Latter Day Saint movement in Ireland

Mormonism has had a presence in Ireland since at least 1840, when the Mormon missionary John Taylor preached in Belfast.^[1] He and other missionaries converted a number of Irish. Many of the converted emigrated in order to escape poverty (and later famine) as well as to live in majority Mormon communities.^[1] However, some Mormons remained in Ireland. Today The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (by far the largest Mormon denomination) claims 2,799 members in the Republic of Ireland.^[1] This is contradicted by the latest census in the Republic which says that there are about 1,200 members of the LDS Church residing.^[2] The LDS Church also claims 5,321 in Northern Ireland^[3] LDS Church membership statistics are different from self-reported statistics mainly because the LDS Church does not remove an individual’s name from its membership rolls based on inactivity in the church.^[4][5]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is by far the largest Mormon denomination in the world and this is true of Ireland also. The LDS Church currently claims nearly three thousand members in the Republic of Ireland and over five thousand in Northern Ireland. Currently there is 13 congregations in the Republic of Ireland and 11 congregations in Northern Ireland. ^[6] Well-known Irish Latter day Saints include Charles Albert Callis who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Robert Sands who was the first conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Other denominations

There is no evidence of any significant presence of other Mormon denominations in Ireland. The Community of Christ, otherwise known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the second largest Mormon sect. It claims a presence in the British Isles since the mid-19th century ^[7] but currently they only have churches in England and Wales.^[8] Mormon fundamentalist presence in Ireland, if it exists at all, is minimal^{[citation needed]}. Polygamy is illegal in Ireland.^[9]

See also

• Nontrinitarianism

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Newsroom.lds.org
2. ^ cso.ie
3. ^ lds.org
4. ^ Membership, Retention on the Rise.“News of the Church,” Ensign, Jun 2007, 75–80. Church membership growth numbers are often interpreted inaccurately, which can lead to misconceptions in the media, Brother Buckner said. Therefore, it is important to clearly understand what these numbers signify. They represent the number of Church members, but they do not represent activity rates. The Church does not remove an individual’s name from its membership rolls based on inactivity.
5. ^ "Church Statistics Reflect Steady Growth". LDS Newsroom. 11 April 2007 it is a challenge for the Church to keep track of all of its members, especially if they do not regularly attend Sunday services. The Church does not remove an individual’s name from its membership rolls based on inactivity.
6. ^ LDS Newsroom
7. ^ cofchrist.org.uk
8. ^ cofchrist.org.uk
9. ^ mcgarrsolicitors.ie