Colorado
151,433
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
35
Stakes
304
Congregations
64
Family History Centers
2
Temples
4
Missions
History
A wagon train of 43 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints camped at Fort Pueblo in Colorado in 1846, after
their journey was postponed. Several others joined the camp during
the winter, including wives and children of Mormon Battalion
members preparing to fight in the Mexican-American War. By the
winter's end, 275 were in the camp. Some joined Church President
Brigham Young's company traveling west while some joined family
members traveling east. Others joined later wagon trains.
The first congregation of
the Church in Colorado was organized in January 1897, one year
after a mission was established in the area. Several Church
immigrants settled communities in Conejos County, Manassa,
Richfield, and Sanford. Missionaries campaigned against the growing
number of saloons in 1909. In 1911, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir,
based in Utah, toured Colorado. The Church was publicized after
completion of the Denver Colorado Temple in 1986.
United States
6,642,173
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
1616
Stakes
14,225
Congregations
1,870
Family History Centers
81
Temples
125
Missions |
History
Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occurred 6 April 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 Mormons to move on to western settlements in Missouri and Illinois. With the assassination of Joseph Smith in 1844 and increasing pressure on the Mormons 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. More than six million Latter-day Saints are spread throughout nearly 14,000 congregations.
Africa
Total Church Membership
578,944
Members
2,010
Congregations
Missions
32Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
3Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,181,411
Members
2,124
Congregations
Missions
44Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
8Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
512,269
Members
1,408
Congregations
Missions
42Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
12Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,254,663
Members
18,167
Congregations
Missions
192Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
109Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
552,825
Members
1,251
Congregations
Missions
18Missions
Family History Centers
Temples
10Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,038,057
Members
5,546
Congregations