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

Last updated
Flag of Spain.svg
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spain
Logo de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias.svg
(Logo in Spanish)
Temple de Madrid.JPG
Area Europe Central
Members 61,455 (2021) [1]
Stakes 15
Districts 1
Wards 95
Branches 42
Total Congregations [2] 137
Missions 3
Temples 1 Operating
1 Announced
2 Total
Family History Centers 56 [3]

The first permanent congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spain was established in 1948. As of 2021, the Church reported 61,455 members in 137 congregations in Spain, [1] making it the second largest body of Church members in Europe behind the United Kingdom. In 2019, Spain had the 3rd most Church members per capita among countries in Europe, behind Portugal and the United Kingdom. [4]

Contents

History

Membership in Spain
YearMembership
1974620
19795,395
198310,218
1989*17,000
1995*27,000
199930,439
200438,096
200945,729
201452,747
201959,730
*Membership was published as an estimate.
Source: Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Spain [1]

No formal missionary work was performed in Spain until after the Church was officially recognized in 1968 by the Spanish government. The first branch (small congregation) other than among US Military staff stationed in Spain, was organized in 1968 in Madrid. In 1982, the Madrid and Barcelona Stakes (larger congregations) were organized. [1] [5] The Spain Missionary Training Center (MTC), located in the Madrid Temple complex, was established in 1999. [6]

Stakes and District

A meetinghouse for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Azuqueca de Henares. Azuqueca-Iglesia mormona.JPG
A meetinghouse for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Azuqueca de Henares.

As of February 2023, the LDS Church has 15 Stakes and 1 District in Spain:

StakeOrganizedMission
A Coruña Spain Stake11 May 1980Spain Madrid North
Baleares Spain District16 Aug 1994Spain Barcelona
Barcelona Spain Stake31 Oct 1982Spain Barcelona
Cádiz Spain Stake19 Feb 1995Spain Madrid South
Cartagena Spain Stake2 Dec 2012Spain Madrid South
Elche Spain Stake9 Nov 1997Spain Madrid South
Granada Spain Stake13 Jun 2004Spain Madrid South
Hospitalet Spain Stake1 Jun 1997Spain Barcelona
Las Palmas Spain Stake2 Oct 1984Spain Madrid North
Lléida Spain Stake11 Nov 2012Spain Barcelona
Madrid Spain Central Stake2 Dec 2012Spain Madrid South
Madrid Spain East Stake17 Jan 1999Spain Madrid North
Madrid Spain West Stake14 Mar 1982Spain Madrid North
Seville Spain Stake14 Feb 1988Spain Madrid South
Valencia Spain Stake8 Jun 2003Spain Barcelona
Vitoria Spain Stake6 Sep 2009Spain Madrid North

Missions

MissionOrganized
Spain Madrid South Mission11 Jul 1970
Spain Madrid North Mission9 Aug 2022
Barcelona Mission8 May 1976

Temples

The Madrid Temple was dedicated in 1999. The temple complex includes the Madrid Spain Temple, the Spain Missionary Training Center, an institute, temple patron housing, a distribution center, a Family History Center, and underground parking.

Madrid temple.jpg
edit
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:
Style:
Madrid, Spain
4 April 1993 by Ezra Taft Benson
11 June 1996 by Gordon B. Hinckley
19 March 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley
45,800 sq ft (4,250 m2) on a 3.5-acre (1.4 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Arquitechior Langdon, SA.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spain edit
Location:
Announced:
Size:
Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
3 April 2022 by Russell M. Nelson [7] [8]
27,500 sq ft (2,550 m2) on a 5.4-acre (2.2 ha) site

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Spain", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved August 22, 2022
  2. Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
  3. Spain Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 22, 2022
  4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics
  5. "Country information: Spain", Church News Online Almanac, Deseret News, February 1, 2010, retrieved 2012-10-18
  6. "Missionary Training Centers: About the Spain MTC", LDS.org, archived from the original on 2012-11-05, retrieved 2012-10-18
  7. "7 new temple locations announced by President Nelson to close conference", Deseret News , Deseret News, 3 Apr 2022
  8. "President Nelson Announces 17 New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 3 Apr 2022