The Church in Switzerland
After the first missionary efforts in Switzerland began in 1851, hundreds joined the Church. Many immigrated to Utah, though those who remained built a strong legacy of faith. The first European temple was dedicated in Bern, Switzerland, in 1955, and the first stake was organized in Zürich six years later
Visit the Newsroom to see current events of the Church in Switzerland.
History of the Church in Switzerland
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. Later many immigrated to the United States to help build Zion in Utah.
Other converts remained in Switzerland. In the early 20th century, Swiss Latter-day Saints were faithful during the disruptions caused by world wars in neighboring countries. In 1955 the first temple in Europe was dedicated in Bern, Switzerland. Latter-day Saints from many nations were taught and blessed in this temple.
The first stake in Switzerland was organized in Zürich six years later. Swiss Latter-day 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 Latter-day Saints in Switzerland.
Stories of Faith
More Areas of the Church
Notes
- Bohn, Marc A., and Richard N. Holzapfel. “A Long-Awaited Visit: President Heber J. Grant in Switzerland and Germany, 1937.” BYU Studies, vol. 42, nos. 3–4 (2003): 4–20.
- Cowan, Richard O. “The Pivotal Swiss Temple.” In Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: Europe, edited by Donald Q. Cannon and Brent L. Top. Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, 2003, 129–45.
- Gräub, Christian. Chronik: Der Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage in der Schweiz 1850 bis 2003. Hausen am Albis, Switzerland: Furrer Offset Druck, 2003.
- Kirby, Dale Z. “History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Switzerland.” Master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, 1971.
- Lemblé, Jean. Dieu et les Français: Les Saints des Derniers Jours Francophones. Paris: Editions Liahona, 1986.
- Magnuson, Susan. “Swiss Temple—Prophecy Fulfilled.” Ensign, Oct. 1980, 76–77.
- “Mormons in Switzerland: Elder Capitalizes on ‘Expose’ to Introduce Gospel.” Church News, Dec. 20, 1958, 16.
- Perkins, Waldo C. “Oh, These Red Hills, This Roily Water”: Life Sketches of the Original Swiss Settlers of Santa Clara, Utah. Salt Lake City: Sheridan, 2011.
- Simond, Robert A. Interview by Douglas F. Tobler. Salt Lake City, Utah, 1973 (oral history). Church History Library, Salt Lake City.
- Stenhouse, T. B. H. “The Swiss Mission.” Millennial Star, vol. 15, no. 30 (July 23, 1853): 470.