islands. More efficient LDS missionary activity will also require the translation of LDS materials into Solomons Pijin.

Two New Stakes in Utah

2011-11-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

Two new stakes were recently created in Utah, the Saratoga Springs Utah Crossroads Stake and the Santa Clara Utah Heights Stake. The Saratoga Springs Utah Crossroads Stake was organized from the Saratoga Springs Utah and Saratoga Springs Utah South Stakes whereas the Santa Clara Utah Heights Stake was organized from the Santa Clara Utah Stake. I will provide congregational information for the two new stakes once it becomes available. There are now 558 stakes in Utah.

So far this year there have been 57 new stakes organized; the largest number of new stakes created in a single year since 1998 when 84 new stakes were organized.

New Stakes in Colombia and Utah

2011-11-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

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.

Stake Discontinued in Utah

2011-11-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

A stake was discontinued in Salt Lake City, Utah. Organized in 1943, the Salt Lake Park Stake was discontinued and four of its five wards (First, Legrand, Tenth, and Thirty First) were transferred to the Salt Lake Sugarhouse Stake. The Salt Lake Valley 1st (Deaf) Ward was transferred to the Salt Lake Granite Stake.

2011 has been an unprecedented year for stake consolidations in Utah. Only five stakes were discontinued in Utah in the 2000s yet in 2011 six stakes have been discontinued in the state (Blanding Utah West, Salt Lake Mount Olympus North, Taylorsville Utah West, Bennion Heights Utah, West Valley Utah, and Salt Lake Park). Stake consolidations have been long overdue in the Salt Lake City area as active members have steadily relocated to suburban communities or elsewhere over the past several decades resulting in dwindling numbers of congregations in operating stakes. Stakes operating in areas of Salt Lake City bound by I-215 up to the downtown area appear most vulnerable to consolidations in the near future as many stakes have six or fewer wards. The rate at which congregations have closed in the older areas of Salt Lake City has not appeared to have significantly changed over the past decade.

Currently there are 555 stakes in Utah; an increase of nine since the beginning of 2011. Of the 15 new stakes created in Utah in 2011, 10 were YSA stakes.

Stake Discontinued in Panama

2011-11-04T07:10:00.001-06:00

For the first time a stake has been discontinued in Panama. Organized in 1998, the San Isidro Panamá Stake consisted of five wards and one branch and was consolidated with the neighboring San Miguelito Panamá Stake which had only four wards. Congregation consolidations have occurred regularly throughout Panama and recently have occurred in the Panama City area. The LDS Church reached a high of 112 congregations in 2001 and today there are 73 congregations nationwide; a decrease of 39 units in only a decade. Low member activity and convert retention rates appear primarily to blame for this major contraction in LDS outreach and congregations. Additional stakes may be consolidated if additional wards and branches are closed. There are now seven stakes and five districts in Panama.

New Stakes in the Philippines and Venezuela

2011-11-02T21:45:00.000-06:00

Philippines

Full-time missionaries serving in the Philippines Cauayan Mission report that the Tuguegarao Philippines Stake divided to create a second stake in the city of Tugegarao last Sunday. Prior to the division of the stake, there were 10 wards and 3 branches in the stake. Earlier this year, two additional stakes were created in the country in Santiago and Makati. There are now 83 stakes and 85 districts in the Philippines.

Venezuela

The fourth new stake to be created in Venezuela in 2011 was organized a couple Sundays ago. The Cabimas Venezuela Stake was organized from the Ciudad Ojeda Venezuela Stake and includes the following five wards and two branches: The Buena Vista, Cabimas, La Rosa, Los Laureles, and Los Medanos Wards and La Rita and Punta Gorda Branches. The Ciudad Ojeda Venezuela Stake now has five wards and one branch. Currently no other stakes in the country appear close to splitting although a couple districts may become stakes in the near future. There are now 33 stakes and eight districts in Venezuela. Of the 33 stakes operating at present, 17 have been created since 2001; nearly a 100% increase within only decade.

New District in Papua New Guinea

2011-10-27T14:10:00.000-06:00

A new district was organized in Papua New Guinea. The Moveave Papua New Guinea District includes seven branches between Kukipi and Morovamu and becomes the country's tenth district. Two stakes also operate in Papua New Guinea (1995) and Daru (2011).

New District in Taiwan

2011-10-24T20:31:00.002-06:00

A new district was organized in Taiwan. The Chia Yi Taiwan District was created from the Tainan Taiwan and Chung Hsing Taiwan Stakes and includes the following six branches: The Chia Yi 1st, Chia Yi 2nd, Hsin Ying, Hu Wei, Taipo, and Tou Liu Branches. Of these six branches, four were wards in their previously assigned stakes. The LDS Church has experienced stronger growth than most missionary-minded Christian denominations in Taiwan within the past few decades but continues to struggle with low member activity and convert retention rates. The new district appears unlikely to become a stake within the near future until additional congregations are organized and operating units increase in the number of active members. No stakes in Taiwan appear close to dividing within the near future. Taipei Taiwan West Stake is now the stake with the most congregations in the country with nine wards and one branch.

There are now 11 stakes and two districts in Taiwan.

New Stakes in Alabama, Peru, and the Philippines; New District in Peru

2011-10-18T13:26:00.000-06:00

Alabama

The LDS Church's seventh stake in Alabama will be organized at the end of October according to members living in the Huntsville area. The Madison Alabama Stake will be organized from the Huntsville Alabama Stake and include seven congregations. The new stake will be the first new LDS stake organized in Alabama since the Dothan Alabama Stake in 1986.

Peru

Last Sunday a new stake was created in Arequipa and a new district was created in Casma. The Arequipa Perú Paucarpata Stake was organized from the Arequipa Perú Manuel Prado Stake includes six wards. The new stake becomes Peru's 98th stake and the seventh stake in the city of Arequipa. Prospects appear very favorable for a temple announcement for Arequipa within the near future. In northern Peru, the Casma Perú District was organized from the Chimbote Perú South Stake and appears to consist of five branches in the southern coastal areas of the Ancash Region. There are now 23 districts in Peru.

The Philippines

A new stake was created in northern Luzon in Santiago last Sunday. The Santiago Philippines North Stake was organized from the Santiago Philippines Stake and includes the following five wards: The Baluarte, Ramon, Rizal 1st, Rizal 2nd, and Santiago 3rd Wards. Congregational growth has increased throughout the Northern Luzon region within the past year as several new wards have been organized in the largest cities and several branches have matured into wards. There are now 82 stakes and 85 districts in the Philippines.

Recent Church Growth News

2011-10-11T14:44:00.001-06:00

First LDS branch organized in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

The first LDS branch was recently organized in Uvira, DR Congo. The Uvira Branch becomes the first LDS branch ever organized in the entire eastern or northern areas of the country. Beginning in 2008, the Church has begun to organize new branches in previously unreached cities such as Gandajika, Kakanda, Kasumbalesa, Kipushi, Matadi, and Mwene-Ditu but with the exception of Matadi all of these cities are located within a day's drive from a city that already had an LDS congregation. The organization of the new branch in Uvira was made possible by the opening of Burundi to missionary work one year ago and the diligence of local members in the Uvira area to cross the border and frequently attend church services in Bujumbura.

New branches in Malaysia; new ward in Singapore

Three new branches have recently been organized in Malaysia: The Cheras, Kota Kinabalu 2nd, and Masai Branches. The Cheras Branch was organized in Kuala Lampur and the Masai Branch was organized in the Johore Bahru area. A ninth ward in the Singapore Stake was also recently organized. With ongoing congregational growth in the region, Singapore appears to be a likely candidate for a future temple within the next decade especially when districts in Malaysia mature into stakes.

Rapid membership growth in Uganda

Full-time missionaries serving in the Uganda Kampala Mission report that the mission has so far in 2011 baptized over 1,600 converts, breaking previous records for the number of converts baptized in a single year since the mission was organized in 2005. Convert retention appears moderate but particularly high in cities which recently had branches organized (Gulu, Lira, Masaka, Mbale, and Njeru). Several senior missionary couples have recently been assigned to these cities and are providing valuable humanitarian and development work in addition to often working with church administrative affairs in these newly created branches. Some of these congregations have over 150 attending church services on Sundays.

Malawi to be dedicated for missionary work

On the heels of the organization of the new Zambia Lusaka Mission and the creation of several new branches and groups in Malawi, members report that Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve will visit Malawi and offer a formal dedicatory prayer for the nation. Malawi currently pertains to the Zambia Lusaka Mission and LDS congregations operate in Blantyre (4), Lilongwe (3), and Liwonde. With nearly 16 million inhabitants, Malawi appears a very favorable nation to have its first LDS mission organized in the near future.

Translations of LDS Materials and the Book of Mormon Approved for the Kamba Language

2011-10-07T15:46:00.001-06:00

Missionaries serving in Kenya report that the First Presidency has recently approved the translation of basic church materials and the Book of Mormon into Kamba. Spoken by over four million native speakers, Kamba is currently the language with the 48th most speakers without LDS materials. At present, the Church has not officially translated any materials into Kamba although senior missionaries reported that local members have made some unofficial translations of the sacrament prayers to facilitate comprehension among elderly members who have difficulty listening to the prayers in English. The Church has held a strict standard for baptizing new converts in Kenya and several other African nations over the years by requiring members to pass their baptismal interviews in their country's respective national languages. Within the past couple years, the Church has become more flexible in permitting converts to join the Church despite low levels of competency in English or their national language if it is determined that they will likely remain active. The decision to translate church materials the scriptures into Kamba is a major development which will likely increase growth and testimony development among many Kamba-speaking Latter-day Saints.

Currently, Kamba-speaking Latter-day Saints are concentrated in the Kilunga Hills which are located approximately 50 miles southeast of Nairobi. Four branches function in the Kilunga Hills and each have exhibited good convert retention and member activity rates. One of the most recently organized branches - the Matini Branch - has nearly 300 attend church services at present. The total number of Kamba-speaking Latter-day Saints may currently number over 1,000. Prospects appear very favorable for a district to be organized for the four branches in the area as they do not pertain to a stake or district at present.

It is unclear when translations of LDS materials and scriptures will be available in Kamba, but based on the time table for other languages translations of basic materials may be available within the next year and the Book of Mormon may be available by 2015.

Five New Temples Announced

2011-10-01T11:34:00.001-06:00

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.