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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Georgia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Georgia. The first branch in Georgia was organized in 1876. It has since grown to 92,581 members in 163 congregations.

Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 0.82% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 1% of Georgians self-identify themselves most closely with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church is the 8th largest denomination in Georgia. Note:While it's the eighth largest denomination in Georgia, it's the ninth largest denomination when "nondenominational" is considered as a denomination.

Stakes are located in Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Cartersville, Coal Mountain, Columbus, Conyers, Fayetteville, Kingsland, Lilburn, Macon, Marietta, Powder Springs, Roswell, Savannah, Sugar Hill, Tifton, and Winder.

History

In 1843, missionary work was briefly opened in Georgia by Elder John U. Eldredge. Other missionaries followed to preach and to campaign for Joseph Smith in his presidential bid. The campaign ceased in 1844 with the death of Joseph Smith, and missionary work halted in 1846.Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret News Publishing Company

Missionary work in Georgia resumed in 1878. The Southern States Mission headquarters was established in Rome (60 miles north of Atlanta). One early convert to the Church donated land and built a chapel at Mormon Springs in Haralson County.

Missionaries were initially treated well upon their return to the South, but before long their success led to violent opposition. On July 21, 1879, Elder Joseph Standing was killed by a mob near Varnell's Station. His companion, Rudger Clawson, escaped serious injury. Unable to secure protection for missionaries, the church pulled out all missionaries in Georgia for the next decade. in 1889, a small group of members left to go west by Train.History of the Church:Transitions: Early-Twentieth-Century Period.BYU Studies.Retrieved 24 Jan 2008

Missionaries returned to Georgia in 1899, but slowly and cautiously due to disease and persecution. Ohio was added to the Southern States mission at the request of President Ben E. Rich, so he would have a place where ill missionaries could recover.

In 1930, branches were located in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah. Sunday Schools had been established in Cedar Crossing, Douglas, Empire, Glenwood, Milledgeville, and Thomaston. That year, the state membership was 4,311.

LeGrand Richards, later a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, served as Southern States Mission mission president from 1934 to 1937, and wrote the outline for A Marvelous Work and a Wonder while in Atlanta.Lucille C. Tate, "LeGrand Richards: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder", Tambuli, February 1983.

In 1957, the Atlanta Stake was created, taking the northern two-thirds of the state with 3,000 members with wards in Atlanta (2), Columbus, Macon, and Empire. Branches for the stake were located in Buchanan, Athens, Gibson, Milledgeville, and Palmetto. The remainder of the state was covered by the Georgia-Florida and South Georgia districts."William L. Nicholls to Preside over New Atlanta Stake", Church News, May 11, 1957.

Humanitarian relief From Atlanta, hurricane and flood relief has been shipped to many areas of disaster including Hurricane Andrew, the Albany, Georgia flooding in 1994, Hurricane Opal, Hurricane Katrina as well as many other storms and disasters.

In December 1994, the Church donated 158,000 pounds of food through 26 religious and charitable organizations to the hungry in Atlanta. As various natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes struck Georgia and other areas across the south, Church members in Georgia responded to supply funds, goods, and volunteer help in the aftermath.

Southeast Area based in Atlanta Though its headquarters is publicly in Salt Lake City, many operations for the North America Southeast Area operate through Atlanta.

In 1919 the headquarters of the Southern States mission moved to Atlanta under mission president Charles A. Callis. At that time, this mission stretched as far west as Arkansas and Louisiana, and as far north as Ohio.Richard E. Bennett, "Elder Charles A. Callis: Twentieth-Century Missionary", Ensign, April 1981, p. 46.

In 1983, the Atlanta Georgia Temple was completed and dedicated, being the only temple in the Southeast United States for over 11 years.

Area headquarters in Atlanta include complete temporal and ecclesiastical distribution centers. Family Services for the North America Southeast Area is also based in Atlanta.

Stakes

As of July 2026, the following stakes were located in Georgia:

Stake Organized Mission Temple District Athens Georgia2 May 2004Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia Atlanta Georgia23 Jun 1996Georgia AtlantaAtlanta Georgia Augusta Georgia5 Feb 1978South Carolina ColumbiaColumbia South Carolina Cartersville Georgia19 Mar 2006Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia Chattanooga Tennessee21 May 1978Tennessee KnoxvilleAtlanta Georgia Coal Mountain Georgia6 May 2018Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia Columbus Georgia15 Jan 1978Georgia AtlantaAtlanta Georgia Conyers Georgia6 Mar 2011Georgia AtlantaAtlanta Georgia Dothan Alabama2 Mar 1986Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Fayetteville Georgia14 May 1978Georgia AtlantaAtlanta Georgia Hilton Head South Carolina24 Feb 2019South Carolina CharlestonColumbia South Carolina Kingsland Georgia15 Nov 1987Florida JacksonvilleTallahassee Florida Lilburn Georgia5 May 1957Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia Macon Georgia10 Mar 1963Georgia AtlantaAtlanta Georgia Marietta Georgia21 Jun 1987Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia Newnan Georgia16 Aug 2020Georgia AtlantaAtlanta Georgia Powder Springs Georgia23 Nov 1980Georgia AtlantaAtlanta Georgia Roswell Georgia12 May 1974Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia Savannah Georgia7 May 1978South Carolina CharlestonColumbia South Carolina Sugar Hill Georgia26 May 1991Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia Tallahassee Florida21 Jan 1973Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Tifton Georgia26 Oct 1975Florida TallahasseeTallahassee Florida Winder Georgia1 Mar 2020Georgia Atlanta NorthAtlanta Georgia

Missions Atlanta, Georgia became headquarters for the Southern States Mission when it was opened in 1876 with Henry G. Boyle as president. The mission covered the southern United States from Texas east. As more missions were created, the territorial coverage was reduced. In Jun 1971, the Southern States mission was renamed the Georgia-South Carolina Mission. On June 20, 1974, it was renamed the Georgia Atlanta Mission.

Georgia is now home to two missions with two others extending into the state.

MissionOrganizedFlorida Jacksonville MissionJuly 1, 1987Georgia Atlanta MissionNov 1876Georgia Atlanta North MissionJuly 11, 2003South Carolina Columbia MissionJuly 1, 1975

The Georgia Macon Mission which was organized in 2013 was disorganized in 2019.

Temples

On June 1, 1983 the Atlanta Georgia Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley. For over 11 years (1983-1994), it served as the only temple in the North America Southeast Area.

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

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