Two leaders moving here to oversee growth in Georgia
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 28, 2003
http://www.ajc.com/
John Blake – Staff
Two Mormon leaders are moving to Atlanta today to oversee the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Georgia.
Steven Lund and Edward Smith were appointed as mission presidents in the Georgia region by the Mormon leadership. They will oversee the Mormon church’s evangelical efforts in northwestern Georgia for three years.
There are about 61,000 Mormons in 90 congregations in Georgia. They typically have baptized about 500 new members per year in the Georgia mission field, the equivalent of one congregation each year, church officials say.
The numbers of Mormons have grown so steadily in Georgia that leaders have divided their Georgia Atlanta Mission field into two geographical areas. Smith, 65, will lead the church’s efforts in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission, which will cover North Georgia, including the northern Atlanta suburbs.
Lund, 49, will lead Mormon missionary work in the Georgia Atlanta Mission, covering west Georgia. A third mission field includes South Georgia.
Mormon Elder Gene R. Cook said Georgia’s steady population growth offers plenty of evangelical opportunities for his church.
“We are really pleased with what’s happening in Georgia,” Cook said. “With the division of the mission, we look forward to much more growth and to much more involvement with our friends who are not members of the church who will be exposed more and more to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”