The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in El Salvador
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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.[1] In 2019, El Salvador had the second most LDS Church members per capita in North America, after the United States.[4]
History
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 311 |
| 1970 | 9,961 |
| 1979 | 15,529 |
| 1989* | 32,000 |
| 1999 | 84,683 |
| 2009 | 102,043 |
| 2019 | 128,881 |
| 2025 | 132,399 |
| *Membership was published as a rounded number. Source: Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: El Salvador[1] | |
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.[5] 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.[1]
Stakes
| Stake | Organized | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Ahuachapán El Salvador El Espino Stake | 19 Nov 2017 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Ahuachapán El Salvador Stake | 22 Sep 1991 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Apopa El Salvador Stake | 20 Oct 1996 | El Salvador San Salvador East |
| Atiquizaya El Salvador Stake | 11 Aug 1996 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Chalchuapa El Salvador Stake | 29 Oct 1995 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Juayua El Salvador Stake | 12 Nov 1995 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Paraiso El Salvador Stake | 14 Jun 2009 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| San Miguel El Salvador Stake | 11 Jan 1981 | El Salvador San Salvador East |
| San Salvador El Salvador Stake | 3 Jun 1973 | El Salvador San Salvador East |
| San Salvador El Salvador Cuzcatlan Stake | 3 Jun 1979 | El Salvador San Salvador West |
| San Salvador El Salvador Ilopango Stake | 1 Feb 1976 | El Salvador San Salvador East |
| San Salvador El Salvador La Libertad Stake | 22 Oct 1995 | El Salvador San Salvador West |
| San Salvador El Salvador Layco Stake | 22 Sep 1996 | El Salvador San Salvador West |
| San Salvador El Salvador Los Heroes Stake | 8 Apr 1990 | El Salvador San Salvador West |
| San Salvador El Salvador Soyapango Stake | 8 Apr 1990 | El Salvador San Salvador East |
| San Vicente El Salvador Stake | 26 Feb 1995 | El Salvador San Salvador East |
| Santa Ana El Salvador Los Pinos Stake | 10 Dec 2017 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Santa Ana El Salvador Modelo Stake | 14 Dec 1980 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Santa Ana El Salvador Molino Stake | 2 Dec 1979 | El Salvador Santa Ana |
| Sonsonate El Salvador Stake | 22 Sep 1991 | El Salvador San Salvador West |
| Sonzacate El Salvador Stake | 12 Jun 2011 | El Salvador San Salvador West |
| Usulután El Salvador Stake | 17 Apr 1994 | El Salvador San Salvador East |
Missions
| Mission | Organized |
|---|---|
| El Salvador Santa Ana | 1 Jul 1976 |
| El Salvador San Salvador East | 1 Jul 2013 |
| El Salvador San Salvador West | 1 Jul 1990 |
Temples
Red = Operating
Blue = Under Construction
Yellow = announced
Black = Closed for Renovations
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.[6]
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| Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Size: Notes: |
Antiguo Cuscatlán, El Salvador 18 November 2007 by Gordon B. Hinckley 20 September 2008 by Don R. Clarke 21 August 2011 by Henry B. Eyring 27,986 sq ft (2,600.0 m2) on a 6.5-acre (2.6 ha) site Announced in a letter dated 7 November 2007 from the First Presidency to priesthood leaders.[7][8] The public open house was held from Friday, 1 July 2011, until Saturday, 23 July 2011,[9] following which the temple was dedicated on Sunday, 21 August 2011, in three sessions.[10] | |||||
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| Location: Announced: |
Santa Ana, El Salvador 6 October 2024 by Russell M. Nelson[11][12] | |||||
