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

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Albania
LDS Church logo - sqi.png
Logo in Albanian
Flag of Albania.svg
Membership3,216 (2019)[1]
Stakes1
Districts1
Wards6
Branches8
Total Congregations14
Missions1
Family History Centers3[2]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Albania refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Albania. In 1993, there were approximately 100 members in Albania. In 2019, there were 3,216 members in 14 congregations.

History[]

Membership in Albania
YearMembership
1993*100
1995*200
1999789
20041,400
20091,838
20142,660
20193,216
*Membership was published as a rounded number.
Source: Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Albania[1]
The Book of Mormon in Albanian.

Elders Dallin H. Oaks and Hans B. Ringger visited Albania in April 1991. Elder Hans B. Ringger and Austria Vienna Mission President Kenneth D. Reber visited with Albanian officials and agreed to send humanitarian aid. In February 1992, humanitarian missionary couples Thales and Charone Smith and Randolyn Brady and Melvin Brady. Thales taught in the medical school at the University of Tirana and Charone served in a pediatric orphanage.[3] Mel taught business and economics at the University of Tirane, while Randy taught English and music.[4] In August 1993, Mother Teresa visited the orphanage where Charone Smith was working and presented her a silver medallion of Mother Teresa's order.[5]

The first full time missionaries arrived in June. Albania's first convert, Blendi Kokona, was baptized on July 25, 1992. The Book of Mormon was translated into Albanian and published in November 1999. The first seminary class was held on February 24, 2000, and the first Institute class was held on March 24, 2000.[5]

The first Church-built meetinghouse was completed in 2006. Elder D. Todd Christofferson attended an opening of a school for Roma Children in 2009. On March 9, 2014, the Tirana Albania Stake was organized.[1]

Stake and District[]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Albania is located in Albania
Tirana (FHC)
Tirana (FHC)
Elbasan
Elbasan
Kamez
Kamez
Durrës (FHC)
Durrës (FHC)
Shkodër
Shkodër
Lushnjë
Lushnjë
Fier
Fier
Berat
Berat
Vlorë (FHC)
Vlorë (FHC)
Korçë
Korçë
Pogradec
Pogradec
class=notpageimage|
LDS Church Locations as of June 2021
Green = Stake Center and 3 meetinghouse in Tirana (combined in 1 icon)
Orange = District Center and meetinghouse
Purple = meetinghouse
(FHC) = Family History Center

As of June 2021, the following stake and district was located in Albania:[6]

Tirana Albania Stake

  • Dega e Shkodër (Shkodër Branch)
  • Lagje e 1-rë e Tiranës (Tirana 1st Ward)
  • Lagje e 2-të e Tiranës (Tirana 2nd Ward)
  • Lagje e 3-të e Tiranës (Tirana 3rd Ward)
  • Lagje e 4-të e Tiranës (Tirana 4th Ward)
  • Lagje e Durrësit (Durrës Ward)
  • Lagje e Vlorës (Vlorë Ward)

Elbasan Albania District

  • Berat Branch
  • Dega e Elbasanit (Elbasan Branch)
  • Dega e Fierit (Fier Branch)
  • Dega e Lushnjës (Lushnjë Branch)
  • Korçë Branch
  • Pogradec Branch

Other Congregations The following congregations are not part of a stake or district:

  • Adriatic South Mission Branch

Congregations not within a stake are named branches, regardless of size. The Adriatic South Mission Branch serves individuals and families not in proximity to a church meetinghouse.

Missions[]

When missionaries first arrived in Albania, it was part of the Austria Vienna Mission. The Provo Missionary Center began teaching Albanian in 1994. Prior to that, missionaries learned it after arrival in Albania. Responsibility of missionary efforts in Albania was transferred to the Greece Athens Mission in 1995. On July 1, 1996, the Albania Tirana Mission was organized which was later renamed the Adriatic South Mission.[5] As of 2021, the Adriatic South Mission serves Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

Temples[]

As of June 2021, Albania was located in the Rome Italy Temple District.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Albania", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 8 June 2021
  2. ^ Category:Albania Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 8 June 2021
  3. ^ "Dr. Thales Haskell Smith Sr. April 5, 1923 - September 11, 2018", Berg Mortuary, retrieved June 13, 2021
  4. ^ "Brady, Melvin 1927 - 2008", orange county register, retrieved June 13, 2021
  5. ^ a b c Hall, Richard; Avant, Gerry; Stahle, Shaun (eds.). "Albania". 2012 Church Almanac. Deseret News. p. 416. ISBN 978-1-60907-002-1.
  6. ^ "Classic Maps", churchofjesuschrist.org, retrieved 2021-06-08

External links[]

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