Cole Wilkes On to Florida

Cole Wilkes, oldest son of Rob and Chardell Wilkes 5 offspring, has been called to serve the Lord and His children in the Florida Tallahassee Mission.  He notes he is excited to serve and feels more prepared since studying more intently and watching every episode of The District before he entered the Provo MTC on Wednesday, Oct. 12.  When he submitted his mission paperwork, he said he would “go where you want me to go, Dear Lord.  Just don’t send me to Florida where there are snakes and crocodiles.”  After recovering from his surprise at being called to the Sunshine State, the 2015 Desert Hills High School graduate was told most of his mission will likely be served in Arkansas.

Possibly the first missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida was Phineas Young, who served a two-month mission in 1845. The first missionaries were not well-received. From 1869 to 1929 law officers met each train arriving in Tallahassee and prevented Latter-day Saint elders from getting off. As late as 1895, history notes  two elders were arrested and given the choice to leave or pay a $200 fine. In 1898, one Church congregational leader was murdered. In spite of such persecution, missionaries continued to preach in Florida. The state's first official Church congregation was created in Jefferson County in 1897. By 1904 there were 1,230 Church members in Florida.

Church growth in Florida was slow until Latter-day Saints from the West moved there, drawn by a strong commerce and the aerospace industry.

Today church membership exceeds 152,000 in 251 congregations in 5 missions and two temples are busy doing the work of salvation in Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale.