The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Expanding in Connecticut

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has created a large new district, or "stake,” to be known as the New London Connecticut Stake. A local man, Richard S. Hutchins, is the first stake president of the newly created stake, a geographical region comparable to a Catholic Diocese.

A typical LDS stake has about 8 congregations, or "wards." With 16 wards, “the [former] Providence RI Stake is the largest in terms of units in North America,” Elder Grant Bennett pointed out at the start of a reorganizing conference in June. Elder Bennett is the Area Seventy, or regional authority with ecclesiastical responsibility over much of New England. Consequently, that stake was split into two stakes -- one in Rhode Island and an entirely new one in Connecticut.

“This is a very historic event” for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northeast, Elder Bennett told the 2300 people participating in the conference. “This is the first new stake to be created in New England in 18 years. It certainly won’t be the last,” he added.

President Hutchins was the president of the former Providence Stake during so much of its growth. “The first stake in New England was created in 1960 in Boston. From one stake in New England in 1960, just 56 years later, with the New London Stake created [in June] we now have 14, with one Temple (Boston MA) in operation and a second (Farmington CT) soon to join it,” he summarized.

Local leadership assignments within the Church, such as Stake Presidencies, Bishops and Relief Society presidencies (women's organization) are unpaid lay minister positions. The individuals balance church service with families and full-time employment.

President Hutchins is the Oncology Drug Development Senior Director within Pharmaceutical Sciences at Pfizer, with a degree in Chemistry from Princeton University and PhD. from the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Kelly, have lived in Connecticut since 1995, and now live in Gales Ferry. Like her husband, Kelly Hutchins has held many church positions – currently as the Young Women's President in Groton Ward. They are also the parents of 10 children.

President Hutchins's lay church service includes years of teaching and ministering in youth programs, three years as a ward Bishop, four years as a Providence Stake Counselor, and five years as Providence Stake President. As a very young man, President Hutchins served for two years in the San Jose, California, Spanish-speaking mission, including six months as president of a small congregation.

The New London Stake includes wards in Groton, Waterford, Norwich, Ashford, Madison, Cromwell, and the many towns that are part of these named wards. The stake’s formation has also affected 2 other Connecticut districts: Hartford Stake and New Haven Stake.

Serving with President Hutchins are Kevin M. Bell of the Cromwell Ward as his First Counselor and Mark A. Malcarne of the Madison Ward as Second Counselor.

Presiding over the reorganization was Elder Anthony Perkins, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He flew in from Salt Lake City and noted that “blessings of the Church come down through these great [local] leaders,” including the blessings of the temple.

The temple nearing completion in Farmington will serve members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in four states - Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York – and is another indication of growth in this region. President Hutchins believes that "the growth of the Church is a direct result of the Temple that was announced in October 2010 to be built in Connecticut."

Upon completion and dedication of the temple in November, only faithful members who follow the teachings of the church will be allowed inside. Before this, however, the temple will be open to the public for free tours – providing a rare opportunity to see inside a LDS temple. The open house phase will run from September 30 - October 22, 2016, except for October 1-2, 9, and 16. Use #hartfordmormontemple on FB for more information.