Chile: Chronology

1851–52 • Valparaíso and Quillota, ChileApostle Parley P. Pratt and his wife Phoebe served a five-month mission to Chile. During their time in Chile, they determined that a Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon was needed.

1886 • Salt Lake City, UtahThe first Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon was published.

December 25, 1925 • Buenos Aires, ArgentinaElder Melvin J. Ballard dedicated South America for the preaching of the gospel.

June 23, 1956 • Santiago, ChileEncouraged by Billie F. Fotheringham and his family, missionaries Verle M. Allred and Joseph C. Bentley began preaching in Santiago.

July 5, 1956 • SantiagoThe Santiago Branch was organized, with Billie F. Fotheringham as president.

November 25, 1956 • SantiagoRicardo García, Isidro and Graciela Saldaña, Sally Lanzarotti, Mario Lanzarotti, Patricio Lanzarotti, Craig Fotheringham, Jo-Ann Robinson, and Silvia Ortiz became the first members baptized in Chile.

1957–59 • ChileNew branches were established in Concepción, Viña del Mar, Santiago, Valparaíso, and Parque Cousiño.

First sister missionaries in Chile

January 16, 1959 • Santiago

María Cristina Donoso and Ruth Peters of Santiago were the first Chileans called as full-time missionaries.

April 26, 1959 • SantiagoRicardo García became the first Chilean Latter-day Saint to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.

May 21–22, 1960 • Concepción, ChileFollowing the Great Chilean Earthquake, the largest ever recorded, Church members and missionaries in Chile provided translation services, medical supplies, food, clothing, construction materials, and other assistance.

May 1960 • SantiagoCarlos A. Cifuentes became the first Chilean called as a branch president when he was called to preside over the Santiago Branch.

October 8, 1961 • SantiagoAs growth accelerated, Chile was split off from the Andes Mission into its own mission.

1962 • ChileConstruction missionaries were called to build new meetinghouses. They received training in construction trades and proselytized in the evenings.

1962–68 • ChileThe first Church-built meetinghouses were built and dedicated in Santiago, Viña del Mar, Quilpué, and Concepcíon.

March 1964 • La Cisterna and Viña del MarThe Asociación Mormona Educacional y Cultural (Mormon Educational and Cultural Association) opened Church-run schools in La Cisterna and Viña del Mar.

July 1970 • SantiagoSt. George College, a Catholic school in Santiago, was purchased by the Church. The Colegio Deseret (Deseret School) replaced all Church schools in the area.

1970s and 1980s • ChileAmidst political unrest, acts of vandalism were committed at Church meetinghouses in Chile. Despite opposition, Church membership continued to increase rapidly. Stakes were created throughout the country.

July 1972 • ChileIn collaboration with the Catholic archdioceses of Chile, the Church began microfilming centuries of parochial records from across the country.

November 19, 1972 • SantiagoThe Santiago Chile Stake, the first in Chile, was organized with Carlos A. Cifuentes as president.

1972 • ChileSeminaries and institutes were established in Chile.

1975–88 • ChileAs interest in the Church continued to increase, missions were created in Concepción, Santiago, Osorno, Viña del Mar, and Antofagasta.

February 17, 1976 • SantiagoCarlos A. Cifuentes was called as a regional representative of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

May 1976 • Salt Lake CityChilean government officials presented the Church with a medal in appreciation for the Church’s spiritual and social contributions to the Chilean people.

March 1, 1977 • SantiagoPresident Spencer W. Kimball presided at an area conference with 6,800 members in attendance.

January 29, 1980 • Arica, ChileThe Arica Chile Stake, the first in the northernmost region of Chile, was organized.

1981 • ChileThe last Church-run school in Chile was closed. Construction of the Santiago Chile Temple began on the site of the former Colegio Deseret.

May 17, 1981 • Osorno, ChileThe Osorno Chile Stake, the first in southern Chile, was organized.

July 1, 1981 • Hanga Roa, ChileThe Easter Island Branch was organized.

July 13, 1981 • SantiagoA missionary training center was established in Santiago.

December 7, 1982 • Islas Juan FernándezA branch of the Church was established on the Juan Fernández Islands.

September 15–17, 1983 • SantiagoThe Santiago Chile Temple, the first in Chile, was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley, then of the First Presidency.

March 31, 1990 • Salt Lake CityEduardo Ayala became the first Chilean called as a General Authority Seventy.

August 15, 1996 • ChileThe Chile Area was created.

August 23, 1996 • SantiagoElder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Chile for the preaching of the gospel.

Pres. Hinckley speaking in Santiago

April 25, 1999 • Santiago

Nearly 60,000 Chilean Saints attended a regional conference where President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke. This was one of the largest gatherings of Latter-day Saints ever held.

April 2001 • Salt Lake CityChilean Saints helped pioneer the Perpetual Education Fund.

2002–4 • ChileWhile serving as Chile Area President, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles trained Chilean leaders in their roles and oversaw merging stakes and wards throughout Chile.

September 21, 2004 • Salt Lake CityLuisa Durán de Lagos, First Lady of Chile, met with Church leaders to thank them for the Church’s support of poverty-fighting initiatives in Chile.

January 2005 • SantiagoThe Senate of Chile recognized the Church as an “equal, accepted, and mainstream religion” in the country.

February 27, 2010 • ChileAfter a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile, the Church delivered over 26 tons of food to the affected areas.

August 1, 2012 • ChileThe First Presidency consolidated the Chile and South America South Areas.

October 28, 2018 • ConcepciónPresident Russell M. Nelson dedicated the Concepción Chile Temple.