The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Botswana
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Botswana refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Botswana. The first branch (small congregation) was organized in 1991 with fewer than 100 members. As of 2022, there were 4,031 members in 16 congregations in Botswana.[1]
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Botswana | |
|---|---|
| Area | Africa South |
| Members | 4,031 (2022)[1] |
| Stakes | 1 |
| Wards | 9 |
| Branches | 7 |
| Total Congregations[2] | 16 |
| Family History Centers | 2[3] |
History
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2023) |
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1995* | 300 |
| 1999* | 700 |
| 2004 | 1,194 |
| 2009 | 1,305 |
| 2014 | 3,104 |
| 2019 | 3,653 |
| 2022 | 4,031 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. | |
The first branch of the LDS Church in Botswana was organized in 1983. LDS missionaries were not sent to Botswana until 1990 and the church did not receive official recognition until 1991. Among the early converts in Botswana was Kwasi Agyare Dwomoh, a Ghanaian architect employed by the government of Botswana. Dwomoh and his family joined the church in September 1990. He became the first branch president in August 1991, and the first district president in March 1992. He and his wife were the first couple to travel from Botswana to be sealed in the temple.[5]
In 1995, all LDS Church units were included in the newly formed Roodeport South Africa Stake. The first Motswana to serve a full-time mission for the LDS Church, Yakale Million Moroka, began serving as a missionary in 1999 in the South Africa Cape Town Mission.
In the early 2000s, the church formed its first branch in Francistown in the north of Botswana. In 2009, missionaries were regularly sent there for the first time. In 2010, branches were formed in two additional cities. In 2012, a new stake was organized in Gaborone with Clement Mosiame Matswagothata as its president, and in 2013 Botswana was given its own mission.
Stake and Congregations
edit
Green = Stake
Purple = Meetinghouse not part of a stake or district
Francistown has 3 meetinghouses
The Gaborone Botswana Stake was created on November 4, 2012.[6] As of June 2023, Botswana had the following congregations:
Gaborone Botswana Stake
- Gaborone Broadhurst Ward
- Gaborone West Ward
- Gaborone West YSA Ward
- Kanye 1st Branch
- Kanye 2nd Ward
- Lobatse Ward
- Mochudi Ward
- Mogoditshane Ward
- Molepolole Ward
- Village Ward
Other Congregations The following congregations are located in Botswana but are not part of a stake or district:
- Botswana/Namibia Mission Branch
- Francistown Branch
- Gerald Branch
- Kasane Branch
- Maun Branch
- Monarch Branch
- Serowe Branch
The Botswana/Namibia Mission Branch serves families and individuals in Botswana and Namibia that is not in proximity of a meetinghouse. Congregations not part of a stake are called branches, regardless of size.
Missions
editThe Botswana Namibia Mission was created July 2013.[7][8] In November 2022, the LDS Church announced it will be creating the South Africa Pretoria Mission in July 2023. The mission will consist of the South Africa portion of the Botswana-Namibia Mission as well as a portion of the South Africa Durban Mission. In July 2023, the Botswana Namibia mission was realigned to only cover Botswana and Namibia.[9]
Namibia
edit| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 99 |
| 1995* | 200 |
| 1999 | 261 |
| 2004 | 402 |
| 2009 | 605 |
| 2014 | 793 |
| 2019 | 952 |
| 2022 | 1,110 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. | |
Orange = District (multiple meetinghouses)
Purple = Other Meetinghouse
The LDS Church reported 1,110 members in 5 congregations as well as 1 family history centers in Namibia for year-end 2022.[11] The Windhoek Namibia District was created on 8 March 2015. A family history center is located in Windhoek.[12]
Congregations
editAs of February 2023, the following were located in Namibia:[10]
- Windhoek Namibia District
- Katutura Branch
- Swakopmund Branch
- Wanaheda Branch
- Windhoek Branch
- Other Congregations
The following congregations are located in Botswana but are not part of a stake or district:
- Botswana/Namibia Mission Branch
- Ongwediva Branch
The Botswana/Namibia Mission Branch serves families and individuals in Botswana and Namibia that is not in proximity of a meetinghouse. Congregations not part of a stake are called branches, regardless of size.
Temples
editAs of July 2023, Botswana and Namibia were located in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple District.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Botswana", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 10 June 2023
- ^ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
- ^ Category:Botswana Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 16 July 2021
- ^ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Botswana
- ^ E. Dale LeBaron, "Botswana" in Arnold K. Garr, et al., ed., Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000), p. 124-125
- ^ Botswana stake first for the country
- ^ New mission presidents by area for 2013
- ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (16 July 2013), Mormons encounter visa hitches in new Botswana mission, Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved 22 February 2023
- ^ Swenson, Madison (23 November 2022), "Church Opening Six New Missions in 2023", KSL TV 5, retrieved 13 January 2023
- ^ a b "Meetinghouse Locator", LDS Church, retrieved 22 February 2022
- ^ "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Namibia", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 22 February 2023
- ^ Category:Namibia Family History Centers Map, familysearch.org, retrieved 22 February 2023
External links
edit- LDS Newsroom (Botswana)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site
- ComeUntoChrist.org - Visitors Site