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By Samantha Briggs

Why don’t LDS stakes/wards have individual websites?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide church led by a living prophet, with church affairs and teachings then being coordinated through an organizational structure of general authorities and local leaders. There are over 30,000 LDS congregations worldwide, but they are all unified in practice and in teachings. In general, going to an LDS congregation on a Sunday will be the same experience anywhere you go, and this is due to the unity created by the Church’s leadership and organizational structure.

The Church’s official website, www.LDS.org, serves as a centralized online hub and provides extensive information and resources for both those inside and outside the Church. If you haven’t ever clicked around on this website, check it out! In a few minutes, I was able to find a glossary of Gospel topics and essays, talks from past General Conference sessions, service and volunteer opportunities, monthly messages from the First Presidency, self-reliance resources , an LDS meetinghouse locator, a large collection of inspiring videos, and even country-specific pages with content tailored to each area of the world!

In addition, by logging on to LDS.org with a membership account, members of the Church have access to their local ward and stake information, including activities calendars and local online newsletters, as well as many other resources.

I have seen some wards or stakes create Facebook pages as another communication tool for local needs and activities, but such a page usually includes the statement, “This is not an official page of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” and points page viewers back to LDS.org or the Church’s official social media sites for more information.

In summary, I suppose LDS stakes and wards don’t have individual websites because they would not be necessary and because the current set-up promotes consistency throughout the Church. One centralized website to serve and represent the many wards, stakes, and regions that make up the LDS Church further communicates to me the unity that exists in the Church’s teachings and messaging throughout the world.

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About Samantha Briggs

Samantha Briggs grew up in the small town of Burley, Idaho and was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in Recreation Management and a minor in Nonprofit Management. She has worked for several nonprofit organizations and universities and is currently employed in the Division of Student Development at Gonzaga University. Briggs' second home is in Uganda—the Pearl of Africa! While living there, she worked alongside local leaders of both religious and community organizations to initiate programs in education, business, and public health. She is passionate about service, community development, and social justice...and chocolate chip cookies.

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