The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the establishment of 55 new missions, set to take effect on July 1, 2026. This significant expansion, which will increase the total number of church missions worldwide to 506, is a response to a growing number of young members committing to full-time missionary service.
The new missions will be created by adjusting the boundaries of existing missions, resulting in an outreach that spans multiple continents. Specifically, there will be 16 missions in Africa, 14 in the United States, five in the Philippines, five in the Pacific, four in Europe, four in South America, three in Brazil, two in Canada, and one each in Asia and Mexico, according to the official website of the Church.
President Dallin H. Oaks, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expressed his enthusiasm for this growth. “It is inspiring to see the number of young church members who continue to answer the call to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world,” he stated. He emphasized that these missionaries positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands who choose to join the faith each year.
This announcement follows a similar initiative from July 1, 2024, when the Church opened 36 new missions. The trend of increasing missionary participation at The Church of Jesus Christ contrasts with broader national patterns. A survey released last year by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty indicated that while Generation Z is more open to various forms of religious expression, they show less support for traditional religious institutions.
According to the Survey Center on American Life, over one-third (34%) of Gen Z identifies as religiously unaffiliated, a notable rise compared to 29% of Millennials, 25% of Generation X, and 18% of Baby Boomers.
Despite these trends, the number of young missionaries serving the Church has surged from approximately 65,000 at the end of 2022 to nearly 72,000 by the end of 2023, and it currently exceeds 84,000. The newly established missions will facilitate support for the growing number of congregations worldwide.
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and chairman of the Church’s Missionary Executive Council, remarked, “It’s a blessing to see how each missionary contributes to the individuals they teach and serve as they share the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.” He added that these additional missions will help balance the number of missionaries in each area, enhancing the support and mentorship provided by mission leaders.
The following is a categorized list of the new missions:
Africa
1. DR Congo Kinshasa North
2. DR Congo Mwene-Ditu
3. Kenya Kisumu
4. Uganda Kampala
5. Angola Luanda North
6. Malawi Lilongwe
7. Mozambique Nampula
8. South Africa East London
9. Zimbabwe Harare
10. Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan South
11. Cote d’Ivoire Daloa
12. Ghana Accra South
13. Ghana Sunyani
14. Liberia Monrovia West
15. Senegal Dakar
16. Togo Lomé
Asia, Europe, and the Americas
17. Mongolia Ulaanbaatar West
18. Brazil Guarulhos
19. Brazil São Bernardo
20. Brazil Sorocaba
21. Canada Halifax
22. Canada Toronto East
23. France Paris South
24. Greece Athens
25. Spain Madrid
26. Cape Verde Mindelo
27. Mexico Tula
28. Australia Brisbane South
29. Papua New Guinea Daru
30. Papua New Guinea Madang
31. Samoa Apia East
32. Solomon Islands Honiara
33. Philippines Lingayen
34. Philippines Lipa
35. Philippines Ormoc
36. Philippines Ozamiz
37. Philippines Puerto Princesa South
38. Peru Lima Northwest
39. Peru Tacna
40. Paraguay Asunción South
41. Uruguay Salto
42. Missouri Kansas City
43. Wyoming Cheyenne
44. Indiana Fort Wayne
45. Virginia Norfolk
46. Mississippi Jackson
47. Arizona Phoenix East
48. Oklahoma Tulsa
49. Texas Dallas North
50. Texas Houston North
51. Texas San Antonio South
52. California Oceanside
53. California Ontario
54. California Victorville
55. Idaho Coeur d’Alene
This strategic expansion of missions underscores the Church’s commitment to outreach and community engagement, reinforcing its presence across diverse regions while adapting to the evolving landscape of religious participation.
