The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pennsylvania

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]


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pennsylvania
A meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oakland Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
Membership52,290 (2019)[1]
Stakes12
Wards78
Branches30
Total Congregations108
Missions2
Temples1 Operating,
1 Announced
Family History Centers46[2]

Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 0.40% in 2014.[3] According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, 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
Membership in Pennsylvania
YearMembership
1940900
19604,600
197918,146
1989*28,000
199937,749
200948,477
201952,290
*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]

Stakes
A meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As of June 2021, Pennsylvania had the following stakes (with the stake center in Pennsylvania):[9][10][11]

Stake Mission Temple District
Altoona Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PittsburghWashington D.C.
Chambersburg Pennsylvania StakeMaryland BaltimoreWashington D.C.
Gettysburg Pennsylvania StakeMaryland BaltimoreWashington D.C.
Harrisburg Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PittsburghPhiladelphia Pennsylvania
Lancaster Pennsylvania StakeMaryland BaltimorePhiladelphia Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PittsburghWashington D.C.
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania North StakePennsylvania PittsburghColumbus Ohio
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania West StakePennsylvania PittsburghColumbus Ohio
Reading Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Pennsylvania
Scranton Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Pennsylvania
Valley Forge Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Pennsylvania
Williamsport Pennsylvania StakePennsylvania PittsburghPhiladelphia Pennsylvania

Missions

Temples
Temples in Pennsylvania
Red = Operating
Blue = Under Construction
Yellow = announced
Black = Closed for Renovations
Main article: Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple

The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple was announced on October 4, 2008 by church president Thomas S. Monson.[12]

 152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
 Notes:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
October 4, 2008
September 18, 2016 by Henry B. Eyring[13]
61,466 sq ft (5,710 m2) on a 1.6 acre (0.6 ha) site
Announced at the 178th Semiannual General Conference.[14]

209. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple (Under construction)

Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
 Size:
 Notes:

Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, United States
5 April 2020
21 August 2021 by Randall K. Bennett
32,000 sq ft (3,000 m2) on a 5.8 acre (2.3 ha) site
Announced by Russell M. Nelson on April 5, 2020.[15] The site will be on a 5.8 acre plot adjacent to an existing chapel, and is expected to be 32,000 sq. ft. with a center spire.[16]

References
  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by State: Pennsylvania", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 20 June 2021
  2. Category:Pennsylvania Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 20 June 2021
  3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics (United States)
  4. "Adults in Pennsylvania: Religious composition of adults in Pennsylvania". Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  5. "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.
  6. Quinn (1994, pp. 5–6, 15–20); Bushman (2005, pp. 74–75).
  7. "Facts and Statistics", Church News, 2020. Retrieved on 3 April 2020.
  8. Saffron, Inga (August 2, 2016). "Changing Skyline: Mormon Temple: Radical conservative upstart". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  9. "Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved June 20, 2021
  10. "Washington D.C. Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved June 20, 2021
  11. "Columbus Ohio Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved June 20, 2021
  12. Dougherty, James M (October 4, 2008), "Rome LDS temple, four others announced", Deseret News, retrieved November 5, 2012
  13. Weaver, Sarah Jane (September 18, 2016). "President Eyring dedicates temple in Philadelphia, the place 'where so much began'". Deseret News.
  14. Mikita, Carole (October 4, 2008). "LDS Church plans temples in Rome, 4 other locations". KSL.com. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  15. "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
  16. "Location and Rendering Released for Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-22.

Further reading
  •  LDS Church portal


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