The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Texas. Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 1.13% in 2007 and 1.21% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey in both years, roughly 1% of Texans self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.[3]


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas
AreaNA Southwest
Members378,281 (2022)[1]
Stakes78
Districts2
Wards616
Branches128
Total Congregations744
Missions10
Temples4 Operating
1 Under Construction
3 Announced
8 Total
Family History Centers138[2]

Texas has the 5th most members of the LDS Church in the United States, and the most members east of the Rocky Mountains.[4] The LDS Church is the 6th largest denomination in Texas.[5]

History

Membership in Texas[6][1]
YearMembership
189364
1898*300
1906*1,000
19303,840
1977*50,000
1984*120,000
1990*154,000
1999210,892
2009286,902
2019362,037
2022378,281
*Membership was published as a rounded number.
Texas LDS membership history

1844 consideration for Latter Day Saint settlement

Increased persecution around Nauvoo in 1844 led Joseph Smith to consider relocating the church outside the borders of the United States. The Republic of Texas, along with other areas in the western United states, were considered by Smith as a place where the church members would be able to peacefully practice their religion. That year, Smith started negotiations with Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas, for the southern and western portions of Texas to be the future home of the Latter Day Saints.[7] Smith sent Lucien Woodworth to Austin to meet with Houston.[8]

After Smith's death, negotiations with Houston were abandoned.[9]

2008 Hurricane Ike

In response to Hurricane Ike in 2008, members of the LDS Church across Texas and other parts of the country volunteered relief and service.

Total LDS Church response to Hurricane Ike included:

  • 80,640 hygiene kits (six truckloads).
  • 8.064 cleaning kits (four truckloads).
  • 4 truckloads of water.
  • 11,520 blankets (two truckloads).
  • 4,800 food boxes (four truckloads) which included rice, vegetable oil, peanut butter, fruit drink mix, and assorted canned goods. Each food box could feed a family of four for a week to 10 days.
  • Food, water, generators, sleeping bags, tools, chain saws, tarps and other items.[10]

In addition to this aid, thousands of church members came into the area as volunteers to assist in clean up efforts.

Church units and creation dates

Stakes and Districts

A meetinghouse in Northwest Houston
A meetinghouse in Canyon Lake

Note: Only the stakes and districts with congregations in Texas are listed.

Stake Organized Mission Temple District
Abilene TexasMay 3, 1981Texas LubbockLubbock Texas
Allen TexasAugust 26, 2007Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Alliance TexasFebruary 16, 2014Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Amarillo TexasMay 31, 1981Texas LubbockLubbock Texas
Amarillo Texas EastAugust 13, 2023Texas LubbockLubbock Texas
Arlington TexasApril 13, 1986Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Austin TexasOctober 14, 1973Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
Austin Texas Oak HillsDecember 1, 1991Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
Austin Texas WestSeptember 15, 2019Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
Bay City TexasOctober 13, 1991Texas Houston SouthHouston Texas
Beaumont TexasSeptember 3, 1961Texas Houston EastHouston Texas
Bridgeland Texas[lower-alpha 1]February 22, 2015Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Burleson TexasSeptember 11, 2016Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Carrollton TexasDecember 9, 2001Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Cedar Park TexasJune 5, 2016Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
College Station TexasOctober 28, 1979Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Colleyville TexasApril 13, 1997Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Conroe TexasApril 30, 2017Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Corpus Christi TexasMay 31, 1964Texas McAllenMcAllen Texas
Cypress TexasNovember 6, 1983Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Dallas TexasOctober 18, 1953Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Dallas Texas EastMay 15, 1977Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Denton TexasMay 3, 1992Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Eagle Pass Texas DistrictOctober 19, 1997Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
El Paso TexasSeptember 21, 1952New Mexico AlbuquerqueCiudad Juárez Mexico
El Paso Texas Mount FranklinAugust 29, 1982New Mexico AlbuquerqueCiudad Juárez Mexico
El Paso Texas ChamizalJanuary 17, 2016New Mexico AlbuquerqueCiudad Juárez Mexico
Fort Stockton Texas DistrictSeptember 7, 2003Texas LubbockLubbock Texas
Friendswood TexasMay 29, 1977Texas Houston SouthHouston Texas
Fort Worth TexasSeptember 24, 1967Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Fort Worth Texas NorthNovember 6, 2016Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Frisco TexasMay 4, 2008Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Gilmer TexasJanuary 16, 1983Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Harlingen TexasMarch 22, 1981Texas McAllenMcAllen Texas
Heath TexasMay 20, 2012Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Houston TexasOctober 11, 1953Texas Houston SouthHouston Texas
Houston Texas EastMay 5, 1968Texas Houston EastHouston Texas
Houston Texas NorthNovember 16, 1975Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Houston Texas SouthNovember 30, 1980Texas Houston SouthHouston Texas
Houston Texas SummerwoodJune 3, 2012Texas Houston EastHouston Texas
Houston Texas WestJanuary 8, 2006Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Hurst TexasNovember 14, 1976Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
Irving TexasFebruary 7, 2016Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Katy TexasDecember 1, 1991Texas Houston SouthHouston Texas
Killeen TexasNovember 26, 1978Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
Kingwood TexasApril 18, 1982Texas Houston EastHouston Texas
Klein TexasNovember 2, 2003Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Kyle TexasMay 4, 2008Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
Lawton Oklahoma[lower-alpha 2]31 October 1976Oklahoma Oklahoma CityOklahoma City Oklahoma
Laredo Texas[lower-alpha 3]October 31, 1995Texas McAllenMcAllen Texas
League City TexasOctober 25, 2009Texas Houston SouthHouston Texas
Lewisville TexasApril 12, 1981Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Little Elm TexasAugust 25, 2019Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Longview TexasNovember 9, 1969Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Lubbock TexasNovember 26, 1967Texas LubbockLubbock Texas
Lubbock Texas NorthSeptember 14, 2014Texas LubbockLubbock Texas
McAllen TexasMay 4, 1975Texas McAllenMcAllen Texas
McAllen Texas WestSeptember 7, 2008Texas McAllenMcAllen Texas
McKinney TexasSeptember 11, 1994Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Odessa TexasDecember 15, 1968Texas LubbockLubbock Texas
Orange TexasAugust 29, 1982Texas Houston EastHouston Texas
Plano TexasMay 27, 1973Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Prosper Texas[lower-alpha 4]May 4, 2014Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Richardson TexasJanuary 30, 1983Texas Dallas WestDallas Texas
Richmond TexasMay 7, 2006Texas Houston SouthHouston Texas
Round Rock TexasJune 6, 1999Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
Round Rock Texas EastNovember 24, 2013Texas AustinSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio TexasJanuary 19, 1958Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio Texas Cibolo ValleyJanuary 10, 2016Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio Texas East,May 30, 1976Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio Texas Hill CountryJanuary 27, 2008Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio Texas La CanteraJanuary 24, 2016Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio Texas NorthOctober 19, 1997Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio Texas Pecan ValleySeptember 13, 2020Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
San Antonio Texas WestJune 5, 1983Texas San AntonioSan Antonio Texas
Sherman TexasMarch 20, 2016Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Shreveport Louisiana[lower-alpha 2]26 January 1958Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Spring TexasNovember 8, 2009Texas Houston EastHouston Texas
The Woodlands TexasOctober 12, 2014Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Tomball TexasMay 21, 2017Texas HoustonHouston Texas
Tyler TexasJanuary 22, 2005Texas Dallas EastDallas Texas
Waco TexasOctober 17, 2010Texas AustinDallas Texas
Weatherford TexasApril 30, 2006Texas Fort WorthDallas Texas
  1. Originally called Houston Texas Bear Creek Stake and renamed to Bridgeland Texas Stake August 22, 2021
  2. Stake located outside Texas with congregation(s) meeting in Texas
  3. Organized as Laredo Texas Stake December 2, 2018
  4. Originally Frisco Texas Shawnee Trail, Renamed to Prosper Texas, August 25, 2019

A few congregations in Southern Texas are not part of a stake or district. These congregations are the Raymondville Branch, Rio Grande City Branch, Roma Branch, and Zapata Branch and are directly administered by the Texas McAllen Mission and part of the San Antonio Texas Temple District.

Missions

Responsibility for Texas has been shared by several different missions. Originally in the Southern States Mission, it was transferred to the Indian Territory Mission, which later changed its name to the Southwestern States Mission and, in 1904, it became the Central States Mission. Texas remained in the Central States Mission until the Texas Mission was organized in 1931. Texas and Louisiana were combined to form the Texas-Louisiana Mission in 1945. Texas was part of the Gulf States Mission from 1955 to 1960.

In 1961, a new Texas Mission was organized. This became the Texas Dallas Mission in 1974. As the church grew, other missions in Texas were organized.

Mission Organized
Texas Austin 30 June 2020
Texas Dallas East 28 June 2020
Texas Dallas West[lower-alpha 1] 16 February 1961
Texas Fort Worth[lower-alpha 2] 1 July 1986
Texas Houston 1 July 1976
Texas Houston East 1 July 1990
Texas Houston South 1 July 1997
Texas Lubbock 1 July 2002
Texas McAllen[lower-alpha 3] 1 July 1989
Texas San Antonio[lower-alpha 4] 10 December 1967
  1. The Texas Dallas West Mission was originally named the Texas Mission in 1961. It was renamed the Texas North Mission on June 10, 1970, the Texas Dallas Mission on June 20, 1974, and ultimately the Texas Dallas West Mission on July 1, 2020.
  2. The Texas Fort Worth Mission was originally named the Texas Lubbock Mission in 1986. It was renamed the Texas Fort Worth Mission on January 20, 1988.
  3. The Texas McAllen Mission was originally named the Texas Corpus Christi Mission in 1989. It was renamed the Texas McAllen Mission on February 24, 1994.
  4. The Texas San Antonio Mission was originally named the Texas South Mission in 1967. It was renamed the Texas San Antonio Mission on June 20, 1974.

Temples

Temples in Texas and Oklahoma ()
= Operating
= Under construction
= Announced
= Temporarily Closed

As of October 2022, Texas has 4 temples located in the state, with 1 under construction, and 3 more announced. The far western portion of the state is located in the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple District. A few congregations in and around Wichita Falls, TX are in the Lawton Oklahoma Stake and are part of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple District.

Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Rededicated:
Size:
Style:
Notes:
Dallas, Texas, United States
April 1, 1981 by Spencer W. Kimball
January 22, 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
October 19, 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley
March 5, 1989 by Gordon B. Hinckley
44,207 sq ft (4,107.0 m2) on a 6-acre (2.4 ha) site
Sloping roof, six spire - designed by Church A&E Services and West & Humphries
The rededication in 1989 was for the addition only
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Rededicated:
Size:
Style:
Notes:
Spring, Texas, United States
September 30, 1997 by Gordon B. Hinckley
June 13, 1998 by Lynn A. Mickelsen
August 26, 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley
April 22, 2018 by M. Russell Ballard
33,970 sq ft (3,156 m2) on a 11-acre (4.5 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Spencer Partnership Architects and Church A&E Services
Rededicated after repairing damage from Hurricane Harvey
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:
Style:
Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
April 2, 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley
November 4, 2000 by Rex D. Pinegar
April 21, 2002 by Gordon B. Hinckley
16,498 sq ft (1,532.7 m2) on a 2.7-acre (1.1 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Tisdel Minckler and Associates.
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:
Style:
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
June 24, 2001 by Gordon B. Hinckley
March 29, 2003 by H. Bruce Stucki
May 22, 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley
16,800 sq ft (1,560 m2) on a 5.5-acre (2.2 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Rehler, Vaughn & Koone
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:
McAllen, Texas, United States
5 October 2019 by Russell M. Nelson[11]
21 November 2020 by Art Rascon[12]
8 October 2023 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
27,897 sq ft (2,591.7 m2) on a 10.61-acre (4.29 ha) site
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Size:
Burleson, Texas, United States
3 October 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[13][14]
scheduled for 28 October 2023 by Jose L. Alonso[15]
30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) on a 9.37-acre (3.79 ha) site
Location:
Announced:
Size:
Cedar Park, Texas
3 April 2022 by Russell M. Nelson[16][17]
30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) on a 10.6-acre (4.3 ha) site
Location:
Announced:
Prosper, Texas
2 October 2022 by Russell M. Nelson[18][19]

Communities

Latter-day Saints have had a significant role in establishing and settling communities within the "Mormon Corridor" and other locations, including the following in Texas:

See also

Notes

  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by State:Texas", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 29 May 2023
  2. Category:Texas Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved April 11, 2022
  3. "Adults in Texas: Religious composition of adults in Texas". Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics (United States)
  5. "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report". Thearda.com. Retrieved April 19, 2021. Note:While it's the sixth largest denomination in Texas, it's the seventh largest denomination when "nondenominational" is considered as a denomination.
  6. Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac State Information: Texas
  7. Van Wagenen, Michael Scott (5 July 2002), The Texas Republic and the Mormon Kingdom of God, Texas A&M University Press, ISBN 978-1-58544-184-6
  8. Blythe, Christopher James, "With Full Authority to Build Up the Kingdom of God on Earth:Lyman Wight on the Council of Fifty", religious studies center, Brigham Young University, retrieved 23 June 2023
  9. "Appendix 1: Letter, Lucien Woodworth to Sam Houston, 14 July 1844", The Joseph Smith Papers, retrieved 23 June 2023
  10. "Hurricane Ike: Church sends relief to Texas, Haiti; LDS volunteers give service", Church News, September 20, 2008.
  11. "President Nelson Announces Eight New Temples at October 2019 General Conference", Newsroom, LDS Church, 5 October 2019
  12. "The Temple Coming to McAllen, Texas, Will Help People 'Look to the Heavens for Wisdom'", newsroom, LDS Church, 21 November 2020, retrieved 28 September 2023
  13. "13 new temple locations announced by President Nelson as conference closes", Church News, Deseret News, October 3, 2021
  14. "At the October 2021 General Conference, the Prophet Says the Church Will Build 13 More Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 3, 2021
  15. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreaking-dates-released-for-temples-in-california-and-texas
  16. "7 new temple locations announced by President Nelson to close conference", Deseret News, Deseret News, April 3, 2022
  17. "President Nelson Announces 17 New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, April 3, 2022
  18. "President Nelson announces 18 new temples, including 4 near Mexico City, as conference closes", Deseret News, Deseret News, 2 October 2022
  19. "The Church of Jesus Christ Will Build 18 New Houses of the Lord", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2 October 2022

References

  • Michael Scott Van Wagenen, The Texas Republic and the Mormon Kingdom of God, 2002
  • B.H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, v.2, 1912
  • Melvin C. Johnsin, Polygamy on the Pedernales: Lyman Wight's Mormon Village in Antebellum Texas, 2006
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