The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oregon
Mormonism is the 2nd largest religious denomination in Oregon after Roman Catholicism. Mormons have had considerable influence in the state throughout its contemporary history and many influential Mormons have come from Oregon including Senator Gordon H. Smith.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oregon | |
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The Portland Oregon Temple, one of two in Oregon. | |
Classification | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Orientation | Christianity, Latter Day Saint movement |
Scripture | Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price |
Theology | Latter-day Saint Theology |
Governance | First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Other General Authorities |
Prophet and Church President | Russell M. Nelson |
Counselors | Dallin H. Oaks, Henry B. Eyring |
Mission Presidents | Jonathan W. Bullen, Dale S. Orton, Scott Wilde, Dennis A. McAteer, Randall D. Bartlett |
Region | Oregon |
Origin | ~1890 |
Congregations | 309 |
Members | 153,955 |
As of December 31, 2017, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 153,955 members in 35 stakes,[1] 309 congregations (260 wards[2] and 49 branches[2]), three missions, and two temples in Oregon.[3]
History
E. Kimbark MacColl's analysis of Portland, Oregon, history states "Portland was well endowed with churches, with approximately one for every 600 residents" in the 1890s.[4] In his survey of six leading denominations and all 25 missions, no mention was made of LDS Church denominations or missions.[4] A chapel was built in Portland in 1929, ready for an open house on February 15–17, 1929. The building "carried the architectural scheme of an old English manor, being constructed of dense lava stone and bricks of the clinker type, and is declared particularly suited to western Oregon climate and surroundings."[5] It included a maternity room and a basement with 14 classrooms.[5] The architect was C. R. Kaufman, and construction had begun on August 1, 1928.[5]
In 2020, the LDS Church canceled services and other public gatherings indefinitely in response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.[6]
Membership history
Year | Membership |
---|---|
1920 | 2,796 |
1930 | 5,185 |
1940 | 8,799 |
1950 | 17,885 |
1960 | 29,920 |
1970 | 48,997 |
1980 | 94,093 |
1990 | 113,774 |
1999 | 134,438 |
2008 | 145,429 |
2012 | 149,089 |
Missions
On July 26, 1897, the Northwestern States Mission (headquartered in Portland) was organized to search out Latter-day Saints who had moved to Oregon, Washington, and Montana. On June 10, 1970, its name changed to the Oregon Mission and ultimately the Oregon Portland Mission on June 20, 1974. On July 1, 1990, the Eugene Oregon Mission was organized; and in July 2013, the Salem Oregon Mission was organized.
Mission | Organized |
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Oregon Eugene Mission | July 1, 1990 |
Oregon Portland Mission | July 26, 1897 |
Oregon Salem Mission | July 2013 |
Notable Oregonian Saints
See Also: List of Latter Day Saints and Category:Latter Day Saints from Oregon
- Gordon H. Smith, US Senator (R), 1997-2009
- Dennis Richardson, Oregon Secretary of State (R), 2017–19
- Tom Butler, Former State Representative, (R-HD60)
- Shawn Lindsay, Former State Representative, (R-HD30)
- Ammon Bundy, Activist and leader of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge Standoff
- Danny Ainge, Basketball player and executive
- Shauna Parsons, Journalist and news anchor
- Rich Vial, Former Deputy Secretary of State, Nonpartisan candidate for Oregon Secretary of State in 2020
- Erin Chambers, Actress
- Jacoby Ellsbury, Professional baseball player (Boston, New York - Yankees)
- Jeremy Guthrie, Professional baseball player (multiple teams)
- Dale Murphy, Professional baseball player (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Colorado)
Temples
Oregon currently has two temples. Two other temples have temple districts reaching into Oregon.
|
42. Portland Oregon Temple | ||
Location: |
Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States | ||
|
79. Medford Oregon Temple | ||
Location: |
Central Point, Oregon, United States |
Gallery
- An LDS Chapel in Fossil.
- A contemporary LDS Chapel in Beaverton.
- The Union Stake Tabernacle in Elgin.
- An LDS Chapel in Pendleton.
- The sign to the Portland Oregon Temple.
References
- Oregon Stakes.LDS Stake & Ward Web Sites. List of Stakes in Oregon.
- LDS Meetinghouse Locator.Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).
- LDS Newsroom (Statistical Information)
- MacColl, E. Kimbark (November 1976). The Shaping of a City: Business and politics in Portland, Oregon 1885 to 1915. Portland, Oregon: The Georgian Press Company. pp. 178–179. OCLC 2645815.
- "New Chapel Soon Ready". The Oregonian. 1929-02-10.
- Lovett, Ian. "Mormon Church Cancels Services World-Wide Amid Coronavirus Crisis", The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 2020. Retrieved on 31 March 2020.
External links
- Newsroom (Oregon), current membership statistics
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site
- Deseret News 2010 Church Almanac, includes brief history of the LDS Church in Oregon.