Some are surprised to learn that there was no Far West Missouri Stake until 2015. The first stake of the Church was formed in Kirtland, Ohio, with Joseph Smith as president, on 17 February 1834. A few months later, on 3 July 1834, a similar organization was established in Missouri, with David Whitmer as president. Although it was not referred to as a “stake,” this organization had a presidency and a high council. It is sometimes referred to today as the Clay-Caldwell Stake. The third stake of the Church was established on 28 June 1838 at Adam-ondi-Ahman. Although about 5,000 members of the Church lived in Far West and the immediate area by 1838, there was no stake in the city—perhaps because Joseph Smith and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles lived here.

And so, it was not until 18 October 2015 that the Far West Missouri Stake was created. It was formed by combining the Maryville Ward and the Albany Branch of the Platte City Missouri Stake with the Gallatin, Cameron 1st, Far West, Kearney 1st, and Kearney 3rd Wards and the Trenton, Chillicothe, and Wood Heights Branches of the Liberty Missouri Stake. The first stake presidency was Michael D. Call, president, R. Scott Holman, first counselor, and Anthony P. Myers, second counselor.