The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alaska
As of December 31, 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 32,464 members in seven stakes,[1] 81 congregations (52 wards[2] and 29 branches[2]), one mission, and one temple in Alaska.[3] (A branch in Whitehorse, Yukon is part of the Juneau Alaska Stake)
History
A brief history can be found at LDS Newsroom (Alaska) or Deseret News 2010 Church Almanac - Alaska
Membership History
| Year | LDS Membership |
|---|---|
| 1941 | 300 |
| 1961 | 3,051 |
| 1970 | 6,744 |
| 1980 | 14,414 |
| 1990 | 21,410 |
| 1999 | 25,340 |
| 2011 | 32,175 |
Stakes
There are 7 stakes and 1 district in Alaska.
This makes 8 stakes.
| Stake | Organized |
|---|---|
| Anchorage Alaska | August 13, 1961 |
| Anchorage Alaska Chugach | November 24, 2002 |
| Anchorage Alaska North | September 17, 1978 |
| Fairbanks Alaska | May 27, 1979 |
| Juneau Alaska | October 8, 1995 |
| Soldotna Alaska | December 9, 1984 |
| Wasilla Alaska | November 13, 1983 |
The Anchorage Alaska Bush District is the only district in Alaska.
Missions
The first two missionaries arrived in Juneau in 1913 where they worked for a few weeks. The next missionaries, Elders Heber J. Meeks, Alvin Englestead, James Judd, and Lowell T. Plowman arrived in Alaska in 1928, under the direction of President William R. Sloan of the Northwestern States Mission.[4] From then on, there have been missionaries in Alaska.
Alaska has been part of several missions. Alaska was part of the Northwestern States until 1941, when the Western Canadian was organized. In 1960, the Alaska-Canadian Mission was organized. It was renamed the Alaska-British Columbia Mission in 1970. On October 15, 1974, the Alaska Anchorage Mission was organized - being the first mission to be based in the state.
| Mission Serving Alaska | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| Northwestern States | 1913 |
| Western Canadian | September 15, 1941 |
| Alaska-Canadian Mission | November 21, 1960 |
| Alaska-British Columbia Mission | June 10, 1970 |
| Alaska Anchorage Mission | October 15, 1974 |
Temples
On January 9, 1999 the Anchorage Alaska Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley. After remodeling, President Hinckley rededicated the temple on February 8, 2004.
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54. Anchorage Alaska | ||
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Location: |
Anchorage, Alaska, US | ||
References
- ↑ Alaska Stakes.LDS Stake & Ward Web Sites. List of Stakes in Alaska.
- 1 2 LDS Meetinghouse Locator.Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).
- ↑ "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: USA-Alaska", Newsroom (LDS Church), December 31, 2011
- ↑ Walther, Barbara Jean. The History of the Mormons in Alaska
External links
- LDS Newsroom (Alaska)
- The story of Alaska Cultural presentation depicts LDS pioneers, Native Alaskans. Church News. Feb. 14, 2004
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Visitors Site