Guatemala: Church Chronology

Church leaders and members, curious about possible connections to the Book of Mormon in Central America, proposed missionary efforts and made exploratory visits to the region.

The Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon was published.

John F. O’Donnal moved to Guatemala, becoming the first member of the Church living there.

John F. O’Donnal visited Church headquarters, where he met with President George Albert Smith to personally request that missionaries be sent to Guatemala.

Seth G. Mattice and Earl E. Hansen, the first missionaries in Guatemala, were assigned to preach in Guatemala City.

After a short sacrament service, the first Church meeting in Guatemala, Arwell L. Pierce, president of the Mexican Mission, dedicated Guatemala for the preaching of the gospel.

The first district in Guatemala was organized, with John F. O’Donnal as president.

Carmen de O’Donnal, wife of John F. O’Donnal, was baptized. She was the first Guatemalan to join the Church. Three other converts were baptized the same day.

The Guatemala City Branch was organized.

President Spencer W. Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dedicated Central America for the preaching of the gospel.

President David O. McKay, the first Church President to visit Guatemala, presided at a two-day conference with the Saints in Guatemala.

The first meetinghouse in Guatemala was dedicated by Elder LeGrand Richards.

Missionaries began learning Mayan languages and preaching to the native people in Patzicía in their own language.

Church membership in Guatemala exceeded 10,000.

General conference was first broadcast to Central America by shortwave radio from WRUL, a Church-owned station that was broadcast from New York City.

Udine Falabella led 100 Saints on a temple excursion to the Mesa Arizona Temple.

The Church received official recognition from the Guatemalan government.

Udine Falabella and Alan Baldizon began teaching seminary classes in Guatemala.

The Guatemala City Stake, the first in Guatemala, was organized, with Udine Falabella as president.

At the request of Edgar Juan Aparicio, president of the Guatemalan Academy of Genealogical, Heraldic and Historical Studies, the Church microfilmed colonial documents from the general archives and civil registry in Guatemala.

Rafael Eduardo Castillo Valdez, a member of the Church, was appointed Guatemalan ambassador to the United Nations.

An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale caused extensive destruction throughout the country.

Missionary discussions were translated into K’ekchi’, a Mayan language.

The Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission was created, with John F. O’Donnal as president.

The Kaqchikel translation of Selections from the Book of Mormon was published.

Elder Boyd K. Packer dedicated meetinghouses in La Grandeza, Juchanep, Santa Ana, Canquixaja, San Andrés Semetabaj, Tecpán, Patzún, Comalapa, and San Andrés Itzapa.

The K’iche’ translation of Selections from the Book of Mormon was published.

The Mam and Yucatec translations of Selections from the Book of Mormon were published.

The K’ekchi translation of the Book of Mormon, the first full translation in any language native to the Americas, was published.

Guatemala City Guatemala Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley of the First Presidency. John F. O’Donnal was called as temple president.

The Missionary Training Center in Guatemala City was dedicated.

Carlos H. Amado was called as a General Authority Seventy, making him the first General Authority from Guatemala.

Guatemala was rededicated by Elder Marvin J. Ashton for the preaching of the gospel.

A new Spanish translation of the triple combination was released.

The Church’s Humanitarian Services partnered with the Wheelchair Foundation to deliver 250 wheelchairs for disabled people in Guatemala City. Evelyn de Portillo, the First Lady of Guatemala, participated in the activities.

More than 4,000 young women participated in a two-day “Women of Virtue” camp near Guatemala City.

The Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple, the second temple in Guatemala, was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

The expanded Missionary Training Center in Guatemala City was dedicated by Elder Carlos H. Amado.