Stake History[]
2013 New Stake Presidency[]
Peter M. Johnson took a winding path to become the first black Mormon regional leader in Alabama.
Johnson grew up in New York, was recruited to play college basketball for a Mormon university in Hawaii, later moved to Utah and worked as an accountant in Salt Lake City, before eventually taking a job at the University of Alabama.
Being chosen as the first black Mormon to serve as a stake president in Alabama caught Johnson somewhat by surprise.
Peter M. Johnson, president of the Bessemer stake and the first black regional leader for Mormons in Alabama
In the LDS Church, Johnson has held many leadership positions including stake financial clerk, ward Young Men president, ward mission leader, and counselor in bishopric. In 2013, Johnson was called as president of the Bessemer Alabama Stake, becoming the first black man to be a stake president in Alabama.[1]
In 2018, Johnson was called as an area seventy. In April 2019, he was called a General Authority Seventy, the africa-american leader of the LDS Church to hold that position.[2]
2018 New Stake Presidency[]
BESSEMER ALABAMA STAKE: (May 20, 2018) President — Barry Ramon Sadler Jr., 39, engineer, American Cast Iron Co.; succeeding Peter M. Johnson; wife, Antoinette Averett Sadler. Counselors — Robert Douglas Watson, 64, professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham; wife, Nancy Elizabeth Lucas Watson. Robert V Lewis, 59, Church coordinator; wife, Janet Ellison Lewis.[3]
Alabama Home Centered Church Opportunities[]
We teach that true religion begins in the home: "Home Centered / Church Supported". To that end families may consider the following local resources and programs to strengthen your core beliefs and values:
1. Come Follow Me: - Daily & Weekly family gospel study
2. Vanguard Scouting: - Featuring age-appropriate Family Activities, Service, Crafts, Field Trips, & Outdoor Adventures. The Benefits of Scouting are many, and there are lots of personal growth ideas to help your family pursue the new Churchwide Children & Youth Program.
3. LIFE School Curriculum: an LDS gospel based homeschool program that is built on the foundation of the scriptures, giving the child a sense of who he is and setting him on the path of discovering his divine mission. It is presented in a four year chronological rotation, integrating all areas of study to create a clear picture of the history of our world.
4. Family History: Resources to help you explore your family tree
- Mormon Pioneers - 200+ stories of early faithful Latter-day Saint pioneers.
- Familypedia - Come help build Utah's largest Family History online Encyclopedia.
5. Stripling Warriors on Facebook - LDS Children preparing to build Zion and around the world.
6. Local Recreation:
- Jefferson County, Alabama Scouting - Outdoor Trails, camping, museums and other family attractions.
- Pioneer Treks -
Birmingham Alabama Temple[]
Alabama's only temple, the Birmingham Alabama Temple is located north of Birmingham, resting on a tree-covered hillside just east of I-65. The grounds of the temple are handsomely landscaped, featuring numerous mature trees and shrubs. At Christmastime, Nativity-themed statues are added to the lawn and floodlighted at night.