The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
|---|---|
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| Area | Africa Central |
| Members | 115,027 (2023)[1] |
| Stakes | 27 |
| Districts | 3 |
| Wards | 237 |
| Branches | 52 |
| Total Congregations[2] | 289 |
| Missions | 5 |
| Temples |
|
| FamilySearch Centers | 24[3] |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As of 2021, the LDS Church reported 102,862 members in 269 congregations in the DRC,[1] making it the third largest body of LDS Church members in Africa, behind Nigeria and Ghana.[4] Currently, the DRC ranks as having the 16th highest LDS growth rate among countries of the world, with an annual growth rate of 13 percent.[5]
History
[edit]| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1988* | 400 |
| 1989* | 1,400 |
| 1995* | 5,300 |
| 1999 | 8,197 |
| 2004 | 14,991 |
| 2009 | 20,883 |
| 2014 | 42,689 |
| 2019 | 68,871 |
| 2022 | 102,862 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. | |
The LDS Church was first recognized in Zaire in 1986. That year the first missionaries began preaching in Kinshasa. The establishment of the church was aided by the Banza family, who had joined the church while studying at a university in Geneva, Switzerland. The third petitioner to establish the church that year was Nkitabungi Mbuyi, who had joined while studying in Belgium and subsequently served as a missionary for the church in England before his return to Zaire.[7] The church has grown quickly since then, with the first stake being organised in 1996.
Since establishing itself in the country, the LDS Church has played a large role in providing humanitarian aid services in the nation. This has involved installing clean water distribution systems in areas where sanitation and water are low.[8][9]
In 2011, it was reported that the church had reached a total of 100 congregations in the DRC.[10]
By late 2019, the church had 22 stakes and one district as well as several branches directly under missions in the DRC.
Stakes
[edit]| Stake | Organized | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Dibindi DRC Stake | 11 Dec 2022 | DRC Mbuji-Mayi |
| Kabusanga DRC Stake | 5 Dec 2021 | DRC Mbuji-Mayi |
| Kananga DRC Stake | 21 Apr 2003 | DRC Kananga |
| Kasumbalesa DRC District | 19 Jan 2020 | DRC Lubumbashi |
| Katoka DRC Stake | 13 Dec 2015 | DRC Kananga |
| Katuba DRC Stake | 15 Mar 2009 | DRC Lubumbashi |
| Kikula DRC Stake | 4 Jul 2021 | DRC Lubumbashi |
| Kinshasa DRC Stake | 3 Nov 1996 | DRC Kinshasa West |
| Kinshasa DRC Binza Stake | 25 Nov 2012 | DRC Kinshasa West |
| Kinshasa DRC Kimbanseke Stake | 23 Aug 2009 | DRC Kinshasa East |
| Kinshasa DRC Lukunga Stake | 10 Feb 2019 | DRC Kinshasa West |
| Kinshasa DRC Masina Stake | 2 May 1999 | DRC Kinshasa East |
| Kinshasa DRC Mokali Stake | 16 Dec 2012 | DRC Kinshasa East |
| Kinshasa DRC Mont Ngafula Stake | 13 Apr 2008 | DRC Kinshasa West |
| Kinshasa DRC Mpasa Stake | 24 Jun 2018 | DRC Kinshasa East |
| Kinshasa DRC N'Djili Stake | 24 Jun 2018 | DRC Kinshasa East |
| Kinshasa DRC Ngaba Stake | 29 May 2016 | DRC Kinshasa West |
| Kinshasa DRC Ngaliema Stake | 9 Nov 2003 | DRC Kinshasa West |
| Kisanga DRC Stake | 25 Aug 2013 | DRC Lubumbashi |
| Kisangani DRC District | 2 Apr 2023 | DRC Kinshasa East |
| Kolwezi DRC Stake | 3 Oct 1991 | DRC Lubumbashi |
| Likasi DRC Stake | 27 Aug 2002 | DRC Lubumbashi |
| Lubumbashi DRC Stake | 7 Sep 1997 | DRC Lubumbashi |
| Luputa DRC Stake | 26 Jun 2006 | DRC Mbuji-Mayi |
| Malandji DRC Stake | 8 Dec 2019 | DRC Kananga |
| Matadi DRC District | 10 Jan 2021 | DRC Kinshasa West |
| Mbuji-Mayi DRC Stake | 28 Nov 2010 | DRC Mbuji-Mayi |
| Mwene-Ditu DRC Stake | 18 May 2014 | DRC Mbuji-Mayi |
| Ngandajika DRC Stake | 6 Nov 2016 | DRC Mbuji-Mayi |
| Ruashi DRC Stake | 22 Oct 2017 | DRC Lubumbashi |
Missions
[edit]| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo Kananga[11] | 1 Jul 2023 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa East | 28 Jun 2019 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West | 1 Jul 1987 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo Lubumbashi | 30 Jun 2010 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo Mbuji-Mayi | 1 Jul 2016 |
Temples
[edit]
Red = Operating
Blue = Under Construction
Yellow = announced
Black = Closed for Renovations
On October 1, 2011 the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple was announced by church president Thomas S. Monson. On February 12, 2016 ground was broken for the temple in a ceremony conducted by Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The temple was dedicated by Dale G. Renlund on April 14, 2019.[12] Since then three other temples have been announced.
|
edit | ||
| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: |
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 October 2011 by Thomas S. Monson[13][14] 12 February 2016 by Neil L. Andersen 14 April 2019 by Dale G. Renlund[16][17] 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m2) on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site | ||
|
|
edit | |
| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Size: |
Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5 April 2020 by Russell M. Nelson[18] 20 August 2022 by Matthew L. Carpenter[19] 19,300 sq ft (1,790 m2) on a 2.57-acre (1.04 ha) site | ||
|
|
edit | |
| Location: Announced: Size: |
Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo 3 October 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[20][21] 11,000 sq ft (1,000 m2) on a 1.6-acre (0.65 ha) site | ||
| edit | |||
| Location: Announced: |
Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 October 2023 by Russell M. Nelson[22][23] | ||
See also
[edit]
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana
- Religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Christianity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: the Democratic Republic of the Congo", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 10 June 2023
- ^ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches
- ^ Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 21, 2022
- ^ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics
- ^ Africa, Caribbean Lead the way in LDS Growth [sic]
- ^ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- ^ Renlund, Dale. "Unwavering Commitment to Jesus Christ". churchofjesuschrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ Collett, Howard (11 Sep 2010). "A prayer for clean water: New well brings new life to DR Congo". Church News. Deseret News. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Means, Sean P. (March 12, 2020). "Review: 'Heart of Africa' offers a different view of LDS missionary life". Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ "Growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): Church Growth News". 10 April 2011.
- ^ Swenson, Madison (Nov 23, 2022), "Church Opening Six New Missions in 2023", KSL TV 5, retrieved January 13, 2023
- ^ article on Kinshasa Temple dedication
- ^ Walker, Joseph (1 October 2011). "LDS general conference opens with the announcement of six new Mormon temples". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved 19 April 2022..
- ^ "Mormon church president announces plans for new temples in Utah, Wyoming, Colombia, Africa". Washington Post. AP. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011..
- ^ "Ground Broken for First Central Africa Temple: Africa now has three temples in development, three more in operation". Newsroom, United Kingdom. LDS Church. 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Elder Renlund Dedicates Kinshasa Temple in a Historic Occasion for Latter-day Saints: A key milestone, a blessing for Central Africa". Newsroom. LDS Church. 14 April 2019.
- ^ "Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Fourth operating temple in Africa". Newsroom. LDS Church. 1 October 2018.
- ^ "Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at General Conference: The Church will build its first temple in the Middle East", Newsroom, LDS Church, 5 April 2020
- ^ https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ground-broken-for-temple-in-lubumbashi-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-temple
- ^ "13 new temple locations announced by President Nelson as conference closes", Church News, Deseret News, 3 Oct 2021
- ^ "At the October 2021 General Conference, the Prophet Says the Church Will Build 13 More Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 3 Oct 2021
- ^ Where the 20 new Latter-day Saint temples will be built as Russell Nelson’s record tally continues to rise, Salt Lake Tribune, 1 October 2023
- ^ "The Church of Jesus Christ Will Build 20 New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 1 October 2023
External links
[edit]- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site
- Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org
