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

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden
LDS Church logo - swe.png
(Logo in Swedish)
Templet i Stockholm 2017b.jpg
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 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.

History of the Church in Sweden

Sunday School in The Christiana Norway ca 1902
Sunday School in Oslo around 1902
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

Jesu Kristi Kyrkas medlemsantal i Sverige genom tiderna
Membership history of the LDS Church in Sweden
Gubbängens möten
Service in Gubbängen in 2015

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

Templet i Stockholm 2017e
A meetinghouse next to the Stockholm Sweden Temple

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

Templet i Stockholm 2017d
A guest house for the Stockholm Sweden Temple

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.

Templet i Stockholm 2017a.jpg
  • 34. Stockholm Sweden Temple (Closed for renovation)
  • Official website: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/stockholm-sweden-temple?lang=eng
  • News & images
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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
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