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

As of 31 December 2018, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) reports 45,227 adherents in Portugal, nearly all of them being native Portuguese or permanent immigrants from former Portuguese territories. There are 66 wards and branches, most being organized into six stakes, 24 Family History Centers located among meetinghouses throughout the country, and one mission headquartered in Lisbon.[1]

The Portuguese translation of the Book of Mormon, originally published in 1939

History
The Plan of salvation in Portuguese.

The first meetings of the LDS Church in Portugal were among members of U.S. armed forces stationed in the country in early 1970. In April 1974, the mostly peaceful Carnation Revolution brought an end to decades of authoritarian rule that had formally promoted Roman Catholicism and had restricted other faiths from proselyting. Several weeks after the fall of this Estado Novo regime, LDS President Spencer W. Kimball visited Portugal and received confirmation that the LDS Church would be recognized and that the missionaries could start preaching in the country.

In November 1974, Elder William Grant Bangerter of the Quorum of the Seventy came to Lisbon to preside over the newly created Portugal Lisbon Mission. Four Portuguese-speaking LDS missionaries were transferred to the new mission from Brazil. The first official meetings of the LDS Church were held at the home of a member of the Canadian embassy who lived in Portugal.

By July 1975, there were already about 100 Portuguese Latter-day Saints, and by July 1978, membership reached 1,000. Growth of Mormon Christianity has steadily progressed since that time; at year-end 2016, more than 38,000 Mormons live in Portugal, organized in dozens of local congregations known as wards and branches. Mormon Christians of Portugal (also known as 'Latter-day Saints', 'LDS', or simply 'Mormons') have a wide age range and reach all socioeconomic groups.

In 2020, the LDS Church canceled services and other public gatherings indefinitely in response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.[2]

Relationship with the Media

The LDS Church uses a religious programming space provided on channel RTP 2 in conjunction with other religious denominations. This opportunity is made possible under Portugal's religious freedom laws. It consists of two programs, the seven-minute "People of Faith" and the 30-minute "Paths". A number of radio programs are also provided on station RDP in formats similar to television programming.

Missions

Temple

The Lisbon Portugal Temple was announced on 2 October 2010 by President Thomas S. Monson.[3] Its ceremonial groundbreaking services were held on 5 December 2015 by Elder Patrick Kearon, president of the LDS Church's Europe Area.

166. Lisbon Portugal Temple

Location:
Announced:
Dedicated:
 Size:
 Notes:

Loures, Portugal
2 October 2010
15 September 2019 by Neil L. Andersen
23,730 sq ft (2,205 m2)
Announced by Thomas S. Monson in General Conference, 2 October 2010.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Portugal", Newsroom, Intellectual Reserve, 31 December 2018, retrieved 2019-04-22
  2. Lovett, Ian. "Mormon Church Cancels Services World-Wide Amid Coronavirus Crisis", The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 2020. Retrieved on 3 April 2020.
  3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temples
  4. Taylor, Scott (October 2, 2010), "President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples", Deseret News, retrieved 11 November 2012.
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