The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Texas. Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 1.13% in 2007 and 1.21% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey in both years, roughly 1% of Texans self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.[3]
Texas has the 5th most members of the LDS Church in the United States, and the most members east of the Rocky Mountains.[4] The LDS Church is the 6th largest denomination in Texas.[5]
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1844 consideration for Latter Day Saint settlement
Increased persecution around Nauvoo in 1844 led Joseph Smith to consider relocating the church outside the borders of the United States. The Republic of Texas, along with other areas in the western United states, were considered by Smith as a place where the church members would be able to peacefully practice their religion. That year, Smith started negotiations with Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas, for the southern and western portions of Texas to be the future home of the Latter Day Saints.[7] Smith sent Lucien Woodworth to Austin to meet with Houston.[8]
After Smith's death, negotiations with Houston were abandoned.[9]
2008 Hurricane Ike
In response to Hurricane Ike in 2008, members of the LDS Church across Texas and other parts of the country volunteered relief and service.
Total LDS Church response to Hurricane Ike included:
80,640 hygiene kits (six truckloads).
8.064 cleaning kits (four truckloads).
4 truckloads of water.
11,520 blankets (two truckloads).
4,800 food boxes (four truckloads) which included rice, vegetable oil, peanut butter, fruit drink mix, and assorted canned goods. Each food box could feed a family of four for a week to 10 days.
Food, water, generators, sleeping bags, tools, chain saws, tarps and other items.[10]
In addition to this aid, thousands of church members came into the area as volunteers to assist in clean up efforts.
Church units and creation dates
Stakes and Districts
A meetinghouse in Northwest HoustonA meetinghouse in Canyon Lake
As of January 2024, Texas had the following stakes:
^Originally Frisco Texas Shawnee Trail, Renamed to Prosper Texas, August 25, 2019
A few congregations in Southern Texas are not part of a stake or district. These congregations are the Raymondville Branch, Rio Grande City Branch, Roma Branch, and Zapata Branch and are directly administered by the Texas McAllen Mission and part of the McAllen Texas Temple District.
Missions
Responsibility for Texas has been shared by several different missions. Originally in the Southern States Mission, it was transferred to the Indian Territory Mission, which later changed its name to the Southwestern States Mission and, in 1904, it became the Central States Mission. Texas remained in the Central States Mission until the Texas Mission was organized in 1931. Texas and Louisiana were combined to form the Texas-Louisiana Mission in 1945. Texas was part of the Gulf States Mission from 1955 to 1960.
In 1961, a new Texas Mission was organized. This became the Texas Dallas Mission in 1974. As the church grew, other missions in Texas were organized.
^The Texas Dallas West Mission was originally named the Texas Mission in 1961. It was renamed the Texas North Mission on June 10, 1970, the Texas Dallas Mission on June 20, 1974, and ultimately the Texas Dallas West Mission on July 1, 2020.
^The Texas Fort Worth Mission was originally named the Texas Lubbock Mission in 1986. It was renamed the Texas Fort Worth Mission on January 20, 1988.
^The Texas McAllen Mission was originally named the Texas Corpus Christi Mission in 1989. It was renamed the Texas McAllen Mission on February 24, 1994.
^The Texas San Antonio Mission was originally named the Texas South Mission in 1967. It was renamed the Texas San Antonio Mission on June 20, 1974.
Temples in Texas and Oklahoma (edit) = Operating = Under construction = Announced = Temporarily Closed
As of October 2022, Texas has 4 temples located in the state, with 1 under construction, and 3 more announced. The far western portion of the state is located in the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple District. A few congregations in and around Wichita Falls, TX are in the Lawton Oklahoma Stake and are part of the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple District.
Dallas, Texas, United States April 1, 1981 by Spencer W. Kimball January 22, 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley October 19, 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley March 5, 1989 by Gordon B. Hinckley 44,207 sq ft (4,107.0 m2) on a 6-acre (2.4 ha) site Sloping roof, six spire - designed by Church A&E Services and West & Humphries The rededication in 1989 was for the addition only
Spring, Texas, United States September 30, 1997 by Gordon B. Hinckley June 13, 1998 by Lynn A. Mickelsen August 26, 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley April 22, 2018 by M. Russell Ballard 33,970 sq ft (3,156 m2) on a 11-acre (4.5 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Spencer Partnership Architects and Church A&E Services Rededicated after repairing damage from Hurricane Harvey
Lubbock, Texas, U.S. April 2, 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley November 4, 2000 by Rex D. Pinegar April 21, 2002 by Gordon B. Hinckley 16,498 sq ft (1,532.7 m2) on a 2.7-acre (1.1 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Tisdel Minckler and Associates.
San Antonio, Texas, U.S. June 24, 2001 by Gordon B. Hinckley March 29, 2003 by H. Bruce Stucki May 22, 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley 16,800 sq ft (1,560 m2) on a 5.5-acre (2.2 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Rehler, Vaughn & Koone
Latter-day Saints have had a significant role in establishing and settling communities within the "Mormon Corridor" and other locations, including the following in Texas:
