Columbia, SC — Representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met this week with key state leaders at the South Carolina Statehouse to foster relationships, promote collaboration, and reaffirm the Church’s commitment to humanitarian efforts across the region.
David Winters, an Area Seventy serving South Carolina and residing in Georgia, led the visit.
“The purpose of our meetings at the Statehouse in Columbia was to more fully introduce to them the presence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their communities,” said Ernie Shannon, one of the faith leaders of the ten congregations in the Greater Fort Mill area. “We wanted to share our desire to be engaged in meeting the humanitarian needs in this region of the state. We emphasized our willingness to work hand-in-hand with local leaders and, especially, with other faith-based groups. I feel we made great headway toward those goals this week.”
During their visit, Church representatives met with Governor Henry McMaster. They also held individual meetings with several bipartisan state legislators. One legislator noted the unique nature of the visit, stating that this was the first time in over a decade that a group had come to offer assistance rather than request support—a reflection of the Church’s service-oriented approach.
In addition to relationship-building efforts, Church representatives observed legislative proceedings, including the South Carolina Senate’s second reading of the Religious Liberty Day Bill. The bill now requires a third reading before returning to the House for further consideration.
The visit underscores the Church’s ongoing commitment to building partnerships, supporting communities, and contributing to meaningful humanitarian efforts throughout South Carolina.
About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide faith of over 17 million members. The Church has over 30,000 congregations in more than 160 countries and territories. It also operates several universities; a religious education program for youth and young adults with enrollment of more than 400,000 in 170 countries; FamilySearch, the world’s largest genealogical organization; and a vast humanitarian aid program that provides more than $1 billion annually in worldwide relief. There are 46,500 Church members that attend 83 congregations in South Carolina.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
