 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wyoming | |
|---|---|
| |
| Area | NA Central |
| Members | 67,797 (2022)[1] |
| Stakes | 19 |
| Wards | 143 |
| Branches | 29 |
| Total Congregations | 172 |
| Temples | 1 Operating 1 Under Construction 1 Announced 3 Total |
| Family History Centers | 46[2] |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wyoming refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Wyoming. The church's first congregation in Wyoming was organized in 1877.[3] It has since grown to 67,797 members in 172 congregations.[3]
Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 11.5% in 2014 which is the third highest in the United States, behind Utah and Idaho. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, 9% of Wyomingites self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.[4] The LDS Church is the largest denomination in Wyoming.[5]
Stakes are located in Afton, Casper (2), Cheyenne (2), Cody, Evanston (2), Gillette, Green River, Kemmerer, Laramie, Lovell, Lyman, Riverton, Rock Springs, Sheridan, Thayne, and Worland.
The Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission was created in 2015 to cover church historical sites in the area, but the mission was discontinued in 2021.
![[icon]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2023)
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| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1920 | 10,764 |
| 1930 | 12,825 |
| 1940 | 17,806 |
| 1950 | 19,477 |
| 1960 | 22,965 |
| 1970 | 27,397 |
| 1980 | 47,314 |
| 1990 | 51,692 |
| 1999 | 54,425 |
| 2009 | 61,430 |
| 2019 | 67,729 |
| Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac State Information: Wyoming[1] | |
The Willie and Martin handcart companies of 1857 became trapped in the winter snows and approximately 200 of the 1,075 in the companies died, but others were saved by Utah rescue parties.[6]
In 1877, members settled the Star Valley area, and in 1878, Brigham Young Jr. dedicated the spot as a gathering place for the members.[7]
List of LDS Church adherents in each county as of 2010 according to the Association of Religion Data Archives:[8]
| County | Congregations | Adherents | % of Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 9 | 2,803 | 7.7 |
| Big Horn | 13 | 3,901 | 33.4 |
| Campbell | 6 | 2,247 | 4.9 |
| Carbon | 5 | 1,538 | 9.7 |
| Converse | 2 | 723 | 5.2 |
| Crook | 1 | 128 | 1.8 |
| Fremont | 10 | 3,618 | 9.0 |
| Goshen | 1 | 495 | 3.7 |
| Hot Springs | 1 | 551 | 11.5 |
| Johnson | 1 | 437 | 5.1 |
| Laramie | 9 | 4,456 | 4.9 |
| Lincoln | 23 | 9,556 | 52.8 |
| Natrona | 9 | 4,809 | 6.4 |
| Niobrara | 1 | 84 | 3.4 |
| Park | 9 | 3,180 | 11.3 |
| Platte | 1 | 308 | 3.6 |
| Sheridan | 5 | 1,452 | 5.0 |
| Sublette | 2 | 1,407 | 13.7 |
| Sweetwater | 15 | 7,972 | 18.2 |
| Teton | 3 | 1,418 | 6.7 |
| Uinta | 22 | 10,064 | 47.7 |
| Washakie | 3 | 1,129 | 13.2 |
| Weston | 1 | 357 | 5.0 |
As of January 2024, Wyoming was home to the following stakes:[9]
| Stake | Mission | Temple District |
|---|---|---|
| Afton Wyoming | Idaho Pocatello | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Bridger Valley Wyoming Stake | Utah Salt Lake City | Ogden Utah |
| Casper Wyoming East | Colorado Fort Collins | Fort Collins Colorado |
| Casper Wyoming | Colorado Fort Collins | Fort Collins Colorado |
| Cheyenne Wyoming East | Colorado Fort Collins | Fort Collins Colorado |
| Cheyenne Wyoming | Colorado Fort Collins | Fort Collins Colorado |
| Cody Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
| Craig Colorado Stake[a] | Colorado Denver South | Vernal Utah |
| Driggs Idaho Stake[a] | Idaho Idaho Falls | Rexburg Idaho |
| Evanston Wyoming South | Utah Salt Lake City | Ogden Utah |
| Evanston Wyoming | Utah Salt Lake City | Ogden Utah |
| Gillette Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
| Green River Wyoming | Utah Salt Lake City | Vernal Utah |
| Kemmerer Wyoming | Utah Salt Lake City | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Laramie Wyoming | Colorado Fort Collins | Fort Collins Colorado |
| Lovell Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
| Montpelier Idaho South Stake[a] | Idaho Pocatello | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Riverton Wyoming | Colorado Fort Collins | Billings Montana |
| Rock Springs Wyoming | Utah Salt Lake City | Vernal Utah |
| Sheridan Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
| Thayne Wyoming | Idaho Pocatello | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Worland Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
As of 2023, no missions were headquartered in Wyoming. However, Wyoming is served by four missions headquartered outside the state.
| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| Colorado Fort Collins Mission | 1 July 2013 |
| Idaho Idaho Falls | 1 July 2013 |
| Montana Billings Falls | 11 November 1950 |
| Utah Salt Lake City Mission | 1 July 2013 |
 
Temples in Wyoming |
On October 1, 2011, the Star Valley Wyoming Temple was announced by church president Thomas S. Monson. A second temple to be built in Casper was announced on April 4, 2021, by Russell M. Nelson. Nelson announced a third temple, to be built in Cody, on October 3, 2021.
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| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: |
Afton, Wyoming, United States October 1, 2011 by Thomas S. Monson[10][11] April 25, 2015 by Craig C. Christensen October 30, 2016 by David A. Bednar 18,609 sq ft (1,728.8 m2) on a 43.6-acre (17.6 ha) site | ||
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| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Open House: Dedicated: Size: |
Casper, Wyoming, U.S. 4 April 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[12] 9 October 2021 by S. Gifford Nielsen 29 August-14 September 2024 scheduled for 13 October 2024 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) on a 9.5-acre (3.8 ha) site | ||
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| Location: Announced: Size: |
Cody, Wyoming, United States 3 October 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[14][15] 9,950 sq ft (924 m2) on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site | ||
Latter-day Saints had a significant role in establishing and settling several communities within the "Mormon Corridor", including the following in Wyoming:
