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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to create 55 new missions around the world, effective July 1, 2026. This expansion comes as the number of young members volunteering for full-time missionary service continues to rise.
According to the Church, these additional missions will be formed by adjusting the boundaries of existing missions. With this change, the total number of missions globally will reach 506.
President Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commented on the announcement: “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. 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.”
Recent figures show an increase in missionaries from just over 65,000 at the end of 2022 to nearly 72,000 at the end of 2023, with more than 84,000 currently serving. These individuals work in over 150 countries and communicate in more than 60 languages.
Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and chair of the Church’s Missionary Executive Council, said: “It’s a blessing to see how each missionary contributes to the individuals they teach and serve as they share the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.” He added: “These additional missions help to balance the number of missionaries in each mission, allowing mission leaders to better support and mentor the missionaries they lead.”
The new missions will be located across several regions including Africa (Central, South, West), Asia North, Brazil, Canada, Europe (Central and North), Mexico, Pacific Islands, Philippines, South America (Northwest and South), and various parts of the United States.
