Elder and Sister Traynor Mission Blog: The Mission

Elder Pat and Sister Sally Traynor are thrilled to serve in the Charleston, West Virginia Mission and have a lot of preparations to make before they leave! Meanwhile, we can learn a bit about the mission and the area.

Charleston History

Both the capitol and largest city in West Virginia, Charleston began the idea of the American frontier. Settlers arrived after the American Revolutionary War, seeking wealth and independence upon the banks of the Kanawha River. Charleston was officially established in 1794, with a population of 35 people over 40 acres. Plentiful resources such as salt, natural gas, and coal fueled the city's growth into the American Civil War, when West Virginia separated from Virginia to join the Union. West Virginia and Charleston became battleground states important to the outcome of the war. Charleston continued to be a vital part of industrialization and war efforts throughout the 19th and 20th century. Today, Charleston is a thriving urban area of over 50,000 people.

West Virginia Mission LDS Statistics:

Church Membership: 17,040 (West Virginia), 94,273 (Virginia), 34,210 (Kentucky)
Missions: 1 (West Virginia), 3 (Virginia), 1 (Kentucky)
Temples: 1 (Kentucky)
Congregations: 36 (West Virginia), 197 (Virginia), 78 (Kentucky)
Family History Centers: 14 (West Virginia), 36 (Virginia), 23 (Kentucky)

The West Virginia Charleston Mission takes in parts of Kentucky and Virginia.