 |
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malawi | |
|---|---|
| Area | Africa South |
| Members | 3,872 (2022) [1] |
| Districts | 2 |
| Branches | 12 |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malawi refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Malawi. The first convert baptisms were performed in 1992. In 2022, there were 3,872 members in 12 congregations. Malawi was one of the fastest growing countries for LDS Church membership over the past decade.
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 181 |
| 2004 | 480 |
| 2009 | 798 |
| 2014 | 1,931 |
| 2019 | 3,143 |
| 2022 | 3,872 |
In January 1991, there were a small group of American members working in Malawi when Elder Richard P. Lindsay of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and Africa Area President visited Malawi. [3]
The first convert baptisms occurred when Brian and Betty Peedle, missionaries serving in Zimbabwe, drove to Sitima Village in July 1992. They taught and baptized 75 individuals, some waiting as long as 14 years to join the church. [3] These were the first converts to be baptized in the country. Missionary couples traveled to Malawi from Zimbabwe for about a year until unrest from neighboring countries prevented missionaries from entering. [4]
On April 25, 1995, the church received legal recognition in Malawi and it was assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. [1] In 1999, Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the Seventy and President of the Africa Southeast Area and President Frank Bagley of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission visited the members in Sitima. On May 23, 1999, the Sitima Branch was organized with McFarlane N. Phiri as president. [3] The first missionaries to live in Malawi was a missionary couple, Don and Berylene Frampton who arrived and lived in Blantyre in September 1999. Within a year, the Sitma Branch grew to 200 members. A second branch, located in Blantyre, was organized on July 30, 2000. [1] [4]
On July 3, 2005, the first meetinghouse built by the church, located in the Mandala Township in the city of Blantyre was dedicated by President Joseph Jenkins of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. [5] [6] On October 25, 2011, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve, visited Malawi and dedicated the country for the preaching of the gospel. [7] [8]
In 2002, The LDS Church sent food boxes packed by volunteers, cereal, and grain to Malawi and neighboring countries to assist those hindered by the drought. [9] The Church was undertook a campaign to vaccinate Malawians against measles in 2008. [10] In 2016, Lilongwe Mayor, Willie Chapondera, commended missionaries for enhancing behavior change among individuals in the city. [11] In 2018, the LDS Church stated it will continue taking part of national development through its self-reliance program. [12] Between July 2019 and June 2020, partnering with Sightsavers, more than 130,000 people were screened for vision loss, and 924 received sight-restoring surgery. [13] [14] In 2020, the LDS Church donated $20 Million to UNICEF's global vaccination effort, benefitting those in Malawi and other countries. [15] The LDS Church raised $200,000 worldwide in 2021 to construct school blocks at a primary school in Traditional Authority Chitukula in Lilongwe and provide desks and other furnishings. [16]
As of February 2023, Malawi had the following districts and congregations: [17]
Lilongwe Malawi District
Blantyre Malawi District
The Zambia Lusaka Mission Branch serves individuals and families not in proximity to a meetinghouse. Congregations in a district are called branches, regardless of size.
On April 25, 1995, the church received legal recognition in Malawi and it was assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. Malawi became part of the Zambia Lusaka Mission when it was created on July 1, 2011. [4]
There are no temples in Malawi. Malawi is currently located within the Johannesburg South Africa Temple District. [18] Temples under construction or announced that will bring a temple closer to Malawi include: The Harare Zimbabwe Temple [19] [20] and the Nairobi Kenya Temple, which are both under construction, and the Beira Mozambique Temple which was announced on April 4, 2021.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was introduced to Ghana, West Africa, in 1962. It was officially organized in 1978, following announcement of the revelation on priesthood. As of 2022, the LDS Church reported 101,924 members in 353 congregations in Ghana, making it the second largest body of LDS Church members in Africa, behind Nigeria. In 2021, Ghana ranked as having the third most LDS Church members per capita in Africa, behind Cape Verde and Sierra Leone.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malaysia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Malaysia. In 2019 membership was nine times what it was in 1999 and number of congregations more than doubled during the same time period.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Florida. The LDS Church represents about 1% of the population of Florida according to the Pew Research Center 2014 Religious Landscepe Survey. Official membership statistics show the church representing about 0.75% of the general population. Florida has the 8th largest membership population in the United States and the largest membership population east of the Mississippi. The LDS Church is the 6th largest denomination in Florida.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a presence in the state of Indiana since 1831. The official church membership as a percentage of general population was 0.68% in 2018. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 1% of Hoosiers self-identify themselves most closely with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church is the 13th largest denomination in Indiana.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Jersey refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in New Jersey.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Botswana refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Botswana. The first branch was organized in 1991 with fewer than 100 members. As of 2022, there were 4,031 members in 16 congregations in Botswana.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Zimbabwe refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Zimbabwe. In 1975, there were 689 members in Zimbabwe. In 2022, there were 38,289 members in 91 congregations, in 8 stakes.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ivory Coast refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Ivory Coast. At year-end 1989, there were fewer than 200 members in Ivory Coast. In 2023, there were 63,058 members in 262 congregations.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Madagascar. In 1990, a small congregation was created in Madagascar. In 2022, there were 14,353 members in 43 congregations.
Edward Dube has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2013. He is the first Zimbabwean and the second black African to be a general authority.
The Harare Zimbabwe Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under construction in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mozambique refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Mozambique.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Poland refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Poland. At year-end 1989, there were fewer than 100 members in Poland. In 2022, there were 2,184 members in 11 congregations.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mongolia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Mongolia. The first missionaries arrived in 1992 under request of the Mongolian government in effort to improve higher education in the country following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The first small branch was established in 1993. Since then, the LDS Church in Mongolia has grown to more than 12,000 members in 24 congregations. In 2022, Mongolia had the second most LDS Church members per capita in Asia behind the Philippines. In 2023 it was announced that the first temple will be constructed in Ulaanbaatar.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jamaica refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Jamaica. In 1980, there were 85 members in Jamaica. In 2021, there were 6,718 members in 18 congregations.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Zambia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Zambia. At year-end 1992, there were about 100 members in Zambia. In 2022, there were 5,313 members in 16 congregations.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rhode Island refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Rhode Island.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cameroon refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Cameroon. The first branch was organized in Yaoundé in 1992. In 2022, there were 2,721 members in 15 congregations.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Belize refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Belize. The first branch was organized in Belize City in 1980. In 2022, there were 5,534 members in 12 congregations.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tanzania refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Tanzania. The first branch was organized in 1992. In 2021, there were 2,999 members in 23 congregations.
