Poland: Church Chronology
-
February 2, 1884 • Vienna, Austria
The first-known Polish convert, Adalbert Cholewa, was baptized a member of the Church in Vienna.
-
1897 • Stettin, Breslau, and Sorau, German Empire
The Swiss-German Mission established German-speaking branches of the Church in Stettin (now Szczecin), Breslau (Wrocław), and Sorau (Żary).
-
August 12, 1903 • Warsaw, Poland
Elder Francis M. Lyman of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated Poland for the preaching of the restored gospel.
-
April 18, 1923 • Selbongen, East Prussia (later Zełwągi, Poland)
Six people were baptized, and a German-speaking branch was organized.
July 14, 1929 • Selbongen
The first Church meetinghouse built in Poland was dedicated.
-
1939–54 • Europe
Millions of people, including Latter-day Saints, were displaced by World War II and relocated throughout Europe.
-
July 30–August 7, 1946 • Poland
Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles arranged with officials to provide food, financial assistance, and the safe exodus of German members in Poland.
-
December 1947 • Zełwągi
The German-speaking branch discontinued services to comply with government regulations requiring all public gatherings to be conducted only in Polish.
-
December 10, 1950 • Zełwągi
The Zełwągi Branch resumed holding services in Polish.
-
1961 • Poland
The Church first received official recognition in Poland.
-
September 16–17, 1967 • Zełwągi
Elder Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided over the first conference of the Church conducted entirely in the Polish language.
-
October 1970 • Zełwągi
Percy Fetzer became the first patriarch to visit Poland and provide patriarchal blessings.
-
June 27, 1971 • Zełwągi
The Zełwągi Branch was dissolved. All Church activity was temporarily discontinued in Poland.
-
March 30, 1975 • Szczecin, Poland
Fryderyk Czerwiński held the first Church meeting in Szczecin in his home. Six members attended.
-
July 7, 1975 • Szczecin
The Szczecin Branch was organized with Fryderyk Czerwiński as president.
-
1977 • Warsaw
Matthew and Marion Ciembronówicz were assigned as special representatives of the First Presidency in Poland.
-
May 30, 1977 • Warsaw
The Church was again granted official recognition.
-
August 24, 1977 • Warsaw
President Spencer W. Kimball rededicated Poland for the preaching of the gospel. Fryderyk Czerwiński was called as presiding elder of the Church in Poland.
-
April 1978 • Salt Lake City, Utah
The Articles of Faith were published in Polish. This was the first official publication of the Church in Polish.
-
1979 • Warsaw
A small office was purchased on Nowy Świat Street in Warsaw and converted to a Church information center.
-
March 1980 • Warsaw
Lona Czerwińska was called as the first Relief Society president of the Warsaw Branch.
-
March 1982 • Warsaw
In cooperation with the Catholic Episcopate, the Church contributed food and medical supplies for distribution throughout the country.
-
1982 • Poland
The Book of Mormon and other Church literature were translated into Polish.
-
May 1986 • Warsaw
The Church received permission to send more missionaries and to build a meetinghouse in Poland.
-
June 1, 1986 • Warsaw
President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency joined with Polish members to offer a prayer of gratitude and supplication.
-
January 1987 • Warsaw
Polish members participated in a temple seminar in preparation to attend the Freiberg Germany Temple.
-
January 1988 • Warsaw
The first young missionaries (who had been serving in the Polish-speaking branch in Chicago) arrived in Warsaw.
-
1989 • Poland
The Polish government passed laws expanding religious freedom and allowing foreigners to direct congregations.
-
May 2, 1989 • Warsaw
Urszula Adamska accepted a call to serve in the Washington Seattle Mission. She was the first Polish member called from Poland to serve as a missionary overseas.
-
June 15, 1989 • Warsaw
Ground was broken for the first meetinghouse in Warsaw, with Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding at the ceremony.
-
April–May 1990 • Salt Lake City
Zdzisława Maria Chudyba and Urszula Adamska traveled to Salt Lake City to translate the temple ceremonies from English to Polish.
-
July 1, 1990 • Warsaw
Walter L. Whipple Jr. was called as president of the newly created Poland Warsaw Mission.
-
1991 • Warsaw
Government restrictions on religious proselytizing were eased and missionaries were allowed to freely proselytize.
-
October 13, 1991 • Łódź, Poland
The first branch of the Church opened by the Poland Warsaw Mission was in Łódź. Robert Tadeusz Żelewski was called as branch president.
-
May 1991 • Freiberg, Germany
Eleven members participated in the first temple ceremonies conducted in Polish at the temple in Freiberg.
-
June 22, 1991 • Warsaw
The Warsaw meetinghouse was dedicated by Elder Russell M. Nelson.
-
September 7, 1995 • Warsaw
The first LDS institute of religion was organized, with Ryszard Chołodowski as instructor.
-
January 2000 • Warsaw
Douglas F. Tobler, president of the Poland Warsaw Mission, and Robert Żelewski made an official visit to the First Lady of Poland, Madam Jolanta Kwaśniewska, at the Presidential Palace.
-
October 2001 • Warsaw
The broadcast of general conference included Polish translation for the first time.
-
May 12, 2002 • Warsaw
The Warsaw Poland District was created, with Robert Żelewski as the first Polish district president.
-
June 15, 2014 • Warsaw
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency presided at a conference with members from all over Poland.
July 2016 • Warsaw
Mateusz Turek and his wife, Adrienne, were called to preside over the Poland Warsaw Mission. He is the first Poland native to preside over the mission.