The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
aka The Mormon Church [LDS]
This church features uniform traditional family-centered religious worship at many locations in the area. The LDS Church is the second largest religious organization in America.

Upcoming California LDS Events
These popular events fill up fast - advance booking required:
Mormon Battalion Days [Last Sat in Jan] - The Mormon Battalion Visitors Center in San Diego is the second most popular LDS historic site in America.
Big Bear LDS Singles Mountain Retreat [Mar - 3rd Weekend] - Glendale 9th Branch Mid-Singles Conference at Big Bear Lake - conquer the mountains - skiing, sledding, or just playing games by the fire.
LDS General Conference [1st Weekend in APR & OCT] - Temple Square Utah.
Mormon Pageants [Summer] - The LDS Experience with Live Music and Drama.
California Mormon Helping Hands [Spring] - LDS Day of Service in California.
California Mormon Temple Christmas [DEC] - Live Christmas music programs and outdoor nativity exhibits.

Special Programs
Missionaries are available Sunday mornings to answer your questions about LDS programs and teachings.
Young Single Adults - Groups and Activities -
Family History Center - Research your family tree here with free access to many giant genalogical data bases.
Provident Living - LDS Family financial and legal aid, eduction, employment, physical, social and emotional support.
Boy Scouts - The LDS Church supports cub packs, scout troups and related scouting activities. Open to all young men ages 8-18.
Youth Activities - Weekly activity night, scouts, campouts, weekend dances, seminary gospel study, summer camps and more for youths 8-18.
Sports - Most LDS churchs have indoor basketball or volleyball recreation court that are used for informal and league games and practices on a weekly basis.
Relief Society (LDS Women's Organization) - very active in local service projects and promoting healthy family life.

Redlands Temple
116th Operating temple of the LDS church was dedicated in 2003. This classic single-spire design is located on 4.6 acres adjacent to the Redlands Stake Center and serves Latter-Day Saint congregations in the Inland Empire, Mojave Desert and Mojave Desert regions.

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Mormon Battalion Visitors Center - Old Town San Diego
Church operated museum commerating the 1847 completion of the longest infantry march in US History, over 2000 miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego. The Mormon Battalion consisted of five companies that totaled over 500 men. Multimedia presentations, historic artifacts and paintings.

Southern California Mormon Choir
Established in 1953, this 100-voice choral ensemble regularly does concerts featuring classical, sacred, folk, patriotic and popular choral music throughout Southern California.
Choir Website - Concert News

More Resources
Mojave Desert LDS Church
Inland Empire County LDS Church
Imperial Valley LDS Church

Mojave Desert Area LDS News Stories
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California Mojave Desert LDS YSA Wards and Groups
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California YSA Conference - August

Mojave Desert Area LDS Special Interest
LDS YSA - San Diego CA Region - YSA Groups, Activities and Related Resources
San Diego LDS Singles Info Web - Social Events

Mojave Desert Area LDS Institute of Religion
Provides opportunity for ongoing daily religious studies.
LDS Church Education System - Religious Study Resources.

Mojave Desert Area LDS Deseret Industries
Charitable goods exchange center.
Chula Vista Deseret Industries Store

Mojave Desert Activity Guide Local attractions, museums, festivals and theater Activities, sports, recreation, golf and parks Many Special Interest groups and clubs California Discount Travel Rates
> Death Valley National Park - Desert Wilderness Adventure > Joshua Tree National Park - Desert Wilderness Adventure

Gold Rush Years

The Mojave Desert region lays astride the Old Spanish Trail, the most direct route between Salt Lake Valley and Southern California and it was traversed by men heading home after completing duty with the Mormon Battalion in 1847.

In Nov 1849 a large party of prospectors left Salt Lake for the California gold fields at the height of the California Gold Rush. The group include a large number of mormons and non-mormons as well as LDS Church apostle Charles C Rich and was led by a former Mormon Battalion Captain William Hunt. They were using the southern route because snow now covered the northern route.

A large contingent split off from Hunt's group to attempt a short-cut. After struggling for days with no water, many would turn back and rejoin Hunt's group. Some of those who did not turn back would perish. The survivors of this group would name this area Death Valley.

Victorville Family History Center
12100 Ridgecrest Road (cross street=Bear Valley Road) Victorville, CA
760-243-5632; FHC Website;
Open: Tues-Thu 9AM-9PM; (Exc: Holidays)

Located at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Family History Center welcomes the public. The Family History Centers are dedicated to Family History and Genealogical Research. Volunteers are available to provide free assistance. A variety of classes for beginners and FHC User Groups meet regularly.

The FHC needs volunteers to help create a digital index for the newly released 1940 US Census and other important historical records.

Family Search San Bernardino County
FHC Website;

Big detailed directory to historical records of early residents of the Mojave Desert. Includes information about early Mexican Rancho land grants in the area.

Mojave Desert Genealogy Clubs

Norman F. Feldheym Central Library - in San Bernardino for a California collection that is unique in the world.
Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert - Ridgecrest
High Desert Genealogical Society - The Genealogy Books belonging to the Society are located in the Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library

Huntington Library
Early California Population Project [ECPP]

A collections-based research and educational institution established in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington. ECPP provides public access to all the information contained in California's historic mission registers. Records include baptism, marriage and burial records for each of the California missions. Records include information on Indians, soldiers, and settlers of Alta California from 1769-1850.

Apple Valley California LDS Stake
2729th stake of the LDS Church was created from a division of the Victorville California and Hesperia California stakes on 10 Sep 2006. Craig C. Garrick, CEO of Aviation Assurance is first stake president.
Stake Website -
Big Bear Ward - North Shore Chapel
Desert Knolls Ward - Tuscola Chapel
Granite Hills Ward - Navajo Chapel
Lucerne Valley Ward - Lucerne Valley Chapel
Mojave Narrows Ward - Tuscola Chapel
Ranchos Ward - Navajo Chapel
Ridgecrest YSA Ward - Stake Center
Spring Valley Lake Ward - Stake Center
Sunset Hills Ward - Tuscola Chapel
Village Ward - Navajo Chapel

Facilities
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Apple Valley Stake Center - 12100 Ridgecrest Rd, Victorville CA
North Shore Chapel - 400 E North Shore Dr, Big Bear City CA
Tuscola Chapel - 15500 Tuscola Rd, Apple Valley CA
Navajo Chapel - 12242 Navajo Rd, Apple Valley CA
Lucerne Valley Chapel - 10865 Post Office Rd, Lucerne Valley CA

Other
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Barstow California LDS Stake
Originally organized in 1959 as the Mojave Stake, but was discontinued in 2008.

Hesperia California LDS Stake
LDS Church Wards in Green Tree, Arrowhead and Mojave River. 1632nd Stake of the LDS Church organized 22 Feb 1987 with Larry Dale Skinner as first stake president.
Stake Website -
Arrowhead Ward - Hickory Bldg
Bear Valley Ward - Maple Bldg
Green Tree Ward -Ridgecrest Bldg
La Paz Ward - Spanish - Amethyst Bldg
Maple Ward - Maple Bldg
Mojave River Ward - Stake Center
Oak Hills Ward - Sheep Creek Bldg
Ranchero Ward - Maple Bldg
Santa Fe Ward - Stake Center

Facilities
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Stake Center - 10862 Maples Ave. Hesperia , CA
Hickory Bldg - 9553 Hickory Ave - Hesperia CA - Old Stake Center
Maple Bldg - 10862 Maple St - Hesperia CA
Ridgecrest Bldg - 12100 Ridgecrest St - Victorville CA (Apple Valley Stake Center)
Amethyst Bldg - 12860 Amethyst Rd - Victorville CA
Sheep Creek Bldg - 8889 Sheep Creek Rd - Phelan CA

Other
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Hesperia Resort Life - Local attractions, restaurants, festivals, theater and recreation guide.

Ridgecrest California LDS Stake
Includes the communities of Ridgecrest, China Lake, Lone Pine and Bishop. 521st stake of the LDS Church organized 16 Aug 1970 with AlDean Washburn as first stake president.
Stake Website -
Bishop Ward - Bishop Bldg
Lone Pine Branch - Lone Pine Chapel
Mammoth Lakes Branch - Mammoth Lakes Chapel
Ridgecrest 1st Ward - Stake Center
Ridgecrest 2nd Ward - Stake Center
Ridgecrest 3rd Ward - Stake Center
Ridgecrest 4th Ward - Stake Center

Facilities
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Stake Center - 1031 South Norma Street, Ridgecrest, CA
Bishop Bldg - 725 Keough St - Bishop CA
Lone Pine Chapel - 451 E Locust St - Lone Pine CA
Mammoth Lakes Chapel - 2174 Meridian Blvd - Mammoth Lakes CA

Other
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Ridgecrest Resort Life - Local attractions, restaurants, festivals, theater and recreation guide.

Victorville California LDS Stake
Includes the communities of Victorville, Adelanto, Wrightwood and Silver Lakes. 1397th stake of the LDS Church organized 30 Jan 1983 with Owen Dean Call as first stake president.
Stake Website -
Adelanto Ward - Jeraldo Bldg
Barstow Ward - Barstow Bldg
Fort Irwin Ward -Ft Irwin Chapel
Jeraldo Branch - Tongan - Jeraldo Chapel
Mesa LInda Ward - Stake Center
Mojave Ward - Samoan - Jeraldo Chapel
Newberry Springs Ward - Newberry Bldg
Parkview Ward - Stake Center
Phelan Ward - Stake Center
Silver Lakes Ward - Stake Center
Wrightwood Ward - Wrightwood Chapel

Facilities
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Stake Center - 12860 Amethyst Rd - Victorville CA
Jeraldo Bldg - 15330 Jeraldo Dr - Victorville CA
Barstow Bldg - 2571 S Barstow Rd - Barstow CA
Ft Irwin Chapel - 11th ACR Regimental Chapel - FT IRWIN, CA
Newberry Bldg - 34380 Newberry Rd - Newberry Springs CA
Sheep Creek Bldg - 8889 Sheep Creek Rd - Phelan CA
Wrightwood Chapel - 888 Hwy 2 - Wrightwood CA

Other
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Victorville Resort Life - Local attractions, restaurants, festivals, theater and recreation guide.

Lake Havasu City LDS Stake
Includes the communities of Blythe, Needles, and Parker. Organized originally as the Blythe California Stake, the 750th stake of the LDS Church on 14 Mar 1976 with Jerry Dean Mortensen as first stake president.
Stake Website -
Acoma Ward - Stake Center
Blythe Ward - Blythe Bldg
Crossman Peak Ward - Stake Center
Needles Ward - Needles Bldg
Parker Ward - Parker Bldg
Quartzsite Ward - Stake Quartzsite Bldg

Facilities
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Stake Center - 510 North Acoma Ave - Lake Havasu City AZ
Blythe Bldg - 700 N Broadway - Blythe CA
Needles Bldg - 2001 El Monte - Needles CA
Parker Bldg - 1416 Reata Ave - Parker AZ
Quartzsite Bldg - 455 S Riggles Rd - Quartzsite AZ

Other
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Tour Lake Havasu - Local attractions, restaurants, festivals, theater and recreation guide.
Blythe Resort Life - Local attractions, restaurants, festivals, theater and recreation guide.