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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kentucky refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Kentucky. The first small branch was established in 1834. In 2022, the church claimed 37,830 members in 83 congregations.
According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, less than 1% of Kentuckians self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.
Stakes are located in Crestwood, Elizabethtown, Hopkinsville, Lexington (2), Louisville, and Paducah.

## History

In 1835, two missionaries baptized 22 people and the first group of Kentucky Saints left for Missouri in September 1836.
In 2011, Lexington native Rob Hymas, became an area seventy and oversaw 10 stake presidents in Kentucky and Tennessee.

## Stakes

As of January 2024, there were 8 stakes with their stake center located in Kentucky.
Stakes with congregations in Kentucky are as follows:
| Stake | Organized | Mission | Temple district |
| Cincinnati Ohio | November 23, 1958 | Ohio Cincinnati Mission | Louisville Kentucky |
| Cincinnati Ohio East | February 15, 2004 | Ohio Cincinnati Mission | Columbus Ohio |
| Crestwood Kentucky | March 21, 2010 | Kentucky Louisville | Louisville Kentucky |
| Elizabethtown Kentucky | November 5, 2017 | Kentucky Louisville | Louisville Kentucky |
| Evansville Indiana | October 19, 1975 | Kentucky Louisville | Louisville Kentucky |
| Hopkinsville Kentucky | May 21, 1978 | Tennessee Nashville | Nashville Tennessee |
| Huntington West Virginia | November 7, 1982 | West Virginia Charleston | Louisville Kentucky |
| Knoxville Tennessee Cumberland | November 17, 1996 | Tennessee Knoxville | Nashville Tennessee |
| Lexington Kentucky | April 23, 1972 | Kentucky Louisville | Louisville Kentucky |
| Lexington Kentucky North | November 23, 2003 | Kentucky Louisville | Louisville Kentucky |
| Louisville Kentucky | January 17, 1971 | Kentucky Louisville | Louisville Kentucky |
| Paducah Kentucky | October 20, 1996 | Tennessee Nashville | Nashville Tennessee |

## Mission

The East Central States Mission was created on December 9, 1928, which took in portions of what was previously Southern States Mission and Eastern States Mission. Kentucky itself was previously in the Southern States Mission. On June 10, 1970, it was renamed the Kentucky-Tennessee Mission. On June 20, 1974, it was renamed the Kentucky Louisville Mission.

## Temples

The Louisville Kentucky Temple was dedicated on March 19, 2000, by President Thomas S. Monson.
| 76. Louisville Kentucky Temple Official website News & images | 76. Louisville Kentucky Temple Official website News & images | |
| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Style: | Crestwood, Kentucky, United States March 17, 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley May 29, 1999 by John K. Carmack March 19, 2000 by Thomas S. Monson 10,700 sq ft (990 m$^2$) on a 3-acre (1.2 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Firestone Jaros Mullin--Mike Karpinski Architect | Crestwood, Kentucky, United States March 17, 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley May 29, 1999 by John K. Carmack March 19, 2000 by Thomas S. Monson 10,700 sq ft (990 m$^2$) on a 3-acre (1.2 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Firestone Jaros Mullin--Mike Karpinski Architect |