The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia reported 95,379 members in 22 stakes, 200 Congregations (171 wards and 29 branches), and three missions in Virginia, as of December 31, 2017.
History
In 1841, there were some 80 members of the Church in Virginia.[1]
In 1996, a group of Mormon businessmen acquired Southern Virginia College—a two-year private women’s college—and turned it into Southern Virginia University, a four-year, coeducational school with a Brigham Young University-like honor code in Buena Vista, Virginia.[2]
In 2011, Time magazine profiled the large population of singles, or Young Single Adults, in the DC area—including the new '23rd Street Chapel'.[3]
In April 2018, church president Russell M. Nelson announced a new temple to be built in Virginia. The first temple of the church to be built in the state, the temple is located in Glen Allen, Virginia.[4]
In 2020, the LDS Church canceled services and other public gatherings indefinitely in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[5]
Membership history
| Year | LDS Membership |
|---|---|
| 1841 | 80 |
| 1844 | 350 |
| 1930 | 2,267 |
| 1972 | 22,000 |
| 1980 | 35,485 |
| 1990 | 55,367 |
| 1999 | 66,622 |
| 2008 | 84,876 |
| 2012 | 90,738 |
| 2015 | 94,528 |
Stakes
LDS Stakes are groups of congregations. Wards are medium-sized congregations and branches are small congregations.
Stakes are led by a stake presidency (Stake President and 2 counselors, supported by an executive secretary, a stake clerk, and typically 4 assistant clerks) and a high council of 12 councilors. Stakes also have presidencies for the Stake Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, Primary, and Sunday School.
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Missions
| Mission | Created | Mission Office | Stakes in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Richmond Mission | October 26, 1947 | Richmond, VA | 6 |
| Washington D.C. South Mission | October 16, 1960 | Burke, VA | 7 |
| West Virginia Charleston Mission | TBD | Charleston, WV | 4 (of 7) |
| Maryland Baltimore Mission | TBD | Ellicott City, MD | 1 (of 7) |
Temples
 |
177 | Richmond Virginia Temple | Operating | 39,202 sq ft (3,642 m2) | 12 acres (48,562 m2) | 7 May 2023 | Dallin H. Oaks[6] | edit |
See also
References
- ^ "Facts and Statistics", Church News, 2020. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
- ^ "New College in Virginia Offers Eastern Mormons a Choice", Los Angeles Times, 27 July 1996. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
- ^ Choi, Christy. "All the Single Mormons: Virginia Church Focuses on Finding a Mate", Time magazine, 30 May 2011. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
- ^ "Church reveals plans to build Mormon temple in Henrico". wtvr.com. WTVR. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ Lovett, Ian. "Mormon Church Cancels Services World-Wide Amid Coronavirus Crisis", The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 2020. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
- ^ https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-dallin-h-oaks-dedicates-the-richmond-virginia-temple
External links
- Newsroom (Virginia)
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site