The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Dakota
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Dakota refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in South Dakota. The official church membership as a percentage of general population was 1.27% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, less than 1% of South Dakotans self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.[3] The LDS Church is the 8th largest denomination in South Dakota.[4]
History
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 5,276 |
| 1989* | 7,400 |
| 1999 | 8,077 |
| 2009 | 9,525 |
| 2019 | 10,610 |
| 2025 | 12,064 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac State Information: South Dakota[1] | |
The first Anglo-Saxons to settle in what is now South Dakota affiliated themselves with the LDS Church and settled at Fort Vermillion in 1845 to 1846. These settlers, among others, were sent to explore locations that would be suitable for a new home for the LDS Church as they experienced persecutions in Nauvoo, Missouri, and other areas further east.[5]
The number of missionaries from the church sent to the Dakotas doubled during the pandemic.[6]
Stakes
As of July 2026, the following stakes had congregations located in South Dakota:[7]
| Stake | Organized | Mission | Temple District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck North Dakota | 22 Sep 1996 | North Dakota Bismarck | Bismarck North Dakota |
| Fargo North Dakota | 7 Aug 1977 | North Dakota Bismarck | Bismarck North Dakota |
| Rapid City South Dakota | 10 Dec 1972 | North Dakota Bismarck | Casper Wyoming |
| Sioux Falls South Dakota | 18 Nov 1979 | Nebraska Omaha | Winter Quarters Nebraska |
| Sioux City Iowa | 21 Jan 1996 | Nebraska Omaha | Winter Quarters Nebraska |
Missions
The former South Dakota Rapid City Mission was renamed the North Dakota Bismarck Mission in 2015.[8]
Temples
As of May 2021, congregations in the Sioux Falls South Dakota and the Sioux City Iowa stakes are in the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple district.[9] Congregations in the Rapid City South Dakota and the two North Dakota stakes shown above are in the Bismarck North Dakota Temple district.[10]
On April 6, 2025, President Russell M. Nelson announced a temple would be constructed in Rapid City.[11]
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| Location: Announced: Size: |
Rapid City, South Dakota 6 April 2025 by Russell M. Nelson[12][13] 11,800 sq ft (1,100 m2) on a 4.86-acre (1.97 ha) site | ||
