The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic

Last updated

Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple, street entrance.jpg
The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple
Area Caribbean
Members 147,566 (2022) [1]
Stakes 21
Districts 9
Wards 144
Branches 59
Total Congregations [2] 203
Missions 3
Family History Centers 33 [3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Dominican Republic. The LDS Church has had a presence in the Dominican Republic since 1978. With 147,566 members in 203 congregations, Dominican Republic has the largest body of LDS Church members in the Caribbean. It also has the highest members per capita rate in the Caribbean.

Contents

History

Membership in the Dominican Republic [4] [1]
YearMembership
1978*100
1989*19,000
199969,466
2009110,036
2019143,870
2022147,566
*Membership was published as a rounded number.

On 7 December 1978, the Dominican Republic was dedicated for the preaching of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints by Apostle M. Russell Ballard. [5] The first person baptized in the country was Rodolfo N. Bodden. [5] Bodden had been introduced to the LDS Church by his friends Eddie and Mercedes Amparo, Dominican Mormons who had joined the LDS Church in New York City and had since returned to their home country, and John and Nancy Rappleye, an expatriate American couple from Utah. [5] After his baptism, Bodden held several leadership callings in LDS Church in the Dominican Republic. He was a counselor to the country's first branch president and Bodden was the first district president in the Dominican Republic. [5]

The first mission of the church in the Dominican Republic—the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Mission—was created in 1981 when there were 2500 members in the country. [5] By 1986, there were 11,000 members and the first stake of the church in the Dominican Republic was organized in Santo Domingo, with Bodden as the country's first stake patriarch. [5] The second mission in the Dominican Republic was organized in Santiago on 1 July 1987. [5]

Stakes and Districts

StakeOrganizedMission
Azua DR District13 Oct 1983DR Santo Domingo West
Bani DR District2 Mar 1993DR Santo Domingo West
Barahona DR District9 Apr 1991DR Santo Domingo West
Bonao DR District1 Nov 2009DR Santiago
Cotui DR District1 Nov 2009DR Santiago
Havana Cuba District18 Jun 2017DR Santo Domingo East
La Romana DR Stake11 Dec 2005DR Santo Domingo East
La Vega DR Stake21 Jun 1998DR Santiago
Los Alcarrizos DR Stake13 Mar 2005DR Santo Domingo North
Monte Cristi DR District31 Jan 1995DR Santiago
Monte Plata DR District5 Nov 2023DR Santo Domingo East
Navarrete DR Stake22 Apr 1986DR Santiago
Puerto Plata DR Stake13 Feb 2005DR Santiago
San Cristóbal DR Stake25 May 1997DR Santo Domingo West
San Francisco de Macoris DR Stake26 May 1991DR Santo Domingo North
San Juan DR District11 Feb 1992DR Santo Domingo West
San Pedro DR District13 Oct 1983DR Santo Domingo East
Santiago DR East Stake21 May 2006DR Santiago
Santiago DR North Stake8 Jan 1995DR Santiago
Santiago DR South Stake17 Feb 1991DR Santiago
Santo Domingo DR Central Stake18 Oct 1992DR Santo Domingo West
Santo Domingo DR Duarte Stake9 Jun 2019DR Santo Domingo North
Santo Domingo DR El Almirante Stake13 Apr 2008DR Santo Domingo East
Santo Domingo DR Independencia Stake18 May 2014DR Santo Domingo West
Santo Domingo DR Las Americas Stake13 Apr 2008DR Santo Domingo East
Santo Domingo DR Las Caobas Stake2 Nov 2003DR Santo Domingo West
Santo Domingo DR Los Restauradores Stake31 Aug 2008DR Santo Domingo North
Santo Domingo DR Oriental Stake5 Nov 1989DR Santo Domingo East
Santo Domingo DR Ozama Stake2 Feb 1992DR Santo Domingo East
Santo Domingo DR San Gerónimo Stake16 Oct 1988DR Santo Domingo West
Santo Domingo DR Stake23 Mar 1986DR Santo Domingo West
Santo Domingo DR Villa Mella Stake17 Mar 1996DR Santo Domingo North

Missions

MissionOrganized
Dominican Republic Santiago Mission 1 Jul 1987
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission 1 Jul 1991
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo North Mission June 2024
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission 1 Jan 1981

Cuba

The Cuba District is directly administered by the Caribbean Area. It includes all of Cuba with exception of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. In 2018, it had 357 members in five congregations. There were three congregations in and around Havana (Cotorro Branch, Havana Branch, and La Portada Branch), one in Holguin (Holguin Branch), and one that serves members and families not in proximity to a meetinghouse (Havana Cuba District Branch). As of 2023, Cuba was administered through the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission, however no missionaries are assigned to the country. [6]

Temples

On 16 November 1993, the LDS Church announced that it would construct a temple in Santo Domingo. [7] On 17 September 2000, church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple; it was the church's 99th operating temple and the first temple built in a Caribbean country. [7]

Santo Domingo Temple by Jairo Hernandez.jpg
edit
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:
Style:		 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
November 16, 1993 by Gordon B. Hinckley
August 18, 1996 by Richard G. Scott
September 17, 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley
67,000 sq ft (6,200 m2) on a 6.42-acre (2.60 ha) site
Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Scott Partnership and Church A&E Services

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Dominican Republic", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 29 May 2023
  2. ↑ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
  3. ↑ Category:Dominican Republic Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 18, 2022
  4. ↑ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Dominican Republic
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dario Caminero, “Membership Milestone Reached in Dominican Republic,” Ensign , January 1996, pp. 78–79.
  6. ↑ Toone, Trent (30 August 2023), "How the Church of Jesus Christ is taking small steps forward in Cuba", Church News, Deseret News, retrieved 20 October 2023
  7. 1 2 Santo Domingo Dominican Republic LDS (Mormon) Temple, ldschurchtemples.com, accessed 2008-09-29.

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missionary Training Center</span> Religious training centers operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Missionary Training Centers (MTC) are centers devoted to training missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The flagship MTC is located in Provo, Utah, adjacent to the campus of Brigham Young University (BYU), a private university owned and operated by the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple</span>

The Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple is the 99th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the first temple to be built in the church's Caribbean area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Texas. Official church membership as a percentage of general population was 1.13% in 2007 and 1.21% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey in both years, roughly 1% of Texans self-identify themselves most closely with the LDS Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Marshall Islands</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Marshall Islands refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Marshall Islands. As of 2022, there were 6,832 members in 13 congregations, making it the second largest body of LDS Church members in Micronesia, behind Kiribati. The Marshall Islands has the second most LDS Church members per capita in Micronesia, and the fourth most members per capita of any independent country in the world, behind Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As of 2021, the LDS Church reported 102,862 members in 269 congregations in the DRC, making it the third largest body of LDS Church members in Africa, behind Nigeria and Ghana. Currently, the DRC ranks as having the 16th highest LDS growth rate among countries of the world, with an annual growth rate of 13 percent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colombia</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colombia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Colombia. The first small branch was established in 1966. Since then, the LDS Church in Colombia has grown to more than 200,000 members in 257 congregations, making it the 7th largest body of members in South America and the 11th largest worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine</span> Presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Ukraine. In January 1991, there were 40 members in one congregation in Ukraine. In December 2022, there were 10,344 members in 46 congregations. In 2022, LDS Membership dropped from 11,216 to 10,344, likely due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nicaragua</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nicaragua refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Nicaragua. The first convert was baptized in 1954 and the first Nicaraguan mission opened in 1989. As of December 31, 2022, there were 101,361 members in 109 congregations in Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands</span> Presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was first brought to the Netherlands in 1841, with the first congregation officially established in 1862 in Amsterdam. A mission to the Netherlands was organized in 1864, and the Dutch translation of the Book of Mormon was published in 1890. Membership grew in the 20th century despite challenges posed by World War I, the Great Depression, and the German invasion of the Netherlands during World War II; approximately 14,000 people were baptized into the Church during its first 100 years in the Netherlands. The Dutch government officially recognized the Church in 1955. The Netherlands Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in 1961, becoming the first stake established on the European continent. The Hague Netherlands Temple was completed in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Madagascar. In 1990, a small congregation was created in Madagascar. In 2022, there were 14,353 members in 43 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Haiti</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Haiti refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Haiti. The first branch was formed in 1980. As of December 31, 2022, there were 25,525 members in 50 congregations in Haiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kiribati</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kiribati refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Kiribati. In 1976 the first branch was organized in Tarawa. As at the 2020 Census, there were 6,720 people declaring as LDS members. According to LDS church, as of year-end 2022, there were 22,210 members in 43 congregations, making it the largest body of LDS Church members in Micronesia. Kiribati also has the most LDS Church members per capita in Micronesia, and the third most members per capita of any country in the world, behind Tonga and Samoa.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puerto Rico refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Puerto Rico. The first branch was formed in 1950. As of December 31, 2022, there were 23,243 members in 38 congregations in Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vanuatu</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vanuatu refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Vanuatu. As of 2022, there were 11,304 members in 37 congregations, making it the third largest body of LDS Church members in Melanesia behind Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Vanuatu has the most LDS Church members per capita in Melanesia, and the sixth most members per capita of any country in the world, behind Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of the Congo</span> Church in the Republic of the Congo

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of the Congo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Republic of the Congo. The country was opened to the church's missionaries in 1991. Since then, the church has grown to 11,481 members in 32 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indonesia</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indonesia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Indonesia. The first small branch was established in 1970. Since then, the LDS Church in Indonesia has grown to more than 7,500 members in 24 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jamaica</span> Church in Jamaica

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jamaica refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Jamaica. In 1980, there were 85 members in Jamaica. In 2021, there were 6,718 members in 18 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Lesser Antilles</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Lesser Antilles refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Lesser Antilles. The Lesser Antilles is part of the Caribbean Area and is part of three missions. As of 2022, the LDS Church reported 9,959 members in 34 congregations in the Lesser Antilles.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Guianas refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Guianas, primarily French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. This is part of the Caribbean Area which is more similar culturally and linguistically than the rest of South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Caucasus</span> Latter-day Saints in the Caucasus

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Caucasus refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. When the Church was registered in Armenia in 1995, there were approximately 200 members in that country. In Georgia, converts were not allowed to be baptized until 2003. In 2022, there were 3,546 members in 5 congregations in Armenia, and 252 members in 2 congregations in Georgia. It's unclear how many members are in Azerbaijan as the LDS Church doesn't publish these numbers, but there was a branch of 37 members as of 2011.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.