In 2026, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is creating 55 new missions, increasing the total to 506 worldwide.
This expansion will lead to the establishment of mission headquarters in several countries, two U.S. states and one Canadian province for the first time.
First mission in country
- Malawi Lilongwe Mission: In the Church’s Africa South Area, the two stakes in Malawi were previously associated with the Zambia Lusaka Mission.
- Senegal Dakar Mission: In the Africa West Area, the district in Dakar was previously associated with the Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan West Mission.
- Togo Lomé Mission: Also in the Africa West Area, Togo’s three stakes have been part of the Benin Cotonou Mission.
- Solomon Islands Honiara Mission: In the Pacific Area, the Honiara Solomon Islands District has been under the Vanuatu Port Vila Mission.
- Greece Athens Mission: In the Europe Central Area, Greece’s two branches — Halandri and Thessaloniki — have been among four branches served most recently the Bulgaria/Greece Mission, headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria.
New mission in province
- Nova Scotia: The new Canada Halifax Mission draws its city name from the capital and most populous municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, The eastern province is both the second-most densely populated in Canada the second-smallest by area. The Dartmouth Nova Scotia Stake has been associated with the Canada Montreal Mission. Several years ago there was a mission headquartered in Nova Scotia, but it was absorbed into a neighboring mission.
First mission in state
- Mississippi Jackson Mission: In the Church’s United States Southeast Area, the Jackson Mississippi Stake has been associated with the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission. Several years ago there was a mission headquartered in Jackson but it was absorbed into a neighboring mission.
- Wyoming Cheyenne Mission: In the United States Central Area, Cheyenne stakes have been associated with the Colorado Fort Collins Mission, which has extended into east and central Wyoming.
Mission growth in countries
Several countries and two states are receiving two or more new missions.
- The Philippines will have five new missions, raising the total number of missions in the country to 29.
- Brazil will receive three new missions, increasing to 40 throughout the country.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo will be assigned two new missions, increasing its total to nine missions.
- Côte d’Ivoire will have two new missions, bringing its total to six missions.
- Ghana will have two new missions for a total of eight missions.
- Canada will receive two new missions for a total of eight missions.
- Two new missions in Papua New Guinea will give the country a total of four missions.
- Peru will have two new missions added, giving the country a total of 17 missions.
In the United States, Texas and California will each have three new missions added, for a total of 15 missions in Texas and 19 missions in California.
Correction: An earlier version of the story did not note there had been missions headquartered in Novia Scotia and in Mississippi; those missions were discontinued several years ago.
