Areas of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints outside US and Canada. |
Areas of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in US and Canada. |
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), an area is an administrative unit that typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions. These areas are the primary church administrative unit between individual stakes or missions and the church as a whole.
History
editThe areas as they now exist were formed in January 1984.[1] Prior to that time, general authorities served as "area supervisors" and at times resided outside of Salt Lake City.[2] In 1984, 13 initial areas were created; by 1992 there were 22, and by early 2007 there were 31. As of April 2022, there are 23 areas.[3][4][5]
Administration
editUntil 2003, each area had a president and two counselors, all of whom were typically general authorities (area seventies sometimes served as counselors). This three-man body was known as the area presidency. In that year, the church eliminated these presidencies for areas located in the United States and Canada, which were all then placed under the direct supervision of a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, thus freeing more general authorities from specific area assignments. Since these areas were previously administered by area presidencies located at church headquarters in Salt Lake City, the administrative change was not as drastic as it might seem.
In April 2018, the church announced that, effective August 1 of that year, areas in the United States and Canada would once again be supervised by a three-man presidency. This enabled the Presidency of the Seventy to more fully assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in their duties, and to fill other assignments as needed.[6]
The areas outside the United States and Canada continue to be governed by area presidencies that are typically composed of general authorities and area seventies. These presidency members usually reside in a headquarters city located in the geographic boundaries of the area. Area seventies who serve in these presidencies reside in their own homes, which may or may not be in the area headquarters city.
In 2019, church leaders stated that the 10 North American areas would be merged into six (the Idaho Area merged into the North America Central Area; the North America Northwest Area merged into the North America West Area; and the Utah North, Utah Salt Lake City, and Utah South areas merged into a single Utah Area.[7]
Also in 2019, a structural change occurred in the administration of the Middle East/Africa North Area. In prior years, two general authorities based at church headquarters were assigned oversight for the area. However, beginning in August 2019, a three-man area presidency was established to oversee the area. Two of them were general authorities at church headquarters, while the second counselor was an area seventy living in the area.
In 2019, church leaders also announced the division of the Africa Southeast Area, into the Africa Central and Africa South areas, effective August 1, 2020.[8] Two months later, W. Christopher Waddell, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, announced in Johannesburg that the new Africa Central Area would be headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.[9]
Then in 2022, additional structural changes affected Europe. The Europe and Europe East areas were split into 3 areas and renamed the Europe Central, Europe East, and Europe North areas. The presidency of the Europe Area became the presidency of the Europe Central Area, with the presidency of the Europe East Area becoming three area seventies. The president and first counselor in the Europe East Area were reassigned to fill the same roles in the Europe North Area, with the second counselor being an area seventy. The area seventy who had been serving as the second counselor in the Europe East Area was designated an assistant to the Europe North Area presidency, specifically overseeing Ukraine and Moldova, which will be separate from a specific area at the current time.[10]
As of April 2022, the church has 17 areas outside North America and six areas inside North America, for a total of 23. With the changes in Europe, the church now has five area seventies serving in area presidencies. Area assignments are generally announced sometime after April's general conference and are effective August 1.[11]
Summary Statistics
editArea | Members | Stakes | Districts | Congregations | Missions | Temples | |||
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O | U | A | T | ||||||
Africa Central | 142,927 | 33 | 18 | 419 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Africa South | 157,270 | 35 | 26 | 464 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Africa West | 432,748 | 134 | 46 | 1,576 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
Asia | 183,162 | 35 | 30 | 444 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
Asia North | 241,239 | 41 | 21 | 405 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Brazil | 1,456,238 | 281 | 40 | 2,176 | 36 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
Caribbean | 220,818 | 33 | 24 | 365 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Central America | 816,186 | 133 | 28 | 1,102 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
Europe Central | 220,042 | 64 | 12 | 696 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
Europe East | 27,664 | 3 | 12 | 112 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Europe North | 280,390 | 68 | 7 | 567 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
Unassigned | 11,664 | 2 | 3 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Mexico | 1,498,296 | 222 | 47 | 1,849 | 32 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 19 |
Middle East/ Africa North | 5,540 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
North America Central | 1,069,925 | 276 | 1 | 2,606 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 29 |
North America Northeast | 407,514 | 134 | 4 | 839 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
North America Southeast | 526,385 | 115 | 0 | 1,030 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
North America Southwest | 1,032,246 | 269 | 2 | 2,011 | 22 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 20 |
North America West | 1,347,961 | 282 | 2 | 2,792 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
Pacific | 587,462 | 133 | 36 | 1,203 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 17 |
Philippines | 833,045 | 123 | 56 | 1,256 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
South America Northwest | 1,486,179 | 251 | 46 | 1,853 | 34 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
South America South | 1,193,569 | 181 | 55 | 1,697 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
Utah | 2,003,709 | 629 | 1 | 5,461 | 10 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 28 |
Temples
O=Operating Temples (includes temporary closures)
U=Temples Under Construction
A=Temples publicly announced to be constructed
T=Total Temples (announced and under construction)
Area details
editThe following details are current as of August 1, 2019, and are taken from the LDS Church Growth Blog, statistical profiles on cumorah.com, and the Facts and Statistics page of the church's official website (www.churchofjesuschrist.org). Ward and branch totals and membership numbers were last updated in 2015.
Africa Centraledit142,927 Members, 33 Stakes, 18 Districts, 419 Congregations, 11 missions, 5 temples[12] | |||||
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Missions: | |||||
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Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple (announced) Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple (site announced) |
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple (under construction) |
Nairobi Kenya Temple (under construction) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
Africa SoutheditHeadquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa 157,270 Members, 35 Stakes, 26 Districts, 464 Congregations, 11 missions, 6 temples[12] | |||||
Area president: Edward Dube[15][14] |
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Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Cape Town South Africa Temple (site announced) |
Harare Zimbabwe Temple (under construction) | ||||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
Africa Westedit432,748 Members, 134 Stakes, 46 Districts, 970 wards, 606 branches, 17 missions, 8 temples[18] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple (under construction) |
Benin City Nigeria Temple (site announced) Eket Nigeria Temple (announced) Freetown Sierra Leone Temple (under construction) |
Kumasi Ghana Temple (site announced) Lagos Nigeria Temple (site announced) Monrovia Liberia Temple (announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
AsiaeditHeadquarters: Hong Kong, China 183,162 members, 35 stakes, 30 districts, 444 congregations, 10 missions, 8 temples[12] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
Temples: | |||||
Bengaluru India Temple (under construction) |
Jakarta Indonesia Temple (site announced) Kaohsiung Taiwan Temple (under construction) Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple (under construction) |
Shanghai People's Republic of China Temple (announced) Singapore Temple (site announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
Asia Northedit241,239 members, 41 stakes, 21 districts, 405 congregations, 11 missions, 6 temples[12] | |||||
Area president: Takashi WadaCite error: The |
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Temples: | |||||
Busan Korea Temple (announced) |
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Geographic coverage: | |||||
BrazileditHeadquarters: São Paulo, Brazil 1,456,238 members, 281 stakes, 40 districts, 2,176 congregations, 36 missions, 14 temples[20] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Belo Horizonte Brazil Temple (under construction) Londrina Brazil Temple (under construction) |
Maceió Brazil Temple (site announced) Natal Brazil Temple (site announced) Ribeirão Preto Brazil Temple (under construction) |
Salvador Brazil Temple (dedication scheduled) Santos Brazil Temple (site announced) São Paulo East Brazil Temple (site announced) Teresina Brazil Temple (site announced) Vitória Brazil Temple (site announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
CaribbeaneditHeadquarters: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic [Official Website] 220,818 Members, 33 Stakes, 24 Districts, 365 Congregations, 8 missions, 3 Temples[12] | |||||
Area president: Eduardo GavarretCite error: The |
First counselor: Valeri V. CordonCite error: The |
Second counselor: Moises VillanuevaCite error: The | |||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
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Geographic coverage: | |||||
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Central AmericaeditHeadquarters: Guatemala City, Guatemala
816,186 Members, 133 Stakes, 28 Districts, 1,102 Congregations, 19 missions, 10 Temples[12] | |||||
Area president: Taylor G. GodoyCite error: The |
First counselor: Patricio M. GiuffraCite error: The |
Second counselor: Ryan K. OlsenCite error: The |
Missions: | ||
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Temples: | |||||
Guatemala City Guatemala Temple Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple (site announced) Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple (under construction) |
Managua Nicaragua Temple (under construction) Retalhuleu Guatemala Temple (announced) |
San Pedro Sula Honduras Temple (dedication scheduled) San Salvador El Salvador Temple | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
Europe CentraleditHeadquarters: Frankfurt, Germany
223,837 Members, 64 Stakes, 14 Districts, 703 Congregations, 17 missions, 11 Temples | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Barcelona Spain Temple (site announced) Brussels Belgium Temple (site announced) Budapest Hungary Temple (site announced) |
Hamburg Germany Temple (announced) |
Vienna Austria Temple (site announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
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Europe Eastedit
23,869 Members, 3 Stakes, 10 Districts, 105 Congregations, 5 missions, 1 Temples[12] | |||||
First counselor: Nikolai Ustyuzhaninov (Area Seventy)[15][14] |
Second counselor: Aleksandr A. Drachyov (Area Seventy)[15][14] | ||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Russia Temple (announced) |
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Geographic coverage: | |||||
Europe NortheditHeadquarters: Birmingham, United Kingdom
280,390 Members, 68 Stakes, 7 Districts, 567 Congregations, 13 missions, 9 temples[12] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Birmingham England Temple (site announced) |
Oslo Norway Temple (site announced) |
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Geographic coverage: | |||||
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UnassignededitAs of April 2022, Ukraine and Moldova are not assigned to any of the church's areas. Kyrylo Pokhylko, a Ukrainian area seventy and assistant to the presidency of the Europe North Area has responsibility for the work of the church in those nations. 11,664 members, 2 stakes, 3 districts, 48 congregations, 2 missions, 1 temple[12] | |||||
Kyrylo Pokhylko (Area Seventy): Assistant to the Europe North Area Presidency[15][14] |
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Geographic coverage: | |||||
MexicoeditHeadquarters: Mexico City, Mexico 1,498,296 Members, 222 Stakes, 47 Districts, 1,849 Congregations, 32 missions, 19 Temples[21] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple Culiacán Mexico Temple (announced) Cuernavaca Mexico Temple (site announced) Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple |
Mexico City Benemérito Mexico Temple (site announced) Pachuca Mexico Temple (announced) Querétaro Mexico Temple (under construction) San Luis Potosí Mexico Temple (under construction) |
Toluca Mexico Temple (site announced) Torreón Mexico Temple (under construction) Tula Mexico Temple (announced) Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
Middle East/ Africa NortheditHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
5,540 Members, 2 Stakes, 2 Districts, 34 Congregations, 0 missions, 1 Temples[12][22] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
No Missions |
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Temples: | |||||
Dubai United Arab Emirates Temple (announced) |
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Geographic coverage: | |||||
North America CentraleditHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
1,069,925 Members, 276 Stakes, 1 Districts, 2,606 Congregations, 20 missions, 29 Temples | |||||
Area president: Chi Hong (Sam) Wong[15][14] |
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Missions: | |||||
Temples: | |||||
Burley Idaho Temple (under construction) Casper Wyoming Temple (dedication scheduled) Cody Wyoming Temple (site announced) |
Grand Junction Colorado Temple (under construction) Lethbridge Alberta Temple (site announced) Missoula Montana Temple (announced) Montpelier Idaho Temple (under construction) |
Teton River Idaho Temple (under construction) Springfield Missouri Temple (site announced) Wichita Kansas Temple (groundbreaking scheduled) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
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North America NortheasteditHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah 407,514 Members, 134 Stakes, 4 Districts, 839 Congregations, 19 missions, 15 Temples | |||||
First counselor: Vai Sikahema[13][16] |
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Cleveland Ohio Temple (under construction) Grand Rapids Michigan Temple (site announced) |
Harrisburg Pennsylvania Temple (site announced) |
Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple (dedication scheduled) Winchester Virginia Temple (site announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
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North America SoutheasteditHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
526,385 Members, 115 Stakes, 1,030 Congregations, 16 Missions, 14 Temples | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Charlotte North Carolina Temple (site announced) |
Jacksonville Florida Temple (site announced) Knoxville Tennessee Temple (under construction) |
Tallahassee Florida Temple (dedication scheduled) Tampa Florida Temple (site announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
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North America SouthwesteditHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
1,032,246 Members, 269 Stakes, 2 Districts, 2,011 Congregations, 22 Missions, 20 Temples | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Austin Texas Temple (under construction) Elko Nevada Temple (under construction) Farmington New Mexico Temple (under construction) Fort Worth Texas Temple (under construction) |
Lone Mountain Nevada Temple (site announced) |
McKinney Texas Temple (site announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
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North America WesteditHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
1,347,961 Members, 282 Stakes, 2 Districts, 2,792 Congregations, 29 Missions, 21 Temples | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Columbia River Washington Temple Feather River California Temple |
Modesto California Temple (under construction) Newport Beach California Temple |
San Jose California Temple (site announced) Tacoma Washington Temple (announced) Vancouver British Columbia Temple Willamette Valley Oregon Temple (under construction) Yorba Linda California Temple (under construction) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
PacificeditHeadquarters: Auckland, New Zealand 587,462 Members, 133 Stakes, 36 Districts, 1,203 Congregations, 17 Missions, 17 Temples[24] | |||||
First counselor: Taniela B. Wakolo[13][16] |
Second counselor: Jeremy R. Jaggiref name="August 2022 changes1" />[14] | ||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Auckland New Zealand Temple (under construction) |
Neiafu Tonga Temple (under construction) Pago Pago American Samoa Temple (under construction) |
Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple (under construction) Port Vila Vanuatu Temple (under construction) Tarawa Kiribati Temple (site announced) Wellington New Zealand Temple (site announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
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PhilippineseditHeadquarters: Manila, Philippines 833,045 Members, 123 Stakes, 56 Districts, 1,256 Congregations, 23 Missions, 8 Temples[25] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Alabang Philippines Temple (under construction) Bacolod Philippines Temple (under construction) Cagayan de Oro Philippines Temple (groundbreaking scheduled) |
Davao Philippines Temple (under construction) Iloilo Philippines Temple (announced) Naga Philippines Temple (announced) |
Santiago Philippines Temple (announced) Tacloban City Philippines Temple (site announced) Tuguegarao City Philippines Temple (announced) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
South America Northwestedit1,486,179 Members, 253 Stakes, TBD Districts, TBD Congregations, 34 Missions, 14 Temples[26] | |||||
Missions: | |||||
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Temples: | |||||
Cali Colombia Temple (site announced) |
Chiclayo Peru Temple (announced) Cusco Peru Temple (site announced) Iquitos Peru Temple (site announced) |
La Paz Bolivia Temple (site announced) Santa Cruz Bolivia Temple (under construction) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
South America SoutheditHeadquarters: Buenos Aires, Argentina 1,193,569 Members, 181 Stakes, 55 Districts, 1,697 Congregations, 27 Missions, 11 Temples | |||||
Missions: | |||||
Temples: | |||||
Antofagasta Chile Temple (under construction) Bahía Blanca Argentina Temple (under construction) |
Buenos Aires City Center Argentina Temple (announced) Mendoza Argentina Temple (dedication scheduled) |
Santiago West Chile Temple (under construction) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
UtaheditHeadquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah 2,003,709 Members, 629 Stakes, 1 Districts, 5,461 Congregations, 10 Missions, 27 Temples[27] | |||||
Area president: Kevin W. PearsonCite error: The |
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Missions: | |||||
Temples: | |||||
Deseret Peak Utah Temple (dedication scheduled) Ephraim Utah Temple (under construction) Heber Valley Utah Temple (under construction) Lindon Utah Temple (under construction) |
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Smithfield Utah Temple (under construction) Syracuse Utah Temple (under construction) | |||
Geographic coverage: | |||||
Utah; Arizona (small portion); Idaho (small portion); Nevada (small portion); Wyoming (southwest corner) | |||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Allen, James B. and Glen M. Leonard. The Story of the Latter-day Saints 2nd Edition, p. 654.
- ^ Mehr, Kahlile (Spring 2001). "Area Supervision: Administration of the Worldwide Church, 1960-2002". Journal of Mormon History. 27 (1): 192–214.
- ^ Africa Southeast Area to be Divided into Two Areas, South African Newsroom, 28 June 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ Africa Central Area Office to be in Nairobi Kenya, South African Newsroom, 19 August 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ First Presidency Announces 2022 Area Leadership Assignments, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ First Presidency Announces 2018 Area Leadership Assignments, Mormon Newsroom, 5 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ First Presidency Announces 2019 Area Leadership Assignments, churchofjesuschrist.org, 26 April 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ Africa Southeast Area to be Divided into Two Areas, South Africa Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 28 June 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ Nairobi, Kenya, to be Church Africa Central Area Office, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 20 August 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ First Presidency announces 2022-2023 area leadership assignments, Church News, 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ Historically, the assignments were effective on August 15, but August 1 has been the effective date since 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Based on official and unofficial membership and congregational found on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics data is 2021 or latest available. This is combined numbers for all countries within area.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y First Presidency Announces 2023 Area Leadership Assignments, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 14 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al First Presidency announces 2023-2024 area leadership assignments, Church News, 14 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2022. Cite error: The named reference "August 2022 changes2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj First Presidency Announces 2022 Area Leadership Assignments, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 7 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Cite error: The named reference
August 2023 changes2
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f Swenson, Madison (Nov 23, 2022), "Church Opening Six New Missions in 2023", KSL TV 5, retrieved January 13, 2023
- ^ As noted here, current as of July 28, 2022.
- ^ The developing Church in Mongolia now belongs to the North Asia region, Newsroom: Mongolia, 24 July 2019, retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ Current as of December 31, 2022. See this page for verification.
- ^ As verified here.
- ^ Because much of the Middle East/Africa North Area covers countries that doesn't recognize the church, third party estimates are used for a significant portion of this count.
- ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "Mormon missionaries find work, meaning in community service", The Washington Post, 4 February 2014. Retrieved on 7 March 2020.
- ^ Statistics taken from the Newsroom and the Pacific Area page
- ^ As verified here.
- ^ As confirmed here
- ^ Current as of December 31, 2021, as verified here.
Category:Organizational subdivisions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Category:Christian organizations established in 1984 Category:Types of Latter Day Saint organization