In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, congregations are organized in different sizes and called by different names. Language-specific congregations have slightly different guidelines about how they are formed and organized.

A branch is the smallest official Latter-day Saint congregation.

• Branches typically have 20 or more members and are led by a branch presidency and multiple male and female volunteer leaders.
• As of June 30, 2026, there are fifteen (15) active sign language branches in the world. Tap or click on the “Where can I find a sign language branch…” link below to see all of them.
• These used to be called ‘Deaf branches,’ but since 2011, they have been called ‘sign language’ branches (i.e., Portland Heights Branch [Sign Language]). You can tap on ‘Status’ to see past ‘Historical’ or ‘Legacy’ Deaf branches.

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A ward is a typical Latter-day Saint congregation.

• Language-specific wards typically have 125 or more members and are led by a bishopric and multiple male and female volunteer leaders.
• As of June 17, 2026, there are six (6) active sign language wards in the world. Tap or click on the “Where can I find a sign language ward…” link below to see all of them.
• Historically, these were called ‘Deaf wards,’ but since 2011, they have been called ‘sign language’ wards (i.e., Salt Lake Valley Ward [Sign Language]). Filter the list below to see past ‘Historical’ or ‘Legacy’ Deaf or sign language wards.
• It’s important to remember that because a spoken-language ward has a few deaf members and maybe some interpreters who attend, that’s not considered a ‘deaf ward,’ that’s a ‘sign language group’ and you can learn more about them below.

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A group is a formal or informal meeting of church members that gather for specific needs.

• As of August 15, 2026, a group can be a formal (officially recorded and reported on maps) or informal official Church congregation of church members that gather for specific needs.
• (See Church Handbook 37.7 for meeting guidelines.) Groups are important to D/HH church members because these are where most members tend to meet. Learn more.
• A formal group must be two people but informally can be one person.
• Most sign language groups are supported by one or more interpreter; larger groups may have their own separate sign language Sunday School, priesthood, and/or Relief Society meetings. Some groups have group leaders that are set apart and meet with the hearing ward council.
• As of October 20, 2026, it is unknown how many deaf/sign language groups there are in the world.

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