# The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Virginia. In 1841, there were 80 members of the Church. It has since grown to 96,748 members in 216 congregations.
Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 1.13% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 2% of Virginians self-identified most closely with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church is the 7th largest denomination in Virginia.

## History

In 1841, there were some 80 members of the Church in Virginia.
In 1996, a group of Mormon businessmen acquired Southern Virginia College—a two-year private women's college—and turned it into Southern Virginia University, a four-year, coeducational school with a Brigham Young University-like honor code in Buena Vista.
In 2011, Time magazine profiled the large population of singles, or Young Single Adults, in the DC area—including the new 23rd Street Chapel.
In April 2018, church president Russell M. Nelson announced the first temple to be built in Virginia. The site chosen for the Richmond Virginia Temple is the northwestern part of the Richmond area in the city of Glen Allen.

## Stakes

LDS stakes are groups of congregations. Wards are medium-sized congregations and branches are small congregations.
Stakes are led by a stake presidency (stake president and two counselors, supported by an executive secretary, a stake clerk, and typically four assistant clerks) and a high council of 12 councilors. Stakes also have presidencies for the Stake Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, Primary, and Sunday School.
As of February 2025, Virginia had the following stakes:
| Stake | Organized | Mission | Temple District |
| Annandale Virginia Stake | 26 Apr 1970 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Brambleton Virginia Stake | 26 Jan 2025 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Buena Vista Virginia Stake | 6 Jun 1999 | West Virginia Charleston | Richmond Virginia |
| Buena Vista Virginia YSA Stake | 15 Apr 2012 | West Virginia Charleston | Richmond Virginia |
| Centreville Virginia Stake | 1 Feb 1976 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Chesapeake Virginia Stake | 17 Jan 1988 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Durham North Carolina Stake | 3 May 1987 | North Carolina Raleigh | Raleigh North Carolina |
| Fredericksburg Virginia Stake | 26 Oct 1980 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Gainesville Virginia Stake | 11 Dec 2016 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Greensboro North Carolina Stake | 13 Sep 1961 | North Carolina Charlotte | Raleigh North Carolina |
| Kingsport Tennessee Stake | 13 Jan 1980 | Tennessee Knoxville | Columbia South Carolina |
| Leesburg Virginia Stake | 29 Jan 1995 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| McLean Virginia Stake | 14 Feb 1982 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Mount Vernon Virginia Stake | 5 Jan 1986 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Newport News Virginia Stake | 12 Jun 1977 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Oakton Virginia | 3 Mar 1963 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Pembroke Virginia Stake | 14 May 1978 | West Virginia Charleston | Richmond Virginia |
| Richmond Virginia Stake | 30 Jun 1957 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Richmond Virginia Chesterfield Stake | 30 Oct 1983 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Richmond Virginia Midlothian Stake | 4 Dec 2005 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Roanoke Virginia Stake | 11 Jan 1970 | West Virginia Charleston | Richmond Virginia |
| Stafford Virginia Stake | 21 Aug 2016 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Virginia Beach Stake | 12 Apr 1964 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Washington DC YSA South Stake | 4 Dec 2016 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
| Waynesboro Virginia Stake | 28 May 1978 | Virginia Richmond | Richmond Virginia |
| Winchester Virginia Stake | 22 May 1977 | Maryland Baltimore | Washington D.C. |
| Winston-Salem North Carolina Stake | 20 Nov 1977 | North Carolina Charlotte | Raleigh North Carolina |
| Woodbridge Virginia Stake | 16 May 2004 | Washington DC South | Washington D.C. |
* 1 2 3 4 Stake located outside Virginia with congregation(s) meeting in Virginia
* ↑ The Washington DC YSA South Stake is entirely in Virginia

## Missions

| Mission | Created | Mission office | Stakes in Virginia |
| Virginia Richmond Mission | October 26, 1947 | Richmond, VA | 6 |
| Washington D.C. South Mission | October 16, 1960 | Burke, VA | 7 |
| West Virginia Charleston Mission | | Charleston, WV | 4 (of 7) |
| Maryland Baltimore Mission | | Ellicott City, MD | 1 (of 7) |

## Temples

| 177. Richmond Virginia Temple Official website News & images | 177. Richmond Virginia Temple Official website News & images | |
| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Style: | Glen Allen, Virginia, United States 1 April 2018 by Russell M. Nelson 11 April 2020 by Randall K. Bennett 7 May 2023 by Dallin H. Oaks 39,202 sq ft (3,642.0 m$^2$) on a 12-acre (4.9 ha) site Jeffersonian Doric order, single-spire - designed by Lanny Herron | Glen Allen, Virginia, United States 1 April 2018 by Russell M. Nelson 11 April 2020 by Randall K. Bennett 7 May 2023 by Dallin H. Oaks 39,202 sq ft (3,642.0 m$^2$) on a 12-acre (4.9 ha) site Jeffersonian Doric order, single-spire - designed by Lanny Herron |
| 313. Winchester Virginia Temple (Site announced) Official website News & images | 313. Winchester Virginia Temple (Site announced) Official website News & images | |
| Location: Announced: Size: | Winchester, Virginia, United States 2 April 2023 by Russell M. Nelson 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m$^2$) on a 11.27-acre (4.56 ha) site | Winchester, Virginia, United States 2 April 2023 by Russell M. Nelson 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m$^2$) on a 11.27-acre (4.56 ha) site |
| 334. Roanoke Virginia Temple (Announced) Official website News & images | 334. Roanoke Virginia Temple (Announced) Official website News & images | |
| Location: Announced: | Roanoke, Virginia 1 October 2023 by Russell M. Nelson | Roanoke, Virginia 1 October 2023 by Russell M. Nelson |