The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Costa Rica. The first branch was organized in 1950. As of December 31, 2025, there were 58,373 members in 81 congregations in Costa Rica.

History

On July 8, 1946, Costa Rica became part of the LDS Church's Mexican Mission. The first two missionaries, Robert B. Miller and David D. Lingard, arrived in Costa Rica on September 6, 1946. They presented Costa Rican president Teodoro Picado Michalski a copy of the Book of Mormon and began preaching in the country. Due to political unrest, the missionaries left the country in 1948 and 1949. Missionaries returned in 1950 and had their first public meeting on June 7, 1950, with 70 people in attendance. The church's first branch was organized on August 25, 1950 and the property for a meetinghouse was purchased in 1951.

On June 20, 1974, the Costa Rica Mission was started. Manual Najera Guzman was president of the San Jose Costa Rica Stake, which was created on January 20, 1977. At the time of their first meeting, one month after the stake was created, there were 3,800 members.

Stakes and District As of July 2026, Costa Rica had the following stakes: Stake/DistrictOrganized Mission Alajuela Costa Rica Stake 9 Dec 1990 Costa Rica San José West Cartago Costa Rica Stake 26 Jul 2015 Costa Rica San José East Guápiles Costa Rica Stake 26 Jul 2015 Costa Rica San José East Heredia Costa Rica Stake 30 Mar 2013 Costa Rica San José West Heredia Costa Rica Belén Stake 19 Nov 2017 Costa Rica San José West Liberia Costa Rica Stake 13 Oct 1996 Costa Rica San José West Río Claro Costa Rica District 8 Jan 1989 Costa Rica San José East San José Costa Rica La Paz Stake 10 Nov 1991 Costa Rica San José East San José Costa Rica La Sabana Stake 7 May 1978 Costa Rica San José West San José Costa Rica Los Yoses Stake 20 Jan 1977 Costa Rica San José East San José Costa Rica Toyopán Stake 25 Apr 1999 Costa Rica San José East

Missions The Mexico Mission was the first to send missionaries to Costa Rica. On November 16, 1952, the Central American Mission was organized. It was renamed the Central America Mission on June 10, 1970, and then the Costa Rica San Jose mission on June 20, 1974, as more missions were created in Central America. On July 1, 2015, the Costa Rica San Jose West Mission was created with the Costa Rica San Jose Mission being renamed the Costa Rica San Jose East Mission.

MissionOrganizedCosta Rica San José East 16 Nov 1952Costa Rica San José West 1 Jul 2015

Temples The San José Costa Rica Temple was dedicated on June 4, 2000 by James E. Faust.

See also

Religion in Costa Rica

References

External links History of the Church in Costa Rica David R. Crockett Antonio Pineda, Convert and Bishop David Grant "His Ways" - missionary experience Brandon Martin Jose Maria Figueres, President of Costa Rica Stan Pugsley The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Costa Rica) - Official Site ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site