Arizona
432,161
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
115
Stakes
904
Congregations
74
Family History Centers
6
Temples
6
Missions
History
Some of the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Arizona marched with the Mormon Battalion, a
group of Latter-day Saints preparing to fight in the
Mexican-American War, in the winter of 1846-47. Other members
arrived in 1873, sent from Utah to colonize the area. More settlers
in 1876 built a fort, dug canals, built dams, and struggled to
adjust to the dry land. During the exodus from Mexico in 1912,
Arizona became a place of refuge for many Mexican Latter-day
Saints.
In 1973, a long-time
resident of Thatcher, Arizona, Spencer W. Kimball, became the
Church's twelfth President. He served until his death in 1985. The
Church is also known in Arizona for its temple located in Mesa.
Many community members visit the temple grounds every December to
see the Christmas lights. Since 1938, Church members have presented
an annual Easter pageant on the temple grounds. The performance,
"Jesus the Christ," has attracted approximately 80,000 people each
year.
United States
6,681,829
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
1629
Stakes
14,274
Congregations
1,876
Family History Centers
81
Temples
117
Missions |
History
Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occurred 6 April 1830, in Fayette, New York, with 50 people and six official members present. Ten years prior to the organization, the new Church President, Joseph Smith, received a vision and further instructions from God to restore God's Church on earth. In one year (1830-31) membership increased to more than 100.
Kirtland, Ohio served as the organizational headquarters of the infant Church from 1831 until 1838. Membership grew from a handful of members to well over 2,000 before persecution and the financial upheaval of the times forced the Mormons to move on to western settlements in Missouri and Illinois. With the assassination of Joseph Smith in 1844 and increasing pressure on the Mormons to abandon Nauvoo, Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi, it became obvious to Church leaders that they would need to move.
In 1846 the Saints established a refuge in what was called Winter Quarters, near present-day Omaha, Nebraska. In July of that year, the United States was involved in the Mexican-American War. While the pioneers were in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a request came from President James K. Polk for volunteers to march to Fort Leavenworth (present-day Kansas) and then to California on a one-year U.S. Army enlistment.
About 500 men enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, and about 80 women and children traveled with them. They began their journey in the sweltering heat of Council Bluffs, Iowa, on 20 July 1846, leaving their loved ones behind. The battalion completed one of the longest infantry marches in American history — about 2,000 miles (3,220 km) through what are now seven states and into Mexico. The Mormon Battalion carved out a vital road for wagons through the American Southwest.
In January 1847, Brigham Young received a revelation about “the Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel in their journeyings to the West” (now known as Doctrine and Covenants 136). When the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers began to journey westward, they did not know their end destination. But on 24 July 1847, when the wagons rolled out of the canyon into the Salt Lake Valley, their destination became apparent. "It is enough," Church President Brigham Young said as he viewed the valley below. "This is the right place. Drive on." At least 236 pioneer companies of approximately 60,000 pioneers crossed the plains for Utah. With time, they transformed the desert valley into the bustling and prosperous Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City is home to the Church's worldwide headquarters. The Church has expanded throughout each of the United States. More than six million Latter-day Saints are spread throughout nearly 14,000 congregations.
Africa
Total Church Membership
621,448
Members
2,150
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
3Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,206,148
Members
2,139
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
8Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
493,970
Members
1,382
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
12Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,336,465
Members
18,071
Congregations
Missions
182Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
109Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
562,341
Members
1,253
Congregations
Missions
17Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
10Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,093,363
Members
5,541
Congregations