Church grows as two districts grow to five in India

Growth of the church in southern India was indicated by the formation of three new districts in the India Bangalore Mission on Sunday, Oct. 11. They bring to five the total number of India districts in the Mormon mission, which also has a district on the island nation of Sri Lanka.

India Bangalore Mission President Melvin R. Nichols conducted the organizing meeting that was broadcast via the Internet for viewing by members gathered in 14 meetinghouses in India and Sri Lanka. Elder Kent W. Watson of the Seventy, first counselor in the Asia Area presidency, oversaw the meeting linked by the Internet from Hong Kong. The meeting was attended by approximately 1,978 members, believed to be the largest gathering of Mormons in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in India.

The three new districts are located in the cities of Coimbatore, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam, key cities in the region. There are two branches in the Chennai District, four in the Coimbatore District and six in the Vishakhapatnam District. The two original districts — Bangalore and Hyderabad — were organized in the early 1990s and have four branches each. Total membership in the five districts is slightly more than 5,300.

During the meeting, President Nichols said, "This reorganization will allow local leaders to concentrate on the members located nearby and eliminate a great deal of travel for training and oversight of their branches, thus increasing the effectiveness of these brethren and their ability to bless the lives of the Saints."

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This story is provided by the LDS Church News, an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is produced weekly by the Deseret News.