View source for Ward (LDS Church)

{{short description|Type of local congregation in the LDS Church}}
A '''ward''' is a local congregation in [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), with a smaller local congregation known as a '''branch'''. 

A ward is presided over by a [[Bishop (Latter Day Saints)|bishop]], the equivalent of a [[pastor]] in many other [[Christian denomination]]s.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/tn-gnp-xpm-2007-03-09-lacressentaonline_cch-latterday0309-story.html "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Local Congregation Gains New Leadership"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 9 March 2007. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref> As with all local LDS Church leadership, the bishop is considered lay clergy and as such is not paid.<ref name=Ward>[https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ward "Ward"], ''[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]'', 2021. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref> Two counselors serve with the bishop to help with administrative and spiritual duties of the ward and to preside in the absence of the bishop. Together, these three men (never women) constitute the ''bishopric''. A branch is presided over by a ''[[branch president]]'' who may also have one or two counselors, depending on the size of the branch. Groups of wards are organized into [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|stakes]], while groups of branches are generally organized into [[District (LDS Church)|districts]].<ref name=Ward />

==Historical origin==
The term ''[[Ward (United States)|ward]]'' originally referred to the [[Ward (politics)|political subdivision]] of some of the municipalities in the mid-western United States where members of the LDS Church resided, and in particular the political organization of [[Nauvoo, Illinois]], in the 1840s. Bishops were assigned duties and responsibility over specific ward boundaries in these cities, and over time individual congregations were defined by these boundaries. After the [[Mormon pioneers|Mormon Exodus]] to Utah, this same terminology was preserved in the establishment of communities throughout the western United States. Voting districts of several Utah communities still follow the historical boundaries of their original LDS Church congregations. Due to the religious connection of this term, traditional LDS pioneer communities generally do not use the term ''ward'' to define voting districts for political purposes.{{fact|date=December 2011|reason=need reliable sources to verify the use of the term for ecclesiastical purposes before the success crisis & Mormon migration to Utah; prior to Winter Quarters the term "branch" was the common term for the congregation presided over by a bishop}}

==Wards and branches==
[[Image:Jonesboro Chapel.JPG|thumb|right|A meetinghouse that serves local ward congregations]]
===Wards===
A ward typically consists of 150 to 500 church members in an area within a reasonable travel time of the meetinghouse ("reasonable" will vary between countries and regions). A stake, the next highest level of organization, may be created if there are at least five ward-sized branches in adjacent areas. Once the stake has been organized, the ward-sized branches are organized into wards. Beginning in 2024, the LDS Church unified standards worldwide for creation of wards as shown in table below.<ref name=wardsize>{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-announces-uniform-worldwide-standards-for-ward-and-stake-boundaries|title=First Presidency Announces Uniform, Worldwide Standards for Ward and Stake Boun|date=December 1, 2023|website=newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref><ref name=createstake>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/12/09/why-new-rules-creating-stakes/|title=Why new rules for creating stakes, wards may not inflate the perception of LDS Church growth|website=The Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref> Prior to 2024, within the United States and Canada, a minimum of 300 members was required to create a ward; elsewhere, a minimum of 150 members was required.
{{anchor|table}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Minimum requirements<br />to become a ward
! 2024 Standardization
! colspan=2 | Prior to 2024
|-
! Worldwide
! US & Canada
! Rest of world
|-
| Total Members{{efn|name=members}}
| 250
| 300
| 150
|-
|{{abbr|AFTMPH|Active, Full-Tithe-Paying Melchizedek Priesthood Holders}}{{efn|name=aftmph}}
| 20
| 20
| 15
|-
| Participating Adults{{efn|name=adults}}
| 100
| colspan=2 | none specified
|-
| Participating Youth{{efn|name=youth}}
| 20{{efn|name=recommend}}
| colspan=2 | none specified
|-
| colspan=4 | {{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=members|includes both attending and not attending}}
{{efn|name=aftmph|AFTMPH: Active, Full-Tithe-Paying [[Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Melchizedek Priesthood]] Holders}}
{{efn|name=adults|Participating adults are individuals who pay full or partial tithes, hold a current<br /> temple recommend, have a calling in the Church, or are new members who are<br /> attending sacrament meeting during their first year of membership.}}
{{efn|name=youth|Participating youth are youth enrolled in seminary.}}
{{efn|name=recommend|recommended but not required}}
}}
|-
| colspan=4 | [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)#table|Minimum requirements to become a stake]]
|}

If there are not sufficient congregations in an area to form a stake, a district (analogous to but smaller than a stake) is formed to oversee local congregations. There is no minimum or maximum geographical size for a ward: In areas where there are greater numbers of active church members (such as urban and suburban areas in [[Utah]]), several wards can exist in only {{convert|1|sqmi|km2}}.
[[File:LDS Church in Farmington (33578464874).jpg|thumb|A chapel where LDS congregations meet]]
When the ward membership grows to a certain size, the ward will be divided.<ref>Goldman, Ari. [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/07/nyregion/mormon-tradition-and-zeal-inspire-growth-in-northeast.html "Mormon Tradition and Zeal Inspire Growth in Northeast"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 7 February 1993. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref> Generally, if both geographic divisions are in a reasonable distance of the meetinghouse, they will meet at the same building, but at different times. Most meetinghouses are designed to house multiple wards. Individuals can find out what ward they reside in by either talking to a local LDS leader or by using the meetinghouse locator tool on the church's webpage.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses "Find a Meetinghouse or Ward"], ''[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]'', 2021. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref>

Unlike most religions, members are expected to attend the specific ward they reside in and are discouraged from choosing a different congregation that meets in a different place or at a more convenient time. There are some exceptions to this rule (see below), but for the most part members are discouraged from "shopping" for a different ward that is more convenient for them, or that they might attend with friends or relatives, or that has a more likeable leader.

====Singles wards====
Singles wards are set up in areas with high populations of [[Single adult (LDS Church)|single adults]].<ref>Needham, Nancy Kinsey. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-feb-26-me-2922-story.html "A Special Place for Young Mormons"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 26 February 2000. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref> Young single adult (YSA) wards are intended for single members ages 18 to 35, and single adult wards are generally for single members of ages 36 to 45. Older single adult members typically attend their family (standard) ward. These wards provide LDS singles the opportunity to serve in offices of the church. Members are taught the same principles of the gospel as a traditional ward, while receiving attention particular to their spiritual needs.

Singles wards are different in that they overlap several other regular wards geographically, even crossing stake boundaries. Single adult members may choose to attend the singles ward or their regular "home" ward; otherwise, the church strongly discourages the regular attendance of, and disallows the transfer of membership records to, regular wards other than the one to which the member's residence is assigned.

Since it is a doctrinal requirement that the bishop of a ward be married, this man will typically be called from another ward in the host stake of the singles ward. Men to fill the other positions, such as counselors in the bishopric, an executive secretary, and ward clerks, may also be called from other wards in the stake or from among the members of the singles ward.

A primary goal of a singles ward is to provide its members the chance to meet other singles of the opposite sex and eventually to be married.<ref>Rourke, Mary. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-24-ls-2333-story.html "A Single-Minded Approach to Faith"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 24 November 1996. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref> Singles in a certain area can then more easily find other singles of similar interests and beliefs, and eventually find a spouse. Groups are often formed to allow both the young single adults and single adults to conduct activities similar to those practiced in [[Family Home Evening]]. Although these groups may exist wherever there are LDS wards, they are more prominent in LDS singles wards.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

LDS singles ward culture was portrayed and parodied in the 2002 [[LDS cinema|movie]] ''[[The Singles Ward]]''.<ref>Foundas, Scott. [https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/the-singles-ward-1200546316/ "The Singles Ward"], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', 10 September 2002. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref><ref>Bauer, Carlene. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/magazine/the-cinema-of-latterday-saints.html "The Cinema of Latter-Day Saints"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 31 July 2005. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref>

====YSA wards====
In 2011, YSA wards and stakes were reorganized and realigned to remove the distinction of a student ward from a traditional YSA ward.<ref>Taylor, Scott. [https://www.ksl.com/article/15150766/lds-church-drops-student-wards-stakes-for-ysa-units "LDS Church drops student wards, stakes for YSA units"], ''[[KSL-TV]]'', 14 April 2011. Retrieved on 3 April 2021.</ref> Previously, YSA wards were organized as either college/university wards or traditional YSA wards. At colleges and universities with large LDS populations, student wards were organized to serve the needs of students in attending these schools. In areas where there are large concentrations of YSA wards, YSA stakes are formed. Previously, when one or more wards were formed for the students of a college or university, separate wards would be formed for single and married students. In such university wards and stakes, the bishops and members of the [[stake presidency]] are filled by men called from adjacent stakes.

====Language wards====
Much like a singles ward, and with administrative approval, wards may be established in geographic areas which contain a high population of church members whose native language is different from the local language (such as adjacent to U.S. military bases in foreign countries, or in metropolitan areas which have larger numbers of immigrant/second-language users). Additionally, there are also wards for [[deafness|deaf]] members where the primary language used is the locally predominant sign language (such as [[American Sign Language]] in the U.S. and anglophone Canada). Services in these wards are conducted entirely in the target language. Colloquialisms such as "a Spanish ward" or "a Chinese ward", for example, refer solely to the language spoken, and not the race or ethnicity of the members welcome (e.g., there are no "Mexican wards"). However, in practice, different wards are sometimes made for different ethnic backgrounds or national origins, even though there is no difference in the language used. There used to be wards or missions that were designated based on race, such as Indian wards or Indian missions for Native Americans.

===Branch===
[[Image:West Memphis Building.JPG|thumb|right|A meetinghouse for a branch in West Memphis, Arkansas]]
A congregation that is in a district or that has too small a membership to be a ward may be organized as a ''branch'' of the church. Branches may be organized in stakes, but wards may not be organized in districts. Branches in a district, or those where no stake or district exist, fall under the jurisdiction of the [[mission president]]. 

Branches may also be formed for YSA, foreign-language, military personnel, retirees, or [[County jail|jail]]/[[prison]]/[[Halfway house|half-way house]] inmates where there is a need for special interests, but there are too few individuals to form a ward. As in the ward, the [[branch president]] in a YSA, or prison branch will typically be called from the stake or district in which the branch is organized, or those within close geographical proximity. Because of the nature of prison branches, all positions of authority will be called from outside of the branch.<!-- See talk page about this. -->

Some branches (called "care center" branches) are set up in nursing homes with meetings held on-site for people who cannot travel to a meetinghouse. In these branches, leaders are also called from the local stake. Most branches require at least 20 members and require four Melchizedek priesthood holders capable of serving in leadership positions. YSA branches require 50 active members in addition to the above requirement.

===Organization===
[[File:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Houston, Texas, steeple.JPG|thumbnail|Many LDS Church buildings use [[steeple]]s]]

The main [[Organization (LDS Church)|organizations]] of a ward that are overseen directly by the bishop are the [[Relief Society]] (for women), the [[Young Men Organization|Young Men]] and [[Young Women Organization|Young Women]], the [[Primary (LDS Church)|Primary]] (for children), and the [[Sunday School (LDS Church)|Sunday School]]. In branches, these organizations are filled when there are sufficient active members to fill these positions.

Those men ordained to the [[Priesthood (Mormonism)|priesthood]] are organized into [[Quorum (Mormonism)|quorums]] by priesthood office. The offices of the lesser, or [[Aaronic priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Aaronic]], priesthood (typically males 11 to 18 years of age) are organized and overseen by the bishop (or branch president). Usually, there are separate quorums for [[Deacon (Latter Day Saints)|deacons]] (11 and 12 year olds), [[Teacher (Latter Day Saints)|teachers]] (13 and 14 year olds), and [[Priest (Mormonism)|priests]] (15 years old and older). Offices of the higher, or Melchizedek, priesthood (including [[Elder (Latter Day Saints)|elders]] and [[High Priest (Mormonism)|high priests]]), within individual wards and branches are advised by, and counsel with, the bishop but are overseen by the [[stake president]]. Within [[District (LDS Church)|districts]], offices of the Melchizedek Priesthood within individual branches are advised by the branch president but overseen by the district president, under the direction of the mission president. Within a branch, priesthood quorums may be formed or all priesthood holders may meet together, as numbers permit.

The priesthood is central to, and directs the church and its organizations. Prior to adjustments made in April 2018, the [[Bishopric (LDS Church)|bishopric]], ward clerk, executive secretary, elders quorum president, high priest group leader, ward Young Men president, and ward mission leader would meet regularly as the [[Priesthood Executive Committee]].<ref>Bradford, David C., "Priesthood Executive Committee, Stake and Ward", in Ludlow, Daniel H., ed., ''Priesthood and Church Organization: Selections from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism'', p. 290.</ref>

==Ward and branch conferences==
Each ward and branch holds an annual ward or branch conference. In this meeting, ward organizational business is conducted, [[General authority|general]] and local leaders are [[common consent|sustained by a vote]], and sermons are delivered by stake and ward leaders.

==See also==
{{Portal|Latter Day Saint movement}}
* [[Area (LDS Church)]]
* [[Latter Day Saint movement]]
* [[Parish]]
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] Meetinghouse Locator

{{LDSgeounits}}
{{Latter-day Saints}}

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[[Category:Organizational subdivisions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
[[Category:Types of Latter Day Saint organization]]