History The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas

1 history

1.1 1844 texas consideration latter-day saint nation
1.2 1845-1890s
1.3 rural settlements , kelsey colony
1.4 dallas , north texas
1.5 houston , east texas
1.6 el paso , west texas
1.7 texas membership history

history
1844 texas consideration latter-day saint nation

due increased persecution around nauvoo, joseph smith realized have relocate church outside borders of united states. republic of texas considered smith place church members able peacefully practice religion. prophet began negotiate sam houston, president of texas republic, southern , western portions of texas future latter-day saint nation. joseph smith sent lucien woodworth austin, texas, meet houston.

woodworth returned nauvoo , reported progress had made in may. reports indicated plans purchasing large tracts of land. commission composed of woodworth, george miller , almon w. babbitt organized lead final negotiations. joseph smith asked lyman wight , miller prepare lead group of settlers texas assumption negotiations successful. these negotiations ended death of joseph smith in june 1844.

1845-1890s

even though brigham young relocated church in great basin, allowed wight take group of 150 texas. on november 10, 1845, arrived north of present-day dallas. eventually, wight , colonists settled near german colony of fredericksburg , founded town named zodiac.

in 1848, preston thomas , william martindale sent brigham young invite wight , colonists join church in salt lake valley. wight declined offer , consequently excommunicated church. although no longer member of church, wight , followers pioneered settlements in 5 texas counties , left reputation mormons in area.

brigham young sent several missionaries preach in texas in 1850s. joined church encouraged gather saints in utah territory. on december 25, 1855, conference established in texas. 1,000 converts texas immigrated great basin prior civil war.

missionary work in texas ceased during civil war. in 1875, 10 years after civil war, missionary work in texas resumed. texas conference once again organized in 1893.

rural settlements , kelsey colony

the population of latter-day saints in texas increased dramatically when church members began gather in mormon enclaves within state. converts living in southern u.s. endured ostracism , occasional physical violence because of membership in church. in 1890s, president james g. duffin of southwestern states mission suggested church leaders establish gathering place southern u.s. church members. suggestion accepted , branches organized in missouri, kansas , texas. included in texas colonies odom settlement (also known odomville) near spurger, williamson settlement near evadale, jozye (also known little utah), , poynor.

one of successful , long-lived colonies located @ kelsey. founded brothers john , james edgar in december 1898. 9 latter-day saint families settled in area fall of 1901. elder abraham o. woodruff of quorum of twelve visited site , assisted in laying out town. on august 4, 1901, sunday school organized. end of month, meetinghouse built, , end of year, branch had been organized.

missionaries in southern states encouraged converts gather in kelsey. there approximately 400 latter-day saints living in township. school began operating in 1901 , staffed missionaries. kelsey became 1 of largest branches outside stakes of zion. later year, colony divided , settlement of enoch founded , branch organized there.

kelsey s population reached peak in 1923 750 inhabitants. rail line closed same year causing population decline. church-sponsored school closed in 1943, , in 1958, congregations in kelsey , enoch combined gilmer ward.

dallas , north texas

nearly church activity in texas occurred in rural setting. in 1913, harriett m knight, widow 5 children moved kelsey dallas had no organized branch. eliza e. davis other latter-day saint living in dallas, having moved there in 1908. other latter-day saints moved dallas on time. missionaries visited these urban church members, wasn t until 1916 home sunday school organized in dallas. dallas branch organized sometime between 1918 , 1921.

other urban areas began see latter-day saint presence. 1918, latter-day saints living in fort worth, houston, , san antonio. however, dallas first urban branch in texas have meetinghouse. in 1927, dallas latter-day saints moved vacant building formerly used denomination. in 1943, north central texas district organized 500 members, henry knight president. new meetinghouse built in dallas on turtle creek blvd. in 1950s , dedicated president david o. mckay on april 26, 1953. on october 18, 1953, mark e. peterson of quorum of twelve organized dallas texas stake, ervin w. atkerson president.

houston , east texas

the first branch in houston organized on december 5, 1921. first official church-owned meetinghouse home willed church mrs. gussie farmer. house remodeled , dedicated on november 19, 1933. houston stake created on october 11, 1953.

in response hurricane ike in 2008 members of lds church across texas , other parts of country volunteered relief , service.

total church response hurricane ike included:

80,640 hygiene kits (six truckloads).
8.064 cleaning kits (four truckloads).
4 truckloads of water.
11,520 blankets (two truckloads).
4,800 food boxes (four truckloads) included rice, vegetable oil, peanut butter, fruit drink mix, , assorted canned goods. each food box feed family of 4 week 10 days.
food, water, generators, sleeping bags, tools, chain saws, tarps , other items.

in addition aid, thousands of lds volunteers came area assist in clean efforts.

el paso , west texas

the city of el paso played important role in establishment of church in mexico , american southwest. in 1876, daniel w. jones led company of missionaries there, prepared begin missionary work in mexico. these missionaries stayed in el paso several weeks, studied spanish , conducted missionary work, though no conversations recorded.

towards end of 19th century , beginning of 20th, few latter-day saint families mormon colonies in mexico relocated el paso , ciudad juárez. in july 1912 3,000 saints fled homes in mexico because of revolution , made way el paso, assistance local residents received before leaving settle elsewhere.

the first ward in texas organized in el paso on october 11, 1918. part of juarez (mexico) stake, later transferred st. joseph (arizona) stake. mexican mission headquarters located in el paso 1919 1929. el paso texas stake became first stake in texas on september 21, 1952, edward v. turley sr. president.

texas membership history

texas lds membership history