The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela
The Caracas Venezuela Temple
Area	South America Northwest
Members	176,623 (2023)[1]
Stakes	33
Districts	6
Wards	177
Branches	57
Total Congregations[2]	234
Missions	4
Temples	1 Operating 1 Announced 2 Total
FamilySearch Centers	48[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

Membership in Venezuela

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
*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]

Missions

Mission	Organized
Venezuela Barcelona	1 Jul 1994
Venezuela Caracas	1 Jul 1971
Venezuela Maracaibo	1 Jul 1979
Venezuela Valencia	1 Jul 1991

Temples

	96. Caracas Venezuela Temple Official website News & images		edit
	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 m^2) on a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Taller de Arquitectura and Church A&E Services
	350. Maracaibo Venezuela Temple (Announced) Official website News & images		edit
	Location: Announced:	Maracaibo, Venezuela 7 April 2024 by Russell M. Nelson[6][7]

See also

• Religion in Venezuela

References

1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Venezuela", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 31 May 2023
2. Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches
3. Category:Venezuela Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 18, 2022
4. Alberty, Erin (17 March 2014). "LDS Church moving missionaries out of Venezuela". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
5. "Police clash in Venezuela with anti-government protesters". BBC news. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
6. 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
7. "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