The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Florida. The LDS Church represents about 1% of the population of Florida according to the Pew Research Center 2014 Religious Landscepe Survey. Official membership statistics show the church representing about 0.75% of the general population.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics (United States) Florida has the 8th largest membership population in the United States and the largest membership population east of the Mississippi. The LDS Church is the 6th largest denomination in Florida. Note:While it's the sixth largest denomination in Florida, it's the seventh largest denomination when "nondenominational" is considered as a denomination.

History

In April 1843, Joseph Smith called William Brown and Daniel Cathcart to serve a mission to Pensacola, but no record exists of them fulfilling the calling. Between April and June 1854, Phineas Young visited the Indian chiefs in Florida and distributed copies of the Book of Mormon.

Missionaries began preaching in Pensacola in January 1895 and started a number of Sunday Schools soon afterwards. The first was in Coe Mills in May 1895."The Saints in Florida", Ensign, June 1975, p. 36. The first branch, known as the Hassell Branch, was created in Jefferson County on May 9, 1897. In September 1897, the Sanderson Branch was organized. George P. Canova, a well-to-do landowner and chairman of the Baker County Commission, became the branch president in January 1898. Five months later, following threats of violence, Canova was killed as he returned home from a church meeting.Thomas R. Canova Family Organization Newspaper Articles Regarding The Assassination of George Paul Canova Father of Thomas R. Canova

In 1906, Charles A. Callis became president of the Florida Conference. That same year, a meetinghouse was dedicated in Jacksonville. Another meetinghouse was completed in Oak Grove in 1907.Richard E. Bennett, "Elder Charles A. Callis: Twentieth-Century Missionary", Ensign, April 1981, p. 46. In 1909, missionaries began working in Miami during the winter months. Three years later, four Latter-day Saint pioneer families from Arizona moved to Florahome, Putnam County and established a Sunday School. In 1914, Julius C. Neubeck of Miami was called on a seven-month mission by Callis and became the first missionary from that city. He then became presiding elder of the church in Miami following his mission."Florida Reaches 100,000 Members", Ensign, December 1996, pp. 66–71.

By 1925, branches or Sunday Schools existed in Florahome, (Putnam County), Jacksonville, Sanderson, Tampa, Miami and in other places throughout the state. In February and March 1925, church president Heber J. Grant visited Jacksonville and held public meetings. Ten years later, the Florida District had 22 branches, and the West Florida District had another 13 branches.2005 Deseret Morning News Church Almanac. Deseret Morning News. p. 175

The first stake in Florida and in the South was created in Jacksonville on January 19, 1947, by Callis, who by then was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Alvin C. Chace, a grandson of early leader George P. Canova, was called as the first president.

Due to the influx of immigrants Florida received over the past few decades from the Caribbean and other countries, branches and wards were created to accommodate foreign speaking individuals in Florida. The first Spanish-speaking stake in the southeastern United States was organized in Miami. This was followed by the creation of a second Spanish-speaking stake in Hialeah Gardens in 1998.

On October 9, 1994, church president Howard W. Hunter dedicated the Orlando Florida Temple. On January 19, 1997, church president Gordon B. Hinckley addressed more than 5,000 members at a conference in Jacksonville commemorating the stake's 50th anniversary."Members celebrate 50th anniversary of first southern stake", Church News, January 25, 1997.

The LDS Church has assisted in recovery efforts from several natural disasters in Florida, and many Florida church members have responded to additional calls to give aid in surrounding states, such as the cleanup efforts following Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Irma, and major flooding in Georgia.Taylor, Scott. "In Florida, an LDS meetinghouse goes from a house of survival to a house of service", Deseret News, 16 September 2017. Retrieved on 19 March 2020. Increasing membership has enabled the magnitude of the church's involvement in disaster relief to grow substantially over time."'Incredible day'", Church News, February 10, 2007. In 2019, church president Russell M. Nelson visited Orlando and spoke to 15,000 members at the Amway Center and visited with the owner of Pulse nightclub, the gay nightclub in Orlando where a gunman killed 49 people in a mass shooting.Noyce, David. "LDS leader Nelson discusses ‘lasting happiness,’ meets with Pulse nightclub owner during Orlando visit", The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 June 2019. Retrieved on 19 March 2020.

Deseret Ranches

In 1950, more than was purchased by the church and which is now known as Deseret Ranches. Deseret Ranches, now part of the Cattle division of AgReserves, encompasses 295,000-acres and extends across Orange, Osceola and Brevard counties and is seen as critical to the Orlando region's water supply.Spear, Kevin. "Mormon church-owned company buys huge swath of Florida land", Orlando Sentinel, 7 November 2013. Retrieved on 11 March 2020. The ranch is home to about a quarter million citrus trees, timberland, tree farms, commercial crops, and large deposits of fossilized seashells used in road base.Walch, Tad. "LDS Church makes large timberland purchase in Florida Panhandle", Deseret News, 10 November 2013. Retrieved on 12 March 2020.

In 2013, the LDS Church purchased 382,834 acres from St. Joe Company in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties. The land, primarily timberland, was purchased for $565 million.Provost, Claire. "From book to boom: how the Mormons plan a city for 500,000 in Florida", The Guardian, 30 January 2017. Retrieved on 12 March 2020.Fineout, Gary. "Mormon church affiliate buying up Florida land", The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 November 2013. Retrieved on 12 March 2020. The LDS Church is now Florida's largest private landowner.Martinez, Amy. "The Mormon Church - Land Lord", Florida Trend, 26 December 2014. Retrieved on 12 March 2020. In 2020, the LDS Church sold more than 20,000 acres of land surrounding Lake Wimico in Florida to The Nature Conservancy who then donated the land to the state and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.Croft, Tim. "Nature Conservancy purchases land at Lake Wimico" , Gannett, 12 February 2020. Retrieved on 12 March 2020.

Stakes

As of July 2026, Florida had the following stakes: Stake Organized Mission Temple Boynton Beach Florida17 Aug 2014Florida Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale Florida Brandon Florida23 Aug 1992Florida TampaOrlando Florida Cocoa Florida13 Nov 1977Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Coral Springs Florida16 Jan 1994Florida Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale Florida DeLand Florida20 Sep 1998Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Dothan Alabama2 Mar 1986Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Fort Myers Florida13 May 1984Florida TampaFort Lauderdale Florida Fort Walton Beach Florida7 Jan 1996Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Gainesville Florida29 Feb 1976Florida JacksonvilleOrlando Florida Jacksonville Florida East15 Sep 1968Florida JacksonvilleOrlando Florida Jacksonville Florida South21 Jun 2009Florida JacksonvilleOrlando Florida Jacksonville Florida West19 Jan 1947Florida JacksonvilleOrlando Florida Kingsland Georgia15 Nov 1987Florida JacksonvilleTallahassee Florida Lake City Florida16 Mar 1986Florida JacksonvilleTallahassee Florida Lakeland Florida27 Jun 1980Florida TampaOrlando Florida Lake Mary Florida9 Nov 2014Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Leesburg Florida14 Nov 1982Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Miami Florida (Spanish)13 Nov 1960Florida Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale Florida Miami Lakes Florida25 Jan 1998Florida Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale Florida Naples Florida23 Sep 2018Florida Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale Florida Ocala Florida30 Jun 2019Florida TampaOrlando Florida Odessa Florida16 Oct 2016Florida TampaOrlando Florida Orlando Florida Citrus Ridge27 Apr 2025Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Orlando Florida23 Feb 1958Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Orlando Florida South30 Aug 1992Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Palm Bay Florida10 Jan 2016Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida Panama City Florida16 Nov 1975Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Pensacola Florida15 Jun 1969Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Sarasota Florida17 May 2009Florida TampaOrlando Florida St Augustine Florida29 Mar 2026Florida JacksonvilleOrlando Florida St Cloud Florida6 Nov 2005Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida St Petersburg Florida18 Aug 1974Florida TampaOrlando Florida Stuart Florida12 Oct 1980Florida Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale Florida Tallahassee Florida21 Jan 1973Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Tampa Florida25 Oct 1959Florida TampaOrlando Florida Winter Garden Florida23 Aug 2020Florida OrlandoOrlando Florida

Missions On March 1, 1894, Florida became part of the Southern States Mission. The Florida Mission was then organized from the Southern States Mission on November 1, 1960. From the Florida Mission the Florida Tallahassee Mission and the Florida South Mission were formed on July 1, 1971. On June 20, 1974, the Florida South Mission changed its name to the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission. Three additional missions has been created in Florida since then.

MissionOrganizedFlorida Orlando Mission1 July 1998Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission1 November 1960Florida Tallahassee MissionJune 2024Florida Jacksonville Mission1 July 1987Florida Tampa Mission1 July 1976

Temples The state of Florida has five temples in various stages of construction or operation. The first, the Orlando Florida Temple, was dedicated on October 9, 1994, by church president Howard W. Hunter. The Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple was announced by church president Thomas S. Monson on October 3, 2009, with ground broken for its construction on June 18, 2011. A public open house took place from March 29 to April 19, 2014. The temple was dedicated by Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the church's First Presidency on May 4, 2014. The temple is designed to serve an estimated 25,000 church members in South Florida.Nolin, Robert. "New Mormon temple soars above Davie pastures", South Florida Sun Sentinel, Florida, 1 July 2015. Retrieved on 10 August 2019. As of November 2022, current church president Russell M. Nelson has announced temples to be constructed in Tallahassee, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida

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