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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Switzerland has a rich history beginning in 1850."Missionary Database: Swiss Mission", history.churchofjesuschrist.org, 2020. Retrieved on 17 March 2020. As of December 31, 2022, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 9,630 members in Switzerland, organized in five stakes and 34 congregations (26 wards and 8 branches).

History

Missionary work for LDS Church began in Switzerland on November 24, 1850, when the Swiss Mission was created. The Swiss Mission later became the Swiss and Italian Mission and the Swiss, Italian, and German Mission. Many early converts were baptized, but then emigrated to the United States until the 1950s.

On September 11, 1955, the LDS Church completed its first temple in Europe when the Bern Switzerland Temple was completed in Münchenbuchsee. The temple was later remodeled and rededicated by Gordon B. Hinckley in October 1992.Cowan, Richard O. "The Pivotal Swiss Temple", Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: Europe, 2003. Retrieved on 17 March 2020. In 1994, Howard W. Hunter visited Switzerland as the new LDS Church president."PRES. HUNTER'S TRAVELS, APPEARANCES", Deseret News, 4 March 1995. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.

Hans B. Ringger was a Swiss national who was a leader of the LDS Church in Switzerland.Neuenschwander, Dennis B. "Elder Hans B. Ringger: ‘One of the truly great souls’", Church News, 13 November 2010. Retrieved on 17 March 2020. Born on 2 November 1925, in Zurich, Switzerland, his grandmother, Elizabeth Zoebeli Ringger, joined the LDS Church in 1896 and his parents, Carl Ringger, Jr., and Maria Reif, were also active members."Elder Hans B. Ringger", churchofjesuschrist.org, 2010. Retrieved on 17 March 2020. Ringger eventually became an LDS Church general authority. Stephen Nadauld and Douglas Bischoff served as missionaries for the church in Switzerland, with Nadauld later serving as president of the Switzerland Geneva Mission from 2003 to 2006."DOUGLAS BISCHOFF DIES, LONGTIME WORKER FOR GOP", Deseret News, 13 May 1991. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.

As of 2020, members total approximately 8,000, with many coming from second, third, and fourth generations of members in Switzerland. Forty congregations meet in 27 meetinghouses.Weidmann, Yves."Switzerland: Facts and Statistics", Church News, 2020. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.

Stakes

As of August 2026, the Switzerland had the following stakes and congregations: StakeOrganizedMissionBern Switzerland Stake3 May 1981Alpine German-SpeakingGeneva Switzerland Stake20 June 1982France LyonLausanne Switzerland Stake28 Aug 2005France LyonMilan Italy West7 June 1981Italy MilanSt Gallen Switzerland Stake5 May 2007Alpine German-SpeakingZürich Switzerland Stake28 Oct 1961Alpine German-Speaking

Missions Alpine German-speaking Mission France Lyon Mission Italy Milan Mission

Temples

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

Bron en licentie