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


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Illinois refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Illinois. The official church membership as a percentage of general population was 0.44% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, less than 1% of Illinoisans self-identify themselves most closely with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church is the 13th largest denomination in Illinois.
Stakes are located in Buffalo Grove, Champaign, Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Nauvoo, O'Fallon, Peoria, Rockford, Schaumburg, Springfield and Wilmette.

History

In 1839, to escape persecution—including an extermination order given by Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs—the Latter-day Saints drained swamplands on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River and established the city of Nauvoo.
Joseph Smith was killed on June 27, 1844, by an angry mob that stormed Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois where Smith was being held.
In 2004, Illinois's lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn, presented church leaders a copy of House Resolution 793, which expressed official regret for the violence that caused the Mormons to leave in 1846.

Stakes

As of May 2025, the following stakes had congregations located in Illinois:
StakeOrganizedMissionTemple District
Buffalo Grove Illinois24 Jan 1988Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois
Cape Girardeau Missouri*20 Oct 1985Missouri St LouisSt. Louis Missouri
Champaign Illinois17 Feb 1963Missouri St LouisIndianapolis Indiana
Chicago Illinois25 Jan 1998Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois
Davenport Iowa*9 Apr 1978Iowa Iowa CityNauvoo Illinois
Evansville Indiana*19 Oct 1975Kentucky LouisvilleLouisville Kentucky
Joliet Illinois22 Oct 1995Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois
Hazelwood Missouri*4 Jun 2017Missouri St LouisSt. Louis Missouri
Naperville Illinois3 Feb 1963Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois
Nauvoo Illinois18 Feb 1979Iowa Iowa CityNauvoo Illinois
O'Fallon Illinois14 Mar 1976Missouri St LouisSt. Louis Missouri
Paducah Kentucky*20 Oct 1996Tennessee NashvilleNashville Tennessee
Peoria Illinois3 Aug 1980Iowa Iowa CityNauvoo Illinois
Rockford Illinois11 Apr 1982Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois
Schaumburg Illinois20 Jan 1980Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois
Springfield Illinois24 Nov 1996Missouri St LouisSt. Louis Missouri
St Louis Missouri South*16 Mar 1980Missouri St LouisSt. Louis Missouri
Valparaiso Indiana*2 Jun 1974Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois
Wilmette Illinois29 Nov 1936Illinois ChicagoChicago Illinois

  • *Stakes outside of state with congregations in Illinois

Missions

Former missions

  • Northern States Mission
  • Illinois Mission
  • Illinois Chicago Mission
  • Illinois Chicago North Mission
  • Illinois Nauvoo Mission