The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico

The México City México Temple

Mexico is home to the largest body of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) outside of the United States. The Church claimed 1,197,573 individuals in 2010. In the 2010 census, 314,932 individuals reported belonging to the LDS Church.^[1]

History

The first missionaries of the LDS Church in Mexico came in 1874. This was shortly after Daniel W. Jones and Meliton Trejo had begun to translate the Book of Mormon into Spanish. The first missionaries did not perform any baptisms. Later in 1879, more missionary efforts were started in Mexico City. The first person baptized a member of the LDS Church in that city was Plotino C. Rhodakanaty. Missionary work in central Mexico continued until 1889 when it was halted for a time.

In 1885, a group of Latter-day Saints from Utah Territory and Arizona Territory settled in the state of Chihuahua. They were fleeing the U.S. federal government prosecution of Mormon polygamists. These Latter-day Saints eventually founded the settlements of Colonia Juárez, Colonia Dublán, four more in Chihuahua, and two in the state of Sonora.

In 1901, the Mexican Mission of the church was re-established with Ammon M. Tenney as president. In 1910, Rey L. Pratt became president. By 1912 he was forced to leave Mexico City but he was able to put most of the branches in Central Mexico under the leadership of local members. Among these was Rafael Monroy.

Most of the Mormon colonists left in 1912 due to rising violence,^[2] but many were able to return in later years. Pratt remained as mission president until his death, also establishing missionary work among the Spanish-speaking populations in the Southwestern United States.

In 1936, a group of people called the Third Convention, influenced by the spirit of the Mexican Revolution, called for a Mexican to serve as president of the church's mission in Mexico. The tactics of this group led to the excommunication of its members. In 1946, George Albert Smith, the President of the Church, visited Mexico. He was able to establish a reconciliation with most of the members of the Third Convention and the vast majority of this group were brought back into the church.

In 1956, the Mexican Mission was divided for the first time, with the Northern Mexican Mission being organized. From this time forward the church focused on setting up the structure to organize stakes. In 1959, the church established a network of schools outside of Colonia Juárez. The longest lasting of these, the preparatory school Benemérito, was established in 1963 in Mexico City and taught students until 2013.

The first Spanish-speaking stake in Mexico was organized in Mexico City in 1961. In 1966 Agricol Lozano became the first indigenous Mexican to serve as a stake president. In 1970, the Monterrey Stake (now Monterrey Mexico Mitras Stake) was organized with Guillermo G. Garza as president. This was the first stake in Mexico outside of the Mormon colonies and the Mexico City area.

Membership history

Year	Membership[3]
1911	1,000
1920	2,314
1930	4,773
1940	4,196
1950	5,915
1960	12,695
1970	67,965
1974	117,118^a
1979	231,266^c
1985	293,000^b
1989	570,000^b
1995	728,000^b
2000	884,071^c
2005	1,043,718^c
2010	1,197,573^a
2012	1,273,199^a

• ^a Actual Membership for January 1 of the respective year
• ^b Estimated membership for December 31 of the respective year
• ^c Actual Membership for December 31 of the respective year

Missions

A private high school operated by the LDS Church in Mexico City known as Benemerito De Las Americas^[4] was permanently closed at the end of the 2012-2013 term, and the Mexico City Missionary Training Center was relocated here, opening June 26, 2013. This greatly expanded the capacity of the Mexico City MTC, such that it is second in size only to the Provo MTC: the old building near the Mexico City Temple could only accommodate 125 missionaries at a time, but the new 90-acre campus can handle over 1,000.^[5][6][7]

Mexico Aguascalientes Mission^a Mexico Cancun Mission^b Mexico Chihuahua Mission Mexico Ciudad Juarez Mission^b Mexico Ciudad Obregon Mission^b Mexico Cuernavaca Mission Mexico Culiacán Mission Mexico Guadalajara Mission Mexico Guadalajara East Mission Mexico Hermosillo Mission Mexico Leon Mission^a Mexico Mérida Mission

Mexico Mexico City Chalco Mission^b Mexico Mexico City East Mission Mexico Mexico City North Mission Mexico Mexico City Northwest Mission Mexico Mexico City South Mission Mexico Mexico City Southeast Mission Mexico Mexico City West Mission Mexico Monterrey East Mission Mexico Monterrey West Mission Mexico Oaxaca Mission Mexico Pachuca Mission^b Mexico Puebla North Mission

Mexico Puebla South Mission Mexico Queretaro Mission^b Mexico Reynosa Mission^b Mexico Saltillo Mission^b Mexico Tampico Mission Mexico Tijuana Mission Mexico Torreón Mission Mexico Tuxtla Gutierrez Mission Mexico Veracruz Mission Mexico Villahermosa Mission Mexico Xalapa Mission

• ^a Mexico Leon Mission announced to be renamed to Mexico Aguascalientes Mission in July 2013.^[8]
• ^b Announced to be created July 2013.^[8]

Temples

The México City México Temple was the first LDS Church temple in Mexico; it was dedicated in 1983 and was rededicated after renovation in 2008.

From 1999 to 2002 an additional 11 temples were dedicated in Mexico. This comes after historic June 29, 1993, when the Mexican government formally registered the LDS Church, allowing it to own property.^[9]

	26. Mexico City Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Rededication: Coordinates: Size: Style: Notes:	Mexico City, DF, Mexico 3 April 1976 2 December 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley 16 November 2008[10] by Thomas S. Monson 19°27′57.25799″N 99°5′12.31439″W / 19.4659049972°N 99.0867539972°W 116,642 sq ft (10,836 m^2) and 152 ft (46 m) high on a 7 acre (2.8 ha) site Modern adaptation of ancient Mayan architecture - designed by Emil B. Fetzer The Mexico City Mexico Temple was closed March 30, 2007 for renovations[11][12] and was rededicated Sunday, 16 November 2008.[13] The temple was again closed in early 2014 for renovations.[12] A public open house was held from Friday, 14 August 2015, through Saturday, 5 September 2015, excluding Sundays.[14] The temple was rededicated on Sunday, September 13, 2015.[15]
	55. Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico 4 October 1997 6 March 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley 30°18′19.77479″N 108°4′56.46360″W / 30.3054929972°N 108.0823510000°W 6,800 sq ft (630 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1 acre (0.4 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	71. Ciudad Juárez Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico 7 May 1998 26 February 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley 31°44′10.56840″N 106°27′47.55240″W / 31.7362690000°N 106.4632090000°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.63 acre (0.7 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro inigo and Church A&E Services
	72. Hermosillo Sonora Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico 20 July 1998 27 February 2000 by Gordon B. Hinckley 29°6′9.039599″N 110°56′49.04519″W / 29.10251099972°N 110.9469569972°W 10,769 sq ft (1,000 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.54 acre (0.6 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	74. Oaxaca Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Oaxaca, Oaxaca Mexico 3 February 1999 11 March 2000 by James E. Faust 17°2′29.59440″N 96°42′48.61080″W / 17.0415540000°N 96.7135030000°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.87 acre (0.8 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	75. Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico 25 February 1999 12 March 2000 by James E. Faust 16°45′50.99040″N 93°9′32.95799″W / 16.7641640000°N 93.1591549972°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.56 acre (0.6 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	83. Tampico Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico 8 July 1998 20 May 2000 by Thomas S. Monson 22°15′15.34320″N 97°51′21.12839″W / 22.2542620000°N 97.8558689972°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 2.96 acre (1.2 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	85. Villahermosa Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico 30 October 1998 21 May 2000 by Thomas S. Monson 17°58′52.59360″N 92°56′14.55000″W / 17.9812760000°N 92.9373750000°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.36 acre (0.6 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	92. Mérida Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico 25 September 1998 8 July 2000 by Thomas S. Monson 20°57′56.82239″N 89°37′51.81960″W / 20.9657839972°N 89.6310610000°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 1.53 acre (0.6 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	93. Veracruz Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico 14 April 1999 9 July 2000 by Thomas S. Monson 19°8′3.875999″N 96°6′22.53600″W / 19.13440999972°N 96.1062600000°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 3.39 acre (1.4 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	105. Guadalajara Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico 14 April 1999 29 April 2001 by Gordon B. Hinckley 20°39′41.57999″N 103°25′23.05199″W / 20.6615499972°N 103.4230699972°W 10,700 sq ft (990 m^2) and 71 ft (22 m) high on a 2.69 acre (1.1 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo and Church A&E Services
	110. Monterrey Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Style:	Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico 21 December 1995 28 April 2002 by Gordon B. Hinckley 25°35′21.38639″N 100°15′36.22680″W / 25.5892739972°N 100.2600630000°W 16,498 sq ft (1,533 m^2) on a 7.78 acre (3.1 ha) site Classic modern, single-spire design - designed by Alvaro Inigo
	149. Tijuana Mexico
	Location: Announcement: Dedication: Coordinates: Size: Notes:	Tijuana, Mexico 2 October 2010 13 December 2015 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf 32°29′20.4648″N 116°55′39.198″W / 32.489018000°N 116.92755500°W TBD Announced by Thomas S. Monson on October 2, 2010, during General Conference.[16] Ground was broken to commence construction on 18 August 2012.[17] A public open house was held from Friday, 13 November 2015, through Saturday, 28 November 2015, excluding Sundays. The temple was formally dedicated on Sunday, December 13, 2015.[18]

Current status

As of January 2014, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reported 1,273,199 members, 222 stakes, 36 districts, Congregations (1,543 wards,^[19] and 457 branches^[19]), 24 missions, and 13 temples in Mexico.^[9]

As of January 2009, two men of Mexican birth and descent were serving in the First Quorum of the Seventy: Benjamin de Hoyos and Octaviano Tenorio. Carl B. Pratt, another general authority, was born and raised in Mexico but is of Anglo-American descent. Clate W. Mask of the Second Quorum of the Seventy is a native of El Paso, Texas, whose mother was an immigrant from Mexico and whose grandfather was the first native Mexican to serve as a missionary for the church.

See also

• Mexicans of American descent
• Mormon colonies in Mexico
• Mormon Corridor
• Religion in Mexico
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics

References

1. "Panorama de las religiones en México 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). INEGI. p. 3. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
2. Rentería, Ramón (2012-07-28), "100th anniversary of arrival of Mormon refugees in El Paso celebrated Saturday", El Paso Times
3. "Country information: Mexico", Deseret News Church Almanac (multiple almanacs from various years), Deseret News
4. Juarez Rubio, Tarcisio R. (November 27, 1999), "Benemerito! Church's vanguard school in Mexico", Church News
5. Walker, Joseph (January 30, 2013), "Missionary surge prompts LDS Church to open new MTC in Mexico", Deseret News
6. Walker, Joseph (June 26, 2013), "First LDS missionaries arrive for training at Mexico City MTC", Deseret News
7. "Mexico MTC Opens to Train Hundreds of Missionaries", MormonNewsroom.org (News Story), LDS Church, June 26, 2013
8. New mission presidents by area for 2013
9. LDS Newsroom (Statistical Information)
10. After being closed again for renovation in 2014, a rededication took place on Sunday, September 13, 2015.
11. Mexico City Mexico Temple, LDSChurchTemples.com, retrieved 2012-10-07
12. "México City México Temple", LDS.org, LDS Church, retrieved 2012-10-07
13. "Mexico City Temple Opens Its Doors to the Public", Newsroom (News Story), LDS Church, 2008-10-16, retrieved 2012-10-07
14. "Late 2015 Opening for New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-03-13
15. "Mexico City Temple Is Rededicated", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-09-13
16. Taylor, Scott (October 2, 2010), "President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples", Deseret News, retrieved 2012-11-11.
17. "Se efectúa la palada inicial del Templo de Tijuana", Sala de Prensa: México (Noticia [News Release]), LDS Church, August 20, 2012, retrieved 2012-11-11 (Spanish)
18. "Late 2015 Opening for New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-03-13
19. LDS Meetinghouse Locator. Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).

Further reading

• Sally Johnson Odekirk, "Mexico Unfurled: From Struggle to Strength", Liahona, January 2014
• 2009 Deseret Morning News Church Almanac (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2008) pp. 413–419
• F. LaMond Tullis. Mormons in Mexico: The Dynamics of Faith and Culture. (Provo: Museo de Historia del Mormonismo en Mexico A. C., 1997)
• F. LaMond Tullis. "Mexico" in Arnold K. Garr, et al., ed. The Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000) pp. 741–743.
• Robinson, Shirley Taylor (1992), "Mexico, Pioneer Settlements in", in Ludlow, Daniel H, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 895–897, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140.
• Rubalcava, Boanerges (1992), "Mexico and Central America, The Church in", in Ludlow, Daniel H, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 897–902, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140.

External links

• LDS Newsroom (Mexico) - Facts and Statistics
• LDS Newsroom (Mexico) - News and Information
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site for Mexico (Español)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Visitor's site