Is there more to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than meets the eye? Absolutely. Its story in Buenos Aires is one of slow growth. It is also a testament to the dedication of early members.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in Argentina in 1925. Apostle Melvin J. Ballard arrived in Buenos Aires. He opened the church’s South American Mission. Two German immigrants Wilhelm Friedrichs and Emil Hoppe had begun preaching earlier.
Ballard dedicated South America. He prophesied the work would grow slowly like an oak. But he added the South American Mission would be a power in the Church.
Initially missionary work focused on German immigrants. K.B. Reinhold Stoof became the first president of the South American Mission in 1926. After Stoof’s release in 1935 the mission divided. It split into the Brazilian Mission and the Argentine Mission.
World War II forced missionaries to leave Argentina. They re-entered in 1947. In 1966 the first stake in Argentina was established in Buenos Aires.
The Buenos Aires Argentina Temple was dedicated on January 17 1986. It was the church’s first temple in Argentina. By 2001 about 1 percent of Argentines were Latter-day Saints.
In 1923 LDS Church president Heber J. Grant sent Andrew Jenson to Argentina. Jenson had to determine where missionaries may be successful. Grant wanted to be slow and cautious in establishing the mission.
In 1925 German members immigrated to Argentina escaping post-World War I Germany. Friedrichs and Hoppe published religious messages. In 1924 they asked the First Presidency to send missionaries. Friedrichs wanted missionaries. He said it was difficult to meet people in their homes. He also could not baptize anyone.
In fall 1925 the LDS Church announced Ballard Rulon S. Wells and Rey Pratt would travel to Buenos Aires. They would establish missionary work in South America. They arrived in Buenos Aires on December 6 1925. The first baptisms in South America were Anna Kullick Ernst Biebersdorf and their families. They were baptized on December 12 1925 in the Rio de la Plata. Language was a challenge. Church talks needed translation from English to Spanish to German.
The LDS Church was officially established on December 25 1925. It was named the South American Mission. Ballard dedicated the mission in Tres de Febrero Park in Buenos Aires. For about 6 months Ballard Wells and Pratt served as missionaries. They presented lectures and slideshows.
Herta Klara Kullick learned Spanish quickly. She brought over 100 friends to listen to the missionaries. In May 1926 they began to hold Sunday school. Baptisms followed in June.
Stoof felt he needed to work with German immigrants. Later he focused on Spanish-speaking and Italian-speaking populations. During his nine-year presidency branches were created. There were only 50 missionaries split between Brazil and Argentina.
In 1935 the South American Mission divided. W. Ernest Young became the first president of the Argentine Mission. Although there was a German-speaking branch missionary work was in Spanish. Missionaries changed focus from German immigrants to Spanish speakers.
The first LDS chapel built in Argentina was in Liniers in Buenos Aires. It was dedicated on April 9 1939. This was also the first LDS chapel in South America.
Today The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to thrive. It stands as a testament to faith perseverance and community. Its history is etched in the very stones that make it. Take a moment to appreciate the legacy.