The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
AreaAfrica Central
Members102,862 (2022)[1]
Stakes26
Districts3
Wards223
Branches46
Total Congregations[2]269
Missions4
Temples1 Operating
1 Under Construction
1 Announced
3 Total
Family History Centers24[3]

History
Membership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo[6][1]
YearMembership
1988*400
1989*1,400
1995*5,300
19998,197
200414,991
200920,883
201442,689
201968,871
2022102,862
*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
Stake Organized Mission
Dibindi DRC Stake11 Dec 2022DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Kabusanga DRC Stake5 Dec 2021DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Kananga DRC Stake21 Apr 2003DRC Kananga
Kasumbalesa DRC District19 Jan 2020DRC Lubumbashi
Katoka DRC Stake13 Dec 2015DRC Kananga
Katuba DRC Stake15 Mar 2009DRC Lubumbashi
Kikula DRC Stake4 Jul 2021DRC Lubumbashi
Kinshasa DRC Stake3 Nov 1996DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Binza Stake25 Nov 2012DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Kimbanseke Stake23 Aug 2009DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Lukunga Stake10 Feb 2019DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Masina Stake2 May 1999DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Mokali Stake16 Dec 2012DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Mont Ngafula Stake13 Apr 2008DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Mpasa Stake24 Jun 2018DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC N'Djili Stake24 Jun 2018DRC Kinshasa East
Kinshasa DRC Ngaba Stake29 May 2016DRC Kinshasa West
Kinshasa DRC Ngaliema Stake9 Nov 2003DRC Kinshasa West
Kisanga DRC Stake25 Aug 2013DRC Lubumbashi
Kisangani DRC District2 Apr 2023DRC Kinshasa East
Kolwezi DRC Stake3 Oct 1991DRC Lubumbashi
Likasi DRC Stake27 Aug 2002DRC Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi DRC Stake7 Sep 1997DRC Lubumbashi
Luputa DRC Stake26 Jun 2006DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Malandji DRC Stake8 Dec 2019DRC Kananga
Matadi DRC District10 Jan 2021DRC Kinshasa West
Mbuji-Mayi DRC Stake28 Nov 2010DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Mwene-Ditu DRC Stake18 May 2014DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Ngandajika DRC Stake6 Nov 2016DRC Mbuji-Mayi
Ruashi DRC Stake22 Oct 2017DRC Lubumbashi

Missions
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
Temples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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.
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[15][16]
12,000 sq ft (1,100 m2) on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Size:		 Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
5 April 2020 by Russell M. Nelson[17]
20 August 2022 by Matthew L. Carpenter[18]
19,300 sq ft (1,790 m2) on a 2.57-acre (1.04 ha) site
Location:
Announced:		 Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
3 October 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[19][20]
Location:
Announced:		 Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1 October 2023 by Russell M. Nelson[21][22]

See also

References
  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: the Democratic Republic of the Congo", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 10 June 2023
  2. Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
  3. Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 21, 2022
  4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics
  5. Africa, Caribbean Lead the way in LDS Growth [sic]
  6. Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Democratic Republic of the Congo
  7. Renlund, Dale. "Unwavering Commitment to Jesus Christ". churchofjesuschrist.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  8. 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.
  9. Means, Sean P. (March 12, 2020). "Review: 'Heart of Africa' offers a different view of LDS missionary life". Salt Lake Tribune.
  10. "Growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church): Church Growth News". 10 April 2011.
  11. Swenson, Madison (Nov 23, 2022), "Church Opening Six New Missions in 2023", KSL TV 5, retrieved January 13, 2023
  12. article on Kinshasa Temple dedication
  13. 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..
  14. "Mormon church president announces plans for new temples in Utah, Wyoming, Colombia, Africa". Washington Post. AP. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011..
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "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
  18. https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ground-broken-for-temple-in-lubumbashi-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-temple
  19. "13 new temple locations announced by President Nelson as conference closes", Church News, Deseret News, 3 Oct 2021
  20. "At the October 2021 General Conference, the Prophet Says the Church Will Build 13 More Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 3 Oct 2021
  21. 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
  22. "The Church of Jesus Christ Will Build 20 New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 1 October 2023
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