The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas

As of early 2017, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 348,130 members, 74 stakes, 3 districts, 682 congregations (552 wards and 130 branches), 8 missions, and 4 temples in Texas.

Due to increased persecution around Nauvoo, Joseph Smith realized that he would have to relocate the Church outside the borders of the United States. The Republic of Texas was considered by Smith a place where the Church members would be able to peacefully practice their religion. The prophet began to negotiate with Sam Houston, president of the Texas Republic, for the southern and western portions of Texas for the future Latter-day Saint nation. Joseph Smith sent Lucien Woodworth to Austin, Texas, to meet with Houston.

Woodworth returned to Nauvoo and reported the progress he had made in May. Reports indicated plans for purchasing large tracts of land. A commission composed of Woodworth, George Miller and Almon W. Babbitt was organized to lead the final negotiations. Joseph Smith asked that Lyman Wight and Miller to prepare to lead a group of settlers to Texas with assumption that negotiations would be successful. These negotiations ended with the death of Joseph Smith in June 1844.

Even though Brigham Young relocated the Church in the Great Basin, he allowed Wight to take a group of 150 to Texas. On November 10, 1845, they arrived north of present-day Dallas. Eventually, Wight and the colonists settled near a German colony of Fredericksburg and founded a town named Zodiac.

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