The Church in Armenia

Communities of Armenian Latter-day Saints have been in the Near East since the late 19th century. A translation of the Book of Mormon in Western Armenian was published in 1937, followed nearly 10 decades later by a translation in Eastern Armenian. Despite early challenges related to persecution and regional conflict, Armenian Latter-day Saint communities have become more established in recent years.

History of the Church in Armenia

In the late 19th century, communities of Armenian Latter-day Saints in parts of the Ottoman Empire, such as Aintab, Aleppo, and Zara, worked to build Zion in the face of significant persecution. Increased turbulence in the early 20th century caused Latter-day Saint Armenian congregations to dwindle due to emigration, reassimilation into other religious communities, and violence. Emigrants in the United States translated the Book of Mormon into Western Armenian, published in 1937.

In 1989, following a devastating earthquake in Armenia, Church officials sent representatives to consult with the government about building a concrete plant. In 1991, humanitarian couples with construction expertise arrived in Yerevan to work on the plant. Some local Armenians who worked with the couples eventually formed the nucleus of the Yerevan Branch. In 2000, the Eastern Armenian translation of the Book of Mormon was published. In 2010, Armenian members headed every congregation in the country.

In the 21st century, building and rebuilding on these legacies of sacrifice and faith, Armenian Latter-day Saints set examples of Christlike love in their communities, heeding the Savior’s call to “lift up an ensign of peace” (Doctrine and Covenants 105:39).

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