The Church in Europe

Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in Great Britain in 1837, finding ready interest among spiritual seekers. The Church rapidly grew and soon expanded to continental Europe. Despite various challenges, European Saints have built strong communities and congregations and enjoy the blessings of several temples on the continent. 

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History of the Church in Europe

Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in Great Britain in 1837, as Europe was undergoing the effects of the Industrial Revolution, social reform, revolutionary movements, and religious revivals. The missionaries found ready listeners among spiritual seekers looking for an organization that resembled Christ’s early Church, and the Church rapidly established a strong presence in Britain. Soon missionary efforts expanded to continental Europe, and in 1851 the Book of Mormon was published in Danish—the first non-English translation—followed quickly by several other European languages. Tens of thousands of European converts immigrated to Utah in the United States, then a gathering place for the Saints.

Mass migration to Utah slowed local Church growth in Europe until early 20th-century Church leaders began encouraging Latter-day Saints to stay and build the Church in their own countries. The First and Second World Wars led to the evacuation of foreign missionaries and disrupted communication with headquarters in Utah. This gave the European Latter-day Saints opportunities to grow in commitment and leadership as they supported one another in their shared faith.

After World War II, the Church provided extensive humanitarian aid to Europe. As members rebuilt their lives and congregations, the Church established a stronger European presence. In 1955 the first European temple was built in Bern, Switzerland, providing a spiritual center for members and enabling them to participate in sacred rituals in which Latter-day Saints make covenants with God. Additional temples, and a 1960s program of meetinghouse construction, followed.

In the 1960s and 1970s, aided by expanding religious freedom in Spain and Portugal, the Church began to take root in southern Europe. For Saints behind the Iron Curtain, religious practices were often restricted until religious repression gradually relaxed in the 1980s. In 1985 a temple built in Freiberg, German Democratic Republic, became a symbol of the faith and perseverance of local Saints. Social and political changes in central and eastern Europe in the 1990s enabled members to embrace and share their faith.

By the early 21st century, many European Latter-day Saint congregations had become multicultural places of worship, uniting people from many backgrounds. Today European members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actively participate in their local congregations, community service, and interfaith dialogue.