Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Minot have new local leadership and three congregations for worship in the Minot area. The Minot 3rd Ward was created on Feb. 10 using membership from the two existing congregations in Minot, the 1st and 2nd Wards. Groups of members are organized to attend worship meetings together, in a ward, based on geographic boundaries.

A ward is a community where Mormons can develop friendships and support their fellow church members in their efforts to worship and follow Jesus Christ.

“With the growing number of members in the region it was necessary to take the two existing wards in the Minot area and make them into three wards,” said Timothy Cox, president of the Bismarck, North Dakota Stake. “We’re pleased that local leaders have accepted the responsibility of caring for the more than 1,300 members of the LDS faith in the three congregations in north central North Dakota.”

The Minot 1st Ward boundary is the area north of Fourth Avenue Northwest/Third Avenue Northwest/Fifth Avenue Northeast to the Canadian border (not including the Minot Air Force Base). The newly called leadership of the Minot 1st Ward is Bishop John Lund, 1st Counselor Jerry Frei and 2nd Counselor Joe Costabile.

The Minot 2nd Ward boundary is the area south of Fourth Avenue Northwest/Third Avenue Northwest and west of Broadway, including the west side of the Minot Air Force Base. Leadership in the Minot 2nd Ward is Bishop Scott Williams, 1st Counselor Brian Foisy and 2nd Counselor Jeff Ward.

The Minot 3rd Ward boundary is the area south of Fourth Avenue Northwest/Fifth Avenue Northeast and east of Broadway, including the east side of the Minot Air Force Base. The Bishopric in the new Minot 3rd Ward is Bishop Greg Barlow, 1st Counselor David Jacobs and 2nd Counselor Kaden Elwess.

All three wards will continue to meet for Sunday worship at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 2025-9th St. NW. The Minot 2nd Ward will meet at 9 a.m., the Minot 3rd Ward at 11 a.m. and the Minot 1st Ward at 1 p.m. Guests may attend church services at any time.

The Bismarck North Dakota Stake consists of 14 congregations of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout western North Dakota and north central South Dakota. A bishop is the leader of a local congregation with duties similar to those of a pastor, priest or rabbi. In the Mormon church, this position is unpaid.