The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wyoming
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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 66,665 members in 1723 congregations.[3]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wyoming | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Area | US Central |
| Members | 66,665 (2025)[1] |
| Stakes | 19 |
| Wards | 143 |
| Branches | 30 |
| Total Congregations | 173 |
| Temples | 2 operating 1 under construction 3 total |
| FamilySearch Centers | 46[2] |
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.
History
| 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 |
| 2025 | 66,665 |
| 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]
County Statistics
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 |
Stakes
As of July 2026, Wyoming was home to the following stakes:[9]
| Stake | Mission | Temple District |
|---|---|---|
| Afton Wyoming | Idaho Pocatello | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Bridger Valley Wyoming Stake | Wyoming Cheyenne | Ogden Utah |
| Casper Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | Casper Wyoming |
| Casper Wyoming East | Wyoming Cheyenne | Casper Wyoming |
| Cheyenne Wyoming East | Wyoming Cheyenne | Fort Collins Colorado |
| Cheyenne Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | 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 | Wyoming Cheyenne | Ogden Utah |
| Evanston Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | Ogden Utah |
| Gillette Wyoming | Montana Billings | Casper Wyoming |
| Green River Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | Vernal Utah |
| Kemmerer Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Laramie Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | Fort Collins Colorado |
| Lovell Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
| Montpelier Idaho South Stake[a] | Idaho Pocatello | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Riverton Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | Casper Wyoming |
| Rock Springs Wyoming | Wyoming Cheyenne | Vernal Utah |
| Sheridan Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
| Thayne Wyoming | Idaho Pocatello | Star Valley Wyoming |
| Worland Wyoming | Montana Billings | Billings Montana |
- Stake located outside Wyoming with congregation(s) meeting in Wyoming
Missions
As of 2023, no missions were headquartered in Wyoming. However, Wyoming is served by four missions headquartered outside the state.
| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| Idaho Idaho Falls | 1 July 2013 |
| Montana Billings Falls | 11 November 1950 |
| Wyoming Cheyanne Mission | 1 July 2026 |
Temples
| Temples in Wyoming ()
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: Dedicated: Size: Notes: |
Casper, Wyoming, U.S. 4 April 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[12] 9 October 2021 by S. Gifford Nielsen 24 November 2024 by Quentin L. Cook 9,950 sq ft (924 m2) on a 9.52-acre (3.85 ha) site The temple's dedication was originally scheduled for October 13, 2024. On August 26, 2024, as the temple's open house began, it was announced the dedication was rescheduled to November 24, 2024. | |||||
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| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Open House: Dedicated: Size: |
Cody, Wyoming, United States 3 October 2021 by Russell M. Nelson[13][14] 27 September 2024 by Steven R. Bangerter[15] 27 August-12 September 2026 scheduled for 25 October 2026 9,950 sq ft (924 m2) on a 5-acre (2.0 ha) site | |||||
Communities
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Latter-day Saints had a significant role in establishing and settling several communities within the "Mormon Corridor", including the following in Wyoming:
- Afton
- Auburn
- Bridger Valley (Particularly Lyman and Fort Supply)
- Rock Springs
