The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany

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An LDS meetinghouse in Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany

As of January 1, 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 38,257 members in 14 stakes and 3 districts, 173 Congregations (89 wards[1] and 84 branches[1]), 3 missions, and 2 temples in Germany.[2]

Contents

History [edit]

The first missionaries arrived in Germany in the early 1840s, but with little success. The first converts baptized in Germany in 1851. Most early converts emigrated to the United States, and by 1854, the short-lived Hamburg branch was dissolved. Church involvement in Germany resumed in 1860, but was limited due to persecution which continued until World War I. After World War I, the government became more tolerant of religious freedom, and the church received substantial growth. By 1925 there was 6,125 members in the German-Austrian Mission, and 5,305 members in the Swiss-German Mission. More restrictions were placed on the church under Nazism, and missionaries were evacuated for the duration of World War II.

Following World War II, members of the church in Germany found themselves divided among two nations. Members continued to maintain contact with the church in the west. In the fall of 1961 three stakes were created in Berlin (Germany's first), Stuttgart and Hamburg. In 1982, the Freiberg German Democratic Republic Stake was created. On June 19, 1985, the Freiberg GDR Temple was dedicated. It is the only temple constructed in a communist bloc country. In 1987, the Frankfurt, West Germany Temple was dedicated.[3][2]

Missions [edit]

Temples [edit]

Freiberg Tempel.JPG

 33. Freiberg Germany edit

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Freiberg, Germany
9 October 1982
29 June 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley
7 September 2002 by Gordon B. Hinckley
50°55′20.33399″N 13°19′21.14759″E / 50.9223149972°N 13.3225409972°E / 50.9223149972; 13.3225409972 (Freiberg Germany Temple)
14,125 sq ft (1,312 m2) on a 1 acre (0.4 ha) site
Modern, single-spire design with German influence and use of Gothic-style arches - designed by Emil B. Fetzer and Rolf Metzner
Originally without an angel Moroni statue, one was installed as part of the 2001-2002 renovations. It is the only temple ever to have been located behind the Iron Curtain.[4]

Eingang Frankfurt Tempel 2005 08 26.JPG

 41. Frankfurt Germany edit

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Friedrichsdorf, Germany
1 April 1981
28 August 1987 by Ezra Taft Benson
50°15′29.76839″N 8°38′28.20839″E / 50.2582689972°N 8.6411689972°E / 50.2582689972; 8.6411689972 (Frankfurt Germany Temple)
24,170 sq ft (2,245 m2) and 82 ft (25 m) high on a 5.2 acre (2.1 ha) site
Modern, detached single-spire design - designed by Church A&E Services and Borchers-Metzner-Kramer

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b LDS Meetinghouse Locator.Nearby Congregations (Wards and Branches).
  2. ^ a b Germany, "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country", Newsroom (LDS Church), 31 December 2011, retrieved 2012-10-18 
  3. ^ "Country information: Germany", LDS Church News Online Almanac (Deseret News), January 29, 2010, retrieved 2012-10-18 
  4. ^ "Freiberg Germany Temple to Be Rededicated" (Press release). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 16 August 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2006. 

External links [edit]
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