map of Zimbabwe

A History of the Church in

Zimbabwe

The beautiful land of Zimbabwe has been home to Latter-day Saints since the 1930s. In the early decades of establishing the Church, European settlers traveled long distances to meet with each other in centers such as Salisbury (later Harare), Bulawayo, and Gweru and occasionally made even longer journeys to attend church conferences in South Africa.

The removal of racial restrictions on Church participation in 1978 brought an era of transition. Latter-day Saints of diverse backgrounds strove to create a space for unity amid racial and political tensions. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Church grew among local populations of Zimbabweans speaking primarily Shona and English. In 1999, the Book of Mormon was published in Shona and the first stake in Zimbabwe was established in Harare. In times of hardship, Latter-day Saints reached out through congregational networks to support each other.

Beginning in 1985, Latter-day Saints traveled to Johannesburg for temple ordinances. In 2020 ground was broken for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple.

The resilience and perseverance of the Latter-day Saints in Zimbabwe, along with the good fruits of their efforts, bring to mind the Savior’s promise: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Quick Facts

Official Name: Republic of Zimbabwe/Nyika yeZimbabwe/Ilizwe leZimbabwe/Dziko la Zimbabwe/Nyika ye Zimbabwe/Hango yeZimbabwe/Zimbabwe Nù/Inyika yeZimbabwe/Tiko ra Zimbabwe/Naha ya Zimbabwe/Cisi ca Zimbabwe/Shango ḽa Zimbabwe/Ilizwe lase-Zimbabwe

Capital: Harare

Largest City: Harare

Official Languages: English, Shona, Ndebele, Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa.

Land Area: 386,847 km² (240,376 mi²)

Church Area: Africa South

Missions: 2 (Harare and Bulawayo)

Congregations: 91

Temples: 1 (Harare)