The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ireland | |
---|---|
Area | Europe North |
Members | 3,980 (2022)[1] |
Stakes | 1 |
Districts | 1 |
Wards | 5 |
Branches | 8 |
Total Congregations[2] | 13 |
Family History Centers | 3[3] |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern Ireland | |
---|---|
Area | Europe North |
Members | 5,345 (2016) |
Stakes | 1[4] |
Wards | 7 |
Branches | 3 |
Total Congregations[5] | 10 |
Family History Centers | 3[6] |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a presence in the island of Ireland since at least 1840, when the Elder John Taylor first preached in Newry. He and other missionaries converted a number of Irish people, forming a branch in Hillsborough, County Down. Many of the converted Irish saints emigrated in order to escape poverty (and later famine), as well as to live in majority Latter Day Saint communities. Missionary efforts continued in the 1850s, and a small branch was established in Dublin, but many members emigrated to Utah or lost interest in the church. In 1867, the Irish mission was placed in the care of the British mission. A new branch was formed in Belfast in 1884 and a Dublin branch was reestablished in 1900. All of this occurred despite anti-Mormon disturbances by local Irish people.
Beginning in 1907, Irish church members were asked to remain in their home country to build up the church. This plea by local ecclesiastical leaders initiated a new era of stability for the church in Ireland. In 1948, the first church-owned meeting house was constructed, and in 1953, Northern Ireland welcomed President David O. McKay as the first prophet to visit that region. With Stephen Covey as president of the newly formed Irish mission, in 1962, the number of conversions quadrupled within an 18-month period. By 1974 a stake of Zion was established in Northern Ireland.
In 2017, Northern Ireland had 5,345 members and as of 2022, the Republic of Ireland had 3,980 members. Members in Ireland belong to temple districts in England,[7][8] as there are no Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ireland.[9]
As of February 2018, Mark Coffey is the president of the Dublin Ireland Stake.[10]
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