Oklahoma
50,800
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
9
Stakes
93
Congregations
30
Family History Centers
1
Temples
1
Missions
History
Some of the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Oklahoma did construction work in the Cherokee
Nation in 1847. They preached about the Church until antagonism
forced one Church member to leave the area. In June 1855,
Latter-day Saint missionary headquarters for the Native American
territory were created. As early as July, missionaries preached to
some 400 Native Americans. Many missionaries suffered from
illnesses such as malaria from serving in the area, and at least
four died. By 1860, most missionaries left for Utah. The Civil War
scattered many members and leaders.
In 1887, a few
missionaries, still plagued by ill health, returned to Oklahoma.
Missionary publications were translated into the Cherokee language.
In 1892, the first meetinghouse was erected in Manard, Cherokee
County. In 1921, a congregation was created in Gore, Oklahoma, with
113 members.
United States
6,763,019
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
1671
Stakes
14,676
Congregations
1,867
Family History Centers
82
Temples
109
Missions |
History
Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occurred April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York, with 50 people and six official members present. Ten years prior to the organization, the new Church President, Joseph Smith, received a vision and further instructions from God to restore God's Church on earth. In one year (1830-31) membership increased to more than 100.
Kirtland, Ohio served as the organizational headquarters of the infant Church from 1831 until 1838. Membership grew from a handful of members to well over 2,000 before persecution and the financial upheaval of the times forced the Latter-day Saints to move on to western settlements in Missouri and Illinois. With the assassination of Joseph Smith in 1844 and increasing pressure on the Latter-day Saints to abandon Nauvoo, Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi, it became obvious to Church leaders that they would need to move.
In 1846 the Saints established a refuge in what was called Winter Quarters, near present-day Omaha, Nebraska. In July of that year, the United States was involved in the Mexican-American War. While the pioneers were in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a request came from President James K. Polk for volunteers to march to Fort Leavenworth (present-day Kansas) and then to California on a one-year U.S. Army enlistment.
About 500 men enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, and about 80 women and children traveled with them. They began their journey in the sweltering heat of Council Bluffs, Iowa, on 20 July 1846, leaving their loved ones behind. The battalion completed one of the longest infantry marches in American history — about 2,000 miles (3,220 km) through what are now seven states and into Mexico. The Mormon Battalion carved out a vital road for wagons through the American Southwest.
In January 1847, Brigham Young received a revelation about “the Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel in their journeyings to the West” (now known as Doctrine and Covenants 136). When the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers began to journey westward, they did not know their end destination. But on 24 July 1847, when the wagons rolled out of the canyon into the Salt Lake Valley, their destination became apparent. "It is enough," Church President Brigham Young said as he viewed the valley below. "This is the right place. Drive on." At least 236 pioneer companies of approximately 60,000 pioneers crossed the plains for Utah. With time, they transformed the desert valley into the bustling and prosperous Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City is home to the Church's worldwide headquarters. The Church has expanded throughout each of the United States.
Africa
Total Church Membership
736,701
Members
2,476
Congregations
Missions
39Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
5Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,259,094
Members
2,110
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
8Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
500,239
Members
1,350
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
14Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,489,479
Members
18,476
Congregations
Missions
174Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
112Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
587,462
Members
1,301
Congregations
Missions
18Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
10Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,232,425
Members
5,602
Congregations