LDS church creates sixth stake in Spokane County

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created its sixth stake in Spokane County on Sunday.

A stake is a collection of six to 12 congregations in a defined geographic area, with each congregation having about 300 people.

The new Mount Spokane Stake will be overseen by President Jed McKinlay. He will be assisted by two counselors, Matthew Borders and Darin Christensen.

The church has about 26,000 members in the county, with five new congregations forming in the past five years. This is the first stake formed here in 14 years.

Also, new leaders were announced Sunday for the Valley Stake. Geoff Julian is president, assisted by counselors Kevin Daines and Brett Larsen. Julian succeeds Brian Pitcher as president.