Seventh Alabama Latter-day Saint Stake organized in Madison

The Madison Alabama Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized Sunday, October 30 in two conference sessions.

Elder Stanley G. Ellis of the Seventy in Salt Lake City, Utah accompanied by Elder M. Keith Giddens, also of the Seventy and from Atlanta, was assigned by Church President Thomas S. Monson and Senior Apostle Boyd K. Packer to create the new stake during the conference held at 1804 Sparkman Drive in Huntsville.

The worldwide church organizes wards (congregations) based upon geographical area. Wards consist of 300 or more members. Stakes are generally comprised of five to twelve wards. The term “stake” is derived from biblical imagery, with Zion pictured as a great tent upheld by cords fastened securely by stakes.

At the time of the creation of Madison Alabama Stake, the Huntsville Alabama Stake was comprised of approximately 5,600 members with fourteen wards and one Spanish speaking branch.

The newly formed Madison Alabama Stake consists of seven wards and encompasses the areas of Madison, Athens, Decatur, Cullman and Guntersville.  Keith R. Draughon, of Madison, and previous president of the Huntsville Alabama Stake, now presides with William K. Drake of Cullman and Michael D. Campbell of Decatur serving as his counselors.

“The creation of a new stake will allow stake leadership to visit each congregation more often to minister to the needs of the members and also to give more members opportunities to serve in stake and ward leadership positions and grow individually from the experience,” Draughon said.

There are currently six stakes in Alabama: Bessemer, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Mobile. The Madison Alabama Stake is the seventh.

To learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its organization and precepts, please visit www.lds.org or www.mormon.org.