The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California explained

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California
Area: West
Members:728,598 (2023)
Stakes:146
Wards:1001
Branches:133
Missions:15
O:7
U:2
A:3
Family History Centers:228

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in California. California has the 2nd most members of the LDS Church in the United States, behind Utah.[1] The LDS Church is the 2nd largest denomination in California, behind the Roman Catholic Church.[2]

History

Brooklyn Saints

A Mormon immigrant company, under direction of Samuel Brannon, departed on the ship Brooklyn from New York on February 4, 1846 en route to the Great Salt Lake Valley via California. The group under the direction of Brannan navigated around Cape Horn and arrived at Yerba Buena on July 31, 1846. The company of around 230 people were the first known Latter-day Saints to set foot in California. Their numbers nearly tripled the population of the small town of Yerba Buena, later renamed San Francisco. While there, Brannan and other church members began publication of one of California's first English-language newspapers, the California Star, in October 1846.[3] One of the Brooklyn saints, Angeline Lovett, set up a school in the old Franciscan Dolores Mission, the first English-language school in California.[4]

During the early autumn of 1846, Brannan led 20 men to the San Joaquin Valley where they founded a Mormon farming village named New Hope Colony. It soon failed as heavy seasonal storms flooded the valley, destroying their crops. Most of the Brooklyn saints left California for Salt Lake City in 1848.[3]

Mormon Battalion and California Gold Rush

In January 1847, the Mormon Battalion arrived in San Diego. Battalion members helped construct a number of building and public works in San Diego. They then traveled to Los Angeles where they built a fort and raised the first American flag in California. Six discharged battalion members were at Sutter's Mill in northern California when gold was discovered there on January 24, 1848. On their way, they carved an emigrant road that would be used by thousands of westward bound travelers including the gold rush "Forty-Niners."[5]

In February 1856, George Q. Cannon began publication in San Francisco of the Western Standard, a weekly periodical supportive of the church.[6]

San Bernardino LDS colony

Main: History of San Bernardino, California: Mormon San Bernardino

The first colonization from Utah to California came in 1851 when a company of about 450 saints and enslaved people under direction of Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles settled at what is now San Bernardino. The colony was the final settlement in a string of Mormon communities extending 800miles from Salt Lake City in an area known as Deseret. The community thrived, and on July 6, 1851, the San Bernardino Stake, California's first, was organized. The colony was dissolved by the church at the advance of Johnston's Army toward Salt Lake City in 1857. Brigham Young instructed the settlers to return to Utah to colonize. About 1,400 (fewer than half) returned to Utah at the request of the church. The San Bernardino Stake was dissolved in 1857 as well as the ecclesiastical units within the stake.[3]

Significant church growth and history 1895-1990

The Los Angeles Branch was created on March 21, 1895.[7] In 1896, the Northern California and Southern California conferences were organized. The Sacramento Conference was added in 1898.[8] Most missionary work around the turn of the century took place in larger population centers.

On January 21, 1923, the Los Angeles Stake became the first to be created in the state since the San Bernardino Stake had been dissolved. The Los Angeles Stake was divided on May 22, 1927 to form the Los Angeles and Hollywood stakes. On July 10, 1927, the San Francisco Stake was established.[9]

On February 18, 1939, 1,400 people visited the church's exhibit at the opening day of the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. This exhibit was a visitors' center portraying a reduced-size Salt Lake Tabernacle.

Eight more stakes were created in the 1930s, five in the 1940s, and 30 in the 1950s. The completion of the Los Angeles and Oakland temples soon followed.[9]

In 1980, church president Spencer W. Kimball spoke to members in the Los Angeles area in the Rose Bowl, with an estimated 75,000 in attendance.[10]

Recent history 1990-present

At the beginning of the year 2000, California had 17 missions, more than any other state in the United States. In the state's major cities, many minority converts were taught and baptized in their native language. With a significant immigration to California from Latin America, five Spanish-speaking stakes have been organized. Various Asian and Polynesian wards function as well, and a Tongan stake was created in San Francisco in 1992. There are currently more than 200 ethnic wards and branches in California.[9] [11]

Church president Gordon B. Hinckley attended the rededication of the historic Hollywood (now Los Angeles California) Stake Center on June 8, 2003.[12]

Historical reenactments

In July 1996, the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the ship Brooklyn was celebrated through reenactment of the event on a replica ship that sailed into the San Francisco Bay. Church members throughout the state commemorated the anniversary with observances that included an exhibit at the San Francisco Maritime Museum,[13] performances of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Davies Symphony Hall,[14] dedications of plaques honoring the early settlers, and pioneer activities and parades.[15]

In addition to commemorating the arrival of early Latter-day Saint settlers, as well as contributions to the development of the state, members throughout California donated many hours of service in community projects sponsored by wards and stakes, including gathering supplies and food for the needy; cleaning parks, beaches and roadways; painting and repairing homeless shelters, and cleaning up graffiti.[16]

On January 18, 1997, 2,400 church members re-enacted the arrival of the Mormon Battalion in California 150 years earlier. Other Mormon Battalion celebrations along the coast followed on respective anniversaries. On March 6, 1997, Hinckley spoke to a record audience of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council,[17] and on March 19, he addressed the World Forum of Silicon Valley.[18] He also spoke at various church events during the year. A church-produced video depicting the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill was donated to the state of California to be shown continuously at Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma.

Membership history

Membership growth has slowed in California since 1991 and began to decrease starting in the 2010s.

YearLDS Membership
1846230
19203,800
193021,254
194044,800
1950102,000
1960217,600
1970349,000
1980541,000
1991721,000
1999740,000
2008755,747
2012777,061
2017767,301
2019756,507
2023728,598

Disaster relief and humanitarian aid

In times of disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, and floods, church members in California have donated countless hours of service, helping communities to recover.

In 1997, members in San Diego donated some 40-50 tons of food to eight community agencies for the homeless and needy.[19]

In May 2003, hundreds of Los Angeles-area Muslims and members of the Pasadena California Stake joined in preparing emergency supplies for Iraqi families. With conflicts of the war with Iraq completed, a humanitarian aid day was set for May 10, 2003, where hygiene kits for some 10,000 families were completed and added to a $650,000 shipment of medical supplies and blankets donated by the church.[20]

Moral issues

Church members in the state have also taken leadership roles in moral issues, such as combating pornography and have cooperated with other congregations of various interfaith endeavors. Members have been active in other moral issues including abortion, gambling, drug and alcohol abuse, and marriage.[21]

County statistics

List of LDS Church adherents in each county as of 2010 according to the Association of Religion Data Archives:[22] Note: Each county adherent count reflects meetinghouse location of congregation and not by location of residence. Census count reflects location of residence which may skew percent of population in locations where adherents reside in a different county as their congregational meetinghouse.

CountyCongregationsAdherents% of Population
Alameda4624,9291.65
Alpine0
Amador21,1963.14
Butte169,3574.25
Calaveras31,5973.50
Colusa13721.74
Contra Costa4221,5052.05
Del Norte21,2134.24
El Dorado157,0303.88
Fresno3621,4042.30
Glenn38202.92
Humboldt73,5572.64
Imperial53,1491.80
Inyo54,82726.03
Kern3821,0952.51
Kings52,3621.54
Lake52,2943.55
Lassen31,3413.84
Los Angeles226150,5691.53
Madera53,3552.22
Marin42,4680.98
Mariposa13922.15
Mendocino42,3352.66
Merced104,4481.74
Modoc23443.55
Mono23372.37
Monterey105,9061.42
Napa62,2091.62
Nevada31,6831.70
Orange12166,7722.22
Placer3315,1794.36
Plumas37553.77
Riverside9651,9572.37
Sacramento7744,9513.17
San Benito31,1512.08
San Bernardino10352,3142.57
San Diego12071,4952.31
San Francisco55,9230.74
San Joaquin2415,6532.28
San Luis Obispo126,2162.31
San Mateo2113,2401.84
Santa Barbara147,2411.71
Santa Clara4524,7391.39
Santa Cruz63,7091.41
Shasta116,8433.86
Sierra11013.12
Siskiyou51,6293.63
Solano2110,3132.50
Sonoma179,0691.87
Stanislaus3113,8592.69
Sutter73,1353.31
Tehama32,0783.27
Tuolumne31,4252.57
Trinity23852.79
Tulare157,7401.75
Ventura4420,1232.44
Yolo94,8392.41
Yuba53,0964.29

Stakes

As of June 2024, California had the following Stakes:

Stakedata-sort-type=dateOrganizedMissionTemple
Anaheim California14-Mar-1965California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Anderson California10-Jun-1979California RosevilleFeather River California
Antelope California6-Mar-1988California SacramentoSacramento California
Antioch California3-May-1981California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
Apple Valley California10-Sep-2006California San BernardinoRedlands California
Arcadia California9-Oct-1977California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
Auburn California27-May-1979California RosevilleSacramento California
Bakersfield California East18-Jun-1978California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Bakersfield California South14-Dec-1986California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Bakersfield California27-May-1951California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Brea California21-Sep-1975California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Camarillo California8-Aug-1976California VenturaLos Angeles California
Capistrano Valley California22-Oct-2023California Newport BeachNewport Beach California
Carlsbad California6-Nov-1960California Newport BeachSan Diego California
Carmichael California25-Nov-1984California SacramentoSacramento California
Carson City Nevada9-Apr-1978Nevada RenoReno Nevada
Cerritos California26-Oct-1958California AnaheimLos Angeles California
Chatsworth California8-Oct-1961California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
Chico California6-Feb-1972California RosevilleFeather River California
Chino California14-Oct-1979California ArcadiaRedlands California
Citrus Heights California22-Jun-1980California SacramentoSacramento California
Corona California19-Nov-1978California RiversideRedlands California
Cypress California15-Feb-1970California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Danville California26-Aug-1956California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
Del Mar California7-Jan-1990California San DiegoSan Diego California
Downey California19-Apr-1959California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
East Los Angeles California (Spanish)26-Feb-1950California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
El Cajon California20-Apr-1958California San DiegoSan Diego California
El Dorado California19-Nov-1978California SacramentoSacramento California
Elk Grove California15-Jun-1969California SacramentoSacramento California
Escondido California24-Sep-1972California Newport BeachSan Diego California
Eureka California22-Oct-1961California Santa RosaMedford Oregon
Fairfield California16-Feb-1975California Santa RosaOakland California
Folsom California12-Feb-1967California SacramentoSacramento California
Fontana California22-Jun-1986California San BernardinoRedlands California
Fremont California11-Dec-1966California San JoseOakland California
Fresno California East15-Sep-1963California FresnoFresno California
Fresno California North12-Feb-1984California FresnoFresno California
Fresno California20-May-1951California FresnoFresno California
Fresno California West12-Feb-1984California FresnoFresno California
Glendora California14-Nov-1976California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
Gridley California4-Nov-1934California RosevilleFeather River California
Hacienda Heights California17-Sep-1967California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
Hanford California6-Aug-1978California FresnoFresno California
Hemet California17-Sep-1978California RiversideRedlands California
Hesperia California22-Feb-1987California San BernardinoRedlands California
Huntington Beach California5-Jun-1966California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Inglewood California26-Nov-1939California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
Irvine California12-Apr-1987California Newport BeachNewport Beach California
Klamath Falls Oregon22-Mar-1953Oregon EugeneMedford Oregon
La Crescenta California7-Jun-1970California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
La Verne California21-Jan-1962California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
Laguna Niguel California20-Jun-1982California Newport BeachNewport Beach California
Lake Elsinore California22-Sep-2013California RiversideSan Diego California
Lake Havasu City Arizona14-Mar-1976Nevada Las VegasLas Vegas Nevada
Lancaster California East18-May-1991California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Lancaster California28-Nov-1976California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Lincoln California30-Jan-2011California RosevilleFeather River California
Livermore California13-Sep-1987California San JoseOakland California
Lodi California10-Apr-1977California ModestoSacramento California
Long Beach California East12-Feb-1950California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Long Beach California3-May-1936California AnaheimLos Angeles California
Los Altos California24-Aug-1975California San JoseOakland California
Los Angeles California Santa Monica1-Jul-1951California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
Los Angeles California22-May-1927California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
Manteca California22-Mar-1981California ModestoOakland California
Medford Oregon23-Aug-1964Oregon EugeneMedford Oregon
Menifee California15-Oct-1995California RiversideRedlands California
Menlo Park California23-Jun-1946California San JoseOakland California
Merced California15-Sep-1974California FresnoFresno California
Mission Viejo California8-May-1977California Newport BeachNewport Beach California
Modesto California North26-Oct-1975California ModestoOakland California
Modesto California7-Jun-1964California ModestoOakland California
Monterey California2-Mar-1958California San JoseOakland California
Moreno Valley California27-Sep-1987California RiversideRedlands California
Morgan Hill California15-May-1977California San JoseOakland California
Murrieta California20-Mar-1988California RiversideSan Diego California
Napa California17-Apr-1960California Santa RosaOakland California
Newbury Park California18-Aug-1974California VenturaLos Angeles California
Newport Beach California31-Mar-1968California Newport BeachNewport Beach California
North Hollywood California16-Sep-1956California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
Oakland California East (Tongan)18-Feb-2007California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
Oakland California2-Dec-1934California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
Ontario California9-Dec-1979California RiversideRedlands California
Orange California8-Dec-1957California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Palm Desert California27-Aug-1967California San BernardinoRedlands California
Palmdale California12-May-1968California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Palos Verdes California18-Jan-1976California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
Pasadena California15-Oct-1939California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
Penasquitos California21-Sep-1986California San DiegoSan Diego California
Porterville California16-Jun-1996California FresnoFresno California
Poway California26-Aug-1979California San DiegoSan Diego California
Quincy California14-Oct-1979Nevada RenoReno Nevada
Rancho Cucamonga California28-Jun-1987California ArcadiaRedlands California
Redding California13-Dec-1960California RosevilleFeather River California
Redlands California4-Jun-1978California San BernardinoRedlands California
Reno Nevada9-Feb-1941Nevada RenoReno Nevada
Rialto California20-Mar-1966California San BernardinoRedlands California
Ridgecrest California16-Aug-1970California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Riverside California26-Oct-1952California RiversideRedlands California
Rocklin California19-Apr-1992California RosevilleSacramento California
Roseville California17-May-1970California RosevilleSacramento California
Sacramento California Cordova22-Jun-1980California SacramentoSacramento California
Sacramento California East6-Dec-1959California SacramentoSacramento California
Sacramento California North12-Dec-1954California SacramentoSacramento California
Sacramento California4-Nov-1934California SacramentoSacramento California
San Bernardino California6-Jul-1851California San BernardinoRedlands California
San Clemente California13-Jun-2004California Newport BeachNewport Beach California
San Diego California East30-Nov-1975California San DiegoSan Diego California
San Diego California South19-Sep-1976California San DiegoSan Diego California
San Diego California9-Feb-1941California San DiegoSan Diego California
San Fernando California (Spanish)6-Dec-1992California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
San Francisco California East (Tongan)10-May-1992California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
San Francisco California10-Jul-2027California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
San Jose California South11-Feb-1968California San JoseOakland California
San Jose California30-Nov-1952California San JoseOakland California
San Leandro California21-May-1961California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
San Luis Obispo California22-Sep-1957California VenturaLos Angeles California
San Marcos California11-Sep-2022California Newport BeachSan Diego California
San Mateo California24-Feb-1985California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
San Rafael California23-Jun-1968California Santa RosaOakland California
Santa Ana California South (Spanish)5-Jan-1992California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Santa Barbara California18-Mar-1951California VenturaLos Angeles California
Santa Clarita California19-May-1974California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Santa Cruz California24-Apr-1977California San JoseOakland California
Santa Margarita California17-Jan-1993California Newport BeachNewport Beach California
Santa Maria California20-Oct-1963California VenturaLos Angeles California
Santa Rosa California7-Jan-1951California Santa RosaOakland California
Saratoga California10-Nov-1963California San JoseOakland California
Simi Valley California10-Dec-1967California VenturaLos Angeles California
Stockton California25-Apr-1948California ModestoSacramento California
Sunset Beach California16-Jan-1977California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Temecula California03-Dec-2023California RiversideSan Diego California
Temecula California North27-Apr-2003California RiversideSan Diego California
Thousand Oaks California11-Jan-1987California VenturaLos Angeles California
Torrance California North29-May-1955California Los AngelesLos Angeles California
Turlock California23-Mar-1986California ModestoOakland California
Ukiah California30-Oct-1977California Santa RosaFeather River California
Upland California13-Aug-1972California ArcadiaRedlands California
Vacaville California26-May-1991California Santa RosaSacramento California
Valencia California2-Feb-1992California BakersfieldLos Angeles California
Ventura California30-May-1971California VenturaLos Angeles California
Victorville California30-Jan-1983California San BernardinoRedlands California
Visalia California24-Aug-1969California FresnoFresno California
Vista California8-Oct-1978California Newport BeachSan Diego California
Walnut Creek California16-Feb-1986California Oakland/San FranciscoOakland California
Whittier California26-Apr-1959California ArcadiaLos Angeles California
Woodland California22-Jun-1980California Santa RosaSacramento California
Yorba Linda California24-Feb-1985California AnaheimNewport Beach California
Yuba City California4-Nov-1979California RosevilleFeather River California
Yucaipa California25-Apr-2004California San BernardinoRedlands California
Yucca Valley California9-Jan-1994California San BernardinoRedlands California

Missions

The California Mission was opened on July 31, 1846 with Samuel Brannan as president. It was discontinued in 1858 due to the Utah War, but later reopened in 1892 with Luther Dalton, who began missionary labors in San Francisco and Oakland. In 1894, Karl G. Maeser relocated to California to direct the Utah exhibit in the state's mid-winter fair and to serve as president of the California Mission.

MissionOrganized
California Anaheim Mission10 July 1966
California Arcadia Mission7 July 1969
California Bakersfield Mission1 July 2013
California Fresno Mission1 July 1975
California Los Angeles Mission23 Aug 1892
California Modesto Mission1 July 2015
California Newport Beach Mission1 July 1993
California Oakland/San Francisco Mission1 July 1969
California Riverside Mission1 July 1990
California Roseville Mission1 July 1993
California Sacramento Mission2 Jan 1942
California San Bernardino Mission1 July 1980
California San Diego Mission1 August 1974
California San Jose Mission1 July 1978
California Santa Rosa Mission1 July 1985
California Ventura Mission1 July 1978
Notes

In addition to these missions, much of the area East of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California is located in the Nevada Reno Mission.

Temples

California currently has 7 temples in operation and 3 additional temples announced and 2 under construction.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics (United States)]
  2. Web site: The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report. Thearda.com. April 19, 2021. Note:While it's the 2nd largest denomination in California, it's the third largest denomination when "nondenominational" is considered as a denomination.
  3. Book: Warner, Ted J. . California, Pioneer Settlements in . http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5574 . 246–248 . Ludlow . Daniel H . Daniel H. Ludlow . 1992 . Encyclopedia of Mormonism . Encyclopedia of Mormonism . New York . . 0-02-879602-0 . 24502140 .
  4. http://smithinstitute.byu.edu/shop/pdfsrc/43.4Hansen.pdf "Every Book . . . Has Been Read Through"
  5. http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist2/gold.html The Discovery of Gold in California
  6. Book: Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 1941.
  7. "History of the California Los Angeles Mission"
  8. "The Church in California". SacLDS.com (blog). November 3, 2005
  9. Deseret Morning News 2008 Church Almanac. p 196
  10. Robert A. Rees, "Record Number at Southern California Area Conference", Ensign, August 1980, pp. 72–74.
  11. http://maps.lds.org/ LDS Meetinghouse Locator - displays location of wards of with various languages
  12. News: Unique building restored, rededicated: President Hinckley invokes blessing at Los Angeles California Stake Center . . Lincoln . Hubbard . June 14, 2003 .
  13. News: Exhibit honors LDS settlers in California . Church News . July 6, 1996 . Ana . Gabriel .
  14. News: Opening the 'Golden Gate' with music: Tabernacle Choir performs in honor of pioneer voyage . Church News . August 3, 1996 . Gerry . Avant .
  15. News: 1846 seafaring pioneers honored in activities in rustic mission setting . Church News . August 3, 1996 . Ana . Gabriel .
  16. Web site: Awad . Shareen . How Did The Mormon Church Establish A Presence in the Inland Empire? . KVCR . National Public Radio . 23 March 2023 . February 26, 2019 . Back in 1996, I started California Community Work Day. All over the state we gave 150,000 hours of service that day in remembrance of the pioneers..
  17. News: Church keeps faith with pioneers . Church News . March 15, 1997 . John L. . Hart .
  18. News: Global reach of Latter-day Saints . Church News . March 29, 1997 .
  19. News: Price . Sidney . LDS gather, donate 40-50 tons of food . 23 March 2023 . Church News . December 26, 1997.
  20. News: Hygiene kits to help 10,000 Iraqi families: Will supplement LDS shipment of medical supplies, blankets . Sonja Eddings . Brown . Church News . May 17, 2003 .
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20071223082200/http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues Public Issues
  22. Web site: The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report. Thearda.com. February 5, 2022.