The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia explained

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia
Area: Northeast
Members:97,449 (2022)
Stakes:22
Districts:0
Wards:178
Branches:37
Missions:2
O:1
U:0
A:2
Fhc:46

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Virginia. In 1841, there were 80 members of the Church. It has since grown to 96,748 members in 216 congregations.

Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 1.13% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 2% of Virginians self-identified most closely with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[1] The Church is the 7th largest denomination in Virginia.[2]

History

In 1841, there were some 80 members of the Church in Virginia.[3]

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.[4]

In 2011, Time magazine profiled the large population of singles, or Young Single Adults, in the DC area—including the new 23rd Street Chapel.[5]

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.[6]

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 two counselors, supported by an executive secretary, a stake clerk, and typically four 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.

As of August 2023, Virginia had the following stakes:
Stakedata-sort-type=dateOrganizedMissionTemple District
Annandale Virginia Stake26 Apr 1970Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Ashburn Virginia Stake29 Jan 1995Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Buena Vista Virginia Stake6 Jun 1999West Virginia CharlestonRichmond Virginia
Buena Vista Virginia YSA Stake15 Apr 2012West Virginia CharlestonRichmond Virginia
Centreville Virginia Stake1 Feb 1976Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Chesapeake Virginia Stake17 Jan 1988Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Durham North Carolina Stake3 May 1987North Carolina RaleighRaleigh North Carolina
Fredericksburg Virginia Stake26 Oct 1980Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Gainesville Virginia Stake11 Dec 2016Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Greensboro North Carolina Stake13 Sep 1961North Carolina CharlotteRaleigh North Carolina
Kingsport Tennessee Stake13 Jan 1980Tennessee KnoxvilleColumbia South Carolina
McLean Virginia Stake14 Feb 1982Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Mount Vernon Virginia Stake5 Jan 1986Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Newport News Virginia Stake12 Jun 1977Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Oakton Virginia3 Mar 1963Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Pembroke Virginia Stake14 May 1978West Virginia CharlestonRichmond Virginia
Richmond Virginia Stake30 Jun 1957Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Richmond Virginia Chesterfield Stake30 Oct 1983Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Richmond Virginia Midlothian Stake4 Dec 2005Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Roanoke Virginia Stake11 Jan 1970West Virginia CharlestonRichmond Virginia
Stafford Virginia Stake21 Aug 2016Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Virginia Beach Stake12 Apr 1964Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Washington DC YSA South Stake4 Dec 2016Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.
Waynesboro Virginia Stake28 May 1978Virginia RichmondRichmond Virginia
Winchester Virginia Stake22 May 1977Maryland BaltimoreWashington D.C.
Winston-Salem North Carolina Stake20 Nov 1977North Carolina CharlotteRaleigh North Carolina
Woodbridge Virginia Stake16 May 2004Washington DC SouthWashington D.C.

Missions

MissionCreatedMission officeStakes in Virginia
Virginia Richmond MissionOctober 26, 1947Richmond, VA6
Washington D.C. South MissionOctober 16, 1960Burke, VA7
West Virginia Charleston MissionCharleston, WV4 (of 7)
Maryland Baltimore MissionEllicott City, MD1 (of 7)

Temples

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adults in Virginia: Religious composition of adults in Virginia. Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. 2021-05-16.
  2. Web site: The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report. Thearda.com. May 16, 2021. Note:While it's the seventh largest denomination in Virginia, it's the eighth largest denomination when "nondenominational" is considered as a denomination.
  3. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/united-states/state/virginia "Facts and Statistics"
  4. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-27-me-28543-story.html "New College in Virginia Offers Eastern Mormons a Choice"
  5. Choi, Christy. "All the Single Mormons: Virginia Church Focuses on Finding a Mate", Time magazine, 30 May 2011. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Church reveals plans to build Mormon temple in Henrico . wtvr.com . 28 March 2019 . WTVR . 31 March 2019.