The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the creation of 55 new missions set to launch in July 2026. As obtained by ABC4, President Dallin H. Oaks expressed the Church's eagerness regarding the expansion, saying, "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 also highlighted the impact that missionaries have in bringing new members into the faith. This major development is a result of boundary adjustments to existing missions, which will expand the church's global presence to a total of 506 missions.
The newly announced missions span several continents, with Africa playing host to a substantial number of them. For instance, as per KUTV, among the new missions are DR Congo Kinshasa North and Kenya Kisumu. South America will also see additional missions, with places like Brazil and Perú slated to receive multiple new missions, like Brazil Guarulhos and Perú Lima Northwest, according to listings found in the original reports.
Each mission serves as a regional hub for missionary efforts, with young church members, often referred to as "elders" or "sisters," dedicating two years of their lives to proselytize and perform community service. With the new missions, areas such as Papua New Guinea, Daru, and Samoa Apia East will benefit from these dedicated volunteers. The initiative not only aims to increase baptism rates but also strives to provide various forms of humanitarian aid and community building.
President Oaks emphasized the positive effects of missionary work on both the individuals serving and those they meet. He stated, "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," as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune. With mission locations including urban areas like Uruguay Salto to more remote settings like Mongolia Ulaanbaatar West, the LDS Church aims to establish a diverse and global reach, mirroring the multifaceted nature of the world and its manifold spiritual needs.
