BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY
Traveling missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Southern States Mission first came to the Roanoke Valley in the late 1880’s. They held “preaching” meetings in churches and other public sites where invited. Interest grew in their unique Christian message. Families of early converts then started the first official congregation of the Church, in the Back Creek District of Roanoke County. The first dedicated Church meeting house was built on land and with other building materials donated by these early converts, just off of Twelve O’clock Knob Road.
As permanently assigned missionaries were established locally and as the early adherents built large families, the Church grew steadily. By 1913, a second congregation was formed in Roanoke City. Further growth of Church membership over the next few decades prompted Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1947 to establish Roanoke as the Headquarters for the Central Atlantic States Mission, which included Virginia, North Carolina and Eastern West Virginia. In 1950, the Church dedicated its first “brick and mortar” chapel on the corner of Brandon and Grandin Avenues in Roanoke City. As Church membership continued to grow, additional congregations and permanent chapels were established in other sectors of the Valley. By 1970, Church membership had grown in Roanoke and the surrounding communities to establish Roanoke as a “Stake” headquarters (analogous to a diocese).
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS IN
ROANOKE TODAY
Today there are five Church buildings serving six congregations in the Roanoke Valley and an additional three buildings/ congregations in the surrounding areas, which are also included in the Roanoke Virginia Stake boundaries. Current membership in the Roanoke Virginia Stake is 3,200+.
In October 2023, the Church announced that Roanoke would become the site of a new Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joining Richmond and Winchester as the only other Temples of the Church in Virginia, and one of only 325 in the whole world. Temples of the Church are special structures built for carrying out the most sacred ordinances of the Church, including eternal marriage covenants. The yet-to-be announced site and the building of this Temple are of great interest and excitement for Church members in the Roanoke region. When it is completed, and before its official dedication, the entire community will be invited to come and tour this beautiful structure, learn of the purposes and functions of Temples, and feel the special spirit of these sacred buildings.
Located in our Stake Center on Wayburn Drive is our FamilySearch Center, where those interested in searching their own family history and ancestors can utilize the computers at no charge and access the vast worldwide genealogical resources of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is open to the entire community and is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers who are happy to assist those who visit.