Considering a move to Spokane - questions...

[moonwaffle]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums. I'm not sure if this is the right place for this topic, but I'll give it a shot.

I am considering a move to the Spokane area. Has anyone lived there before or can anyone provide any insight to the church in the Spokane area? I know there is a temple but I'm more curiuos in general LDS population statistics like "what % of people in the area are LDS", "how big are the wards", "do they have enough LDS kids to justify release time seminary", etc. Just hoping to get a better feel for how "LDS" Spokane is.

If it helps, I would be moving from the Tri-Cities area of the state of Washington. Tri-Cities seems to have a healthy LDS population (which I enjoy) and which has been great for our kids. I would guess Tri-Cities is 10-15% LDS.

Just curious if anyone can make any comparisons or give me an idea of what the church is like in the Spokane area. Any info you can provide is much appreciated!

[Dravin]

From what I recall none of the youth talked about release time, so I don't think that's a go. Spokane has IIRC 4 stakes if you include the Valley, which is pretty good for someplace outside of the Mormon Belt (or Moses Lake, man there was a Mormon Town). The wards I've been to there were good sized for someplace outside of Utah. Don't know how to compare it to Tri-Cities country though.

Just don't move to Felony Flats.

[pam]

Are there any places other than Utah that have release time for Seminary?

[john doe]

Originally Posted by pam

Are there any places other than Utah that have release time for Seminary?

Many parts of Southeast Idaho have released time. I would imagine that portions of Arizona would as well.

[moonwaffle]

Tri-Cities Washington does in all school districts in the area.

[marshac]

I live just north of you

[moonwaffle]

marshac, that being the case, can you provide any insight to my questions?

[Kawazu]

Originally Posted by moonwaffle

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums. I'm not sure if this is the right place for this topic, but I'll give it a shot.

I am considering a move to the Spokane area. Has anyone lived there before or can anyone provide any insight to the church in the Spokane area? I know there is a temple but I'm more curiuos in general LDS population statistics like "what % of people in the area are LDS", "how big are the wards", "do they have enough LDS kids to justify release time seminary", etc. Just hoping to get a better feel for how "LDS" Spokane is.

If it helps, I would be moving from the Tri-Cities area of the state of Washington. Tri-Cities seems to have a healthy LDS population (which I enjoy) and which has been great for our kids. I would guess Tri-Cities is 10-15% LDS.

Just curious if anyone can make any comparisons or give me an idea of what the church is like in the Spokane area. Any info you can provide is much appreciated!

This wiki entry contains some general information on the city of Spokane:
Spokane Washington Temple - Mormonism, The Mormon Church, Beliefs, & Religion - MormonWiki

The Spokane Washington Temple is the 59th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Missionary work in the Spokane area began in 1854 with four elders sharing the message of Mormon Church. Almost 100 years later membership was only 5,000 statewide. At that time members never imagined that one day the state wide membership would total more 212,000 and that the Spokane area would be home to a beautiful Mormon temple with gray granite walls, art glass windows, and a lone spire topped by a golden angel Moroni blowing his horn.

At the groundbreaking ceremony in October of 1998, Elder F. Melvin Hammond of the Seventy said, "Everyone in this city will be blessed by the establishment of this glorious edifice, member and nonmember alike." [1] During the open house of the Spokane Washington Temple 52,000 people toured the beautiful building. President Gordon B. Hinckley commented that as people toured, "They [were] most impressed with pictures of the Savior they see in these holy houses. They must know that the central figure in all of our worship is the Lord Jesus Christ. They will no longer regard us as a non-Christian people." [2] As they toured the temple people also learned about the reasons Mormons build temples.

On August 21, 1999, President Hinckley dedicated the Spokane Washington Temple with 16,000 members attending 11 dedicatory sessions. During the dedicatory prayer President Hinckley prayed, “Touch the hearts of the people in this temple district that the spirit of Elijah may rest upon them, that their hearts may turn to their fathers, and that they may be motivated to search out their forebears and do a great vicarious work on their behalf.” [3]

The temple is located in the Spokane suburb of Opportunity and serves about 32,000 members in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana. The Spokane Washington Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. There are two other temples in Washington, the Seattle Washington Temple (ded. 1980) and the Columbia River Washington Temple (ded. 2001).

Have a great day.

Cheers,
Kawazu

[Moksha]

Kennewick-Pasco-Richland are alright, but can they really stack up to being able to say you are from Walla Walla?

[tubaloth]

in general LDS population statistics like "what % of people in the area are LDS"

Not sure of a % but the ward boundaries aren’t to bad. Which would mean there is a pretty good collection of LDS. Probably not as compact as the Tri Cities area. Its about what you would think for being that far away from Utah.

how big are the wards",

Wards for the most part are the same size around the world. (If we are talking about members) if we are talking about Geography, they aren’t to bad.

do they have enough LDS kids to justify release time seminary

No they have early morning Seminary I think in most of the areas. Not sure where they meet at.