Y'all, I gotta tell you a story. I was chilling with my cousin, right? We were grabbing a slice of 'za in Midtown Manhattan—the good stuff, not that tourist junk. And we see these two sharp-dressed guys in white shirts and ties, rollin' up on bicycles. Full-on, 'hey, how are ya?' kinda vibe. My cousin, he's a born-and-raised New Yorker, looked at 'em, then looked at me, and whispered, "Yo, are those the Mormons? In this concrete jungle? How many of them are even out here?"
And I was like, "Dude, that is a legit question!" New York City, man. It’s a melting pot of everything. You got folks from every corner of the planet, every walk of life, and every faith you can imagine. But The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the official name, or LDS, or yeah, 'Mormons' to most folks—they feel like they belong out west, you know? Like Utah. You think of deserts, mountains, and a ton of folks who follow the faith. But NYC? The Big Apple? That's a whole 'nother animal. It’s where you go to chase dreams and, honestly, maybe dodge a few pigeons.
So, this whole thing got me hooked. I did a deep dive. A serious deep dive. Turns out, the answer ain't just one simple number you can slap on a billboard. It's way more interesting, like a detective story with less trench coat and more spreadsheets. We're gonna break down this mystery, check out the real stats, and figure out how many members of the LDS Church are actually calling the Empire State home, especially in the buzzing boroughs of NYC. Grab a soda—we’re going in!
Step 1: Getting Our Heads Straight on the Numbers, Yo!
This is where we gotta put on our Sherlock Holmes hat and get official data. The biggest thing to remember is the difference between New York State and New York City. It’s like comparing a whole pizza pie to just the pepperoni—both good, but definitely not the same size.
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| How Many Mormons In New York City |
1.1. The Statewide Situation: New York State
First off, it’s kinda ironic, but the LDS Church actually started in upstate New York back in the day (1830, if you wanna be a history nerd). So the state has deep roots! But a lot of the membership moved West, and that's why we get the Utah connection.
Now, as of the most recent good info—and this is Church-reported membership, so we know it’s solid—the number of members in New York State is somewhere around 90,000 folks. That's a lot of people! You could fill a pretty big stadium with that crew.
Quick Fact Check: In 2024, the Church reported about 90,634 members across the entire state.
The state has about 17 "Stakes" (which are basically groups of local congregations, like a diocese). This shows it’s an established, organized community, not just a handful of folks.
1.2. Zeroing in on the Big Apple: NYC’s Slice
Okay, so 90,000 is for the whole state, from Niagara Falls down to Long Island. How much of that is in New York City? NYC is a beast with over 8 million people.
Here’s the thing: The Church doesn't typically release membership numbers for just the five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island). They usually group areas into "Missions" or "Stakes."
Tip: Highlight what feels important.
But we can figure it out by looking at the organized units that only cover the City and its immediate suburbs. When you look at the Stakes that cover the five boroughs—like the Manhattan New York Stake, the Brooklyn New York Stake, or the Woodside New York Stake—you can estimate the size of that community.
It's a small percentage of the total NYC population, which is wild when you think about it.
Estimates suggest the membership in the New York City metropolitan area is likely in the tens of thousands, but as a percentage of the total population, it’s super tiny—less than 1%. It's definitely not the Utah vibe where you see a meetinghouse on every corner, that’s for sure.
Step 2: Why the Headcount is Such a Messy Business
Trying to get an exact count is like trying to find a quiet spot in Times Square—it’s just not gonna happen. There are a few reasons why the numbers are a little squishy, which is why you see different estimates all the time.
2.1. The Official Membership vs. The Active Members
This is the key difference that throws everyone off. When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says they have number of members, that means number of people have been officially baptized and are on the records.
But check this out: being a 'member on the record' doesn't mean you're in the pews every Sunday morning.
A lot of people move! Folks move to NYC for college, for work, for a crazy adventure, and then they bounce. They might still be listed on a New York City congregation's roll even if they’ve been in Los Angeles for five years, eating avocado toast.
"Activity Rate" is the big secret. Experts who study the Church (not me, I’m just a guy who likes a good fact) suggest that the percentage of active, weekly attendees is often much lower than the official membership count—maybe 30% to 50% in major urban areas. So, if the official membership is, say, 20,000 in the City area, the actual number of folks you’d see at a Sunday service is way less than that.
2.2. The Manhattan Temple Factor: Big City, Big Statement
You can't talk about Mormons in NYC without mentioning the Manhattan New York Temple. It’s this incredibly cool building right in the heart of the city—on 65th Street near Lincoln Center.
The Temple ain't just a regular church building (they call those "meetinghouses"). A temple is a super important holy place for the faith.
Having a Temple in Manhattan is a huge deal. It serves members from all over the Northeast—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, even parts of Pennsylvania.
It's a magnet. It attracts young adults who want to be close to a Temple and go to college in the area, or professionals who are serious about their faith. This means the NYC population of members is often younger and more dedicated than in other, less central locations. They are coming to the City on purpose.
QuickTip: Reading carefully once is better than rushing twice.
Step 3: The LDS Church in NYC is a Total Vibe
Forget the stereotypes, man. The LDS community in New York City is not what you probably think. It’s a hilarious, diverse group, and they fit right in with the city's overall energy—which is to say, they are go-getters who don't sleep.
3.1. Missionaries, Bicycles, and Big Dreams
You know those clean-cut folks I mentioned at the start? The missionaries? They are everywhere. You'll see them in Brooklyn, in the Bronx, and yeah, definitely in Manhattan.
It’s a tough mission. Think about it: trying to talk about your faith in a city where everyone is rushing, dodging yellow cabs, and listening to loud music on their headphones. You gotta be resilient!
They don't ride horses, they ride bikes (when they can) or they just take the subway. Nothing is more New York than seeing a missionary in a sharp suit swiping his MetroCard and looking confused about which track is the downtown A-train. It’s comedy gold.
3.2. Community and Culture: Finding Your Tribe
In a city as massive and anonymous as NYC, folks often look for a tight-knit community, and the LDS stakes and wards (that's the local congregation) provide just that.
The members are often young professionals and college students from Brigham Young University (BYU) or other places who are there for an internship or their first big gig.
They've got a killer young adult group (sometimes called a YSA Stake—Young Single Adult). This is where the magic happens. It's a place to make friends, date, and hang out without the pressure of the crazy city. It’s their own little oasis. It helps make the huge city feel small and manageable. You gotta find your people, or you'll get swallowed by the urban sprawl!
Step 4: The Official How-To on Finding the Real Numbers
If you're a serious data hound (or just super curious), here's how you can track down the closest you'll get to an official number, like a true data ninja.
4.1. The Stake Count Method (The Pro Move)
Tip: Take notes for easier recall later.
A "Stake" is a geographical area. By counting the number of Wards (congregations) and Stakes that fall entirely within the NYC area and multiplying by the minimum required members to form one (the number can vary, but let's say an average of 2,000 per Stake in a high-density area), you get a good estimate.
Pro-Tip: The official Church Newsroom website sometimes releases state-level numbers, which are always the best place to start. They are the official source, after all!
4.2. Hit Up the Census or Survey Data (The Academic Angle)
If you look for independent surveys—like the Pew Research Center’s reports on religion in America—they often poll folks in major metropolitan areas, including New York.
This data will tell you the percentage of New Yorkers who self-identify as Latter-day Saint. This number is usually lower than the official Church count (because of those inactive members we talked about), but it's a great indicator of how many people are actually using the term "Mormon" when someone asks, "What do you believe?"
4.3. Drive-By Counting of Meetinghouses (The Super Unofficial, But Fun Way)
Want to do your own research? Jump on the subway! Look for the buildings that say "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" on the front.
There's a meetinghouse in Brooklyn, one in Queens, several in Manhattan, and others scattered around the suburbs. The more buildings there are, the more people they gotta have to fill them up! It’s not accurate, but it gives you a feeling for the density. Plus, you get to see more of the city, which is a win-win, am I right? Bring a snack, though.
Conclusion: A Tiny Drop in a Big Bucket
So, how many Mormons are there in New York City? The official, exact number for the five boroughs is a well-guarded secret, but if we're being realistic, we can say it's likely somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000 registered members (give or take a few thousand, depending on what suburbs you include), with a smaller core of active attendees.
That's a tiny fraction of the 8.8 million people in the City. They are a small, vibrant, and well-organized community, which is kinda what makes them so cool. They might not be on every block, but they are there, living their faith and navigating the craziness of NYC just like everyone else. And they have a Temple in a spot where a lot of folks don't even have an apartment with a window! Talk about prime real estate.
Tip: Let the key ideas stand out.
FAQ Questions and Answers
How many Latter-day Saints are in all of New York State?
As of the most recent Church-reported statistics (2024 data is looking solid), the total membership for the entire state of New York is around 90,000 members. That’s for the whole state, from the Canadian border to the tip of Long Island.
How to Find the Manhattan New York Temple?
The Manhattan New York Temple is located at 110 West 65th Street, right across from the famous Lincoln Center. It's an absolutely gorgeous building, tucked into the city skyline. You can’t go inside the temple unless you’re a member, but the visitors' center or grounds are sometimes open to everyone!
How to Meet the Mormon Missionaries in New York City?
It's super easy! Just walk around any major transit hub like Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, or even a busy spot like Times Square or Central Park. They are the folks in the nice white shirts and ties (or sometimes modest dresses/skirts for the sisters), often with name tags, and occasionally riding bikes. You can just walk up and say hello!
How many LDS Stakes are in the NYC area?
Within the New York City metropolitan area (including the five boroughs and close-in suburbs), there are typically five to six Stakes (clusters of congregations) dedicated to the community. This includes specialized Stakes just for Young Single Adults (YSA), which is pretty common for big college towns and cities.
How to get official statistics on active members?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only releases the total number of registered members. They do not release official statistics on "active" members. Any number you see for active members is a research-based estimate from independent scholars or sociologists studying religious trends.
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