| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay | |
| Logocaption: | (Logo in Guarani) |
| Area: | South America South |
| Membership: | 98,498 (2022) |
| Stakes: | 11 |
| Districts: | 9 |
| Wards: | 61 |
| Branches: | 72 |
| Missions: | 2 |
| O: | 1 |
| Fhc: | 20 |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Paraguay. The first branch was established in 1948. Since then, the LDS Church in Paraguay has grown to more than 98,000 members in 133 congregations.
The LDS Church was organized in 1830 and is a missionary church. Its first missionary took place a month after their initial organization.[1] The first example of a foreign LDS Church in 1837 was in Great Britain, missions were sent across the world by 1854. The Pacific Isles in 1844, France in 1849, Asia and Australia in 1851, and South Africa in 1853.
Though the Mormon faith was always intended to be spread to the whole world, it was not preached in South America until 1925, though there had been an earlier, unsuccessful mission in 1851. Due to language barriers and insufficient funds the 1851 missionaries returned home.[2] Between 1851 and 1925 no other attempts to preach were made.
The first LDS Church member to visit Paraguay was Frederick S. Williams, in 1939 who was working as a missionary in Argentina.[3] The first member was baptized in August 1948 and the first official congregation was organised that same year. The LDS Church has grown significantly since then; when the church first appeared in Paraguay there were 5 members, this number has since grown to over 97,000 or roughly 1.4% of the population.
In 2020, the LDS Church temporarily canceled services and other public gatherings in response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic which resumed online and/or in person, depending on the congregation.[4]
| Stake | data-sort-type=date | Organized | Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asunción Paraguay Stake | 25 Feb 1979 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Asuncion Paraguay North Stake | 22 Nov 1992 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Boquerón Paraguay District | 2 Oct 1981 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Caacupé Paraguay District | 2 Oct 1981 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| Caaguazú Paraguay District | 9 May 1995 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| Capiatá Paraguay Stake | 31 Oct 2004 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Ciudad del Este Paraguay Stake | 2 Jun 1996 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| Concepción Paraguay District | 2 Oct 1981 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Encarnacion Paraguay District | 2 Oct 1981 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| Fernando de la Mora Paraguay Stake | 1 Jun 1980 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| Fernando de la Mora Paraguay South Stake | 15 Jun 1997 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| La Paloma Paraguay District | 4 Apr 1994 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Limpio Paraguay Stake | 27 Feb 2005 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Luque Paraguay Stake | 11 Feb 2001 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Luque Paraguay South Stake | 22 Oct 2006 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Ñemby Paraguay Stake | 24 Jul 2005 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| Paraguarí Paraguay District | 20 Nov 1994 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| Pedro Juan Caballero Paraguay District | 3 Mar 1994 | Paraguay Asunción North | |
| Pilar Paraguay District | 6 Jun 1997 | Paraguay Asunción | |
| San Lorenzo Paraguay Stake | 20 Nov 1994 | Paraguay Asunción |
| Mission | Organized | |
|---|---|---|
| Paraguay Asunción | 1 Jul 1977 | |
| Paraguay Asunción North | 1 Jul 1998 |
See main article: Asunción Paraguay Temple.