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Mormon Newsroom reported in October that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would adjust the number of its 421 missions to better fit the needs of each region of the world. Today, the Church announces boundary realignments for 19 missions, as well as the creation of five new missions. With the changes there will be 407 missions.
The following five missions will open in July 2018:
Brazil Rio de Janeiro South
Cote d’Ivoire Yamoussoukro
Nigeria Ibadan
Philippines Cabanatuan
Zimbabwe Bulawayo
And the Church will realign the boundaries for the following 19 missions in July 2018 and merge them with adjoining missions:
Australia Sydney North
Bulgaria Sofia
California Modesto
California San Fernando
England London South
Greece Athens
Illinois Chicago West
México Ciudad Obregón
México Reynosa
Mississippi Jackson
New York New York South
Ohio Cleveland
Portugal Porto
România/Moldova
Russia Samara
Spain Málaga
Ukraine L’viv
Utah Logan
Washington Federal Way
Changes to mission boundaries are common. Since President Thomas S. Monson announced in 2012 the change in the ages for missionary service, the Church has created 76 new missions to accommodate a surge of growth in only a few years, from 58,000 to 88,000 missionaries. The initial wave of missionaries has since receded to about 68,000 missionaries, as anticipated.
Fewer missionaries means that not only are fewer missions needed but also a heightened importance of a more strategic placement of missionaries in areas of need around the world; thus the creation of five new missions.
“We want missionaries to be in the best possible place and position to help people, whether through sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ or community service,” said General Authority Seventy Elder Brent H. Nielson, Executive Director of the Missionary Department. “The pattern established by the Savior is to make a difference in individual lives, one by one, all over the world, which requires continuous planning and organizing.”
Details on mission merges will be coming in future communications from mission presidents to parents of missionaries in the affected missions.
Visit the Church News (a resource primarily for Latter-day Saints) for a list of assignments for new mission presidents.
The First Presidency has also announced the following new mission president assignments.
South America Northwest Area
Brother Pedro and Sister Magdalena Hernández, who were previously assigned to the Venezuela Maracaibo Mission, have been reassigned to serve as mission president and companion in the Venezuela Barcelona Mission beginning July 1, 2018.
Brother José J. and Sister Mary L. Acevedo have been called to serve as mission president and companion in the Venezuela Maracaibo Mission beginning July 1, 2018.
Philippines Area
Brother Ryan V. and Sister Cristina Pagaduan have been called to serve as interim mission president and companion in the Philippines Butuan Mission until March 1, 2018.
Brother Jose A. and Sister Sariah San Gabriel, who were previously assigned to the Philippines Urdaneta Mission, have been reassigned to serve in the Philippines Butuan Mission beginning March 1, 2018.
Brother Richard O. and Sister Patricia Espinosa have been called to serve as mission president and companion in the Philippines Urdaneta Mission beginning July 1, 2018.
Pacific Area
Due to the recent bicycle accident of President Daniel J. Bingham of the Australia Sydney South Mission, Brother Johnny L. and Sister Betty Leota have been called to serve as interim mission president and companion in that mission until further notice.
Asia Area
President Paul S. and Sister Robin Rowley, who have been serving as mission president and companion in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission since 2016, have accepted a special assignment in the Singapore Mission to assist with leadership development in Malaysia until July 1, 2018, at which time President Rowley will begin serving as president of the Singapore Mission.
Brother Joshua and Sister Steffie Subandriyo have been called to serve as interim mission president and companion in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission beginning immediately and until July 1, 2018.
Brother Greg P. and Sister Sheila Mackay, who were previously assigned to the Singapore Mission, have been reassigned to serve in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission beginning July 1, 2018.
We are deeply grateful to these couples for their willingness to accept these calls and new assignments.