The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden
(Logo in Swedish)
The Stockholm Sweden Temple
Area	Europe North
Members	9,531 (2022)
Stakes	4
Districts	1
Wards	25
Branches	15
Total Congregations	40
Missions	1
Temples	1
Family History Centers	37

The The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church) is a Christian church with its main offices in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. It has been present in Sweden since 1850. In Swedish, the church is known as Jesu Kristi Kyrka av Sista Dagars Heliga.

History of the Church in Sweden

Sunday School in Oslo around 1902

The Book of Mormon is a sacred book for members of the LDS Church. It was translated into Swedish in 1878. For many years, Swedish members were encouraged to move to the United States. This was to help build up the church's main community, called "Zion," there.

One famous example is the grandfather of Thomas S. Monson, who later became a worldwide leader of the church. His grandfather, Nels Monson, moved from Sweden when he was 16. This movement of members meant that the number of church members in Sweden stayed low for many decades.

However, this policy changed in the late 1900s. Instead of moving, members were encouraged to stay and build up the church in their home countries. Because of this, a special building called a temple was built in Sweden.

As of 2021, the LDS Church had about 9,528 members in Sweden. These members are part of 5 larger groups, which include a total of 40 smaller congregations. This was a small increase from 2014, when there were 9,463 members. The church also has one temple in Sweden, the Stockholm Sweden Temple, located in Västerhaninge.

A Discussion in Sweden

Around 2010, some Swedish members of the LDS Church, including a former local leader named Hans Mattsson, had questions about some church teachings. To help answer these questions, two church leaders, Marlin K. Jensen and historian Richard E. Turley Jr., held an informal meeting.

This meeting took place on November 28, 2010, at the Västerhaninge Chapel in Stockholm. The discussion was recorded without permission and later shared online. This led to many conversations and a lot of interest among people who follow church news online.

Membership history of the LDS Church in Sweden

Service in Gubbängen in 2015

Stakes and Districts

A meetinghouse next to the Stockholm Sweden Temple

In the LDS Church, a "stake" is like a group of several local congregations (called wards or branches). A "district" is a smaller group of congregations, often in areas where the church is newer or has fewer members.

As of February 2023, these stakes and districts were active in Sweden:

Missions

A "mission" is an area where missionaries serve to share the church's message.

• Sweden Stockholm Mission: This mission was created on June 15, 1905. It was formed from a larger mission that covered all of Scandinavia. When it first started, the Swedish Mission included Sweden, Finland, Russia, and parts of northern Germany. Petter Matson was its first leader, called a president. Over time, parts of this mission were separated to form other missions. Now, the Sweden Stockholm Mission covers only Sweden.

Temples

A guest house for the Stockholm Sweden Temple

Temples are very special buildings for members of the LDS Church. They are used for sacred ceremonies and worship. The Stockholm Sweden Temple is the only temple in Sweden.

	34. Stockholm Sweden Temple (Closed for renovation) Official website: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/stockholm-sweden-temple?lang=eng News & images		edit
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Style:	Västerhaninge, Sweden 1 April 1981 by Spencer W. Kimball 17 March 1984 by Thomas S. Monson 2–4 July 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley 31,000 sq ft (2,900 m2) on a 4.47-acre (1.81 ha) site Modern adaptation of six-spire design - designed by John Sjostrom and Church A&E Services

See also

• Religion in Sweden