Area

An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions. With the abolishment of regional representatives and the creation of area seventies in 1995, the area became the primary church administrative unit between the stake and the church as a whole.

History

The areas as they now exist were formed in January 1984.^[1] 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 2008 there were 27 areas.

Administration

Until 2003, each area had a president and two counselors, all of whom were typically general authorities.^[2] This three-man body was known as the area presidency. In that year, the church eliminated area presidencies for all areas located in the United States and Canada. Each of these areas were placed under the direct supervision of one of the seven members 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.

The areas outside the United States and Canada continue to be governed by area presidencies that are typically composed of general authorities and area seventies. Rather than living in Salt Lake City, the area presidency members in these areas usually reside in a headquarters city that is located within the geographic boundaries of the area.^[3] Each area presidency employs an executive secretary to assist in the administration of the area.

The Church now has 16 areas outside North America and 10 areas inside North America for a total of 26. Announced changes, effective 1 August 2009, are such that all area presidency assignments will be filled by members of the First or Second Quorum of the Seventy. ^[4][5]

List

The following is an alphabetical list of the areas of the church. The number assigned corresponds to the number on the map in the section below.

Area details

See also

• District (LDS Church)
• List of area seventies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of general authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Notes

References

• “New Area Leadership Assignments,” Ensign, Aug. 2008, 78–79
• Mehr, Kahlile (Spring 2001). "Area Supervision: Administration of the Worldwide Church, 1960-2002". Journal of Mormon History 27 (1): 192–214. http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/jmh,17512.