The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malawi refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Malawi. The first convert baptisms were performed in 1992. In 2022, there were 3,872 members in 12 congregations. Malawi was one of the fastest growing countries for LDS Church membership over the past decade.
In January 1991, there were a small group of American members working in Malawi when Elder Richard P. Lindsay of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and Africa Area President visited Malawi.[3]
The first convert baptisms occurred when Brian and Betty Peedle, missionaries serving in Zimbabwe, drove to Sitima Village in July 1992. They taught and baptized 75 individuals, some waiting as long as 14 years to join the church.[3] These were the first converts to be baptized in the country. Missionary couples traveled to Malawi from Zimbabwe for about a year until unrest from neighboring countries prevented missionaries from entering.[4]
On April 25, 1995, the church received legal recognition in Malawi and it was assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission.[1] In 1999, Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the Seventy and President of the Africa Southeast Area and President Frank Bagley of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission visited the members in Sitima. On May 23, 1999, the Sitima Branch was organized with McFarlane N. Phiri as president.[3] The first missionaries to live in Malawi was a missionary couple, Don and Berylene Frampton who arrived and lived in Blantyre in September 1999. Within a year, the Sitma Branch grew to 200 members. A second branch, located in Blantyre, was organized on July 30, 2000.[1][4]
On July 3, 2005, the first meetinghouse built by the church, located in the Mandala Township in the city of Blantyre was dedicated by President Joseph Jenkins of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission.[5][6] On October 25, 2011, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve, visited Malawi and dedicated the country for the preaching of the gospel.[7][8]
Humanitarian Efforts
In 2002, The LDS Church sent food boxes packed by volunteers, cereal, and grain to Malawi and neighboring countries to assist those hindered by the drought.[9] The Church was undertook a campaign to vaccinate Malawians against measles in 2008.[10] In 2016, Lilongwe Mayor, Willie Chapondera, commended missionaries for enhancing behavior change among individuals in the city.[11] In 2018, the LDS Church stated it will continue taking part of national development through its self-reliance program.[12] Between July 2019 and June 2020, partnering with Sightsavers, more than 130,000 people were screened for vision loss, and 924 received sight-restoring surgery.[13][14] In 2020, the LDS Church donated $20 Million to UNICEF's global vaccination effort, benefitting those in Malawi and other countries.[15] The LDS Church raised $200,000 worldwide in 2021 to construct school blocks at a primary school in Traditional Authority Chitukula in Lilongwe and provide desks and other furnishings.[16]
LDS Church Locations as of November, 2024 Green = Stake Center and Meetinghouse Purple = meetinghouse
As of November 2024, Malawi had the following stakes and congregations:[17]
Lilongwe Malawi Stake
Chinsapo Branch
Kalambo 1 Ward
Kalambo 2 Ward
Kasungu 1st Ward
Kasungu 2nd Ward
Kawale Ward
Lilongwe Ward
Presidential Way Ward
Blantyre Malawi Stake
Bangwe Branch
Blantyre 1st Ward
Blantyre 2nd Ward
Chilomoni Branch
Chirimba Ward
Liwonde Branch
Ndirande 1st Ward
Ndirande 2nd Branch
Soche Branch
Zingwangwa Ward
The Zambia Lusaka Mission Branch serves individuals and families not in proximity to a meetinghouse. Congregations in a district are called branches, regardless of size.
Missions
On April 25, 1995, the church received legal recognition in Malawi and it was assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. Malawi became part of the Zambia Lusaka Mission when it was created on July 1, 2011.[4]
