The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tanzania refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Tanzania. The first branch was organized in 1992. In 2021, there were 2,999 members in 23 congregations.
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tanzania | |
|---|---|
| Area | Africa Central |
| Members | 2,999 (2022)[1] |
| Districts | 3 |
| Branches | 23 |
| Missions | 1 |
| Family History Centers | 1[2] |
History edit
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 100 |
| 1999 | 406 |
| 2004 | 720 |
| 2009 | 950 |
| 2014 | 1,336 |
| 2019 | 1,793 |
| 2022 | 2,999 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. | |
The first known baptism in Tanzania was for an Indian family Itty Mathew and Grace Sunny Panakkal while they were living in Tanzania in 1982.[4] Robert Muhile was the first Tanzanian to join the Church who was baptized in Cairo, Egypt in 1991.[5]
The first Church meetings in Tanzania were held in 1991 in Dar es Salaam and serviced a few member families from US and Canada living and working in Tanzania. There were 17 members in Tanzania in 1991.[6] Church Leaders visited in 1991 and met with government officials in effort to gain legal recognition. This recognition was granted on October 8, 1992. A branch was created in Dar es Salaam later that month.[4]
In 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Nairobi, Kenya where some Tanzanian members were in attendance. President Hinckley predicted future growth of the Church in East Africa, stating that tens of thousands of members would one day live in places where there were only hundreds of members at the time. When the Africa Area was divided in 1998, Tanzania became part of the Africa Southeast Area, and in 2019 Tanzania was included in the newly created Africa Central Area.[7]
In 2000, there were three branches in Tanzania, all of which were in Dar es Salaam. In 2002 a temple trip to the Johannesburg South Africa Temple resulted in 27 Tanzanian members receiving their own endowments, 10 families being sealed, and ordinances completed for their deceased ancestors. The trip took 68 hours by bus and was planned for eight months in advance. Only six members were endowed prior to this trip.[8]
Tanzania was dedicated for missionary work by Russell M. Nelson on November 18, 2003. Nelson met with 300 members during his visit and encouraged them to live and share the Gospel principles, adding that the dedication of the country has provided proper direction for further growth.[5] The first district in Tanzania was created in December 2005 in Dar es Salaam comprising the four branches in the city. The Arusha Branch was created from the Arusha Group in 2008.
Humanitarian edit
The church and its members have provided several humanitarian service aid and projects. Among them, Members cleansed, beautified, and provided other assistance to two Tanzanian orphanages in 1998 and 2000.[9][10] The church delivered two shipping containers of food and medical supplies in 2001.[11] In 2009 many service projects were conducted across Africa including a larger project conducted in Tanzania.[12] In 2011, engineering students at Brigham Young University came up with an inexpensive, human-powered drill that could drill the 250 feet (76 m) needed to access clean water in Tanzania.[13][14]
Districts and Congregations edit
As of June 2023, Tanzania had the following district and congregations:[15]
- Arusha Tanzania District
- Arusha Branch
- Morombo Branch
- Njiro Branch
- Dar es Salaam Tanzania District
- Bunju Branch
- Kijitonyama Branch
- Kimara Branch
- Kinondoni Branch
- Mbezi Beach Branch
- Oyster Bay Branch
- Pugu Branch
- Sala Sala Branch
- Segerea Branch
- Tabata Branch
- Tegeta Branch
- Ubungo Branch
- Dar es Salaam Tanzania Chang'ombe District
- Chang'ombe Branch
- Chanika Branch
- Kigamboni Branch
- Mbagala Branch
- Mwanza Tanzania District
- Buhongwa Branch
- Mwanza Branch
- Nyegezi Branch
- Congregations in Tanzania not part of a District
- Dodoma Branch
- Moshi Branch
- Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission Branch
The Tanzania Dar es Salaam Mission Branch covered portions of Tanzania not in proximity of a meetinghouse. Congregations not part of a stake are called branches, regardless of size. A Family History Center is located in Dar es Salaam.
Missions edit
Tanzania was part of the newly created Kenya Nairobi Mission when missionaries first came to Tanzania.[1] On July 1, 2020, the Tanzania Dar es Salaam mission was created.[16]
Temples edit
There are no temples in Tanzania. As of February 2023, Tanzania was located in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple District with the Nairobi Kenya Temple under construction.[17]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Tanzania", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 15 June 2023
- ^ Category:Tanzania Family History Centers Map, familysearch.org, retrieved May 14, 2022
- ^ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Tanzania
- ^ a b "2010 Church Almanac: Country information: Tanzania", Church News, Deseret News, February 1, 2010, retrieved May 14, 2022
- ^ a b "Gospel takes root in Tanzania: Elder Russell M. Nelson dedicates East African nation", Church News, Deseret News, December 2, 2003, retrieved May 14, 2022
- ^ "Six new missions to be created missions are added in Europe, Africa, Caribbean and U.S.", Church News, Deseret News, March 23, 1991, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ Taylor, Scott (August 22, 2019), "Church announces headquarters for new Africa Central Area", Church News, Deseret News, retrieved May 14, 2022
- ^ "Determined to keep covenants", Church News, Deseret News, May 16, 2002, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ From around the world, Deseret News, December 26, 1998, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ "Brightening rest home, orphanage", Church News, Deseret News, October 6, 2000, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ "Church aid arrives in Tanzania", Church News, Deseret News, June 22, 2001, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ "Helping hands serve Africa: Church members in more than 30 countries volunteer their time, energy to carry out more than 200 projects leaving lasting effects", Church News, Deseret News, September 5, 2009, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ "BYU student engineers build human-powered drill for clean water in developing nations", Church News, Deseret News, September 5, 2009, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ Hollingshead, Todd (September 13, 2017), Five years later, BYU's village drill project bringing clean water to hundreds of thousands, Brigham Young University News, retrieved May 17, 2022
- ^ "Classic Maps", churchofjesuschrist.org, retrieved May 14, 2022
- ^ Noyce, David (November 21, 2019), LDS Church to open 8 new missions, stretching from Texas to Tanzania, The Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved May 17, 2021
- ^ Jackson, Cali (Apr 26, 2022), "Construction status of LDS temples around the world", ABC Channel 4, retrieved February 23, 2023
External links edit
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Africa Central Area
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Africa Newsroom
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site