| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina | |
| Logocaption: | (Logo in Spanish) |
| Area: | South America South |
| Membership: | 481,518 (2023) |
| Stakes: | 78 |
| Districts: | 27 |
| Wards: | 484 |
| Branches: | 242 |
| Missions: | 13 |
| O: | 3 |
| U: | 2 |
| A: | 2 |
| Fhc: | 133 |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) (Spanish: La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días) was established in Argentina in 1925 when Melvin J. Ballard arrived in Buenos Aires and opened the church's South American Mission.
K.B. Reinhold Stoof became the first president of the South American Mission in July 1926. Missionary work largely focused on populations of German immigrants (see German Argentines). After Stoof's release in 1935, the South American Mission split into the Brazilian Mission and the Argentine Mission. During World War II, missionaries were required to leave Argentina but then re-entered in 1947. The Argentine Mission divided again in 1962 and the first stake in Argentina was established in 1966 in Buenos Aires. The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple was dedicated on January 17, 1986, becoming the church's first temple in Argentina.
With 474,399 members at year-end 2021, Argentina ranks as having the 4th most members of the LDS Church in South America and 7th worldwide. Membership grew by 22% between 2011 and 2021.
LDS Church president Heber J. Grant wanted to send missionaries to Argentina, so he sent Andrew Jenson on a trip to Argentina in 1923 in order to determine where missionaries may be successful.[1] The church's general authorities wanted to be slow and cautious in their attempt to send missionaries into South America, because once the mission was established, they wanted it to stay. They didn't want to repeat what happened with the LDS Church in Japan, where the Japanese Mission had to be closed in 1924.[2] In 1925, a group of German members of the LDS Church immigrated to Argentina. Among these was Wilhelm Friedrichs and Emil Hoppe and their families who were escaping post-World War I Germany. In Argentina, Friedrichs and Hoppe published religious messages in newspapers. In 1924, they asked the First Presidency to send missionaries to the German immigrants in Argentina.[3] Friedrichs wanted the First Presidency to send missionaries was because Friedrichs said it was difficult to meet people in their homes and Friedrichs did not have the Melchizedek Priesthood so he could not baptize anyone. Despite this, Friedrichs wrote in newspapers to explain Church teachings and invite people to meetings in his or Hoppe's home.[4]
In fall 1925, the LDS Church announced that Melvin J. Ballard, an LDS apostle, along with Rulon S. Wells and Rey Pratt, would be traveling to Buenos Aires to establish missionary work in South America. Wells spoke fluent German and Pratt, who was currently serving as president of the Mexican Mission, was knowledgeable in Spanish and Latin culture. They arrived in Buenos Aires on December 6, 1925. The first baptisms in South America were Anna Kullick and Ernst Biebersdorf and their families, along with two other young women, all German immigrants. They were baptized on December 12, 1925 in the Rio de la Plata. Language was a challenge for the missionaries. Church talks needed to be translated from English to Spanish to German. Furthermore, the missionaries found it difficult to decide where to proselyte.
The LDS Church was officially established on December 25, 1925, as the South American Mission. The mission was dedicated by Ballard in Tres de Febrero Park in Buenos Aires.[5] For about 6 months, Ballard, Wells, and Pratt served as missionaries in Argentina. They presented lectures and slideshows about Ancient American ruins, Latter-day Saint history, or Salt Lake City. Having little success in Buenos Aires, they tried to teach in Liniers. Herta Klara Kullick, daughter of Anna and Jakob Kullick, quickly learned Spanish and brought over 100 of her friends to listen to the missionaries.[6] In May 1926, the missionaries began to hold Sunday school for them. Baptisms followed in June. Pratt believed that missionary work should focus on Spanish speaking population.
In July 1926, K.B. Reinhold Stoof became president of the South American Mission. Ballard, Wells, and Pratt remained in Argentina for about a month after Stoof arrived. Initially, missionaries had little success. Even though Stoof did not speak Spanish, he brought a Spanish speaking missionary with him, J. Vernon Clark, to maintain missionary work with Spanish-speaking people. Stoof, however, "felt deep in his heart" that he needed to work with German immigrants. Later, Stoof realized that the German immigrant populations in Argentina were too scattered and he focused missionaries on Spanish-speaking and Italian-speaking populations. During Stoof's nine-year presidency, branches were created in Buenos Aires and other cities, focusing on German immigrants. Stoof never mastered the Spanish language, and there was a tension between Stoof's desire to preach to Germans and the missionaries' desire to preach to Spanish-speakers. Stoof also wanted to carry on the wishes of Ballard to preach to the native populations, though Stoof struggled to do this successfully in Northern Argentina. Moreover, Stoof did not have enough missionaries to proselyte. During his presidency, there were only 50 missionaries to work in the South American Mission, split between Brazil and Argentina. There were 96 baptisms in from 1926 to 1931, 50 were German immigrants, 32 were Spanish-speaking, and 11 were Italian immigrants. By the end of 1928, only one family of those who were baptized were not immigrants. The mission was expanded in 1930, when missionaries were sent to Rosario.
In 1935, the South American Mission was divided into the Brazilian Mission and the Argentine Mission. There were 192 members of the LDS Church in Argentina by 1935. W. Ernest Young became the first president of the Argentine Mission, with stewardship for 14 missionaries and 255 church members.[7] Young served from 1935 to 1938. Although there was a German-speaking branch in Buenos Aires, both missionary work and church meetings were in Spanish. Missionaries changed focus from German immigrants to Spanish speakers. In 1938, Frederick S. Williams became the president of the Argentine Mission. In 1938, there were 66 baptisms performed among the 45 missionaries. There were 438 members. Church meetings were held in 20 rented halls because the church did not yet own land in Argentina where they could build church buildings. The first LDS chapel built in Argentina was in Liniers in Buenos Aires. It was dedicated on April 9, 1939. This was also the first LDS chapel in South America. Branches were established in other cities, including Quilmes, La Plata, Rosario, Santa Fe, Bahía Blanca, Córdoba, and Mendoza. Williams used sports and musical events to give the LDS Church public and media attention. By 1940, the number of members of the LDS Church in Argentina had more than tripled from 1935 with church membership at nearly 600. From 1938 to 1941, the number of missionaries sent to Argentina doubled because World War II reduced the number of missionaries being sent to Europe. This caused Argentina to stop granted visas to missionaries. As a result, missionary work in Argentina slowed. In 1942, every missionary except for three was required to leave the country due to World War II. James Barker was the next president of the Argentine Mission, but he presided over a mission void of missionaries. Barker struggled to visit and maintain the administrative aspects of the LDS Church. Many branches closed.
After World War II, Young again became president Argentina mission, though the mission still did not have missionaries. Young traveled to check on branches in Argentina. LDS Church membership increased from 597 in 1940 to 801 in 1945. Despite the lack of experienced missionaries and a mission housing shortage in 1947, 29 missionaries were sent to Argentina. Many of the missionaries were ex-servicemen from World War II and were "mature" and "disciplined". In 1949, LDS Church membership was 1,000 in 27 branches, yet missionaries provided most of the ecclesiastical leadership. That same year, Harold Brown became the new president of the Argentine Mission, fresh with experience with LDS Church leadership in Mexico. By 1950 church membership had increased by almost six times since 1935, with membership numbers larger than Brazil and Uruguay. During his presidency, Brown further developed local organization and recruited ecclesiastical leadership from church members in Argentina. Missionary work was expanded with the addition of new programs and proselyting areas. Brown was replaced by Lee Valentine, who continued to send missionaries into new areas in Argentina. Valentine guided LDS Church President David O. McKay on a tour of the Argentine Mission. There, McKay met with president of Argentina at the time Juan Perón. In 1956, Loren N. Pace replaced Valentine as mission president. By 1959, church membership had increased to 3,500. The North Argentine Mission was established in 1962. Even though the Book of Mormon had already been translated into Spanish, there was a lack of church materials in Spanish in South American countries. The church divided up the translation work among Spanish-speaking countries in South America. Argentina was responsible for translating Primary lessons for children into Spanish.[8]
The first stake in Argentina was opened in 1966 in Buenos Aires. This was the first Spanish-speaking stake in South America and the second Spanish speaking stake in the world. Ángel Abrea was named as stake president. In 1981, Abrea become the first general authority from Latin America.[9]
Argentina hosted area conferences in March 1975 and October 1978. These conferences were attended by many general authorities, including church president Spencer W. Kimball. At the end of 1980, there were over 20 stakes, 5 missions, and nearly 50,000 members. In October 1985, a missionary training center (MTC) was built in Buenos Aires.[10] The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple was dedicated on January 17, 1986, becoming the first temple in Argentina. In 1998, there were 265,000 members and 62 stakes in Argentina. By 2009, there were 70 stakes and 10 missions.
The MTC in Argentina will close in July 2019.[11] [12]
There are two main obstacles to LDS missionary work in Argentina. First, traditions in Argentina are deeply rooted parts of their culture. Argentina is majority Roman Catholic, at 60-90% of the population depending on the source,[13] [14] and traditions discourage family members from converting to another religion because it requires someone to sacrifice their normal lives and traditions. Another obstacle to missionary work in Argentina is poverty. Poverty in Argentina is widespread and missionaries discover challenges in trying to proselyte to or convert families who lack food or basic human needs. Recent economic improvements in Argentina have improved the lives of Argentines and improved missionaries' abilities to perform missionary work.
As of December 31, 2022, the LDS Church reported 474,985 members, 13 missions, 133 family history centers, 726 congregations with 484 wards and 242 branches in 78 stakes and 27 districts, and 2 temples.[15] Argentina ranks as having the 4th most members of the LDS Church in South America and 7th worldwide[16]
| Stake/District | data-sort-type=date | Organized | Mission | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apostoles Argentina District | 11 Feb 1991 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Bahía Blanca Argentina Stake | 23 Jan 1980 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Bahía Blanca Argentina Villa Mitre Stake | 5 Nov 1995 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Bariloche Argentina Stake | 25 Feb 1996 | Argentina Neuquén | Concepción Chile | |
| Bell Ville Argentina Stake | 23 May 1993 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Adrogué Stake | 3 Nov 1996 | Argentina Buenos Aires South | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Aldo Bonzi Stake | 12 May 1991 | Argentina Buenos Aires South | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Avellaneda Stake | 22 Sep 1996 | Argentina Buenos Aires East | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Banfield Stake | 14 May 1978 | Argentina Buenos Aires South | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Belgrano Stake | 18 Sep 1994 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Caseros Stake | 12 May 1974 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Castelar Stake | 8 Jun 1980 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Chacabuco Stake | 1 Jun 2014 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Congreso Stake | 6 Dec 1998 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Escobar Stake | 15 Dec 1996 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina González Catán Stake | 2 Jun 1996 | Argentina Buenos Aires South | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Liniers Stake | 20 Nov 1966 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Litoral Stake | 12 Sep 1980 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Longchamps Stake | 1 Dec 2002 | Argentina Buenos Aires South | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Marcos Paz Stake | 24 Nov 1996 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Merlo Stake | 13 Aug 1978 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Monte Grande Stake | 10 Nov 1991 | Argentina Buenos Aires South | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Moreno Stake | 20 Mar 1983 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina North Stake | 28 Jan 1979 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Ramos Mejía Stake | 21 Aug 2011 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina Sarmiento Stake | 27 Jun 1993 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Caleta Olivia Argentina District | 28 Nov 2004 | Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Chivilcoy Argentina District | 22 Oct 1981 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Comodoro Rivadavia Argentina Stake | 20 Feb 1994 | Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Concepción Argentina District | 13 Feb 1990 | Argentina Tucumán | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Concordia Argentina District | 20 May 1990 | Argentina Santa Fe | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Córdoba Argentina Chacabuco Stake | 2 Sep 2018 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Córdoba Argentina East Stake | 21 Nov 2004 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Córdoba Argentina Patricios Stake | 29 Apr 1979 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Córdoba Argentina Sierras Stake | 7 Nov 1993 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Córdoba Argentina South Stake | 28 Feb 1972 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Córdoba Argentina West Stake | 8 Sep 1996 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Corrientes Argentina Stake | 19 Feb 1991 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Eldorado Argentina District | 20 Mar 1990 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Esquel Argentina District | 23 Jan 2005 | Argentina Neuquén | Concepción Chile | |
| Florencio Varela Argentina Stake | 22 Aug 1993 | Argentina Buenos Aires East | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Formosa Argentina Stake | 6 Jun 2004 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| General Roca Argentina Stake | 4 Jun 1995 | Argentina Neuquén | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Godoy Cruz Argentina Stake | 6 Jun 1979 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Guaymallén Argentina Stake | 17 Apr 1994 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Ibarreta Argentina District | 20 May 1990 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Jujuy Argentina Stake | 7 Jun 1987 | Argentina Salta | Córdoba Argentina | |
| La Costa Argentina District | 20 Jun 2004 | Argentina Buenos Aires East | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| La Paz Argentina District | 16 Dec 2001 | Argentina Santa Fe | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| La Plata Argentina East Stake | 1 Dec 1996 | Argentina Buenos Aires East | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| La Plata Argentina South Stake | 2 Dec 2012 | Argentina Buenos Aires East | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| La Plata Argentina Stake | 23 Nov 1980 | Argentina Buenos Aires East | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| La Rioja Argentina Stake | 17 Oct 2004 | Argentina Tucumán | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Lujan Argentina Stake | 13 Dec 1992 | Argentina Buenos Aires West | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Maipú de Cuyo Argentina Stake | 4 Jun 1995 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Mar del Plata Argentina North Stake | 21 May 1995 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Mar del Plata Argentina Stake | 31 Jan 1979 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Mendoza Argentina Stake | 1 Mar 1972 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Metan Argentina District | 8 Aug 1993 | Argentina Salta | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Necochea Argentina District | 20 Sep 1988 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Neuquén Argentina Stake | 20 Dec 1992 | Argentina Neuquén | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Neuquén Argentina West Stake | 7 Jul 1996 | Argentina Neuquén | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Olavarría Argentina Stake | 3 Aug 1979 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Oran Argentina District | 2 Jun 1992 | Argentina Salta | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Paraná Argentina Stake | 16 Dec 2001 | Argentina Santa Fe | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Paso de los Libres Argentina District | 11 Jul 1989 | Argentina Resistencia | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Pergamino Argentina Stake | 10 May 1998 | Argentina Rosario | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Posadas Argentina Stake | 20 Sep 1992 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Punilla Argentina District | 27 Sep 2015 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Quilmes Argentina Stake | 15 May 1975 | Argentina Buenos Aires East | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Rafaela Argentina District | 9 Apr 2006 | Argentina Santa Fe | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Reconquista Argentina District | 15 Jul 2018 | Argentina Santa Fe | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Resistencia Argentina South Stake | 17 Nov 1996 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Resistencia Argentina Stake | 15 Feb 1981 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Río Cuarto Argentina Stake | 11 Feb 1996 | Argentina Córdoba | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Río Gallegos Argentina District | 10 May 1988 | Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Roque Sáenz Peña Argentina District | 6 Mar 1990 | Argentina Resistencia | Asunción Paraguay | |
| Rosario Argentina North Stake | 10 Sep 1980 | Argentina Rosario | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Rosario Argentina Stake | 5 May 1974 | Argentina Rosario | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Rosario Argentina West Stake | 28 May 1995 | Argentina Rosario | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Salta Argentina Stake | 29 Apr 1981 | Argentina Salta | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Salta Argentina West Stake | 15 Oct 1995 | Argentina Salta | Córdoba Argentina | |
| San Juan Argentina Chimbas Stake | 18 Feb 1996 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| San Juan Argentina Nuevo Cuyo Stake | 24 May 1992 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| San Luis Argentina Stake | 14 Dec 2003 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| San Martin Argentina District | 28 Sep 2014 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| San Nicolás Argentina Stake | 22 Feb 1979 | Argentina Rosario | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| San Pedro Argentina Jujuy District | 3 Apr 1989 | Argentina Salta | Córdoba Argentina | |
| San Rafael Argentina Stake | 19 Feb 1995 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Santa Fe Argentina North Stake | 13 Aug 1995 | Argentina Santa Fe | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Santa Fe Argentina Stake | 20 Jul 1980 | Argentina Santa Fe | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Santa Rosa Argentina Stake | 20 Oct 1996 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Santiago del Estero Argentina Stake | 20 Jun 1993 | Argentina Tucumán | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Tartagal Argentina District | 25 Aug 1996 | Argentina Salta | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Tierra del Fuego Argentina Stake | 13 Jun 1989 | Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Trelew Argentina North Stake | 11 Jun 1989 | Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Trelew Argentina South Stake | 8 Dec 1996 | Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Tucumán Argentina Stake | 21 Jan 1980 | Argentina Tucumán | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Tucumán Argentina West Stake | 18 Dec 1994 | Argentina Tucumán | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Valle de Uco Argentina District | 17 Jun 1990 | Argentina Mendoza | Córdoba Argentina | |
| Venado Tuerto Argentina District | 24 Feb 1989 | Argentina Rosario | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Viedma Argentina District | 4 Mar 1990 | Argentina Bahía Blanca | Buenos Aires Argentina | |
| Zapala Argentina Stake | 30 Jun 1996 | Argentina Neuquén | Concepción Chile | |
| Zárate Argentina Stake | 27 Jul 1997 | Argentina Buenos Aires North | Buenos Aires Argentina |
| Mission | data-sort-type=date | Organized |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina Bahía Blanca | 1 Jul 1980 | |
| Argentina Buenos Aires East | 1 Jul 2015 | |
| Argentina Buenos Aires North | 25 May 1935 | |
| Argentina Buenos Aires South | 1 Jul 1974 | |
| Argentina Buenos Aires West | 20 Jan 1992 | |
| Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia | 1 Jul 2013 | |
| Argentina Córdoba | 16 Sep 1962 | |
| Argentina Mendoza | 1 Jul 1990 | |
| Argentina Neuquén | 1 Jul 1990 | |
| Argentina Resistencia | 1 Jul 1990 | |
| Argentina Rosario | 1 Jul 1972 | |
| Argentina Salta | 19 Oct 1987 | |
| Argentina Santa Fe | 1 Jul 2015 |
The official Argentine website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LDS Church news publication in Argentina