The Church in Switzerland

After the first missionary efforts in Switzerland began in 1851, hundreds joined the Church. Many immigrated to Utah, though those who remained built a strong legacy of faith. The first European temple was dedicated in Bern, Switzerland, in 1955, and the first stake was organized in Zürich six years later

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History of the Church in Switzerland

In November 1850 Lorenzo Snow, then an Apostle preaching in Italy, sent his missionary companion, Thomas B. H. Stenhouse, over the Alps to preach in Switzerland. The next March, the first converts in Switzerland were baptized. Over the next 10 years, hundreds were baptized in Switzerland’s French- and German-speaking cantons. Later many immigrated to the United States to help build Zion in Utah.

Other converts remained in Switzerland. In the early 20th century, Swiss Latter-day Saints were faithful during the disruptions caused by world wars in neighboring countries. In 1955 the first temple in Europe was dedicated in Bern, Switzerland. Latter-day Saints from many nations were taught and blessed in this temple.

The first stake in Switzerland was organized in Zürich six years later. Swiss Latter-day Saints played a key role in spreading the gospel, helping reopen missionary work in Italy in the 1960s, and administering branches in the Middle East. In 1982 the first French-speaking stake in Switzerland was organized in Geneva, and by the year 2000 there were over 7,000 Latter-day Saints in Switzerland.

Read more in Global Histories.