Mormon church sees increase in membership on Navajo Nation

Thursday, October 31, 2013  

Members of the Navajo Nation are fueling a growth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The New York Times reports.

The Tuba City Stake, which includes the entire reservation, has seen 25 percent growth since 2008. In Tuba City, the largest community on the reservation, hundreds of homes are following the Mormon faith.

“In Navajo culture, the most important things we have are life and our family,” Linda Smith told the Times, explaining why she embraces the religion.

Mormons have a troubled history with the tribe. Up until 1996, the church's Indian Placement Program placed 20,000 Indian children -- mostly Navajos -- in temporary foster homes in an attempt to convert them.

Get the Story:
Some Find Path to Navajo Roots Through Mormon Church (The New York Times 10/31)