Church of Jesus Christ announces 55 new missions and one will be in Idaho

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to create 55 new missions around the world next year, including one in Idaho, amid a surge in the number of young people choosing to serve missions.

Church officials announced Friday that the new missions will be organized by adjusting the boundaries of existing ones and will take effect July 1, 2026. Once established, the church will have a total of 506 missions worldwide.

“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,” said President Dallin H. Oaks, president of the church. “These missionaries are helping to bless the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year who are choosing to be baptized into the Lord’s church.”

The expansion comes as the number of full-time missionaries has climbed sharply in recent years. At the end of 2022, there were just over 65,000 missionaries. By the end of 2023, the church said that number had grown to nearly 72,000 — and it has now surpassed 84,000. Missionaries currently serve in more than 150 countries and teach in more than 60 languages.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who chairs the church’s Missionary Executive Council, said the additional missions will help “balance the number of missionaries in each mission,” making it easier for mission leaders to provide guidance and support.

“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,” Cook said.

Here is the list of new missions:

Africa Central

1. DR Congo Kinshasa North
2. DR Congo Mwene-Ditu
3. Kenya Kisumu
4. Uganda Kampala East

Africa South

5. Angola Luanda North
6. Malawi Lilongwe
7. Mozambique Nampula
8. South Africa East London
9. Zimbabwe Harare West

Africa West

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 North

17. Mongolia Ulaanbaatar West

Brazil

18. Brazil Guarulhos
19. Brazil São Bernardo
20. Brazil Sorocaba

Canada

21. Canada Halifax
22. Canada Toronto East

Europe Central

23. France Paris South
24. Greece Athens
25. Spain Madrid East

Europe North

26. Cape Verde Mindelo

México

27. México Tula

Pacific

28. Australia Brisbane South
29. Papua New Guinea Daru
30. Papua New Guinea Madang
31. Samoa Apia East
32. Solomon Islands Honiara

Philippines

33. Philippines Lingayen
34. Philippines Lipa
35. Philippines Ormoc
36. Philippines Ozamiz
37. Philippines Puerto Princesa

South America Northwest

38. Perú Lima Northwest
39. Perú Tacna

South America South

40. Paraguay Asunción South
41. Uruguay Salto

United States Central

42. Missouri Kansas City
43. Wyoming Cheyenne

United States Northeast

44. Indiana Fort Wayne
45. Virginia Norfolk

United States Southeast

46. Mississippi Jackson

United States Southwest

47. Arizona Phoenix East
48. Oklahoma Tulsa
49. Texas Dallas North
50. Texas Houston North
51. Texas San Antonio South

United States West

52. California Oceanside
53. California Ontario
54. California Victorville
55. Idaho Coeur d’Alene