Latin America Church History

In 1846, Brigham Young led an exodus of displaced Latter-day Saints toward the Salt Lake Valley. At the time, the valley was under the control of the Mexican government. Since their initial settlement in Mexico, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have had a continuous connection to Latin America.

This research guide will help you find resources pertaining to the Church’s history in Latin America. It contains links to essays, articles, archival material, selected bibliographies, and more.

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Global Histories

Some of the best research tools for understanding the history of the Church in Latin America are the brief global histories prepared by the Church History Department. These histories contain useful chronologies, stories, and overviews of the history of the Church in a given country. Especially useful to researchers are the “Additional Information” sections for each country that provide a brief list of secondary and primary sources where you can go to learn more. Additional countries may be added in the future.

• Argentina
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Puerto Rico
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Facts and Statistics

Besides the useful information found in the global histories, there are other tools that researchers can use to find brief histories and quick statistics about the history of the Church in a given country.

1. Church Newsroom: Facts and Statistics—The official newsroom of the Church contains facts and figures about the Church throughout the world.
2. Deseret News Church Almanac—From 1974 to 2013, the Deseret News published the official Church Almanac, which included brief histories and contemporaneous statistics for the Church worldwide. You can access these digitally through the Church History Catalog or physically in the Church History Library.
3. Cumorah.com—Cumorah.com is an independently run webpage that seeks to track and report on Church growth and culture throughout the world. It is a valuable resource for studying the history of the Church in Latin America.

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Church History Topics

Certain topics pertaining to the history of the Church in Latin America are included in the Church History Topics. Below are a few that may be useful:

• Colonies in Mexico
• Lamanite Identity
• Mexican-American War
• Spanish-American War
• Third Convention

Finally, the Church’s new, four-volume narrative history of the Church, Saints, provides helpful information about the history of the Church in Latin America. We recommend using the index found at the end of each volume of Saints to search for keywords or topics about the Church in Latin America.

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Local Church News

A great resource for the history of the Church in Latin America is the local news sections of the Liahona that were published in various regions of Latin America. Many of these sections are digitized through the Church History Catalog:

• International Magazine Spanish Liahona (Mexico: 1955–)
• Noticias de la Iglesia [Argentina]
• Noticias de la Iglesia [Central America]
• Noticias de la Iglesia [Costa Rica]
• Noticias de la Iglesia [Chile]
• Noticias de la Iglesia [Mexico]
• Noticias de la Iglesia [South America North]
• Noticias de la Iglesia [South America South]
• Noticias de la Iglesia [South America West]

Mission Historical Records

Mission historical records are some of the earliest and most comprehensive records that pertain to the beginnings of the Church in each country. Many of these have been digitized and are available through the Church History Catalog. Others can be accessed in person at the Church History Library. Some examples include:

• Mexican Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1874–1977 (LR 5506 2)
• South American Mission Manuscript and Historical Reports, 1925 December–1935 August (LR 8458 2)
• Brazil Sao Paulo North Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1927–1977 (LR 958 2)
• Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1935 August–1974 December (LR 10745 2)
• Uruguay Montevideo Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1947 July–1976 March > Volume 3, 1964–1976 March (LR 9621 2)
• Andes Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1959–1977 (LR 6865 2)
• Chile Santiago South Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports 1961 October–1977 December (LR 1675 2)
• Venezuela Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1968–1977 (LR 13796 2)
• Venezuela Caracas Mission Historical Reports, 1968–1982 (LR 13796 26)
• Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission Annual Historical Reports, 1978–1982, 1984–2009, 2017–2022 (LR 9813 3)

Other Collections in the Church Archives

The Church History Library and records preservation centers throughout Latin America contain many collections pertaining to the Church in the region. Here is a sample of some useful collections. Many are available for digital access. If there are any questions regarding access of these collections, please use the “Ask Us” form on the Church History Catalog to contact a staff member who can assist you.

Latin America in General

• Gordon Irving Latin American Research and Reference Files, 1930–2009 (CR 100 1004)
• F. LaMond Tullis Papers, 1970–1983 (MS 27118)
• Néstor E. Curbelo Oral History Collection, 1987–2017 (AV 4241)
• Néstor E. Curbelo historias de la Iglesia en Sudamérica, 1990, 2001, 2005–2011 (MS 33734)

Brazil

• Documentos históricos e fotografias da Igreja em Brasil, 1929–2012 (BR-01-00001)
• Joinville Branch Meetinghouse, circa 1930–1932 (PH 768)
• Church Members in Brazil, 1932–1936 (PH 4435)
• Histórias Locais do Brasil, 1935–1983 (BR-01-00003)
• Ray H. Zenger Mission Photograph Albums, 1936–1939 (PH 7926)
• William Grant Bangerter Papers, 1939–2015 (CR 1094 1)
• Asael T. Sorensen Papers, 1953–2001 (MS 33542)
• Walter Spat Diaries, 1956–1964; 1972–1989 (MS 15822)
• Registros da Área Brasil coleção, 1965–2014 (CR 645 17)
• Fé a cada passo: o legado do Brasil, circa 1979 (AV 4150)
• Helio da Rocha Camargo Reminiscences, 2007 (MS 33708)
• Brazilian Oral History Collection, circa 2010 (OH 7801)

Mexico

• Moses Thatcher Journals, 1866–1868, 1878–1881 (MS 937)
• Colección de Agricol Lozano Herrera, 1876–1997 (MX-01-00028)
• Quejas de la Tercera Convención, enviados a la Primera Presidencia, 1936 April–July (MX-01-00005)
• Mexico Veracruz Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1963–1977 (LR 5509 2)
• Horacio A. Tenorio Oriza Papers, 1969, circa 1980–1989, circa 2016 (MS 30842)
• Como Llego El Evangelio Restaurado al Pueblo de San Marcos, Tula De Allende, Estado de Hidalgo (MS 23361)

Caribbean

• Becky Fraticelli Local Histories, 1945–2000 (MS 28866)
• Richard L. Millett Mission Journals, 1977 March–1980 June (MS 16848)
• A History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Caribbean, 1977–1980, 1992 (MS 13749)
• Puerto Rico Church History Compiled by Marcia Font de Chavez, circa 1977–2020 (MS 33342)
• Historical Summary of Church in Puerto Rico, 1994 (MS 18626)
• Julia H. and Joseph H. Todd Bahamas Collection, 1996–2010 (MS 32092)
• Edward H. Petersen History of the Church and Temple in the Dominican Republic, 2007–2008 (MS 21121)
• Breve historia cronológica de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días en el Caribe, 2012 (DO-01-00010)
• Early Members in the Caribbean Oral History Project (OH 18905)

Central America

• John F. and Carmen G. O’Donnal Papers, 1878–2001 (MS 31077)
• Pacific Branch Historical Records, 1941–1985, 1995–1997 (LR 6658 22)
• El Salvador District Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1949–1967 (LR 2563 2)
• Costa Rica San Jose Mission Manuscript History (Central American Mission), 1952–1980 (LR 1534 2)
• Guatemala-El Salvador Mission Mission History, 1962–1973 (LR 3490 22)
• Costa Rica San Jose Mission History, 1971–1980 (LR 1534 28)
• Resena historica de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias en Costa Rica, 2000 (MS 17308)
• A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nicaragua, 2010 (MS 24270)
• Pioneer in Guatemala (M270.1 O26 1997)
• Los Mormones En Honduras (MS 23672)

South America Northwest

• J. Vernon Sharp Missionary Collection, 1925–1990, Andes Mission Journal (MS 28810)
• Reseña histórica de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias en Trujillo, Perú, 1964 (PE-01-00074)
• Historia de la Iglesia en Colombia, 1999 (AR-01-00139)
• Alan K. Manning history of Church in Venezuela, 2000 (MS 16389)
• History of the Church in Peru (M278.5 H673 1995)
• History of the Church in Bolivia (M278.4 H673SPA 2004)
• Historia de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias en Bolivia: relatos de pioneros (M278.4 C975hSPA 2006)

South America South

• Rodolfo Acevedo Papers, circa 1851–2012 (CL-01-00001)
• Diarios de Betty Campi, 1946–2017 (MS 31654)
• Relato de la visita de David O. McKay a Uruguay, 1954 (UY-01-00045)
• South America South Area historias de pioneros del Area Sudamerica Sur, 1985–1995 (CR 599 6)
• Historias de Fe en la Patagonia Argentina: Inicios de la Obra Misional (M278.2 F475hSPA 2021)
• Historia de los Santos de los Últimos Días en Chile / Néstor Curbelo (M278.3 C975hSPA 2009?)
• Historia de los Santos de los Últimos Días en Paraguay: relatos de pioneros / Néstor Curbelo (M278.92 C975hSPA 2003)
• Historia de los Santos de los Últimos Días en Uruguay: relatos de pioneros / Néstor Curbelo (M278.95 C975hSPA 2002)
• Los Mormones en Chile (M278.3 A174mSPA 1991)
• Nestor Curbelo History Collection (AR-01-00001)

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This section of the research guide includes a selected bibliography of articles, books, and other works that highlight the breadth of the history of the Church in Latin America.

Academic Articles

• Caplan, Aidan and Tristan Caplan. “Expulsion and Reconciliation with the Mexican Saints: The Third Convention, 1936–1946.” Journal of Mormon History 47, no. 2 (April 2021): 75-100.
• Charles, Carter. “Mormon Studies in Latin America and the Caribbean: State of the Field as of 2018.” Mormon Studies Review, vol. 6 (January 2019): 17–24.
• Duffy, J. C. “The Use of ‘Lamanite’ in Official LDS Discourse.” Journal of Mormon History 34, no. 1 (2008): 118–167.
• Fox, Kiira and Tim B. Heaton. “Mormon Fertility in Latin America.” Review of Religious Research 55, no. 2 (June 2013): 275–296.
• Gooren, Henri. “Comparing Mormon and Adventist Growth Patterns in Latin America: The Chilean Case.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 46, no. 3 (2013): 45–77.
• Gooren, Henri. “Latter-day Saints Under Siege: The Unique Experience of Nicaraguan Mormons.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 40, no. 3 (2007): 134–155.
• Gooren, Henri. “The Dynamics of LDS Growth in Guatemala, 1948–1998.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 38, no. 1 (1999): 59–71.
• Grover, Mark. “Execution in Mexico: The Deaths of Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales.” BYU Studies 35, no. 3 (1996): 6–28.
• Grover, Mark. “Latin America and the Globalization of the LDS Church: From an American to an Americas Church.” In The Worldwide Church: Mormonism as a Global Religion. Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 2016.
• Grover, Mark L. “The Mormon Priesthood Revelation and the Sao Paulo, Brazil Temple.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 23, no. 1 (1990): 39–53.
• Grover, Mark. “Religious Accommodation in the Land of Racial Democracy: Mormon Priesthood and Black Brazilians.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 17, no. 3 (October 1984): 22–34.
• Grover, Mark. “Sprechen Sie Portugiesisch? Nein: The German Beginnings of the Church in Brazil.” Journal of Mormon History 45, no. 2 (April 2019): 115–143.
• Knowlton, David. “Hands Raised Up: Corruption, Power, and Context in Bolivian Mormonism.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 40, no. 4 (2007): 47–70.
• Knowlton, David C. “Mormonism in Latin America: Towards the Twenty-first Century.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 29, no. 1 (1996): 159–176.
• Murphy, Thomas W. “Other Mormon Histories: Lamanite Subjectivity in Mexico.” Journal of Mormon History 26, no. 2 (2000): 179–214.
• Stover, Philip R. “The Exodus of 1912: A Huddle of Pros and Cons—Mormons Twice Dispossessed.” Journal of Mormon History 44, no. 3 (2018): 45–69.
• Talmage, Jeremy, and Clinton D. Christensen. “Black, White, or Brown? Racial Perceptions and the Priesthood Policy in Latin America.” Journal of Mormon History 44, no. 1 (2018): 119–145.
• Tullis, F. Lamond. “A Shepherd to Mexico’s Saints: Arwell L. Pierce and the Third Convention.” BYU Studies Quarterly 37, no. 1 (January 1997): 127–157.

Books/Theses/Dissertations

• Borde, Jean A. B. History of the Saints in Trinidad and Tobago. Valsayn, Trinidad: West Indies Mission, 1995.
• Bray, Justin R. and Reid L. Nielson, eds. Exploring Book of Mormon lands: The 1923 Latin American Travel Writings of Mormon Historian Andrew Jenson. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 2014.
• Curbelo, Néstor Esteban. The History of Mormons in Argentina. Salt Lake City, UT: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.
• Dormady, Jason H. and Jared M. Tamez, eds. Just South of Zion: The Mormons in Mexico and its Borderlands. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 2015.
• Grover, Mark L. A Land of Promise and Prophecy: Elder A. Theodore Tuttle in South America, 1960–1965. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 2008.
• Grover, Mark. “Mormonism in Brazil: religion and dependency in Latin America.” Ph.D. diss,. Indiana University, 1985.
• Klein, Herberto Moroni. “Estandarte para as Nações: A Igreja de Jesus Cristo DosSantos Dos Últimos Dias na América do Sul (1925-1973).” Thesis, Rio Grande do Sul: Pontifícia Universidade Católica, 2003.
• Lima da Silva, Rubens. “Os Mórmons em Santa Catarina: Origens, Conflitos e Desenvolvimento.” Master’s Thesis, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, 2008.
• Lozano Herrera, Agricol. Historia del Mormonismo en Mexico. Mexico City: Editorial Zarahemla, 1984.
• Martins, Helvécio with Mark Grover. The autobiography of Elder Helvécio Martins. Salt Lake City, UT: Aspen Books, 1994.
• Meza Méndez, Humberto and Floyd LaMond Tullis. Pioneros Mormones en Mexico / Recopilacion por Humberto Meza Mendez.
• Peterson, John DeLon. “History of the Mormon missionary movement in South America to 1940.” Master’s Thesis, University of Utah, 1961.
• Pulido, Elisa Eastwood. The Spiritual Evolution of Margarito Bautista: Mexican Mormon Evangelizer, Polygamist Dissident, and Utopian Founder, 1878–1961. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020.
• Romney, Thomas Cottam. The Mormon Colonies in Mexico. 1938. Reprint. Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah Press, 2005.
• Tullis, F. Lamond. Mormons in Mexico: The Dynamics of Faith and Culture. Mexico, El Museo de Historia del Mormonismo en México A.C., 1997.
• Tullis, F. Lamond. Martyrs in Mexico: A Mormon Story of Revolution and Redemption. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center with Deseret Book, 2018.
• Tullis, F. Lamond. Grass Roots in Mexico: Stories of Pioneering Latter-day Saints. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center with Deseret Book, 2021.
• Williams, Frederick Salem and Frederick G. Williams. From Acorn to Oak Tree: A Personal History of the Establishment and First Quarter Century Development of the South American Missions. Fullerton, California: Et Cetera Graphics, 1997.
• Witnessing the Hand of the Lord in the Dominican Republic (M272 W825 2009).

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