Zimbabwe
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41,262
Total Church Membership
9
Stakes
100
Congregations
18
FamilySearch Centers
2
Missions |
History
Missionary work began in what was then Southern Rhodesia in the early 1930s, but soon slowed. It was continued only by short visits by missionaries from South Africa. In 1950, eight missionaries were sent to Salisbury and Bulawayo, and the first convert was baptized in February 1951.
On April 17, 1951 missionaries distributed 3,000 handbills and a fairly large crowd attended an introductory meeting. The first services were held in a preschool building, and prospective members sat on tiny chairs. Later they met in the cloak room of a primary school.
In 1980 the government changed and the nation of Zimbabwe was formed. A new mission was established in Zimbabwe. At that time, membership was a little more than 1,000. Missionary work increased as local missionaries began serving full-time missions.
Since 1988 the Church has had an ongoing humanitarian project in Zimbabwe that has included the donation of funds, a mill for grinding grain, gardening materials, a dam near Masvingo, and two large shipments of new textbooks for Zimbabwe's school children.
In January 1997 there were 6,360 members in Zimbabwe, and by October the Church had grown to 7,100 members, an increase of 11.5 percent in less than nine months.
President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Zimbabwe and spoke to members on February 18, 1998 during a five-country tour of Africa.
For Journalist Use Only
Wellington Mubaiwa
Zimbabwe
Phone: 400 263 91 290 077
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