The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Mexico
Encyclopedia
As of year-end 2007, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 63,987 members in 14 stakes, 128 Congregations (89 wards and 39 branches), 1 mission
, and 1 temple
in New Mexico.
and other surrounding areas. Mormons found converts among the Zuni Indians.
-Zuni Mission was organized, and specialized with teaching Native Americans in their language. This was renamed the Southwest Indian Mission on January 1, 1949. It was renamed the New Mexico-Arizona Mission on October 10, 1972.
New Mexico became its own mission when the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission was organized on December 15, 1896. Stanley D. Robers was president
at the time of organization.
.
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", including the following in New Mexico:
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
, and 1 temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
in New Mexico.
History
Mormons first came to New Mexico in 1846. The LDS Church has traditionally had a strong presence in the Four Corners Region of New Mexico, settling the town of KirtlandKirtland, New Mexico
Kirtland is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,190 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and other surrounding areas. Mormons found converts among the Zuni Indians.
Membership History
| Year | LDS Membership |
|---|---|
| 1920 | 1,313 |
| 1930 | 2,096 |
| 1940 | 3,313 |
| 1950 | 5,557 |
| 1960 | 13,363 |
| 1970 | 21,873 |
| 1980 | 36,881 |
| 1990 | 48,000 |
| 1999 | 57,807 |
| 2008 | 64,872 |
Missions
On March 7, 1943, the NavajoNavajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
-Zuni Mission was organized, and specialized with teaching Native Americans in their language. This was renamed the Southwest Indian Mission on January 1, 1949. It was renamed the New Mexico-Arizona Mission on October 10, 1972.
New Mexico became its own mission when the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission was organized on December 15, 1896. Stanley D. Robers was president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
at the time of organization.
Temples
On March 5, 2000 the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. HinckleyGordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
.
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Communities
Latter-day Saints had a significant role in establishing and settling communities within the "Mormon CorridorMormon Corridor
The Mormon Corridor is a term for the areas of Western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , who are commonly known as Mormons....
", including the following in New Mexico:
- CarsonCarson, New MexicoCarson is an unincorporated community in southwestern Taos County, New Mexico, United States. Named after famed frontiersman and Taos resident Kit Carson, Carson was founded around 1908, when the surrounding area was opened for homesteading. Carson is presently a low-density rural area.Carson has...
- FruitlandFruitland, New MexicoFruitland is an unincorporated community in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, on the north side of the San Juan River. It is immediately west of central Kirtland and north across the river from the Navajo Indian Reservation and Upper Fruitland. It is east of Waterflow.-History:The area...
- KirtlandKirtland, New MexicoKirtland is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,190 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
- LunaLuna, New MexicoLuna is an unincorporated village in northwestern Catron County, New Mexico, United States. It is seven miles from the Arizona border and twentyone miles from Reserve on the San Francisco River and U.S. Route 180.-History:...
- PleasantonPleasanton, New MexicoPleasanton is an unincorporated community in the Williams Valley of Catron County, south of Glenwood and north of Cliff, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It was renowned as a safehaven for Mormon polygamists for several years.-History:...
- VirdenVirden, New MexicoVirden is a village in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census. The nearby community of Summit, essentially belongs to Virden, and is included in the population...
- WaterflowWaterflow, New MexicoWaterflow is an unincorporated community in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States on the north side of the San Juan River. It is immediately west of Fruitland and north across the river from the Navajo Indian Reservation...
External links
- LDS Newsroom (New Mexico)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Visitors Site