The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado
Encyclopedia
As of year-end 2007, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 133,727 members in 30 stakes, 285 Congregations (253 wards and 32 branches), 3 missions
, and 1 temple
in Colorado.
. This mission was renamed the Western States Mission on April 1, 1907, then the Colorado-New Mexico Mission on June 10, 1970, then the Colorado Mission on October 10, 1972, and the Colorado Denver Mission on June 20 1974. It was finally renamed the Colorado Denver South Mission on July 1, 1993 upon creation of the Colorado Denver North Mission.
Colorado is now home to three missions.
was dedicated by President Ezra Taft Benson
. On April 2, 2011, the Fort Collins Colorado Temple was announced.
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", including the following located in Colorado:
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
, and 1 temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
in Colorado.
History
A brief history can be found at LDS Church News "US Information: Colorado"Membership History
| Year | LDS Membership |
|---|---|
| 1920 | 4,376 |
| 1930 | 6,435 |
| 1940 | 7,882 |
| 1950 | 10,728 |
| 1960 | 19,587 |
| 1970 | 35,613 |
| 1980 | 69,000 |
| 1990 | 88,625 |
| 1999 | 112,232 |
| 2008 | 137,145 |
Missions
The Colorado Mission was opened on December 15, 1896 with John W. Taylor as presidentMission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
. This mission was renamed the Western States Mission on April 1, 1907, then the Colorado-New Mexico Mission on June 10, 1970, then the Colorado Mission on October 10, 1972, and the Colorado Denver Mission on June 20 1974. It was finally renamed the Colorado Denver South Mission on July 1, 1993 upon creation of the Colorado Denver North Mission.
Colorado is now home to three missions.
| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| Colorado Denver North Mission | July 1, 1993 |
| Colorado Denver South Mission | December 15, 1896 |
| Colorado Colorado Springs Mission | July 1, 2002 |
Temples
On October 24, 1986 the Denver Colorado TempleDenver Colorado Temple
The Denver Colorado Temple is the 40th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The LDS Church announced its plans to build a temple in Colorado on March 31, 1982. Almost two years later, Gordon B. Hinckley presided over the site dedication and groundbreaking...
was dedicated by President Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...
. On April 2, 2011, the Fort Collins Colorado Temple was announced.
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Communities
Latter-day Saints have had a significant role in establishing and settling communities within the "Mormon CorridorMormon Corridor
The Mormon Corridor is a term for the areas of Western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , who are commonly known as Mormons....
", including the following located in Colorado:
- La JaraLa Jara, ColoradoLa Jara is a Statutory Town in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. The population was 877 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Jara is located at ....
- ManassaManassa, ColoradoThe Town of Manassa is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. With a population of 1,042 at the 2000 census, Manassa is the largest community in Conejos County....
- SanfordSanford, ColoradoSanford is a Statutory Town in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. The population was 817 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sanford is located at ....
See also
- Conejos County, Colorado: Religious history
- Pueblo, ColoradoPueblo, ColoradoPueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, where the sick detachments of the Mormon BattalionMormon BattalionThe Mormon Battalion was the only religiously based unit in United States military history, and it served from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War. The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 559 Latter-day Saints men led by Mormon company officers, commanded by regular...
wintered in 1846-1847
External links
- LDS Newsroom (Colorado)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Visitors Site