The latest updates on LDS missions show a significant move by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to expand its full-time missionary work around the world. On October 24, 2025, the Church announced the creation of 55 new missions, to take effect on July 1, 2026, bringing the total number of missions to 506, the highest in Church history.
Why This Expansion?
There are three key drivers behind this expansion of LDS missions:
- The number of young full-time and senior missionaries has surged in recent years. From just over 65,000 at the end of 2022, the total now exceeds 84,000.
- Growth of congregations and missionary opportunities in many regions is stretching existing mission boundaries and leadership structures, prompting the Church to create new missions by redrawing or subdividing existing ones.
- Specific geographic growth areas—such as Africa and the United States—have been identified where more mission presence is needed to support members, outreach, and local congregational growth.
What Does the Expansion Entail?
Here are some of the headline changes for LDS missions:
- Effective July 1, 2026, 55 new mission areas will be created.
- The worldwide total of missions will rise from around ~451 to 506.
- The new missions will be created mostly by adjusting the boundaries of existing missions rather than broad new fields.
- In the geographic breakdown:
- Africa will receive 16 new missions.
- The United States will receive 14 of the new missions.
- Asia will get 6, including 5 in the Philippines.
- Some specific names of the new missions include: DR Congo Kinshasa North and Mwene-Ditu; Kenya Kisumu; Uganda Kampala East; among others.
Implications for U.S. Missionary Work
For a U.S. audience, the changes in LDS missions bring particular relevance:
- With 14 new U.S. missions, young men, young women, and senior couples in the U.S. may see changes in mission assignments, shorter wait-times, or new fields closer to home.
- Mission boundaries in U.S. states may shift, meaning local support structures (families, wards, stakes) will need to adapt to different mission names or geographic jurisdictions.
- Increased missionary numbers and expanded missions suggest the Church is prioritizing both global outreach and support of existing congregations—the U.S. will play into that strategy.
- For prospective missionaries in the U.S., more mission options and fields may open up, but new training, languages, and assignments may be part of the expanding footprint.
Key Dates & Metrics
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Effective date for new missions | July 1, 2026 |
| Total missions after expansion | 506 worldwide |
| Number of new missions | 55 |
| Current number of missionaries | Over 84,000 globally |
| U.S. share of new missions | 14 of the 55 |
What to Watch Going Forward
Here are some trends and questions to monitor around LDS missions:
- How will mission training evolve for the increased numbers and new fields? With more mission areas, training systems may adapt to serve new languages and cultures.
- How will mission assignment patterns change in the U.S.? Will there be more “local” missions (closer to home) or more assignments overseas?
- How will the Church integrate the growing missionary force into local congregations and maintain retention of converts?
- What will be the impact on mission leadership (mission presidents, companions) as new missions are formed—and what opportunities will there be for senior couples?
- How will this expansion affect the public perception of missionary work in the U.S., especially given shifting generational attitudes toward religion and service?
This historic expansion of LDS missions marks a milestone for the Church’s missionary outreach. The July 2026 changes signal both growth and structural change in how the Church organizes its missionary force. For U.S. members, missionaries-to-be, families and support networks, staying informed about mission boundaries, training and assignments will be important in the coming months.
Feel free to share your thoughts or ask if you’d like details on specific new missions, mission assignments, or how this expansion might impact you or your family.