The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Area | Caribbean |
| Members | 177,309 (2024)[1] |
| Stakes | 33 |
| Districts | 6 |
| Wards | 177 |
| Branches | 58 |
| Total Congregations[2] | 235 |
| Missions | 4 |
| Temples |
|
| FamilySearch Centers | 61[3] |
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Venezuela. The first small branch was established in 1966. Since then, the LDS Church in Venezuela has grown to more than 175,000 members in 235 congregations.
History
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1971 | 1,259 |
| 1975 | 3,119 |
| 1979 | 8,185 |
| 1985* | 24,000 |
| 1989* | 48,000 |
| 1995* | 73,000 |
| 1999 | 89,484 |
| 2004 | 128,874 |
| 2009 | 146,987 |
| 2014 | 164,048 |
| 2019 | 168,539 |
| 2024 | 177,309 |
| *Membership was published as an estimate. Source: Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Venezuela[1] | |
The first congregation was organized in November 1966, by Marion G. Romney.[1]
On March 17, 2014, the LDS Church announced it would be removing the 152 missionaries in Venezuela and sending them to other missions in South America, the church announced Monday, due to political unrest.[4] In February and March, riot police have clashed with anti-government demonstrators, with more than two dozen people killed.[5]
Stakes and districts
| Stake/District | Mission |
|---|---|
| Barcelona Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| Barinas Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| Barquisimeto Venezuela Obelisco Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| Barquisimeto Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| Cabimas Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Cagua Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Caracas Venezuela Los Teques Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Caracas Venezuela Palo Verde Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Caracas Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Caracas Venezuela Urdaneta Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Carúpano Venezuela District | Venezuela Barcelona |
| Ciudad Bolívar Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| Ciudad Ojeda Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Coro Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| Cumaná Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| El Rosario Venezuela District | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| El Tigre Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| Guacára Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| Guarenas Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Guayana Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| La Fría Venezuela District | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| La Pascua Venezuela District | Venezuela Caracas |
| Maracaibo Venezuela Centro Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Maracaibo Venezuela South Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Maracaibo Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Maracaibo Venezuela West Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Maracay Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Maturín Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| Mérida Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Ocumare del Tuy Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Caracas |
| Porlamar Venezuela District | Venezuela Barcelona |
| Puerto La Cruz Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| Punto Fijo Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| San Cristóbal Venezuela Pirineos Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| San Félix Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Barcelona |
| San Francisco Venezuela Stake | Venezuela Maracaibo |
| Valencia Venezuela Candelaria Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| Valencia Venezuela Los Sauces Stake | Venezuela Valencia |
| Valera Venezuela District | Venezuela Maracaibo |
Missions
| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| Venezuela Barcelona | 1 Jul 1994 |
| Venezuela Caracas | 1 Jul 1971 |
| Venezuela Maracaibo | 1 Jul 1979 |
| Venezuela Valencia | 1 Jul 1991 |
Since 2004, all missionaries in Venezuela are local Venezuelans (no outside missionary support).[6]
Temples
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| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Style: |
Caracas, Venezuela 30 September 1995 by Gordon B. Hinckley 10 January 1999 by Francisco J. Viñas 20 August 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley 15,332 sq ft (1,424.4 m2) on a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Taller de Arquitectura and Church A&E Services | |||||
|
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| Location: Announced: |
Maracaibo, Venezuela 7 April 2024 by Russell M. Nelson[7][8] | |||||
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Venezuela", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ^ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches
- ^ Category:Venezuela Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 18, 2022
- ^ Alberty, Erin (17 March 2014). "LDS Church moving missionaries out of Venezuela". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- ^ "Police clash in Venezuela with anti-government protesters". BBC news. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- ^ "The Church in Venezuela". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
- ^ Full summary of Sunday’s LDS General Conference: Nelson names temples; Oaks reaffirms wearing of garments; Kearon points to a welcoming God, Salt Lake Tribune, 7 April 2024
- ^ "President Russell M. Nelson Announces 15 Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 April 2024
External links
- Newsroom - Venezuela
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Venezuela) - Official site
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
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