Area (LDS Church)


Areas of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints outside US and Canada.

In the [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], an area is an administrative unit that typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions. These areas are the primary church administrative unit between individual stakes or missions and the church as a whole.

History

The areas as they now exist were formed in January 1984. Prior to that time, general authorities served as "area supervisors" and at times resided outside of Salt Lake City. In 1984, 13 initial areas were created; by 1992 there were 22, and by early 2007 there were 31. As of August 2025, there are 24 areas, 6 in the United States, and 18 worldwide, including the new Canada Area. In conjunction with the move to create a Canada Area, five of the other six North American areas were renamed. The former North America Central, North America Northeast, North America Southeast, North America Southwest, and North America West Areas, respectively are now known as the United States Central, United States Northeast, United States Southeast, United States Southwest, and United States West Areas, respectively.

Administration

Until 2003, each area had a president and two counselors, all of whom were typically general authorities. This three-man body was known as the area presidency. In that year, the church eliminated these presidencies for areas located in the United States and Canada, which were all then placed under the direct supervision of a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, thus freeing more general authorities from specific area assignments. Since these areas were previously administered by area presidencies located at church headquarters in Salt Lake City, the administrative change was not as drastic as it might seem.
In April 2018, the church announced that, effective August 1 of that year, areas in the United States and Canada would once again be supervised by a three-man presidency. This enabled the Presidency of the Seventy to more fully assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in their duties, and to fill other assignments as needed.
The areas outside the United States continue to be governed by area presidencies that are typically composed of general authority seventies and/or area seventies. These presidency members usually reside in a headquarters city located in the geographic boundaries of the area. Area seventies who serve in these presidencies reside in their own homes, which may or may not be in the area headquarters city.
In 2019, church leaders stated that the 10 North American areas would be merged into six (the Idaho Area merged into the North America Central Area; the North America Northwest Area merged into the North America West Area; and the Utah North, Utah Salt Lake City, and Utah South areas merged into a single Utah Area.
Also in 2019, a structural change occurred in the administration of the Middle East/Africa North Area. In prior years, two general authorities based at church headquarters were assigned oversight for the area. However, beginning in August 2019, a three-man area presidency was established to oversee the area. Two of them were general authorities at church headquarters, while the second counselor was an area seventy living in the area.
In 2019, church leaders also announced the division of the Africa Southeast Area, into the Africa Central and Africa South areas, effective August 1, 2020. Two months later, W. Christopher Waddell, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, announced in Johannesburg that the new Africa Central Area would be headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
Then in 2022, additional structural changes affected Europe. The Europe and Europe East areas were split into 3 areas and renamed the Europe Central, Europe East, and Europe North areas. The presidency of the Europe Area became the presidency of the Europe Central Area, with the presidency of the Europe East Area becoming three area seventies. The president and first counselor in the Europe East Area were reassigned to fill the same roles in the Europe North Area, with the second counselor being an area seventy. The area seventy who had been serving as the second counselor in the Europe East Area was designated an assistant to the Europe North Area presidency, specifically overseeing Ukraine and Moldova, which will be separate from a specific area at the current time.
Then, in early December 2024, the First Presidency created a new Canada Area. Subsequently, in mid-April 2025, in conjunction with the announcement of the first Canada Area presidency, it was announced that the area headquarters would be in Calgary, Alberta, with some area functions managed in Toronto, Ontario.
As of August 2025, the church has 18 areas outside and 6 areas inside the United States, for a total of 24 areas. With the changes in the Europe Areas, the church now has five area seventies serving in area presidencies. Area assignments are generally announced sometime after April's general conference and are effective August 1.

Summary statistics

Temples

O=Operating Temples

U=Temples Under Construction

A=Temples publicly announced to be constructed

T=Total Temples

Area details

The following details are current as of August 1, 2025, and are taken from , statistical profiles on cumorah.com, and the of the church's official website. Ward and branch totals and membership numbers were last updated in 2025.

Africa Central

Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
163,345 Members, 35 Stakes, 20 Districts, 454 Congregations, 15 Missions, 5 Temples
President: Thierry K. Mutombo
First counselor: Paul B. Pieper
Second counselor: Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Africa South

Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa
165,935 Members, 36 Stakes, 25 Districts, 470 Congregations, 13 Missions, 6 Temples
Area president: Carlos A. Godoy
First counselor: Denelson Silva
Second counselor: Vaiangina Sikahema
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Missions:
  • Angola Luanda Mission
  • Botswana/Namibia Mission
  • Madagascar Antananarivo North Mission
  • Madagascar Antananarivo South Mission
  • Mozambique Beira Mission
  • Mozambique Maputo Mission
  • South Africa Cape Town Mission
  • South Africa Durban Mission
  • South Africa Johannesburg Mission
  • South Africa Pretoria Mission
  • Zambia Lusaka Mission
  • Zimbabwe Bulawayo Mission
  • Zimbabwe Harare Mission
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Africa West

Headquarters: Accra, Ghana
447,186 Members, 134 Stakes, 44 Districts, 990 wards, 606 branches, 25 missions, 9 temples
Area president: Alfred Kyungu
First counselor: Adeyinka A. Ojediran
Second counselor: Isaac K. Morrison
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Missions:
  • Benin Cotonou Mission
  • Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan East Mission
  • Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan North Mission
  • Côte d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission
  • Côte d'Ivoire Yamoussoukro Mission
  • Ghana Accra East Mission
  • Ghana Accra North Mission
  • Ghana Accra West Mission
  • Ghana Cape Coast Mission
  • Ghana Kumasi Mission
  • Ghana Takoradi Mission
  • Liberia Monrovia Mission
  • Nigeria Aba Mission
  • Nigeria Abuja Mission
  • Nigeria Benin City Mission
  • Nigeria Calabar Mission
  • Nigeria Enugu Mission
  • Nigeria Ibadan Mission
  • Nigeria Lagos Mission
  • Nigeria Owerri Mission
  • Nigeria Port Harcourt North Mission
  • Nigeria Port Harcourt South
  • Nigeria Uyo Mission
  • Sierra Leone Bo Mission
  • Sierra Leone Freetown Mission
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Asia

Headquarters: Hong Kong, China
184,136 Members, 35 Stakes, 34 Districts, 409 Congregations, 12 Missions, 9 Temples
Area president: Benjamin M. Z. Tai
First counselor: Kelly R. Johnson
Second counselor: David L. Buckner
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Asia North

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
241,297 Members, 38 Stakes, 19 Districts, 385 Congregations, 12 Missions, 7 Temples
Area president: J. Kimo Esplisn
First counselor: Christopher H. Kim
Second counselor: Michael John U. Teh
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Missions:
  • Japan Fukuoka Mission
  • Japan Kobe Mission
  • Japan Nagoya Mission
  • Japan Sapporo Mission
  • Japan Sendai Mission
  • Japan Tokyo North Mission
  • Japan Tokyo South Mission
  • Korea Busan Mission
  • Korea Seoul Mission
  • Korea Seoul South Mission
  • Micronesia Guam Mission
  • Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Brazil

Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
1,472,521 Members, 281 Stakes, 40 Districts, 2,176 Congregations, 37 Missions, 20 Temples
Area president: Joni L. Koch
First counselor: Ciro Schmeil
Second counselor: Mark D. Eddy
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Missions:
  • Brazil Belém Mission
  • Brazil Belo Horizonte Mission
  • Brazil Brasília Mission
  • Brazil Campinas Mission
  • Brazil Cuiabá Mission
  • Brazil Curitiba Mission
  • Brazil Curitiba South Mission
  • Brazil Florianópolis Mission
  • Brazil Fortaleza Mission
  • Brazil Fortaleza East Mission
  • Brazil Goiânia Mission
  • Brazil João Pessoa Mission
  • Brazil Juiz de Fora Mission
  • Brazil Londrina Mission
  • Brazil Maceió Mission
  • Brazil Manaus North Mission
  • Brazil Manaus South Mission
  • Brazil Natal Mission
  • Brazil Piracicaba Mission
  • Brazil Porto Alegre North Mission
  • Brazil Porto Alegre South Mission
  • Brazil Recife Mission
  • Brazil Recife South Mission
  • Brazil Ribeirão Preto Mission
  • Brazil Rio de Janeiro North Mission
  • Brazil Rio de Janeiro South Mission
  • Brazil Salvador Mission
  • Brazil Salvador South Mission
  • Brazil Santa Maria Mission
  • Brazil Santos Mission
  • Brazil São Paulo East Mission
  • Brazil São Paulo West Mission
  • Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission
  • Brazil São Paulo North Mission
  • Brazil São Paulo South Mission
  • Brazil Teresina Mission
  • Brazil Vitória Mission
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
Brazil
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Canada

Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta & Toronto, Ontario
205,907 Members, 53 Stakes,39 Districts, 592 Congregations, 6 Missions, 10 Temples
Area president: Vern P. Stanfill
First counselor: D. Martin Goury
Second counselor: James E. Evanson
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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Caribbean

Headquarters: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
399,607 Members, 67 Stakes, 29 Districts, 607 Congregations, 12 Missions, 4 Temples
Area president: Valeri V. Cordon
First counselor: Hugo Montoya
Second counselor: Ahmad S. Corbitt
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Central America

Headquarters: Guatemala City, Guatemala
822,262 Members, 133 Stakes, 28 Districts, 1,101 Congregations, 19 Missions, 12 Temples
Area president: Patricio M. Giuffra
First counselor: Ryan K. Olsen
Second counselor: Gregorio E. Casillas
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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Eurasian

Headquarters: Moscow, Russia
9,491 Members, 3 Stakes, 9 Districts, 82 Congregations, 6 Missions, 1 Temples
Area president: Aleksandr A. Drachyov
First counselor: Nikolai Ustyuzhaninov
Second counselor: Vladimir N. Astashov
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Europe Central

Headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany
223,324 Members, 64 Stakes, 11 Districts, 694 Congregations, 17 Missions, 12 Temples
Area president: Ruben V. Alliaud
First counselor: Jack N. Gerard
Second counselor: James W. McConkie III
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Europe North

Headquarters: London, England
292,944 Members, 69 Stakes, 10 Districts, 608 Congregations, 15 Missions, 10 Temples
Area president: Kevin W. Pearson
First counselor: Marcos A. Aidukaitis
Second counselor: Alan T. Phillips
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Mexico

Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
1,507,720 Members, 227 Stakes, 47 Districts, 1,863 Congregations, 32 Missions, 23 Temples
Area president: Moises Villanueva
First counselor: Jose L. Alonso
Second counselor: Brik V. Eyre
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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Middle East/ Africa North

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
5,457 Members, 2 Stakes, 2 Districts, 33 Congregations, 0 Missions, 1 Temples
Area president: Anthony D. Perkins
First counselor: Adilson de Paula Parrella
Second counselor: Roland J. Bäck
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Missions:
No Missions
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:

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Pacific

Headquarters: Auckland, New Zealand
581,988 Members, 140 Stakes, 35 Districts, 1,278 Congregations, 17 Missions, 17 Temples
Area president: Peter F. Meurs
First counselor: Taniela B. Wakolo
Second counselor: Jeremy R. Jaggi
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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Philippines

Headquarters: Quezon City, Philippines
853,254 Members, 125 Stakes, 55 Districts, 1,272 Congregations, 23 Missions, 12 Temples
Area president: Carlos G. Revillo Jr.
First counselor: Chi Hong Wong
Second counselor: William K. Jackson
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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South America Northwest

Headquarters: Lima, Peru
1,327,350 Members, 217 Stakes, 40 Districts, 1,625 Congregations, 33 Missions, 15 Temples
Area president: Juan Pablo Villar
First counselor: Taylor G. Godoy
Second counselor: Sandino Roman
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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South America South

Headquarters: Buenos Aires, Argentina
1,284,696 Members, 181 Stakes, 54 Districts, 1,560 Congregations, 29 Missions, 12 Temples
Area president: Joaquin E. Costa
First counselor: Alan R. Walker
Second counselor: Eduardo Gavarret
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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United States Central

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
1,148,849 Members, 304 Stakes, 2,765 Congregations, 20 Missions, 33 Temples
Area president: Jose A. Teixeira
First counselor: Ricardo P. Gimenez
Second counselor: Karl D. Hirst
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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United States Northeast

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
643,071 Members, 141 Stakes, 5 Districts, 1,300 Congregations, 17 missions, 18 Temples
Area president: Allen D. Haynie
First counselor: Mathias Held
Second counselor: Robert M. Daines
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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United States Southeast

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
618,465 Members, 127 Stakes, 1,153 Congregations, 16 Missions, 16 Temples
Area president: Craig C. Christensen
First counselor: Massimo De Feo
Second counselor: Aroldo B. Cavalcante
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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United States Southwest

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
1,120,569 Members, 259 Stakes, 2 Districts, 1,948 Congregations, 22 Missions, 21 Temples
Area president: Michael A. Dunn
First counselor: Jonathan S. Schmitt
Second counselor: Steven C. Barlow
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
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United States West

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
1,300,546 Members, 273 Stakes, 1 Districts, 2,219 Congregations, 29 Missions, 24 Temples
Area president: Takashi Wada
First counselor: Peter M. Johnson
Second counselor: Hugo E. Martinez
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Missions:
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Temples:
! colspan=6 |
Geographic coverage:
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Utah

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah
2,173,560 Members, 629 Stakes, 2 Districts, 5,412 Congregations, 13 Missions, 28 Temples
Area president: Brian K. Taylor
First counselor: John A. McCune
Second counselor: Jorge T. Becerra
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Missions:
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Temples:
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Geographic coverage:
Utah; Arizona ; Idaho ; Nevada ; Wyoming