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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nebraska refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Nebraska. The official church membership as a percentage of general population was 1.29% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 1% of Nebraskans self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.[3] The LDS Church is the 6th largest denomination in Nebraska.[4]


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nebraska
AreaNA Central
Members25,229 (2022)[1]
Stakes5
Wards41
Branches16
Total Congregations57
Missions1
Temples1
Family History Centers18[2]

Stakes are located in Kearney, Lincoln, and Omaha (3).

Membership in Nebraska
YearMembership
19838,196
1989*12,000
199918,613
200922,372
201925,098
*Membership was published as a rounded number.
Source: Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac State Information: Nebraska[1]

History

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Members of the LDS Church first traveled to what is now the state of Nebraska in 1846. Following the succession crisis in 1844, members of the church who followed Brigham Young left Nauvoo, Illinois in the spring of 1846. Due to difficulty crossing Iowa, they spent the winter of 1846-47 in encampments across Iowa and Nebraska. Winter Quarters, on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River, became an important stopping site for church members in their trek towards the Great Basin.[5][6]

Following the Transcontinental railroad being built through Nebraska, LDS Church presence in Nebraska was rather limited. The first branch following the pioneer period was organized in Fremont in 1877, and a branch was established in Omaha by 1900. The first stake of the church was organized in 1960 in Omaha, with congregations being in several cities across the state. Stakes have since been created in Lincoln, Kearney, and the suburbs around Omaha.[5]

Stakes

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As of January 2024, the following Stakes had Stake Centers in Nebraska:[7]

Stake Organized Mission Temple District
Council Bluffs Iowa* 25 Apr 1999 Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters Nebraska
Cheyenne Wyoming East* 21 Apr 2013 Colorado Fort Collins Fort Collins Colorado
Kearney Nebraska 16 Jun 1991 Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters Nebraska
Lincoln Nebraska 27 Oct 1974 Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters Nebraska
Omaha Nebraska 11 Dec 1960 Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters Nebraska
Omaha Nebraska Millard 31 Mar 2019 Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters Nebraska
Omaha Nebraska Papillion 2 Nov 1986 Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters Nebraska
Rapid City South Dakota* 10 Dec 1972 North Dakota Bismarck Bismarck North Dakota
Sioux City Iowa* 21 Jan 1996 Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters Nebraska
  • Stakes with stake center outside of the state but had congregations in Nebraska

Missions

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The large majority of Nebraska are located in the Nebraska Omaha Mission. Congregations in Nebraska pertaining to the Rapid City South Dakota Stake are located in the North Dakota Bismarck Mission, while those in the Cheyenne Wyoming East Stake are located in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission.

Temples

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The Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple was dedicated on April 22, 2001, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley. The large majority of the state is located in this temple district, although a few congregations are located Fort Collins Colorado and Bismarck North Dakota Temple Districts.

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Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:
Style:
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
June 14, 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
November 28, 1999 by Hugh W. Pinnock
April 22, 2001 by Gordon B. Hinckley
16,000 sq ft (1,500 m2) on a 1.92-acre (0.78 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Dan Reinhardt

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by State:Nebraska", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 28 May 2023
  2. ^ Category:Nebraska Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved March 28, 2022
  3. ^ "Adults in Nebraska: Religious composition of adults in Nebraska". Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  4. ^ "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report". Thearda.com. Retrieved May 24, 2021. Note:While it's the sixth largest denomination in Nebraska, it's the seventh largest denomination when "nondenominational" is considered as a denomination.
  5. ^ a b Barrett, Lamar (2006). Sacred places: a comprehensive guide to early LDS historical sites. Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft. pp. 197–98. ISBN 1-59038-197-1. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  6. ^ Morton, Julius Sterling (1906). "The Mormons in Nebraska". Illustrated History of Nebraska: A History of Nebraska from the Earliest Explorations of the Trans-Mississippi Region, with Steel Engravings, Photogravures, Copper Plates, Maps, and Tables. Vol. II. Lincoln, Nebraska: J. North. pp. 125–138.
  7. ^ "PF Maps", LDS Church
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