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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona
Christmas Lights at the Mesa Arizona Temple
Area	NA Southwest
Members	439,411 (2022)
Stakes	116
Wards	844
Branches	86
Total Congregations	930
Missions	6
Temples	6 Operating 2 Announced 8 Total
Family History Centers	74

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the second-largest religious denomination in Arizona, behind the Roman Catholic Church. In 2022, the church reported 439,411 members in Arizona, about 6% of the state's population. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 5% of Arizonans self-identify most closely with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

History

Mormon Battalion

The first presence of Latter-day Saints in Arizona was the Mormon Battalion. They marched through what is now southern Arizona in 1846 on the way to California as part of the Mexican–American War. They encountered wild cattle bulls and killed several of them in defense. They passed through Tucson (then a town of 400–500 inhabitants) causing an attachment of Mexican Forces to flee. They camped at the mouth of the Gila River before entering California.

Northern Arizona settlements

The next time Latter-day Saints entered the area was in 1858 and 1859, when Jacob Hamblin and his companions camped at Pipe Spring in the northwestern part of present-day Arizona. They did this while journeying to and from their missions among the Moqui (Hopi) Indians east of the Colorado River.

During the 1860s and 1870s, LDS parties explored portions of the area searching for possible settlement sites. Also during this period, isolated ranches and small Mormon settlements were established at Short Creek (now Colorado City), Pipe Spring, Beaver Dam and neighboring Littlefield, and Lee's Ferry, all in the area between the Utah border and the Grand Canyon known as the Arizona Strip.

The first effort at large-scale LDS colonization came in March 1873 when a group of Latter-day Saints was sent from Utah to the Little Colorado River drainage under the direction of Horton D. Height. The colonizers turned back, discouraged by the poor prospects, but a few returned the following year and began farming among the Native Americans at Moencopi. Local hostilities forced the colonists to leave again after a month. A year later, James S. Brown led another small colonizing group that successfully settled at Moencopi, then began exploring the surrounding area. Following these explorations, a large group of settlers, led by Lot Smith, arrived in the spring of 1876 and established four settlements on the Little Colorado, which they called Ballenger's Camp (later renamed Brigham City), Sunset, Obed and Allen City (later renamed St. Joseph, and then Joseph City), along with a support settlement near Mormon Lake with a sawmill, dairy and tannery.

Central and southern Arizona settlements

Daniel W. Jones was commissioned by Brigham Young to start a Mormon colony within the Salt River Valley of the Arizona Territory. The settlement party arrived at what would become Lehi, Arizona in March 1877. Jones' invitation to local Native Americans to live with them became a point of controversy, and half of the initial colony left, moving on to found St. David, Arizona. In February 1878 the First Mesa Company arrived in Lehi. Rather than accepting an invitation to settle at Jones' settlement, they moved to the top of the mesa, and founded Mesa, Arizona. They dug irrigation canals, incorporating the original Hohokam canals in some places, and within a couple of months water was flowing through them.

Pima was founded in 1879 by Mormon settlers relocating from Forrest Dale, after that location was declared to be on tribal land. Originally named Smithville, it was unlike other Mormon settlements of the era, not being planned by the leaders of the church. Joseph K. Rogers was the first branch president at Pima, being appointed to this office before the settlers arrived. The branch was organized into a ward in 1880. In 1930 the total population of Pima was 980, 666 of whom were LDS, and a total of 1,260 people resided within the Pima ward boundaries.

County Statistics

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

Stakes

As of November 2024, the following stakes were located in Arizona:

1. ^ Stake located outside Arizona with congregation(s) meeting in Arizona

Missions

On March 7, 1943, the Navajo-Zuni Mission was organized, and specialized with teaching Native Americans in their language. This was renamed the Southwest Indian Mission on January 1, 1949, and again the New Mexico-Arizona Mission on October 10, 1972. It was discontinued and transferred into the Arizona Phoenix Mission on July 1, 1984.

On August 1, 1969, the Arizona Mission was organized from the California South Mission, and was renamed the Arizona Tempe Mission on June 20, 1974.

As of February 2023, Arizona was now home to six missions.

Also, the Nevada Las Vegas Mission, the New Mexico Farmington Mission, and the Utah St George Mission covers portions of the state.

Temples

Gila ValleyGilbertMesaPhoenixQueen CreekSnowflakeTucsonYumaLas VegasRed CliffsSt. GeorgeTemples in Arizona (edit) = Operating = Under construction = Announced = Temporarily Closed

On October 23, 1927, the Mesa Arizona Temple was dedicated. Until that time, members had traveled to the St. George Temple. Because of all the bridal parties that traversed the trail during the early years, the wagon road between St. George and the Arizona settlements became known as the Honeymoon Trail. The Mesa Arizona Temple was the first temple in the Church to be rededicated (on April 15, 1975) after extensive remodeling and enlarging to accommodate increased attendance.

On March 3, 2002, a second Arizona temple was dedicated in Snowflake. Since then, a third, The Gila Valley Arizona Temple has been dedicated in Central, Arizona and three additional temples have been dedicated in Gilbert, Phoenix, and Tucson.

	7. Mesa Arizona Temple Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Rededicated: Size: Style: Notes:	Mesa, Arizona, United States October 3, 1919 by Heber J. Grant April 25, 1922 by Heber J. Grant October 23, 1927 by Heber J. Grant April 16, 1975 by Spencer W. Kimball 113,916 sq ft (10,583.1 m) on a 20-acre (8.1 ha) site Neoclassical Architecture - designed by Don Carlos Young, Jr. and Ramm Hansen The first temple to offer ordinances in a language other than English (Spanish).
	108. Snowflake Arizona Temple Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Style:	Snowflake, Arizona, U.S. April 2, 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley September 23, 2000 by Rex D. Pinegar March 3, 2002 by Gordon B. Hinckley 18,621 sq ft (1,729.9 m) on a 7.5-acre (3.0 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Trest Polina
	132. Gila Valley Arizona Temple Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Style:	Central, Arizona, United States April 26, 2008 by Thomas S. Monson February 14, 2009 by Neil L. Andersen May 23, 2010 by Thomas S. Monson 18,561 sq ft (1,724.4 m) on a 17-acre (6.9 ha) site {{{design}}} - designed by Gregory B. Lambright
	142. Gilbert Arizona Temple Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Style: Notes:	Gilbert, Arizona, U.S. April 26, 2008 by Thomas S. Monson November 13, 2010 by Claudio R. M. Costa March 2, 2014 by Henry B. Eyring & Thomas S. Monson 85,326 sq ft (7,927.0 m) on a 15.38-acre (6.22 ha) site Neoclassical center spire Announced by Thomas S. Monson on April 26, 2008, to be built on the southeast corner of Pecos and Greenfield Roads. A public open house was held from January 18 to February 15, 2014. The temple was formally dedicated on March 2, 2014.
	144. Phoenix Arizona Temple Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Notes:	Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. May 24, 2008 by Thomas S. Monson June 4, 2011 by Ronald A. Rasband November 16, 2014 by Thomas S. Monson 64,870 sq ft (6,027 m) on a 5.19-acre (2.10 ha) site A public open house was held from October 10 to November 1, 2014.
	157. Tucson Arizona Temple Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size:	Catalina Foothills, Arizona, U.S. October 6, 2012 by Thomas S. Monson October 17, 2015 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf August 13, 2017 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf 38,216 sq ft (3,550.4 m) on a 7-acre (2.8 ha) site
	343. Yuma Arizona Temple (Announced) Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced:	Yuma, Arizona, United States 7 April 2024 by Russell M. Nelson
	362. Queen Creek Arizona Temple (Announced) Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced:	Queen Creek, Arizona, United States 6 October 2024 by Russell M. Nelson

Communities

Latter-day Saints have had a significant role in establishing, settling, and/or populating communities within the "Mormon Corridor", including the following in Arizona:

• Beaver Dam
• Brigham City (ghost town)
• Central
• Eagar
• Fredonia
• Gilbert
• Heber-Overgaard
• Joseph City
• Layton (absorbed by Safford)
• Lee's Ferry
• Lehi (annexed by Mesa)
• Littlefield
• Maryvale in Phoenix
• Mesa
• Mormon Lake
• Obed (ghost town)
• Pomerene
• Pima
• Pine
• Pipe Spring
• Queen Creek
• Safford
• Scottsdale
• St. David
• St. Johns
• Snowflake
• Sunset (ghost town)
• Taylor
• Thatcher
• Tuba City
• Wilford
• Woodruff

Notable people

• Matt Salmon
• John K. Carmack
• Junius Driggs
• Jake Flake
• Jeff Flake
• William J. Flake
• Francis M. Gibbons
• Jacob Hamblin
• Charles E. Jones (judge)
• Daniel Webster Jones (Mormon)
• David Patten Kimball
• Spencer W. Kimball
• Rex E. Lee
• Evan Mecham
• Fred Mortensen
• Charles Sreeve Peterson
• Miles Park Romney
• Eric B. Shumway
• Jesse N. Smith
• Lot Smith
• Delbert L. Stapley
• David King Udall
• Ida Hunt Udall
• Udall family
• Bob Worsley

See also

• Religion in Arizona
• Aztec Land & Cattle Company (1884–1902)
• Mormon colonies in Mexico
• Mormon Corridor
• State of Deseret
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics (United States)
• John Willard Young

References

1. ^ "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by State: Arizona", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 17 April 2021
2. Category:Arizona Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 18, 2022
3. "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report". Thearda.com. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
4. "Adults in Texas: Religious composition of adults in Texas". Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
5. Peterson, Charles S. (1992), "Arizona, Pioneer Settlements in", in Ludlow, Daniel H. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York, NY: Macmillan, pp. 66–67, ISBN 0-02-904040-X, OCLC 24502140.
6. Stein, Pat H (2005). "The Mormon Lake Dairy, Sawmill, and Tannery" (PDF). Archaeology Southwest Magazine. 19 (2): 10. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
7. "Mesa History – Lehi Settlement and Fort Utah", Mesalibrary.org, archived from the original on 2008-07-20, retrieved 2010-11-30
8. "Mesa History – First Mesa Company", Mesalibrary.org, archived from the original on 2008-09-07, retrieved 2010-11-30
9. McClintock, James H. (1921). Mormon settlement in Arizona. Phoenix, Arizona: Office of the Arizona State Historian. pp. 244–246. OCLC 1988605. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
10. Jenson, Andrew (1941), Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, p. 654, OCLC 3188924
11. "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report". Thearda.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
12. Garrett, H. Dean (July 1989), "The Honeymoon Trail", Ensign: 23
13. Turner, D. L.; Ellis, Catherine H. (2009), Latter-Day Saints in Mesa, Images of America, Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, pp. 9, 126, ISBN 9780738558578
14. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-oaks-rededicates-mesa-arizona-temple
15. "Two new temples: Gilbert, Gila Valley". Church News. April 26, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
16. "Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple", Mormon Newsroom, LDS Church, January 31, 2009, retrieved October 15, 2012
17. ^ "Two new temples: Gilbert, Gila Valley". Church News. April 26, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
18. Satterfield, Rick, "Gilbert Arizona Temple", LDSChurchTemples.com, retrieved March 3, 2014
19. Greene, Katherine (September 3, 2009), "Panel paves way for new Mormon temple in Gilbert", The Arizona Republic, retrieved November 2, 2012
20. "Public Invited to Tour Gilbert Arizona Temple", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 21, 2013
21. "Church Dedicates 142nd Temple", Newsroom , LDS Church, March 2, 2014
22. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/gilbert-arizona-temple/prayer/2014-03-02
23. "Phoenix Arizona Temple Dedicated by President Thomas S. Monson", Newsroom, LDS Church, November 16, 2014
24. "Public Invited to Tour the Phoenix Arizona Temple", Newsroom, LDS Church, August 7, 2014
25. Mandy, Morgan (October 8, 2012). "LDS Church announces plans for new temples in Arizona and Peru". Deseret News. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
26. "Tucson to get its own Mormon temple". Arizona Daily Star. October 7, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
27. "New temples announced for Tucson, Arizona and Arequipa, Peru". Church News. October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2012..
28. "Ground Broken for Temples in Chile and the U.S." Newsroom. LDS Church. October 17, 2015.
29. "Tucson Arizona Temple Is Dedicated: Marks the 6th Mormon temple in Arizona and 157th in the world", Newsroom, LDS Church, August 13, 2017
30. Full summary of Sunday’s LDS General Conference: Nelson names temples; Oaks reaffirms wearing of garments; Kearon points to a welcoming God, Salt Lake Tribune, 7 April 2024
31. "President Russell M. Nelson Announces 15 Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 April 2024
32. The 17 new LDS temples include firsts for two countries and two U.S. states, Salt Lake Tribune, 6 October 2024
33. "The Prophet Announces 17 New Temples at the October 2024 General Conference", Newsroom, LDS Church, 6 October 2024

Further reading

Academic

• Abruzzi, William S. (1993), Dam that river!: ecology and Mormon settlement in the Little Colorado River Basin, Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, ISBN 0819191264, OCLC 27814216
• Garrett, H. Dean; Clark V. Johnson (1989). Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: Arizona. Provo, Utah: Department of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University. ISBN 0-8425-2370-7. OCLC 22014464.
• Herman, Daniel J. (2010), Hell on the Range: A Story of Honor, Conscience, and the American West, New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, ISBN 9780300137361, OCLC 601348221
• Herman, Daniel J. (April 2012), "Arizona's Secret History: When Powerful Mormons Went Separate Ways", Common-place, 12 (3), American Antiquarian Society
• Peterson, Charles Sharon (1967). Settlement on the Little Colorado, 1873–1900: a study of the processes and institutions of Mormon expansion (Ph. D. thesis). Dept. of History, University of Utah. OCLC 3681211.
• Smith, Sophronia (1937). A historical survey of the northeastern section of Arizona, its settlement and development into Latter-Day Saint Stakes, 1876–1937 (M.S. thesis). Brigham Young University. OCLC 18939235.
• Ward, Margery W.; Dye, Della L.; Conrad, Kathryn (1974), Register of the records of Mormon settlements in Arizona, Salt Lake City: Special Collections Dept., University of Utah, OCLC 2569009
• Williams, Oran Adna (1957). Settlement and growth of the Gila Valley in Graham county as a Mormon colony, 1879–1900 (M.A. thesis). Dept. of History, University of Arizona. OCLC 28230204.
• Young, Valerie P. (2005). The "Honeymoon Trail": link to community and a sense of place in the Little Colorado River settlements of Arizona, 1877–1927 (M.S. thesis). Utah State University. OCLC 60858535.

News

• Ruelas, Richard (October 12, 2012), "Side by side: Mormonism in Arizona", Arizona Republic

Other

• Webb, Rhonda; Goodman, Arleen (2003), Mormon pioneers of the San Pedro Valley: Saint David, Arizona, St. David, AZ: St. David Heritage and Cultural Arts Society, OCLC 54848798

External links

• ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site

• Latter Day Saint movement in Arizona
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona