Switzerland
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9,175
Total Church Membership
5
Stakes
34
Congregations
13
FamilySearch Centers
1
Temples
History
In November 1850 Lorenzo Snow, then an Apostle preaching in Italy, sent his missionary companion, Thomas B. H. Stenhouse, over the Alps to preach in Switzerland. The next March, the first converts in Switzerland were baptized. Over the next 10 years, hundreds were baptized in Switzerland’s French- and German-speaking cantons. Many later immigrated to Utah to help build up Zion there.
Other converts remained in Switzerland. In the early 20th century these Saints showed their faithfulness during the disruptions caused by world wars in neighboring countries. In the 1950s Church leaders felt moved to bring every aspect of Church organization to Saints in Switzerland and other parts of Europe. Bern was chosen as the location for Europe’s first temple, and in 1955 members from many nations went up to the house of the Lord in Switzerland’s mountains to be taught and blessed (see Isaiah 2:2–3).
The first stake in Switzerland was organized in Zürich six years later. In addition to welcoming members seeking temple or patriarchal blessings, Swiss Saints played a key role in spreading the gospel, helping reopen missionary work in Italy in the 1960s and administering branches in the Middle East. In 1982 the first French-speaking stake in Switzerland was organized in Geneva, and by the year 2000 there were over 7,000 Saints in Switzerland.
Contact
Communication Director
Oliver Bassler
Phone: +41 774 489 344
Email
Africa
Total Church Membership
849,568
Members
2,721
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
6Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,298,181
Members
2,113
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
10Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
507,748
Members
1,296
Congregations
Missions
35Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
14Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,637,503
Members
18,423
Congregations
Missions
175Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
120Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
599,065
Members
1,308
Congregations
Missions
17Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
11Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,320,129
Members
5,629
Congregations