The Great Houston Stake Hunt: How Many Can You Find?
Howdy, partners! Ever wondered just how many congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (AKA LDS, or maybe you're feeling fancy and want to throw down the whole name) there are in the sprawl that is Houston, Texas? Well, buckle up, because we're about to embark on a virtual stakeout (pun totally intended) to answer this burning question.
Why Stakes Matter (and Don't Matter at the Same Time)
Stakes are kind of like churchy regions. They group together several congregations, like wards and branches, under one leadership umbrella. Think of it as a team effort – everyone's working together to spread the gospel and bake killer casseroles for potlucks.
Now, the exact number of members in a stake isn't super important. It's more about creating a strong community and supporting each other. But hey, a little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right? So, let's get down to brass tacks and see how many stakes we can corral!
Houston: A Hotbed of LDS Hospitality?
Here's the thing: there's no handy dandy app that gives you a real-time count of LDS stakes in Houston (although, that might be a fun app to develop – "Stake Stalker: Gotta Catch 'Em All!"). But fear not, intrepid investigator, because we have a few trusty resources at our disposal:
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Temple Trove: The Houston Texas Temple serves a whopping 22 stakes! That's a whole lotta congregations spread out across southeast Texas [independent website, not affiliated with LDS Church]. Now, that's a good start, but there could be more out there, right?
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Local Knowledge: Word on the street (or maybe it was a whisper in Sunday School?) is that the number might be even higher than 22. Intriguing! Maybe there's a secret stake hidden amongst the city's legendary rodeo scene?
The Verdict: It's a Mystery (But a Fun One!)
So, sleuths, how many stakes are there in Houston? The answer, like a perfectly seasoned batch of funeral potatoes, remains a delicious mystery. But that's okay! The true takeaway here is the strong sense of community that the LDS Church fosters in Houston, with multiple congregations ready to welcome you with open arms (and maybe even a plate of cookies).
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sudden craving for Jello salad and a good gospel hymn. Happy stake hunting, everyone!
