New Missions Created, Others Combined

On 1 July 2002, seven new missions will begin operating in the United States and western Africa. Five other missions will be combined with neighboring missions, bringing the total number in operation to 335.

The new missions are the Arizona Mesa Mission, the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission, the Texas Lubbock Mission, the Washington Kennewick Mission, the Cape Verde Praia Mission, the Nigeria Ibadan Mission, and the Nigeria Uyo Mission.

Seven new missions have been created in the United States (above) and in western Africa (below).

The Austria Vienna Mission will combine with the Germany Munich Mission to form the Germany Munich/Austria Mission. The Netherlands Amsterdam, Switzerland Geneva, and Belgium Brussels Missions will be realigned to form two missions, the Belgium Brussels/Netherlands Mission and the Switzerland Geneva Mission. The England Bristol Mission will be combined with the England Birmingham, England London, and England London South Missions.

The Italy Padova Mission will be absorbed by the Italy Milan and Italy Rome Missions. Much of the Portugal Lisbon North Mission will be combined with the Portugal Lisbon South Mission to form the Portugal Lisbon Mission. The remaining portion of the Lisbon North mission will become part of the Portugal Porto Mission.

According to Elder Charles Didier of the Presidency of the Seventy, executive director of the Missionary Department, the changes will allow more missionaries to serve in areas where there is a greater need for them.

Finally, the name of the Lithuania Vilnius Mission is being changed to the Baltic Mission. This mission, headquartered in Riga, Latvia, includes the countries of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.