The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in El Salvador

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in El Salvador refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in El Salvador. On March 2, 1951, the first 12 converts in El Salvador were baptized. As of December 31, 2025, there were 132,399 members in 154 congregations in El Salvador. In 2019, El Salvador had the second most LDS Church members per capita in North America, after the United States.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics

History

In 1948, Arwell L. Pierce, president of the Mexican Mission assigned the first missionaries to preach in El Salvador. In February 1951, a conference was held in San Salvador with church apostle Albert E. Bowen in attendance. One month later, the first converts were baptized at Apulo Beach at Lake Ilopango. In 1965, there were 4,200 members in El Salvador. By 1989, the church in El Salvador was able to use local members called to serve to sustain its missionary force. Church membership grew from the initial converts, and was up to 15,000 by the mid-1980s before growing to 38,000 and further doubling by 2000.

Stakes StakeOrganized MissionAhuachapán El Salvador El Espino Stake19 Nov 2017El Salvador Santa AnaAhuachapán El Salvador Stake22 Sep 1991El Salvador Santa AnaApopa El Salvador Stake20 Oct 1996El Salvador San Salvador EastAtiquizaya El Salvador Stake11 Aug 1996El Salvador Santa AnaChalchuapa El Salvador Stake29 Oct 1995El Salvador Santa AnaJuayua El Salvador Stake12 Nov 1995El Salvador Santa AnaParaiso El Salvador Stake14 Jun 2009El Salvador Santa AnaSan Miguel El Salvador Stake11 Jan 1981El Salvador San Salvador EastSan Salvador El Salvador Stake3 Jun 1973El Salvador San Salvador EastSan Salvador El Salvador Cuzcatlan Stake3 Jun 1979El Salvador San Salvador WestSan Salvador El Salvador Ilopango Stake1 Feb 1976El Salvador San Salvador EastSan Salvador El Salvador La Libertad Stake22 Oct 1995El Salvador San Salvador WestSan Salvador El Salvador Layco Stake22 Sep 1996El Salvador San Salvador WestSan Salvador El Salvador Los Heroes Stake8 Apr 1990El Salvador San Salvador WestSan Salvador El Salvador Soyapango Stake8 Apr 1990El Salvador San Salvador EastSan Vicente El Salvador Stake26 Feb 1995El Salvador San Salvador EastSanta Ana El Salvador Los Pinos Stake10 Dec 2017El Salvador Santa AnaSanta Ana El Salvador Modelo Stake14 Dec 1980El Salvador Santa AnaSanta Ana El Salvador Molino Stake2 Dec 1979El Salvador Santa AnaSonsonate El Salvador Stake22 Sep 1991El Salvador San Salvador WestSonzacate El Salvador Stake12 Jun 2011El Salvador San Salvador WestUsulután El Salvador Stake17 Apr 1994El Salvador San Salvador East

Missions MissionOrganizedEl Salvador Santa Ana1 Jul 1976El Salvador San Salvador East1 Jul 2013El Salvador San Salvador West1 Jul 1990

Temples

The San Salvador El Salvador Temple was announced on November 7, 2007 by the First Presidency. Ground was broken for the temple in September 2008, and was dedicated on August 21, 2011 by Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency.

See also

Religion in El Salvador

References

External links LDS Newsroom - El Salvador