The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden facts for kids
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church) is a worldwide Christian church. Its main offices are in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. In Sweden, the Church has been present since 1850. The official name in Swedish is Jesu Kristi Kyrka av Sista Dagars Heliga.
Contents
History of the Church in Sweden
Membership | |
---|---|
Year | Members |
1930 | 1,854 |
1940 | 1,614 |
1950 | 1,483 |
1960 | 2,569 |
1970 | 4,722 |
1980 | 6,888 |
1989* | 7,700 |
1999 | 8,587 |
2009 | 8,966 |
2019 | 9,649 |
*Membership was published as an estimate or rounded number. |
The Book of Mormon is a holy book for members of the Church. It was translated into Swedish in 1878. For many years, Swedish members were asked to move to the United States. This was to help build up the Church's main community, called "Zion."
One famous example is the grandfather of Thomas S. Monson. He later became a worldwide leader of the Church. This movement of members to the US meant fewer members stayed in Sweden for a long time. However, this policy changed later. The Church then built a special building called a temple in Sweden.
As of 2021, there were over 9,528 members of the Church in Sweden. These members are part of 40 local groups, called congregations. This number shows an increase from 2014, when there were 9,463 members. The Church also has one temple in Sweden. It is the Stockholm Sweden Temple, located in Västerhaninge.
Questions and Discussions Among Members
Around 2010, some members in Sweden, including a former local leader named Hans Mattsson, had questions about the Church's history. To help answer these questions, two Church leaders, Marlin K. Jensen and Richard E. Turley Jr., held a meeting. This meeting took place in Stockholm in November 2010. The discussions from this meeting became widely known online and sparked much interest.
Church Stakes in Sweden
In the Church, a "stake" is a group of several local congregations. It is similar to a diocese in other churches. As of February 2023, Sweden has several stakes and one district. A district is a smaller group of congregations that may become a stake later.
Stake or District | Started |
---|---|
Göteborg Sweden Stake | 20 Nov 1977 |
Malmö Sweden Stake | 1 Sep 1996 |
Stockholm Sweden Stake | 20 Apr 1975 |
Stockholm Sweden South Stake | 20 Aug 1995 |
Umeå Sweden District | 1 Jan 1960 |
Church Missions in Sweden
A "mission" is an area where missionaries serve. Missionaries are volunteers who teach people about the Church.
- Sweden Stockholm Mission: This mission started on June 15, 1905. It was formed from a larger mission that covered Scandinavia. When it first began, the mission included Sweden, Finland, Russia, and northern Germany. Petter Matson was its first leader, called a president. Over time, parts of this mission were given to other missions. Now, the Sweden Stockholm Mission covers only Sweden.
Temples in Sweden
A temple is a very special building for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is different from regular church buildings. Temples are used for sacred ceremonies and ordinances, like marriages and baptisms for the dead. Members believe these ceremonies connect families for eternity.
|
|||
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