The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pennsylvania
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pennsylvania | |
---|---|
Membership | 52,290 (2019)[1] |
Stakes | 12 |
Wards | 78 |
Branches | 30 |
Total Congregations | 108 |
Missions | 2 |
Temples | 1 Operating, 1 Announced |
Family History Centers | 46[2] |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pennsylvania refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Pennsylvania. Joseph and Emma Smith lived in Northern Pennsylvania near the Susquehanna River just prior to the organization of the LDS Church. Much of the translation of the Book of Mormon and revelation of the Priesthood occurred here during that time. As of 2019, the LDS Church reported 52,290 members in 108 congregations.[1]
Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 0.40% in 2014.[3] The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found less than 1% of Pennsylvanians self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.[4] The LDS Church is the 13th largest denomination in Pennsylvania.[5]
History[]
Year | Membership |
---|---|
1940 | 900 |
1960 | 4,600 |
1979 | 18,146 |
1989* | 28,000 |
1999 | 37,749 |
2009 | 48,477 |
2019 | 52,290 |
*Membership was published as a rounded number. Source: Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac State Information: Pennsylvania[1] |
Joseph Smith and the first members of the Church were baptized in the Susquehanna River in May 1829.[6]
A total of 12 congregations were organized in Pennsylvania in the 1830s, before members gathered to Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois.[7]
In 2016 Inga Saffron, architecture critic for The Philadelphia Inquirer, called the new Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple "the most radical work of architecture built in Philadelphia in a half-century ... because it dares to be so out of step with today's design sensibilities and our bottom-line culture." Estimating its cost as more than $100 million, she wrote that the temple was "the real classical deal" and "a bold incursion into the hierarchical fabric of Philadelphia".[8]
In 2020, the LDS Church canceled services and other public gatherings temporarily in response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.[9]
Stakes[]
As of June 2021, Pennsylvania had the following stakes (with the stake center in Pennsylvania):[10][11][12]
Stake | Mission | Temple District |
---|---|---|
Altoona Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Pittsburgh | Washington D.C. |
Chambersburg Pennsylvania Stake | Maryland Baltimore | Washington D.C. |
Gettysburg Pennsylvania Stake | Maryland Baltimore | Washington D.C. |
Harrisburg Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Pittsburgh | Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
Lancaster Pennsylvania Stake | Maryland Baltimore | Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
Philadelphia Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Philadelphia | Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Pittsburgh | Washington D.C. |
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania North Stake | Pennsylvania Pittsburgh | Columbus Ohio |
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania West Stake | Pennsylvania Pittsburgh | Columbus Ohio |
Reading Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Philadelphia | Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
Scranton Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Philadelphia | Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
Valley Forge Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Philadelphia | Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
Williamsport Pennsylvania Stake | Pennsylvania Pittsburgh | Philadelphia Pennsylvania |
Missions[]
- Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission
- Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission
Temples[]
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple was announced on October 4, 2008 by church president Thomas S. Monson.[13]
|
152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple | ||
Location: |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | ||
209. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (Under Construction) | |||
Location: |
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by State: Pennsylvania", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 20 June 2021
- ^ Category:Pennsylvania Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 20 June 2021
- ^ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics (United States)
- ^ "Adults in Pennsylvania: Religious composition of adults in Pennsylvania". Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report". Thearda.com. Retrieved May 24, 2021. Note:While it's the thirteenth largest denomination in Pennsylvania, it's the fourteenth largest denomination when "nondenominational" is considered as a denomination.
- ^ Quinn (1994, pp. 5–6, 15–20) ; Bushman (2005, pp. 74–75) .
- ^ "Facts and Statistics", Church News, 2020. Retrieved on 3 April 2020.
- ^ Saffron, Inga (August 2, 2016). "Changing Skyline: Mormon Temple: Radical conservative upstart". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ Lovett, Ian. "Mormon Church Cancels Services World-Wide Amid Coronavirus Crisis", The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 2020. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
- ^ "Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved June 20, 2021
- ^ "Washington D.C. Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved June 20, 2021
- ^ "Columbus Ohio Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved June 20, 2021
- ^ Dougherty, James M (October 4, 2008), "Rome LDS temple, four others announced", Deseret News, retrieved November 5, 2012
- ^ Mikita, Carole (October 4, 2008). "LDS Church plans temples in Rome, 4 other locations". KSL.com. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ^ Weaver, Sarah Jane (September 18, 2016). "President Eyring dedicates temple in Philadelphia, the place 'where so much began'". Deseret News.
- ^ "Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at General Conference: The Church will build its first temple in the Middle East", Newsroom, LDS Church, 5 April 2020
- ^ "Location and Rendering Released for Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
Further reading[]
- "Highlights of Church history in Pennsylvania", Church News, September 24, 2011, retrieved 2012-11-05
External links[]
- Newsroom (Pennsylvania)
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pennsylvania
- Latter Day Saint movement in Pennsylvania
- Latter Day Saint movement stubs